has bought US firm The Coffee Equipment company and its Clover Brewing System.

The deal will see the US coffee chain install Clover coffee machines, which have a vacuum brewing process and tailored coffee blends, alongside its standard system.

The Clover system is better suited to bringing out the flavours of complex coffees, Starbucks said. Clover coffee will be sold at a higher price than Starbucks’ standard blends. Machines will be installed in the US first, then rolled out to selected international markets.

Starbucks has also launched a new website, mystarbucksidea.com. Starbucks boss Howard Schultz said this and other initiatives would "help reignite" the firm’s relationship with its customers.