Tips when buying commercial coffee machines

Updating your café with a new coffee machine can be both exciting and gruelling. There are so many differing options, with every coffee machine having its own “flashy features”. With so many options, many café owners simply become too overwhelmed and are unsure of what exactly they need. To help out a future buyer we have compiled a simple list of tips of some aspects to consider when looking for ‘the best commercial coffee machine’.

Size: 

 Asses the location you intend to place the coffee machine in, this includes checking if your bench is even able to fit within the dimensions and hold the machines weight. To help, many manufacturers provide the exact dimensions on their technical specification’s brochure similar to this (link one of our machines).  Consider things like:

  • Fridge space – do not place your coffee machine on a bench with a fridge underneath. Reason being, the technicians coming to preventatively maintain your machine will require access to your water system which usually sits directly underneath the coffee machine.
  • Access to both steam arms – Streamlining work flow & efficiency of machine use.
  • Grinder positioning – No Barista wants to have a grinder out of the workflow station.
  • Knock tube positioning – floor standing or inbuilt.

Electricity & Plumbing:

This one seems like a logical one but you would be surprised how many cafes are simply unable to support the requirements of a higher voltage machine without modifications to the electrical grid. Most machines are now well surpassing 20 Amp. Plumbing obviously is another key consideration, will your machines drainage go to a pipe or a bucket? Best advice is to consult with both a licenced electrician and plumber to ensure you’re not breaking the law and risking injury.

Reliability :

Nobody wants a coffee machine that isn’t going to turn on or do what the manufacturer specifies. It’s really that simple.

Serviceability :

We are a strong advocate of this. We at Service Sphere have national contracts with some of the biggest global coffee roasters & café chains around Australia and one of the core focuses we have is ensuring your machine will be able to be repaired in the event of a breakdown. Imagine purchasing a fancy machine from overseas, bringing it in and a simple component fails, you call your local spare parts coffee supplier and guess what? No stock. So, you keep calling around and have the same response. What do you do?

This is why when looking at purchasing a machine, try think a little ahead and do some research if components are readily available in the marketplace for that particular machine. One example of this is on our website, check out our comprehensive Rancilio parts list.

Productivity :

Look at the overall coffee volume history your café is doing during peak times. If you are a new café looking to open, consider conducting a projected volume analysis. By doing so, some of the machines you may be considering simply may not be capable of the projected volumes you will be producing.

Aesthetics :

In today’s day and age, many consumers simply are not settling with the “traditional” appearance of a coffee machine and are moving towards customizable looks to suit their  café theme. Many people are doing this as a DIY but we recommend to leave it to the professionals. We are now offering customisable colour options, alternatively we can point you in the right direction when it comes to customising your coffee machine. 

We love seeing creativity with coffee machines & your options are limitless. A great looking machine followed by quality coffee will be a key aspect of growth in your business’ Instagram game.

Wrapped up :

It is important to really get out and touch and feel the machine you are considering. This way you can ensure the machine will be supported by the business, plus who doesn’t love shopping?  

Just remember one size does not fit all, so if you are still ensure that’s fine. Why not give us a call on (03) 9322 4788, one of our friendly staff can talk you through the process. After all we are here to help.

 tips when buying.png

 

 

 

 

See our Coffee Machines range. Get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you.

If you are looking for something beyond espresso, take a look at our faema coffee machine range.

Interested in Coffee machine repairs?  Talk to our friendly team through our Contact Page.