Coffee franchisees have the luxury of not having to purchase their espresso machine, the corporate offices has already done the research and has determined which machine is best for the company. But what if you're a independent coffee shop entrepreneur? What guidelines do you have to go by in order to select the best espresso machine for your business?
Manufacturers and distributors have a slew of shiny, bell whistling machines, that if your not careful, can end up costing you thousands of dollars before you realize you've got the wrong machine. The following are some typical suggestions to follow when you're out looking for that perfect espresso machine that will be the bread and butter of your store.
1. Do Your Research -- The specialty coffee industry has its share of reputable consultants to lead you thru the murky waters of espresso machine selection. Their years of experience in this field can determine if a machine is the one or if its crap. Other options are for you to visit local coffee shops and check out what machines they are using. Owners are proud of their machines and can give you the ups and downs on any particular model. Make sure your visit stores that have different models and manufacturers to get a rounded view on which machine may be best for you. Coffee message boards, blogs, company web sites, and trade shows are another option to consider in your decision making process.
2. What is it you Need and Want? -- What you want is not necessarily what you need. These are two different criteria that you will need to address. The most colorful, aerodynamic and shiniest machine may be just barriers of what's inside and that may be a recipe for disaster. To navigate this mostly Italian maze you will need to sit down and logically determine your needs. First figure our how much volume you'll be doing. Next, the type of machine will dictate what quality of drink you'll be able to make. Traditional espresso machine vs Automated espresso machine. The traditional espresso machine requires a barista, a highly trained coffee bartender while the automated machine needs someone to push a button. Each has its benefits and draw backs but you will need to determine how much interaction you want with your customers. How fast do you want your lines to flow, consistency is important and maintenance of the machine all have to be taken into account.
3. How Much? -- Espresso machines are not cheap. Knowing your needs will eventually effect how much you're going to spend for the workhorse of your business. Espresso machines run between $12,000 - $19,000 for a good quality machine.. Automated machines fall into the same window with slight variations depending on the maker. Before settling into a used machine do the the math. Determine the payoff of your expenditure for a new machine vs the expenditure of a used one. Warranty and service issues will need to be addressed with both a new and used machine. Figure out how much coffee you'll need to sell to pay off the cost of your espresso machine. Information on that can be found at many specialty coffee association web sites.
4. Training -- No matter which machine you purchase, you'll need to be trained on how to maintain it, pull the perfect shop and how to keep it running smoothly. With such a large capital output to open your coffee store, you should take formal training classes on baristaship. That is money wisely spent.
Remember to ask questions, research diligently and to get the proper training. Doing so and you can honestly say "that was money well spent."
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