Looking for a commercial coffee machine to give your customers the best cafe experience possible? There are a few things you'll want to consider when investing in one.
Is buying a professional coffee machine worth it?
With the price of a commercial coffee machine, it makes sense why this might be the first question you have. Especially if you're a small business looking to manage costs. However, there are a few things that commercial coffee machines can offer you that standard machines just can't, which is why we definitely recommend the investment.
Benefits of commercial coffee machine
Quantity & speed: With the size of commercial coffee machines you can rely on a large quantity of coffee in a short period of time, and with the uncertainty of hospitality work, it's always good to have the leeway.
Storage: These coffee machines with have a storage space of around 5L which can save you a lot of time and energy when you're serving coffee consistently.
Flavour: Commercial coffee machines will bring out a much stronger and more complex flavour to other machines, which is why baristas and coffee connoisseurs prefer a cafe drink to their at-home beverage.
Variety: Coffee machines will give you the freedom to make a variety of coffee types; flat whites, lattes, macchiatos, mochas, you name it.
How to Choose the Right Commercial Coffee Machine
When choosing a coffee machine, you want to make sure it's set up to handle the quantity and type of jobs you'll need to do every day. For your coffee orders to run smoothly, you'll want to consider a few factors when you commit to a machine.
Manual and automatic options
There are a number of models for coffee making, but if you're not trained or experienced in barista made coffee an automatic or semiautomatic machine could be a good choice. However, if you are looking to impress your customers then a manual machine will provide more control over the extraction process by allowing the operator to control the water pressure going into the grouphead during the extraction.
Temperature control
Getting a great cup of coffee depends a lot on the stability of the water temperature throughout the extraction process. As you spend more on a higher price coffee machine you will be generally be getting a machine that is able to maintain a very consistent water temperature especially when the machine is working hard. Higher quality machines also have two boilers, one for the groupheads and the other for the steam and water. This further increased the ability of the machine to maintain an accurate water temperature.
Output
Hospitality can be unpredictable, with surges of customers paired with quiet periods. To cater to this you'll want a machine that can sustain a large output in a day. Machines that can guarantee 40L per hour are a good starting point, which is around 300 cups of coffee.
Features
You'll want to be flexible with your coffee options, so a machine that has multiple features and options is going to keep your customers happy. You'll also want a machine that's efficient, so look out for heat exchangers (HX) or dual boilers (DX) which can steam milk and extract espresso simultaneously.
The best commercial coffee machines available
So you know what to look out for when choosing your commercial coffee machine, now it's time to choose. There are a few brands and models that are barista preferred, and we personally recommend a few of these types if you want to make delicious coffee every day.
La Marzacco
La Marzacco coffee machine are a highly regarded brand, with all machines tested in Florence, where they were first crafted. This is the tried and true espresso machine, the first machine with a horizontal boiler. With a long history, La Marzacco equipment is the ultimate artisan machine.
Kees Van Der Western
Built in the Netherlands, this brand is built on the mission to build the best coffee machine available. Four options are designed to suit the specific needs of each business: Mirage, Speedster, Slim Jim and Spirit.
Slayers
Professional, innovative machines for businesses all over the world. Slayer machines come in the steam build and the espresso build. The steam machine is perfect for high volume needs, and cafes that produce large quantities of drinks. The espresso build, on the other hand, is for the mastery of coffee, producing creations that are fine-tuned to the customer's tastes.
Wega
Manufactured in Italy, Wega Coffee machines offer a great value with durability to support a quality pour. The Pegaso is an electronic coffee machine with manual brewing buttons and 4 programmable doses, this machine is suitable for your home, office or business and ensures that you'll always have a good coffee on hand.
Commercial Equipment for Purchase & Hire
Flexikitch has a variety of appliances and commercial equipment so you can make your business a roaring success. We understand that businesses can be expensive, which is why we offer finance support and make our payment options flexible. Hire our appliances for a contract, opt out at the end or commit to purchase when your contract ends. Want to know your options? Reach out to the team today!