If you’re setting up a café, you probably love coffee enough to make it your day job. This will serve you well as you look for your café-grade espresso machine. Your coffee machine is more than just a piece of equipment. It’s the tool that your team will rely on, day in and day out, to serve perfect coffee, manage high-traffic periods, and wow your customers.
There are many options to choose from. So, knowing which machine is right for your café comes down to understanding the coffee machine features that will help your business thrive. To help, we’ve put together a quick insider’s guide to get you started. Let’s go.
1. Boiler Type: Single vs. Double vs. Multi-Boiler
One of the top coffee machine features to look out for is the boiler setup. This is crucial because it largely dictates how well your baristas (or you, if you’ll be manning the machine) will be able to multitask.
For instance, single-boiler machines may be suitable for your home kitchen, but they simply can’t keep up with a commercial environment where you need to steam milk and pull shots simultaneously.
Double- or multi-boiler systems enable your team to brew and steam simultaneously, all while maintaining the required temperature and pressure for a worthy coffee. In other words, never skimp on the boiler. We recommend at least a double, especially if you’ll be serving as many milk-heavy drinks (think flat whites and lattes) as the Kiwi coffee-drinking population tends to demand.
2. PID Temperature Control
If we’re talking café culture, then consistency is king. Your customers will come back through your doors again and again because the coffee tastes just as good on Tuesday as it did on Saturday. While a lot of that comes down to hiring for skill and training well, your machine also dictates how well you can uphold this consistency.
Specifically, one small aspect of your machine: the PID temperature control. As one of the most important coffee machine features to keep your eye on, this feature allows you to precisely control the water temperature during extraction. This is crucial if you want to achieve the best flavour from specialty beans.
This feature is somewhat overlooked by budding café owners. But seasoned baristas know that consistent temperatures mean consistent extractions, so this is one that can’t be ignored.
3. Pre-Infusion Capability
You may not have realised how important pre-infusion is. Allowing the coffee to bloom prior to extraction is vital, as it creates a smoother shot and combats any unpleasant bitterness, so it matters quite a lot. This is why selecting a machine with pre-infusion capability is exceptionally important, as it will give your baristas the tools they need to impress every customer who comes to the counter.
Many high-end machines offer programmable pre-infusion settings as part of their extraction cycle, so you and your team can fine-tune your café’s signature taste.
4. Steam Wand Power and Control
Ask any barista in New Zealand, and they will tell you how vital it is to consider the hallowed flat white or latte when making your machine choice. Milk-based drinks make up the majority of orders in any café, so your steam wand can hardly be called an afterthought.
A powerful steam wand will deliver dry, consistent steam that helps your baristas texture their milk to a perfect microfoam quickly. This is a standard that customers expect, so look for machines with multiple wands if you’re planning a high-volume operation.
There are also ergonomic wands with cool-touch technology that help baristas get through long shifts. Although they can be more expensive, they’re well worth considering if you have the budget and a smaller staff rotation.
5. Programmable Volumetric Controls
Dosing, dosing, dosing. This might seem like a given, but one of the most important coffee machine features for any café owner to seek out is a programmable setup. In a busy café, speed matters, but so does consistency of quality. If your baristas are equipped with volumetric controls on their machines, then they can pull specific water volumes for each shot, ensuring the last coffee of the day is just as good as the first.
This doesn’t mean you lose any artisanal flexibility. Most machines with programmatic features also offer manual control, allowing more experienced staff members to operate them. However, for new baristas on the floor or during busy periods, this feature can significantly reduce the guesswork.
6. Easy Cleaning and Maintenance
Finally, the coffee matters, but so does the upkeep. The best machines are only good for a short while without proper care, and while daily cleaning should feature heavily in any café’s daily to-do list, the ideal machine should make this as easy as possible.
The biggest thing to look for? Accessible parts and servicing. While niche machines or specialised espresso models from across the pond are appealing in their uniqueness, their parts are difficult to access for repairs, and they lack widespread service programs that keep your machine in good working condition.
Much like a vehicle, you want something that is going to go the distance. Other small features that can help include removable drip trays, group heads, and steam tips, all of which can save you a significant amount of labour over time.
Invest in a machine that is easy to clean, and it will pay you back in spades with recouped labour hours. Also, a clean machine ensures a delicious cup of coffee.
There you have it! Six vital coffee machine features to look out for as you embark on your hunt for a trusted café-grade espresso machine. These are all readily accessible with the right supplier, and each will equip you with the capabilities you (and your baristas) need to build a thriving community business.
So, what are you waiting for?
Start brewing with a café-grade machine from Segafredo.
At Segafredo Zanetti, we’ve been helping café owners like you build their businesses around exceptional coffee for decades. From selecting the right machine to training your staff and keeping your beans stocked, we’re here to ensure you’ve everything you need to succeed.
Explore our café-grade espresso machines today, and let’s create something great together.
