How to choose a coffee machine for cafes

When opening a coffee shop, owners often do not understand the difference between coffee machines and buy the first model they come across. In order not to regret buying an expensive coffee machine that is not suitable for your cafe, it is important to know how they differ.

How are espresso coffee machines different?

Let's look at the main differences between espresso coffee machines that will affect the quality of the coffee. This will help you decide which equipment best meets your requirements.

Coffee machines are one or more pumps.

The pump is a device that creates pressure in the coffee machine and also pumps water into the boiler. An espresso coffee machine can have a different number of pumps:

1. One pump. In most coffee machines, one pump performs several functions at the same time. It increases the pressure and pours water into each coffee group, and also pumps the water into the heating boiler. Due to the same pump, the same pressure is set for all the groups where the espresso is made. They use the pressure in the water supply system to which they are connected to pump water into the heating boiler. When the water level drops, the valve opens, but the pump does not turn on. If you plan to work with such coffee machines from bottled water, and not from the water supply, then you will need to use additional pumps that will create pressure. But this is rather an exception, the pumps of most models of coffee machines work both for pouring water into the group and for sucking water into the boiler.

2. Multiple pumps. Each coffee group has separate pumps. Their main advantage is that you can individually adjust the pressure for each coffee group. Disadvantages of single pump coffee machines: They are much more expensive than single pump coffee machines. Multiple pumps also take up quite a bit of space. Multiple pumps can be useful if you plan to use different coffee recipes with different pressures for different coffee groups.

Coffee machines differ in pump types

Vibrating pumps are simple, they are mainly used for coffee machines designed for low performance. Coffee machines with vibration pumps are equipped with an overpressure valve. This is necessary because vibration pumps do not have the ability to adjust the pressure, and with the help of such a valve, excess pressure can be eliminated and thus the desired pressure can be adjusted. The vibration pump is compact, so it is installed in small semi-professional and home coffee machines. They have a low price - 18-70 euros. The disadvantage is that such a pump makes a lot of noise. Rotary pumps are installed in most professional coffee machines. They consist of the pump itself and an electric motor that rotates the blades inside the mechanism. Unlike vibration pumps, rotary pumps produce more stable pressure and are less noisy. However, they take up significantly more space and cost around 200 euros, excluding the electric motor. Rotary pumps can be located inside or outside the espresso machine. Remote pumps can be installed, for example, in a cabinet under a coffee machine, which is convenient when changing pressure settings.

Coffee machines differ in the number of heating boilers

Coffee machines with one heating boiler and heat exchanger

These machines have one large heating boiler, which often does not exceed 5 liters. It maintains the required pressure and temperature of 120 ° C. When the espresso pump is turned on, the cold water from the water supply enters the boiler, heats up and enters the group. From there it already goes to the department with coffee. By opening the steam tap connected to the top of the boiler, steam is obtained for milk frothing.

Flaws:

- The water temperature during espresso preparation is unstable and very difficult to set accurately. The temperature at the beginning of the extraction is often too high and becomes insufficient after making several cappuccinos or using water from the boiler.

- Espresso preparation requires additional time. After the machine has warmed up, there is overheated water in the boiler, the temperature of which is too high for making espresso. Therefore, before making a cup of coffee, an "empty pour" should be performed to drain the superheated water into the drip tray.

For a single-boiler coffee machine, the size of the boiler is of great importance. The higher it is, the less likely it is that the temperature will drop during heavy flow. We recommend coffee machines with heating boilers up to 8 liters.

Coffee machines with several boilers

There are two-boiler coffee machines with separate boilers for steam/hot water and espresso. Also three and even four boilers, where each group has an additional boiler for steam and boiling water, has a separate boiler for espresso.

The temperature can be adjusted for each group separately. This can be useful if you plan to make different coffees: weaker and stronger in the same machine at the same time.

ADVANTAGES:

The boiler maintains a temperature of about 120 °C for steam and boiling water. Espresso boiler approx. 93 °C (factory setting