Considerations When Choosing a Coffee Machine
Posted by Sean Coffey on 12th Oct 2024
1. Brand Importance
The brand of your coffee machine is crucial because it influences the quality of after-sales support. For example, we've partnered with Moffat, a company with service technicians available across Australia. Moffat boasts more technicians than any other Australian food-focused company. Additionally, they have three dedicated technical service advisors located in Victoria, NSW, and WA, covering all time zones. Their technical service advice is free of charge for all Moffat products, providing assistance either directly or to your local technician in remote areas.
2. Moffat’s Service & Warranty
As the largest commercial food equipment supplier, Moffat maintains a vast stock of parts. If a part is needed, it’s readily available and typically shipped that day. Our partnership with Moffat also allows us to offer a 2-year parts and labor warranty, ensuring that in the event of a breakdown, you can get back to business quickly.
3. Rancilio: A Legacy of Excellence
Rancilio, an iconic Italian coffee machine brand, is now present in 115 countries. Founded by Roberto Rancilio in 1930, the company introduced its first three models the following year and has been innovating ever since. With continuous investment in research and development, Rancilio remains a global leader in coffee machine manufacturing.
4. Usage: Determining the Right Capacity
How busy do you expect to be? Estimating the number of coffees you'll need to make during peak times is essential in determining the number of groups required for your machine. A one-group machine is suitable for businesses where coffee isn't the primary focus, such as pubs. For cafés, 2 or 3-group machines are most popular, as they are ideal for a single operator during busy periods.
5. Recovery Time: Can Your Machine Keep Up?
Your coffee machine’s ability to meet demand depends on whether it can maintain a consistent hot water supply. Let's take a look at the boiler capacity.
6. Boiler Size & Capacity
The boiler pumps hot water at pressure, which is forced through the group and then through the coffee grounds. To maintain the correct water temperature, pressurized cold water enters the bottom of the boiler, while hot water is forced out from the top. If your machine's boiler is too small for your business's needs, it may run out of hot water during peak hours.
7. Boiler Power
Most of the machine's power is dedicated to heating the boiler. A more powerful boiler heats faster and recovers quicker. Interestingly, a smaller boiler with higher power can outperform a larger boiler with less power, depending on the demands of your operation.
8. Available Power Supply
Be sure to consider the power availability at your location. The amount of electricity available on-site could limit your choice of coffee machine, particularly in terms of the boiler's size and power.
9. Group Height: A Practical Consideration
Often overlooked, the height from the drain grate to the spout of the group handle determines the cup size you can use. With the current popularity of tall paper cups, it’s important to ensure your machine can accommodate the cups or mugs your customers prefer.
10. Technology Benefits
Rancilio holds over 45 patents for their innovative designs and brewing technologies in the commercial coffee machine industry. Features such as temperature profiling and steady brew allow precise control of water temperature during extraction, ensuring optimal thermal precision. These advancements guarantee consistent quality in every cup, enhancing the overall coffee experience for your customers.