So, you’re ready to invest in a new coffee machine for your café, but you’re not entirely sure where to start. Choosing the right coffee machine is crucial—get it right, and it can elevate your café’s efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall success. But, select the wrong machine, and it can quickly become a costly mistake, affecting both service and quality.
With so many options out there — from traditional espresso machines to automatic bean-to-cup models — finding the best coffee machine for your café can seem like a daunting task. But don’t worry, we’re here to simplify things.
In this blog, we’ll break down everything you need to know about choosing the perfect commercial coffee machine. By the end, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision that suits your café’s needs, helping you serve great coffee and keep your customers happy.
Key considerations for your cafe’s coffee machine
When selecting a commercial coffee machine for your café, it’s important to think about how your business operates, who your customers are, and what level of investment you’re willing to make.
Here are a number key questions to consider that will help you choose the perfect coffee machine for your cafe to delight your customers and set you up for long term success.
What type of cafe do you plan to operate?
Are you aiming to create a specialty coffee experience where trained baristas serve a range of expertly crafted drinks? If so, you may want to consider traditional espresso machines that allow for ultimate drink customisation.
These machines are ideal when speed isn’t the main concern and customers are planning to spend some time sitting in your cafe in a more relaxed environment.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a high-volume, efficient solution where staff training is less of a priority, an automatic bean-to-cup machine could be a better fit.
What type of customer are you targeting?
Your customer base plays a big role in the type of coffee machine you choose. If your target market includes coffee connoisseurs who appreciate nuanced flavours and different brewing techniques, investing in a machine that supports a more refined coffee menu is essential.
A traditional espresso machine gives your customers a much broader choice of drink, whether they’re planning to spend some time relaxing in your cafe, or want a quality coffee to take away and don’t mind waiting a few minutes..
If your customers simply want a good quality coffee served quickly and consistently, like those grabbing a quick coffee on the way to work, a machine that prioritises speed and ease of use might be a better choice.
How much can you invest?
Budget is always a key consideration.
Coffee machines are no small investment, with high quality commercial machines costing anywhere between £3.5 – £60k. Learn more by viewing our Pricing Page.
Are you looking to create a distinctive coffee brand, with the ability to grow and evolve your offering over time? In this case, a high-end traditional espresso or super-automatic machine may be worth the investment.
If your focus is on delivering a reliable but straightforward coffee menu, a simpler machine with lower upfront costs could meet your needs without compromising on quality.
Do you plan to hire or train baristas?
The skill level of your staff is a significant factor. If you’re planning to hire or train skilled baristas, you’ll have more flexibility to choose machines that require manual operation and expert knowledge, such as traditional espresso machines.
However, if you’re not planning to invest in staff training or you anticipate high turnover, a machine that’s easy to operate, like a bean-to-cup or super-automatic espresso machine, will likely be a more practical choice.
Maintenance of the machine
Another important consideration is the amount of time and effort you’re willing to dedicate to machine maintenance. Some machines, especially those with built-in milk frothers or grinders, require regular cleaning and upkeep to stay in top condition.
If you have the staff and time to manage this, a more complex machine could be a great option.
However, if you prefer a lower-maintenance machine that doesn’t require frequent cleaning or servicing, this could influence your decision.
Understanding your cafe business will help you choose the right coffee machine
Taking the time to fully understand your café’s business model and customer base is a crucial step in choosing the right coffee machine. Whether it’s the type of café experience you want to create, the kind of customers you’re targeting, or the budget you have to work with, these factors will shape the coffee machine that fits your needs.
By considering these factors upfront, you’ll avoid costly mistakes and ensure that any machine you purchase sets you up for long term success.
Now that you know which factors to consider, let’s discuss the different types of coffee machines available and which might suit your business best.
What type of machine do you need?
The best commercial coffee machine for a cafe depends on the type of coffee machine you need, and this is dictated by how you want to operate.
Based on how you’ll operate it could change whether you’d be better suited by a commercial espresso machine, a bean to cup machine, a super-automatic espresso machine, or a filter coffee machine.
Traditional Espresso Machines
A traditional espresso machine is the hallmark of professional coffee-making, trusted by skilled baristas around the world to craft a wide range of high-quality, espresso-based drinks. From cappuccinos and flat whites, to lattes and americanos, these machines provide a rich foundation for cafés that want to offer more than just the basics.
Designed to brew finely ground coffee under pressure, traditional espresso machines deliver small, strong shots of espresso that can be transformed into a variety of beverages with milk or water.
These machines typically feature 1 to 3 group heads for brewing, high-pressure steam wands for milk frothing, and hot water taps for additional drink options like teas.
Best Suited Environments
Traditional espresso machines are ideal for cafés that focus on quality and personalisation. If your business model includes skilled baristas and an emphasis on crafting unique, high-quality drinks, this machine is a perfect fit. It’s particularly suited for environments where customers appreciate the art and craft of coffee-making and are willing to pay for premium, personalised service.
Espresso machines are also the best choice if you plan on having seasonal drinks menus or plan to introduce guest or specialty coffee throughout the year.
Key Benefits of Traditional Espresso Machines
Quality Coffee
Traditional espresso machines offer unmatched coffee quality, making them a favourite for cafés that want to provide the best espresso-based drinks possible.
More Control
Baristas have full control over brewing parameters, allowing them to fine-tune every shot and create drinks tailored to customers’ preferences.
Creative Flexibility
With a traditional machine, baristas can showcase their creativity, experimenting with different brewing techniques, latte art, and custom drink recipes to enhance the customer experience.
While traditional espresso machines provide excellent performance and customisation, they do require skilled operators. If your café is committed to barista training and prides itself on creating a unique coffee experience, a traditional espresso machine is an investment worth making.
Commercial Bean to Cup Machines
A bean-to-cup coffee machine automates the entire coffee-making process, from grinding the beans to brewing the coffee, all at the push of a button. With minimal input needed from staff — beyond pouring in beans and selecting the desired drink — these machines are ideal for businesses that want to offer a variety of coffee options without needing a skilled barista.
Bean-to-cup machines brew a range of drinks, including espresso-based options, using freshly ground beans. Many models also have built-in milk systems that froth and heat milk automatically, providing a hassle-free way to serve drinks like lattes and cappuccinos.
These machines come in a wide range of price points, making them accessible to different types of cafés and businesses.
Best Suited Environments
A bean-to-cup machine is perfect for cafés or businesses where ease of use, consistency, and speed are priorities. This makes them a great choice for self-service environments, offices, or busy cafés with a high turnover of staff, where training baristas might not be feasible.
If you’re looking for a way to serve consistent coffee without requiring advanced barista skills, a bean-to-cup machine could be the ideal solution.
Super Automatic Espresso Machines
Super automatic espresso machines are the pinnacle of commercial coffee technology.
They combine the precision and quality of a traditional espresso machine with the automation and ease of a bean-to-cup machine. Over the last decade, these machines have gained popularity due to their ability to produce barista-quality coffee while eliminating the need for skilled staff to operate them.
These machines automate almost every part of the coffee-making process, from grinding beans to frothing milk.
They have advanced features like automatic milk steaming systems (capable of intricate latte art) and self-cleaning functions. Super automatics are designed to deliver high-quality drinks consistently with minimal effort. They’re an ideal choice for businesses that want to offer premium coffee without the need for trained baristas.
Best Suited Environments
Super automatic espresso machines are perfect for high-end cafés where drink quality and efficiency are priorities. They are also well-suited to high-volume environments where the ability to serve premium coffee quickly and consistently is crucial. These machines work equally well in self-serve settings or staff-operated cafés where efficiency and ease of use are essential.
Key Benefits
Impressive Quality
Super automatics consistently deliver barista-quality coffee without the need for a skilled operator. Automatic milk frothing and coffee recipe adjustments ensure the drinks taste consistent and delicious across all sites and with all users.
High Capacity
Perfect for high-volume settings where speed and quality are equally important, these machines can easily handle up to 700 drinks per hour without stopping.
Ease of Use
Automatic milk steaming, self-cleaning features, and intuitive controls make operation simple for staff or customers. These features ensure any user, regardless of skill level, can create delicious coffee drinks using these machines.
Consistency
These machines adjust brewing parameters throughout the day to ensure every cup meets high standards.
While super automatic espresso machines come with a higher price tag and lose some of the traditional espresso craft, they are unmatched in delivering premium coffee quickly and efficiently, making them ideal for businesses where both quality and speed are essential.
Commercial Filter Coffee Brewers
Commercial filter coffee brewers are a great solution for cafes who want the extra ability to serve a fast cup of delicious filter coffee as a grab-and-go option. Loved by specialty coffee enthusiasts, these machines are great at brewing delicious light roast coffees that espresso machines often struggle with.
The brewing process is straightforward: hot water is poured over ground coffee, which then passes through a paper filter, separating the liquid from the grounds.
The result is a black coffee often known as filter coffee, batch brew, or drip coffee. While the coffee itself is typically served black, customers can easily add milk, sugar, or sweeteners if desired.
Best Suited Environments
Filter coffee machines are perfect for settings that prioritise speed, convenience, and large-volume service. Cafés that need to serve coffee quickly to large groups of people will find these machines invaluable. They’re also a great secondary machine for busy cafés during the morning rush, allowing customers who just want a quick black coffee to serve themselves, reducing waiting times for other orders.
Commercial filter coffee machines are an affordable, efficient option for cafés and businesses needing to serve large amounts of coffee quickly. While they offer less flexibility in terms of drink variety, their speed and convenience make them an excellent choice for high-demand settings or as a secondary machine during busy times.
Need help choosing the best commercial coffee machine for a cafe?
You should now have a clear understanding of which type of coffee machine might be right for your cafe, and which factors should guide your ultimate decision of the best type of machine to invest in.
Making sure to invest in a coffee machine that suits your needs and business goals is key to your success, which is why we have helped over 500 Cafés in the UK purchase a fantastic coffee machine aligned with their needs.
If you’re looking to find out which coffee machine we would recommend for your cafe, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. Alongside finding your ideal machine, we can also provide a consultative approach to make sure you’re using great wholesale coffee beans, and making the most of your equipment with fantastic barista training and engineer support.
