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For business
Coffee machines for offices and cafés
A machine for a team or a café is a different purchase from a home machine. It has to make many more drinks, often needs a water line and stronger power, and it must be repaired fast when it stops. This section helps you work out the size you need and what to ask a dealer.
Office coffee machines
Bean-to-cup machines that staff use themselves: big bean container, big tank or a water line.
Café and restaurant espresso machines
One to three group machines, commercial grinders, and when a smaller machine is enough.
Buying guide for businesses
Cups per day, water and filters, electricity, service, total cost, lease or buy.
How many drinks a day?
Enter a rough number of drinks on your busiest day and choose who makes them.
Up to about 15 a day: a good home bean-to-cup machine can be enough
For a small team, a home automatic machine often works. Check that the warranty covers office use, and decide who cleans it every day.
About 15 to 40 a day: a compact professional machine
Compact professional bean-to-cup machines are made for this. Example: JURA WE8, which JURA describes for around 30 speciality coffees a day.
About 40 to 120 a day: a mid-size office machine, ideally on a water line
Look for a large bean container and tank or a fixed water connection, plus a service plan. Example: Saeco Aulika Evo, up to 120 drinks a day in its published specs.
More than about 120 a day: a large professional machine with a service contract
Examples: JURA GIGA X8 Professional and Melitta Cafina XT4, both rated for 180 drinks a day by their makers. Above that, two machines are safer than one: a breakdown never leaves everyone without coffee.
Up to about 100 a day: a one-group commercial machine
A one-group commercial machine with a steam boiler suits a kiosk, bakery or small café. Example: La Spaziale S2 one group with a 3 litre boiler.
About 100 to 300 a day: a two-group machine and a commercial grinder
Two groups let two orders be made at the same time. Most busy cafés start here. Examples: Rancilio Classe 5 USB, Nuova Simonelli Appia Life, La Spaziale S2 two group.
More than about 300 a day: three groups, two grinders and a dealer visit
A three-group machine needs more power, sometimes three-phase, and more counter space. Ask local dealers to look at your site before you order.
This is our rough rule of thumb, not a manufacturer figure. Manufacturers state their own recommended daily output, and a dealer should size a café machine with you.
What is different from a home machine
- Volume: manufacturers state a recommended number of drinks per day. Home machines are not built for all-day use.
- Water: business machines often connect to a water line, and café machines also to a drain.
- Power: a two or three group café machine can need its own high-current circuit, sometimes three-phase.
- Service: when the machine stops, you lose time or sales, so a fast local repair service matters more than the brand.
- Warranty: many home machines are not covered when used in a business. Check before buying.
We do not sell machines and have not tested these commercial models ourselves. Figures come from the linked sources and can change. If you buy through our Amazon links we may earn a commission.