Buying the best commercial espresso machine may seem like a walk in the park to many people but the truth is that when you’re serious about getting it, it’s very important to keep a few things in mind.
By doing so, the overall search process will become easier and you’re also going to have the peace of mind that you’re getting a high quality piece of equipment that you’re going to be very happy with.
So with no further ado, let us take a close look at some of the things you should consider when getting a commercial espresso machine.
Top 10 Commercial Espresso Machines
Rank | Product | Review Score | ||
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1 |
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Jura 13637 Impressa XJ9 Professional Espresso Machines By Jura | 10 | View on Amazon.com |
2 |
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Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine By Breville | 10 | View on Amazon.com |
3 |
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Nuova Simonelli Musica Espresso Machine By simonelli | 9.8 | View on Amazon.com |
3 |
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Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine By Breville | 9.8 | View on Amazon.com |
4 |
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Wilbur Curtis G3 Alpha Decanter Brewer 64 Oz Coffee Brewer By Wibur Curtis | 9.6 | View on Amazon.com |
5 | La Pavoni Bar-Star 2V-R 2-Group Volumetric commercial espresso machine By La Pavoni | 9.4 | View on Amazon.com | |
6 | SAECO PicoBaristo HD8927/47 Super-automatic espresso machine By Saeco | 9.0 | View on Amazon.com | |
7 | Delonghi ECAM45760B Super Automatic Espresso Machine with Latte Crema System By DeLonghi | 8.9 | View on Amazon.com | |
8 | DeLonghi ESAM6700 Gran Dama Avant Espresso Machine By DeLonghi | 8.8 | View on Amazon.com | |
9 | ECM PROFI IV ESPRESSO MACHINE By ECM | 8.7 | View on Amazon.com | |
10 | Epoca Espresso Machine Color: Red By Ranciia | 8.5 | View on Amazon.com |
Selecting the Right Commercial Espresso Machine -What to look for:
Position and Size
The configuration of the work area is essential before you buy a commercial espresso machine. This means that you do need to have enough counter space for the model you want to get and not just for the coffee maker and the grinder, but also for pouring milk into coffees and using steam wands. Be sure that you also have an electric outlet or power supply in close proximity.
Volume Consumed Daily
Depending on the size of your business, it’s very important that you gauge the number of coffee cups you are expecting to see each day. If you have a small office and no more than a few dozen employees working, then you may very well want to consider an espresso machine that is capable of supplying between forty and fifty cups a day. On the other hand, large offices with hundreds of employees require a machine which is able to provide a minimum of two hundred cups per day.
Boiler (Single or Twin)
For office environments, it’s a lot more recommended to go for a twin boiler, since not only is this going to help make coffee faster, but it can also steam milk at the same time. There are 2 separate boilers in this type of machine and they’re kept at different water temperatures. If you get a single boiler though, then it’s only going to be able to do 1 task at a time.
Semi–Automatic or Automatic?
A semi automatic machine can be manually turned off and on and they allow you to easily control the amount of water required to extract the coffee. However, if that’s too difficult for you to deal with, then you may want to get an automatic machine which helps you make coffee with a single press of a button.
Brand and Cost
When you get a poor quality and of course, cheap espresso machine, then this is surely going to make everyone working for you feel down due to the fact that they know they are serving poor quality espresso to your clients. Because of that you need to get an espresso from a well known brand that you can rely on. In terms of price, it shouldn’t be too much, but not too low.
Consumables
Besides choosing the machine itself, you should also consider choosing a reliable supplier that’s going to be your one stop shop for any kind of consumables you require, including stirrers, syrups, disposable cups, coffee beans and so on.
With that being said, let’s take a moment and review some of the top commercial espresso machines you can currently get and see which one suits your needs best.
Our 10 Favorite Commercial Espresso Machines Right Now:
La Pavoni Bar-Star 2V-R 2-Group Volumetric commercial espresso machine (View on Amazon)
When you purchase this fine commercial Pavoni espresso machine, you benefit from 110+ years of espresso history and quality. Luigi Bezzara invented the espresso machine in Italy in 1901 and then sold his patent to Desiderio Pavoni 4 years later.
Pavoni has been designing and building fine espresso machines in Milan, Italy since that time.
Pavoni espresso machines are all designed and manufactured as top-of-the-line commercial espresso machines.
The La Pavoni BAR-STAR 2V-R Two-Group Volumetric Commercial Espresso Machine has the features you would expect from a top-rated machine and is also a thing of beauty sitting on your bar—especially if you choose the red color.
This La Pavoni BAR-STAR is designed to be the most technically advanced automatic programmable dosing la Pavoni machine available. Dosing setting are controlled by a digital control pad and a microprocessor.
Key Features:
The boiler can be directly plumbed into the water supply and is the largest standard boiler available (14L). Microprocessor controlled Thermal stability ensures that the groups always maintain consistent temperature.
- Highest quality nickel-plated brass components.
- Fully automatic with Manual Over-ride of All Functions.
- Dual Pressure Gauge Monitors Constant Group and Boiler Pressure.
- Automatic and Programmable Coffee Dosing.
- Automatic and Programmable Hot Water Delivery.
- Largest Boiler Capacity in the Industry.
- 4 Espresso Volume Settings per Group.
- Electronic Automatic Water Level Control with Sight Glass.
- Flexible Steam Jet with Anti-drip Spring Taps.
- Two Steam Wands Standard.
- Internal Electric Pump.
- Water Softener to Treat Hard Water.
- Internal Electric Pump.
- Large cup warmer on top of the machine.
- Power management functions to help reduce electricity consumption.
- The same basic espresso machine can have brewing groups added to increase capacity up to 4 groups.
The La Pavoni BAR-STAR 2V-R Two-Group Volumetric Commercial Espresso Machine is unabashedly designed as a commercial espresso machine and is very good at that function. With its large reservoir/boiler and design for continuous use, Pavoni has produced a serious contender for any commercial coffee house.
With this espresso machine, your Barista skills will shine. It produces high volume, delicious drinks with full manual override (should you so desire) of every step of the process.
Note that this machine requires 240v power.
SAECO PicoBaristo HD8927/47 Super Automatic Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
The Saeco PicoBaristo HD8927/47 is a super-automatic espresso machine that is suitable for commercial, office, and even home use. While it is a compact footprint unit, don’t let that fool you. It brews the largest available choice of coffee beverages of any compact espresso machine—exceeding the capabilities of much larger espresso machines. It produces this wide variety of superb beverages automatically at the push of a button, and it is designed to minimize the need for cumbersome maintenance. Using Saeco’s water filters provides a maintenance cycle of 5,000 drinks before descaling is required.
The Saeco PicoBaristo HD8927/47 Super-automatic espresso machine is one of the most popular espresso makers available in the market for good reason.
Key Features:
Ease of use and the versatility of this Saeco expresso machine are its top-ranked attributes by purchasers and contribute to it being selected as an “Amazon’s choice” product. Other key features include:
- Full functionality with one-touch selection of 11 different beverages
- 5 strength settings
- Compact size and footprint
- Attractive Stainless Steel design
- Super reliable ceramic grinder with 10 adjustable settings
- Automatic milk frother with removable carafe provides delicious hot Cappuccinos and Latte Macchiatos at one touch
- Patented AquaClean water filters water for every cup for best taste
- Inherently designed for reduced maintenance, such as 5,000 cups to descaling
- The “memo” function keeps your personal settings for your favorite beverages
If you’re in the market for a super automatic espresso machine that is suitable for commercial, office, and even home use, and produces a wide variety beverages at the push of a button then the Saeco PicoBaristo HD8927/47 Super-automatic Espresso Machine is a great choice. It is a compact, high quality espresso machine with capabilities that make it suitable for commercial applications.
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
The manufacturer calls the Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine “Everything you need for barista quality coffee, in a compact footprint”. This is a good summary of this fully automatic espresso machine, which has excellent reviews by purchasers. This machine automates the full brewing process, allowing you to create great tasting espresso in less than a minute while giving you fine control over everything that is happening.
The Breville Barista Express has many great features that really make it a commercial espresso machine that will also fit in a compact space on your counter. This machine allows you to grind the beans immediately before extraction, and its interchangeable filters with a choice of automatic or manual operation ensure authentic barista results wherever you are. It includes an integrated conical bur grinder to deliver just the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the included portafilter, where the PID (Digital temperature control) delivers water at precisely the right temperature to produce your preferred taste with any roast of bean.
The Breville Barista Express has many great features that really make it a commercial espresso machine that will also fit in a compact space on your counter. This machine allows you to grind the beans immediately before extraction, and its interchangeable filters with a choice of automatic or manual operation ensure authentic barista results wherever you are. It includes an integrated conical bur grinder to deliver just the right amount of freshly ground coffee directly into the included portafilter, where the PID (Digital temperature control) delivers water at precisely the right temperature to produce your preferred taste with any roast of bean.
This Breville espresso machine will produce delicious espressos, cafe lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos while offering you the option of super automatic or manual control. It has extremely high quality construction and super reviews by purchasers. The machine looks like the real espresso machine it is, offering an attractive addition to your kitchen, workplace, or coffee shop. The Breville Barista Express produces great coffee drinks that are rich in aroma and flavor. For uncompromising espresso taste, the Breville Barista Express espresso machine is an excellent choice!
ECM PROFI IV Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
The ECM Profi IV is a truly impressive espresso machine that seamlessly combines function and form in order to achieve an eye catching design. On the outside, you’ll love the custom grouphead, front mounted pressure gauges and the curved stainless steel housing, yet it’s what’s on the inside that’s going to really impress you. First of all, the ECM Profi IV uses top of the line components in order to make for a very reliable and durable espresso machine.
Contrary to what other companies are doing, ECM has decided to actually build the drop tray as part of the machine’s frame, therefore greatly increasing durability. Also, the body was designed for the purpose of absorbing the noise made by integral components, which, combined with the quiet rotary pump, make the ECM Profi IV a very silent machine.
In terms of brewing, the Profi IV comes with a two point one liter heat exchange, stainless steel boiler and a silent rotary pump. Thanks to the heat exchanger, you can steam and brew at the same time, while stainless steel is very well known for its ability to resist corrosion and heat retention properties. If you would like to make the Profi IV a more permanent fixture on your countertop, you’ll be very pleased to know what it can be easily connected to a water line, therefore, fully eliminating the need for refills.
Nuova Simonelli Oscar II Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
With the new Nuova Simonelli Oscar II, you’ll finally be able to brew the best and most delicious espressos you’ve ever had. First of all, this model is designed in such a way that when the required volume of coffee has been dispensed, it’ll immediately stop brewing. The Oscar II comes with one cup, two cup and also continuous brew buttons and the good news is that each of them can be programmed to specific sizes. Even better, the machine makes it possible to prevent accidental reprogramming of these settings.
Thanks to the hot water wand, you can easily brew tea with one hundred percent fresh hot water with a single push of a button. You can also program the water to stop by using the LCD menu so that the machine won’t dispense more than you require.
In terms of build quality, the Oscar II features a full metal body construction and included by the company are a blank filter basket, two portafilter handles, a tamper and scoop.
Given the fact the Oscar II comes with a commercial boiler steam pressure gauge and Sirai pressure stat, you can easily adjust your desired brewing temperature. Speaking of which, the boiler was also wrapped with a 0.5” of insulation in order to save you money in the long run by reducing energy consumption.
Check out our comparison of the 3 popular Nuovo Simonelli espresso machines: Nuova Simonelli Oscar II vs. Musica vs. Appia II:
Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
The Breville BES920XL Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is a commercial quality espresso machine that is comfortable in a coffee house, an office, or a home where you want commercial capabilities in a dual boiler system. It has commercial espresso maker features and performance while maintaining a compact size that readily fits in a home or small office.
This key feature of this machine is the dual boiler heating system. The boiler for the espresso shot is digitally temperature controlled (PID) to ± 2°F. This precise temperature control provides the maximum extraction of the great flavors of your drink.
The separate steam boiler produces copious quantities of steam instantly on-demand to help you extract the shot at just the right temperature to deliver the very best espresso flavor while steaming your milk with commercial quality.
Key features:
- Double Boilers
- Choice of Stainless Steel, Black, or Red stylish finish
- Programming capabilities include setting the shot volume and temperature
- Clock with auto start timer
- Programmable cleaning cycle
- Adjustable boiler temperature from 265ºF – 285ºF
- Pulse pre-infusion expands the grinds before extraction to provide a balanced espresso shot
- Includes advanced options not often available on espresso machines, like the ability to customize pre-infusion length and power, adjust steam temperature, machine audio, maintenance alerts, water hardness, and shot length.
The Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine is an upgraded machine with the features of a commercial espresso machine in a footprint that allows it to comfortably fit in a coffee shop, an office, or in your home. It has the features you will love, including the double stainless steel boilers, Italian pumps to allow simultaneous shot extraction at optimal pressure and milk frothing. This fine super automatic Breville machine produces delicious espresso drinks with the full control of a commercial espresso machine. It has extremely high quality construction and excellent reviews by purchasers. This is a true commercial espresso machine that fits well into any environment. The Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine produces uncompromising espresso drinks that are unmatched in aroma and flavor; it’s an excellent choice in the commercial espresso machine segment and exceptional for home use
Epoca Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
The Epoca Espresso is made of stainless steel, which already tells you that it’s built for the long haul and not only will it look great in your kitchen, but also make you change your mind about what a quality espresso tastes like. Featuring a built in water tank with a capacity of 3.9 liters, the Epoca can make up to seventy drinks per hour which means that it’s an excellent choice if you’re running a pretty successful coffee shop that serves a few hundred or up to several hundred cups of coffee per day.
The boiler heating element is powered by a 1700W element which is enough to make even the pickiest coffee lovers out there happy with its performance. In total, the product weighs 88 lbs, so it’s not the type that you could move often. Overall, if you’re looking for a quality espresso machine and want to make sure that you’re going to be very happy with your choice, then it’s a must that you take a closer look at what the Epoca Espresso can do to satisfy your need for delicious, flavorful coffee.
Wilbur Curtis G3 Alpha Decanter Brewer (View on Amazon)
If you’re looking for brewing premium gourmet coffee with zero hassles, then look no further, since the Wilbur Curtis G3 is everything you need to do that and more. Thanks to its built-in fine tuning brewing modes, you’ll be able to use the pulse brew and pre-infusion functions in order to improve the extraction of the gourmet coffee flavor. There’s also a cold water brew lock-out functions which is very helpful due to the fact that it won’t let you brew coffee if the water temperature is below a certain level.
The G3’s digital control module is housed in high quality polymer, which makes this model impervious to moisture, steam and heat. There are many functions you can play with on the G3, functions that allow you to easily adjust brew functions, temperature, volume, time and many more. There’s also a fast brew option which allows you to greatly reduce brew time by allowing dilution and concentrate cycles to run concomitantly. Overall, the G3 is a high end espresso machine that’s a vital part of any food service, hotel and restaurant.
Jura Impressa XJ9 Professional Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
The reviews online are raving about the Jura Impressa XJ9 and for good reason. Not only does this machine look simply amazing on your countertop, but the quality of the drinks it produces is simply mind blowing. You can easily create the perfect ristretto, espresso, cafe creme, cappuccino and latte macchiato with a single touch of a button. Meanwhile, the amazing silver finish, complex bean container (chrome plated) and the symmetrical and clear design give it a luxurious touch.
The Jura Impressa XJ9 also features a three point five inch color display (TFT)which displays information about the type of drink you’ve selected and more. The water tank has a capacity of 4 liters, while the bean container has a capacity of 500 grams. Looking both elegant and boasting excellent aesthetics and a great combination of colors and high quality materials, the Impressa XJ9 is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to prepare delicious espresso shots and more with a single push of a button.
Delonghi ECAM45760B Super Automatic Espresso Machine with Latte Crema System (View on Amazon)
The DeLonghi Eletta ECAM45760B Super Automatic Espresso Machine with Latte Crema Systemis a great choice for either a high-end home espresso machine or a machine for your office or restaurant. It features powerful programmable specialty brewing at an attractive price. The DeLonghi Eletta Cappuccino sets new standards for home super-automatic espresso machines. It has sleek styling in stainless steel and black. The user interface is stylish, easy to use, and does everything you want. You can easily prepare standard beverages and program the custom one-touch beverages you want.
This DeLonghi machine features the Lattecrema system to dispense beautifully frothed milk for lattes, macchiatos, and similar beverages.
Key features:
- Intuitive metal touch panel
- Attractive and informative blue LED display
- Illuminated, adjustable height drink spouts
- Removable brew group for easy cleaning
- Automated rinsing and descaling for quick maintenance
- Programmable for one-touch beverages with 9 optional settings for strength, length, and temperature
- Thermoblock heater for perfect beverage temperature
- Lattecrema system produces perfectly frothed milk for lattes, macchiatos, and similar beverages or use the manual milk frother to give you even greater control
- Additional options for hot milk, flat whites, espresso macchiatos
- DeLonghi’s silent burr grinder with 13 fineness adjustments for superior results
- Bypass doser allows you to use pre-ground coffee
- Cup warmer
The Delonghi Eletta Digital Super Automatic Espresso Machine hits all the checkmarks for a high-end home super automatic espresso machine or a great machine for a smaller commercial establishment. It has great features, great styling, and it easy to use and maintain. Purchasers have given the machine excellent reviews.
It is certainly a machine worth your consideration.
DeLonghi ESAM6700 Gran Dama Avant Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
Thanks to the ESAM6700 from DeLonghi, you and your guests are finally going to be able to enjoy delicious macchiatos, lattes and cappuccinos whenever you want. Thanks to DeLonghi’s patented milk container, creating authentic Italian drinks has never been easier. All you need to do is place the cup under the nozzle and then, with the push of a button, you’ll create your 100% authentic Italian drink. What’s great about the milk container is that if you want, you can also detach it and then store it in your refrigerator. With a total of 5 coffee strength settings ranging from extra strong to extra mild, no matter who comes over, they’re going to be able to enjoy their desired flavor.
The ESAM6700 also features a digital touch screen control panel that you can easily use in order to program the various menu settings. Therefore, you can adjust start time, cup size (four settings), coffee strength (five settings), temperature, clock and auto off. Better yet, thanks to the patented Direct to Brew system, the ESAM6700 is able to instantly grind beans in order to make the freshest espresso you’ve ever had. Given the fact that it’s removable and compact, cleaning the brewing system is a breeze.
Quickmill Andreja Premium Espresso Machine (View on Amazon)
The Quick Mill Andreja is a truly impressive commercial espresso machine that features a high sheen exterior made of stainless steel which is going to look perfect on your countertop. Thanks to its E Sixty One commercial brew head, insulated copper boiler and Ulka 52W vibratory pump, you have all the power required in order to make smooth foam for your lattes and cappuccinos and velvety espressos. Given the fact that the copper boiler and the pump work in tandem, you’re able to steam milk and brew coffee at the same time, while reducing recovery time. In terms of construction quality, 304 stainless steel is used for both the housing and the frame, meaning this unit is going to last you for years to come.
If you wish to put the Quick Mill Andreja on a timer, then thanks to the Vacuum Breaker Valve you won’t have to worry about having any vapor lock issues. When it comes to the boiler drain, it is very simple to access given the fact that in the newest version the drain plug was added to the bottom of the boiler. Because of that, if for whatever reason you need to drain the boiler, you can do so easily. There are of course other features you’re going to love about the Andreja, including the Second Magnetic Sensor which alerts you when you have to refill the water tank and the resettable Hi-Limit which does a great job protecting the heating element.
Best Commercial Machines FAQ
What makes commercial espresso machines different from home espresso machines?
It is sometimes tempting to buy a commercial espresso machine for home use or to try to use a less expensive home expresso machine in a commercial environment. What is the difference? Will a home espresso machine suffice for a commercial environment at a cheaper price?
The short answer is that espresso machines are well designed for the commercial or home market segments.
Commercial espresso machines are typically designed for high volume usage by many different operators with very short cycle times. They are made with heavy duty material which will not be damaged easily. For example, commercial espresso machines are typically constructed from metal which will not be easily damaged (like plastics, for example).
A commercial espresso machine will certainly have a design goal of lasting at least 10 years—but at a price point typically close to $10,000 (ranging from $5,000 to $30,000).
Typically, commercial machines are made to be permanently connected to the water supply (providing conditioned water pre filtered) and to drainage (Commercial establishments generally will have floor drains).
Because of the need to deliver quickly with short cycle times, commercial espresso machines have higher power consumptions directly connected to 220 Volt electrical service, which is typically not available in your kitchen at home.
Importantly, commercial espresso machines are designed for long use with minimum maintenance. A commercial espresso machine should be “NSF Certified”. NSF is the National Sanitation Foundation. They are designed to be operated by multiple operators without creating a safety hazard. Typical design volumes are 100’s of drinks per day.
These commercial machines are designed for a long life—the design ife of these commercial machines is typically 10 or more years while operating at high volumes, whereas a home expresso machine might last less that a year while struggling to keep up with demand drinks.
Conversely, home machines are designed for a much lighter duty cycle but with the flexibility to provide a wide range of drinks programmatically—at the push of a button.
Since duty cycles are much lighter, so having to pour water into a reservoir does not significantly affect overall productivity.
Home machines are typically much smaller and lighter—easily fitting on a counter. They typically sell for on the order of $1,000 and frequently are designed to produce only 10% or so of the drinks produced by a commercial machine.
What machines does Starbucks use?
Many coffee aficionados ask what machines Starbucks uses. Starbuck used a machine built specifically and exclusively for Starbucks by a Swiss company (Thermoplan AG) called Mastrena. These machines are used in all Starbucks locations. They are fully computerized to support Starbuck’s menus and to maximize the productivity of each barista.
How long does a commercial espresso machine last?
- 10 Years with maintenance (home machines last 1 year in commercial environment)
- Water Filter (Plumbed in high capacity vs low volume )
How much does a commercial espresso machine cost?
- $5000-$30000
Best Overall Commercial Espresso Machine:
If you really want to get your hands on the best, then there’s no doubt that the Jura Impressa XJ9 is one of the most incredible espresso machines you’re ever going to find on the market today.
No matter if you want to create the perfect ristretto, espresso, cafe creme, cappuccino and latte macchiato, with the touch of a button you can make that happen in seconds. In terms of looks, the XJ9 boasts a silver finish, complex chrome plated bean container and a symmetrical and clear design. All of these elements combined, add a touch of charisma to the unit that makes it a cut above the rest.
Get the Jura Impressa XJ9 on Amazon
Given the fact that the water tank has a capacity of 4 liters, while the bean container has a capacity of 500 grams, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to brew many espresso shots with the XJ9 and all of them are going to taste simply amazing. Overall, the XJ9 is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to prepare delicious espresso shots and more with a single push of a button.
Best Value Commercial Espresso Machine: Wilbur Curtis G3
Get the Wilbur Curtis G3 on Amazon
The Wilbur Curtis G3 is the best solution for those who want to brew delicious espressos without the added cost and bells and whistles that are usually available in the higher end machines. The G3 is also built very well and since it’s housed in high quality polymer, it is impervious to moisture, steam and heat. The brew functions on this model can be easily adjusted, but so can the temperature, volume, time and many more. Better yet, you also get a fast brew option which makes it a breeze to brew drinks very fast. All in all, this is a G3 is an amazing espresso machine that not only produces delicious espresso shots, but is adequately priced and is therefore an integral part of any coffee shop, hotel and restaurant.