Our picks by venue
| Best for | Machine | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| A low-volume café, office or coffee van | Ascaso BAR 2 Group | $5,599 | Each group heats independently. It's available with an internal tank or a mains connection, and uses up to 60% less energy than a traditional boiler machine. |
| Running off a standard 10 amp powerpoint | Lelit Giulietta X | $4,499 | A two-group machine only 58 cm wide, with a 10 litre boiler and E61 groups. It runs from tanks or mains water. |
| A busy café that wants control | Ascaso Barista T One | from $7,599 | Each group has its own PID temperature control, accurate to 0.1°C, plus an 8.5 litre steam boiler for a full milk menu. |
| High-volume venues | Ascaso Barista T Plus, 2 or 3 groups | from $12,899 / from $13,999 | Ascaso's top machine, with a large cup warmer and very strong steam. It uses about 50% less energy than a traditional single-boiler machine. |
| Specialty espresso bars | Slayer V4 Single Group | $15,250 | Slayer's flow control shapes the extraction through each shot. Usually available to order from our supplier. |
| A showpiece for the counter | Kees van der Westen Speedster | $26,499 | Hand-built in the Netherlands, for bars that want the best machine on the counter. Usually available to order from our supplier. |
How to choose a commercial coffee machine
How many groups? As a rough guide, one group suits up to about 100 coffees a day, two groups suit most cafés, and three groups suit venues with long queues. More groups also let two baristas work at once. Ask us and we'll size it to your busiest hour.
Power. Most two-group machines need a 15 amp circuit. The Lelit Giulietta X runs off a standard 10 amp powerpoint, which makes it the easy option for offices, carts and older buildings. Check your switchboard with an electrician before you order.
Water. Plumbed machines should go through a water filter, such as the Brita C150, to keep scale out of the boiler. Tank machines like the Ascaso BAR (internal tank version) and the Giulietta (external tanks) suit carts and sites without plumbing.
Grinder. Budget for a commercial grinder too. An on-demand grinder doses straight into the portafilter, which keeps coffee fresh and cuts waste.
Installation and service. We can arrange a technician in most areas to install your machine and plumb it in through a filter, and on-site service through our service partners. Commercial machines carry a one-year warranty (two years on Ascaso, with five years on Ascaso thermoblocks), and we stock the parts.
Training. We can come to your venue to train your staff, or they can join one of our barista courses.
Setting up for offices or events? See office coffee machines and coffee carts.
