For business
Buying a coffee machine for a business: the complete guide
Six things decide whether a business coffee machine works out: the right size, water, electricity, service, the total cost and how you pay for it.
Work out your size with the cups-per-day picker →
1. Size it by drinks per day
Count drinks on your busiest day, not an average day, and leave room to grow. Compare that with the manufacturer's recommended daily output. If one machine stopping would stop your business, two smaller machines are safer than one large one.
2. Water: line, drain and filter
Commercial espresso machines are connected to a cold water line and usually to a drain. For example, the US spec sheet of the Nuova Simonelli Appia Life asks for a dedicated cold water line with a shut-off valve and an open drain within about 1.2 metres.
Hard water leaves scale inside boilers, so a filter or softener matched to your local water is normal. The same sheet asks for water of no more than 3 grains per gallon, about 50 ppm, or a softener. Office machines often run from a tank, but a fixed water connection saves refills.
Water filters for coffee machines →
3. Electricity: ask an electrician first
A café machine draws far more power than a kettle. Rancilio's US spec sheet for the Classe 5 USB two group lists 4,300 W at 208 to 220 V on a 30 A circuit.
In the US and Canada, most two and three group machines need a 208 to 240 V circuit, not a normal 120 V outlet. Have an electrician check your panel before you order.
4. Service and local dealers
- Who installs the machine and connects water, drain and power?
- How quickly do they come when it breaks, and is that in the contract?
- Is a replacement machine lent during long repairs?
- What does yearly maintenance include: gaskets, filters, descaling?
- Are spare parts available in your country?
5. Total cost, not only the price
The machine is only part of the cost. Add up everything for the years you plan to use it:
- the machine and the grinder
- installation, plumbing and electrical work
- water filters or a softener, and their replacement
- a service contract or repairs
- cleaning products
- coffee, milk and cups for every drink
- electricity: large boilers stay hot all day
6. Lease, rent or buy?
Buying costs the most up front, and the machine is yours. Leasing or renting spreads the cost and often includes service, but compare the total over the whole contract and read what happens at the end. Some coffee suppliers lend a machine if you buy their coffee; check the minimum quantities and how long you are tied in.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What daily output is the machine rated for?
- What water, drain and electrical connections does it need?
- Which water filter do you recommend for our water?
- What is the response time for repairs?
- What does the full cost come to over three years?
- What happens at the end of a lease or rental?
Sources
We do not sell machines and have not tested these commercial models ourselves. Figures come from the linked sources and can change. If you buy through our Amazon links we may earn a commission.