HoReCa · 12 April 2023

Choosing a coffee machine for a restaurant

How to choose a professional coffee machine so the coffee matches the standard of your restaurant.

Milk drink prepared in a Franke coffee machine

It is hard to argue that coffee is one of the most popular drinks in restaurants. Buying a professional coffee machine for a hospitality venue is therefore an important step, and one that will not only attract more visitors but also shape the impression they leave with. That in turn will undoubtedly show in how successfully the business grows.

What could be difficult about choosing coffee equipment? It seems that way right up to the point where you start actively looking for a genuinely good machine. The wide choice of models, what they can do and a great many other details all have to be accounted for before buying. To make it easier to get your bearings, here are the main characteristics to take into account.

What does a professional restaurant coffee machine look like?

A good coffee machine will not only make good, aromatic coffee but also help save time and money on staff by preparing drinks quickly. You do not need to hire a barista to make remarkable coffee; choosing modern, reliable coffee equipment is enough.

So what should be taken into account when choosing a machine? Here it is.

Start from what the business needs

Account for the size of your restaurant, the amount of coffee ordered and your budget — these are the important factors that will help with the choice. If you have a small restaurant or coffee shop, a compact machine will do. But if the venue has heavy customer traffic, you may need larger and more powerful equipment.

Type of machine

Semi-automatic or fully automatic? Let us say straight away that both options can and should be considered. Their main difference lies in one function — producing the foam. With a semi-automatic that has to be done by hand, and the equipment has a dedicated steam wand for it. A fully automatic model takes on every function. You do not need to do anything yourself except choose the drink on the control panel. In everything else the functions are the same. So what is the difference, you ask? A semi-automatic machine will cost you a little less.

Output

This parameter is very important and must not be ignored under any circumstances. A coffee machine's output is measured in the number of cups it can make in a given period of time.

If you have many customers, a high-output machine that can make from 200 to 300+ cups of coffee a day is the ideal decision. For smaller venues a model capable of 120-250 cups a day will suit.

Important

Make sure you buy a machine with slightly more output than you need. It should not always be running at the limit of its capabilities, since that does the main components no favours. Do not forget either that the number of customers can grow, and then you will need to serve them good coffee quickly.

Choice of coffee drinks

The wider the range, the better. Choose a machine that can make different types of coffee. That lets you extend the menu and so meet every customer's needs.

Ease of use

Serving restaurant guests quickly is one of the most important measures of any venue. Nobody likes waiting long, and that applies to coffee service too.

Favour coffee machines with intuitive operation. Your staff have to find the machine comfortable to work with, without wasting time trying to understand its functions.

Care

Every piece of coffee equipment requires care as a matter of course. Choose models that have automatic or semi-automatic cleaning systems. That is fast and convenient, and needs no separate specialists hired.

Choose quality equipment

Quality and reliability are what you certainly cannot do without. And this is not the place to economise. A coffee machine has to run without any trouble and be highly resistant to various kinds of damage.

A Franke coffee machine — your professional barista

The Swiss company Franke is the world leader in manufacturing professional coffee machines. You will find them across many areas of business, restaurants among them. Their popularity comes from a great many useful functions, modern technology, reliability and simple operation. And they have a very stylish design, which cannot go unmentioned.

Here are the key advantages of Franke coffee machines:

It is the perfect helper in making coffee. The machine can replace a top-class barista thanks to its automated functions.
Every cup of coffee made is of consistently high quality.
A low noise level does not interfere with your staff's work.
Minimal power consumption.
Make a large number of different coffee drinks for your restaurant's guests.
Extend the machine's feature set by connecting various modules.
Self-cleaning and self-diagnostics stand guard over cleanliness and uninterrupted operation at all times.

Beyond doubt, a Franke coffee machine will be an excellent choice for your restaurant.