Update 4/12/21: American now says that the machines will actually stay. They have removed supplies, but expect the espresso service to eventually return to premium cabins where the machines are offered,

[W]e are certain the machines will stay on the aircraft and this is temporary as service is modified on these flights and the expresso offering is currently not available. The removal of equipment for the machine will help prevent confusion among flight attendants and conserve fuel.

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American Airlines used to have espresso machines on board Boeing 777, 787, and Airbus A321T aircraft. They don’t anymore. The airline has removed the machines from these aircraft, a spokesperson confirms to me, “to help conserve fuel and prevent confusion about what services are currently offered.”

They haven’t been catering supplies for the machines, so I suppose that was confusing. Less confusing would be bringing back use of the machines as travel begins to return, because it was a really premium cabin nice touch.

However it’s that everything that has weight on a plane burns more fuel, even the magazine in the seat back pocket.

When current American Airlines management was leading America West, and took over US Airways, they removed seat power from the Airbus narrowbodies that had it. The system for seat power added weight and burned fuel, so cost money.

When I first had a look inside the Airbus A321T which American used for its premium transcon flights between New York JFK both Los Angeles and San Francisco, the espresso machines were something they were proud of – and added to widebodies.

It’s a little touch to the American Airlines service I’m sad to see go. Coffee is, after all, an integral part of travel.