How to Choose the Best Coffee Machine for Your Business
Buying a coffee machine for your business might sound straightforward—until you start doing the research. With hundreds of models, unfamiliar jargon, and prices ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands of pounds, it can quickly feel overwhelming.
In this video, we’ll walk you through the different types of commercial coffee machines, key factors to consider before you buy, and offer expert recommendations to help you choose the perfect machine for your café, hotel, office, or hospitality venue.
The Four Overall Types of Commercial Coffee Machines
Before you can make the right decision, you need to understand your options. Here are the four main types of coffee machines used in commercial settings:
1. Espresso Machines
Traditional espresso machines are what you’ll find in most coffee shops. These require skilled baristas to grind, tamp, and extract each shot by hand.
- Best for: Cafés with well-trained staff and a focus on high-quality, hand-crafted coffee.
- Pros: Full control over flavour and presentation.
- Cons: Requires training and consistency from staff.
2. Bean to Cup Machines
These machines automate the entire process. With just a tap of the screen, users can select their drink, place the cup, and receive a fresh coffee with minimal effort.
- Best for: Offices, self-service stations, hotels, and restaurants.
- Pros: Easy to use, consistent results, minimal training required.
- Cons: Cleaning and maintenance can be time-consuming.
3. Super Automatic Machines
Combining the quality of espresso machines with the ease of bean to cup technology, super automatics are high-end solutions designed for speed, quality, and user-friendliness.
- Best for: High-end hospitality environments where coffee quality and speed both matter.
- Pros: Consistent barista-quality coffee without the need for extensive training.
- Cons: Higher price point, but often worth it for the performance.
4. Filter Coffee Brewers
Ideal for brewing large batches of black coffee, filter machines are great for bulk service scenarios.
- Best for: Conferences, hotels, breakfast service, and events.
- Pros: Quick service of many drinks at once.
- Cons: Limited drink variety (usually just black coffee).
The 8 Key Considerations When Buying a Commercial Coffee Machine
Choosing the right machine for your business is all about making sure it fits with your business model, customers, staff, budget, and priorities. Here are the eight essential factors to weigh up before making your decision:
1. Service Style
Are drinks self-serve or staff-prepared? Will customers bring their own cups or be served at a counter? Your service model affects the ideal machine type.
- Café = Espresso or super automatic
- Office kitchen = Bean to cup
- Hotel breakfast = Filter machine or bean to cup
2. Volume of Drinks
Estimate how many coffees you’ll serve per day. High-volume environments (e.g., transport hubs or large offices) require robust machines built to handle demand without breakdowns.
3. Speed of Service
Do you need to serve dozens of drinks in short bursts? A fast-paced location might benefit from:
- Filter brewers for immediate service
- Super automatics for simultaneous orders
- Multi-group espresso machines for barista workflows
4. Budget & Finance Options
Machines range from £500 to £15,000+. Decide whether to:
- Pay upfront
- Lease over 3–5 years (a popular option)
- Consider lifetime costs like service, maintenance, and repairs
5. Cleaning & Maintenance
All machines require daily cleaning and regular servicing. Some, like milk-frothing bean to cup models, need more attention than others. Plan ahead for:
- Daily cleaning routines
- Biannual service visits
- Engineer callout costs
6. Water Quality
Hard water causes limescale and can damage internal components. You may need filtration or softening to:
- Protect your machine
- Improve flavour
- Reduce repair costs
7. Power Requirements
Some machines need a 13-amp plug, others require 32-amp or 3-phase power. Make sure your site can handle the power draw, or you may need upgrades.
8. Staffing & Training
Who will operate the machine? If you have:
- Baristas: Go for espresso or super automatic
- General staff or self-service by your customers: Bean to cup may be more practical.
