How to Choose a Coffee Machine for a Coffee Shop: Tips and Recommendations

The heart of any successful coffee business is a reliable and powerful professional coffee machine. The right choice of this device directly affects the taste of drinks, the speed of service, and, ultimately, the profit of your establishment. Therefore, the question of how to choose a coffee machine is key to success.

In this article, we will help you figure out how to choose the right coffee machine so that it becomes your most reliable assistant.

Types of coffee machines and their features

Before you decide which professional coffee machine model to buy, it is important to understand what types exist. This is the first step in understanding how to choose a coffee machine for specific tasks.

Horn (semi-automatic) coffee machines

These are reliable and durable machines, but they require manual control over the coffee-making process. The barista controls the grinding, tamping, and extraction time. The taste of the drink depends entirely on their skill, so these machines require qualified personnel.

Automatic coffee machines

These machines automate most of the processes. In essence, the barista’s job is simply to select the desired drink on the control panel. The machine grinds the beans, forms a coffee tablet, and prepares the espresso. For a slightly higher price, the coffee machine will provide the establishment with consistent drink quality regardless of staff changes.

Super-automatic coffee machines

These are true coffee stations that perform the entire preparation cycle: from grinding the beans to adding and frothing the milk. The preparation time for one cup is 30-40 seconds. They are ideal for establishments with a large flow of guests and a wide range of drinks.

An important nuance: if you position your coffee as craft coffee, an automatic machine can damage the reputation of your establishment.

Capsule coffee machines

Suitable for establishments where coffee is not the main product on the menu. These are non-professional machines, which are also often found in home use. The cost of the device itself is affordable, but the long time it takes to make one or two cups of coffee negates this advantage.

How to choose a coffee machine for a coffee shop: business criteria

The main rule for choosing the right coffee machine: the business model dictates the choice of equipment, not the other way around. Analyze:

1. What is your peak productivity? The key indicator is the number of drinks you need to serve during peak hours (usually from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning). For a to-go establishment, this can be 80-150 cups/hour, for a quiet coffee shop in a residential area – 30-50.
2. If 80% of your sales are cappuccinos and lattes, you need a machine with a powerful steam system that can brew espresso and froth milk at the same time. If you’re focusing on classic espresso and filter coffee, your priority will be perfect temperature stability.

Technical specifications

Once you have decided on the type, the next step in choosing a coffee machine is to consider the technical specifications:

1. The number of groups (horns) affects the throughput. One group is for a mobile coffee shop or restaurant, while two groups allow one barista to efficiently serve 50-100 customers per day.
2. The type of boiler is the engine of the machine, which determines the stability of the temperature and steam power.
3. Boiler volume — for a two-group machine, a boiler with a volume of 10-12 liters is optimal.
4. PID controller – a digital thermostat for precise temperature control, it prevents bitterness or acidity in the drink.
5. Materials – stainless steel body and metal horns are a sign of reliability and durability. Avoid models with a lot of plastic parts.
6. Pump type – a rotary pump is quieter, creates stable pressure, and is more durable than a vibration pump.

The cost of professional machines can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Decide how much you are willing to invest, but remember that excessive savings can lead to frequent breakdowns and expensive repairs.

Advantages of the Nasoloda franchise: equipment and service

Choosing equipment is a truly difficult and responsible step. But we have made sure that it is as simple as possible for our partners. When you open a coffee shop under the Nasoloda franchise, you get a comprehensive solution that makes choosing a coffee machine a lot easier.

We provide everything you need on favorable leasing terms. These are time-tested and proven coffee machine models that are ideal for our establishments. You won’t have to worry about the reliability of the equipment, as we also provide full technical maintenance.

Find out the terms and details of the partnership by calling: +380735600025.