Which espresso coffee machine do you need? Espresso coffee machine buying guide

This is a good question and the answer depends on several things. The espresso coffee machine is the heart of your business. Perform some good research before you purchase or lease an espresso coffee machine.

Traditional or bean-to-cup

Traditional coffee machines (espresso coffee machines) )are the popular choice for coffee shops. Bean-to-cup machines are mainly used for self-service and cafeteria's. Commercial traditional coffee machines are more reliable and usually lower priced than bean-to-cup machines. We have found a good article for you to read more about the two types of machines.

Amount of group heads

One group will be able to make 2 coffees at the same time. Two groups can make 4 coffees at the same time. Commercial espresso coffee machines come in different sizes; from 1 to 5 groups. The more coffee you serve, the more groups you will need. A one group espresso coffee machine is usually good for up to 50 coffees per day and for a low need for hot water. Two groups is the popular choice for most coffee shops.

Boiler size

A bigger machine usually has a bigger boiler which is very important. The boiler will give you steam power and hot water supply for tea and coffee. Make sure that you purchase an espresso coffee machine with a big boiler. A one group should be more than 6 liter, a two group around 10 liter and a three group around 14 liter. It's really simply: the bigger the better.

Price Range

Commercial espresso coffee machines range from £1500 to £10000. The choice that you make should depend on the size of the machine and the quality that you are looking for. Do not go cheap on an espresso coffee machine but don't go too expensive either. Try to find a machine that is affordable and that does the job for your coffee shop. Also check what kind of service you will receive with the espresso machine in regards to breakdown and annual service. A good option for most people is to lease the machine.

Service and guarantee

Servicing for commercial espresso coffee machines is very, very important. Make sure that you find a reliable supplier that has a good amount of engineers to guarantee a quick call out. Most commercial espresso coffee machines come with a 12 months guarantee for parts and labour.

Treat your espresso coffee machine well and clean it as much as possible and it should last you more than 5 years. A good investment when taken care of properly.

Water filter and water softener

Espresso coffee machines usually need a water filter and water softener so make sure that you ask about this before purchasing your coffee machine.

Automatic or semi-automatic

Automatic espresso coffee machines have preset buttons for the dosage of water that goes through the coffee. Semi-automatic espresso coffee machines have an on/off button to control the amount of water. Fully automatic espresso coffee machines result in more consistent coffees and are easier to use.

steam wands

1 Group espresso coffee machines usually have 1 steam wand. Most 2 group machines have 2 steam wands which is very useful if you plan on having 2 people working at the same time.

The steam tip of the steam wand has a certain amount of holes; usually 3 or 4. A 4 hole steam tip will steam milk a lot faster than a 3 hole steam tip.

Espresso coffee machines come with either a dial or lever system to operate the steam.

power

Most espresso coffee machines require 20 amp or 32 amp for power, keep this in mind. There are espresso coffee machines that work perfectly well on 13 amp as well.

Reliability

Find an espresso machine that is reliable and has a good track record. Ask around and see how often things go wrong with the machine. Ask around in different coffee shops and talk to the owners of the machine to get their opinion.