Starter Pack for coffee shop equipment: How to choose a machine that makes truly great coffee

(As for training baristas — let’s cover that next time!)

What every aspiring coffee shop owner needs to know? It has been proven in practice that simply sitting at a stylish table, bossing waitstaff around, and typing away on a laptop won’t cut it. So, what should you do?

Many of you have come to us asking what equipment is needed to open your own coffee shop (or set up a small coffee corner in your office). We absolutely love getting these questions, but even more, we love answering them! So here we go, revealing all the trade secrets.

Part 1: The Coffee Machine

The coffee machine is the heart of any coffee shop. You have three options:

• Purchase it (expensive, but if you’re a billionaire — why not?)

• Lease it (the optimal choice for those who want ownership but are budget-conscious)

• Rent it (cheapest upfront but comes with long-term downsides)

The best option when opening a coffee shop is to own the machine outright. This ensures freedom in choosing your coffee supplier. Otherwise, you’ll likely be tied to a specific brand of coffee through a contractual obligation, requiring you to purchase a set volume of beans each month. Even if you find a better deal or want to experiment with new beans, you won’t be able to opt out. Not to mention, rental fees for using the equipment still apply.

We understand that purchasing a coffee machine is a significant financial burden, especially when you’ve already invested in rent, security deposits, renovations, furniture, and other equipment.

That’s why leasing with a buyout option is an ideal choice for those with a limited budget but still committed to serving exceptional coffee.

Unity Coffee Roasters offers lease-to-own coffee machines without binding you to our coffee beans (though you might want them anyway!).

• We’ll help you select the perfect coffee machine for your needs.

• We handle the purchase and all necessary paperwork.

• We install, calibrate, and provide full training on usage.

I Know Where to Get a Machine — But Which One Should I Choose?

The key is to analyze all the details to ensure your expectations regarding flavor consistency and speed of service align with reality.

You might already know that espresso machines come in single-group, two-group, three-group, and even four-group variants. However, internal components also significantly impact performance and coffee quality.

1. Boiler Configuration (Heating Water & Steam Generation)

Most coffee machines use a single-boiler system.

Pros:

• More affordable (ranging from €1,500 to €4,000 for high-quality Italian brands, as opposed to cheap, unreliable Chinese models).

Cons:

• A shared boiler for espresso extraction, milk steaming, and hot water dispensing leads to rapid water depletion. Making more than 20 consecutive drinks may result in temperature fluctuations and a temporary performance drop (about 5 minutes needed to reheat water). This inconsistency negatively impacts coffee quality.

Imagine craving a velvety cappuccino, pulling a perfect espresso shot, and then realizing you can’t steam milk because you’ve run out of steam pressure. By the time the machine recovers, your espresso has oxidized and lost its balanced aroma. Straight to the sink!

A secondary issue is fixed boiler temperature (typically 110-130°C) for steam pressure, while ideal espresso extraction happens at 92-96°C. This means baristas must manually flush water to regulate temperature, often estimating by eye. Not ideal for high-volume service.

The Solution: Multi-Boiler Machines

Multi-boiler machines solve these issues by having dedicated boilers for each coffee group, separate from the steam boiler.

Advantages:

• Each group head has an independent temperature setting, ensuring precision control for different roast profiles.

• Steam pressure remains stable, preventing fluctuations in milk texturing.

• Many models feature PID controllers (more on this below) for ultra-precise temperature management.

• Hot water passes through a heat exchanger, entering the espresso boiler preheated for immediate brewing stability.

• Less limescale buildup, extending machine lifespan.

The only downside? Price. Expect to spend at least €7,000–€15,000 on a high-end multi-boiler machine.

2. Pump System

Pumps drive water into the boiler and create brewing pressure. Your choice here determines whether your machine connects to a water line or requires bottled water.

• Single-pump machines use one pump for both functions, which can lead to pressure inconsistencies.

• Multi-pump machines allow independent pressure control for each group, enabling simultaneous preparation of different espresso recipes.

For a high-traffic coffee shop, multi-pump systems are a must.

3. Temperature Control: Pressostat vs. PID Controller

• Pressostats control boiler pressure mechanically but lack precision.

• PID controllers (used in high-end machines) provide digital temperature stability within 0.1°C, ensuring consistent extraction every time.

4. Water Flow Control: Volumetric vs. Manual

• Volumetric machines automate water flow, stopping extraction at a pre-set volume.

• Manual or semi-automatic machines require baristas to manually stop the shot.

For high-volume operations, a volumetric machine frees up baristas to multitask while ensuring consistent dosing.

Additional Features to Consider:

• Built-in scales for real-time weight-based brewing.

• Digital display for customizable settings.

• Integrated shot timer for precision control.

While these extras enhance workflow, they significantly increase machine cost.

Final Considerations: How to Choose the Right Machine

Your decision should be based on:

• Budget constraints

• Customer traffic volume (affecting machine capacity needs)

• Barista skill level (expert baristas can compensate for basic machine limitations)

While brand reputation matters, we encourage focusing on specifications and real-world reviews.

Italy remains the gold standard for espresso machines, with La Marzocco, Nuova Simonelli, Sanremo, Slayer, and Rocket commanding premium prices. However, underrated brands like BFC and Faema offer excellent performance at a more reasonable cost.

In our coffee shop, we use the Faema President GTi — a machine with an advanced thermal system, 7L steam boiler, and two independent 600ml espresso boilers with precise temperature control.

Now you know what that means! 😉