BEST ESPRESSO MACHINES UNDER $3000 (COMMERCIAL & PROSUMER)

Purchasing an espresso machine for your business doesn’t need to break the bank.

If that sounds impossible to you, we’ll prove in this guide that there are commercial-quality espresso machines out there for budgets of all sizes. We’ll show you the 4 best commercial espresso machines for under $3,000 and explain what makes them exceptional.

By the end of this guide, you’ll discover:

• Espresso machine features and how they’ll impact you
• What you should think about so you end up with the best machine for your business
• Our personal choices for the 4 best commercial espresso machines under $3,000

ESPRESSO MACHINE FEATURES AND HOW THEY’LL IMPACT YOU

AUTOMATIC OR SEMIAUTOMATIC 

At their very core, most espresso machines are either automatic or semiautomatic.

Automatic machines (also called volumetric machines), are fantastic for beginners because they dose for you. Your baristas simply set the portafilter in place, start the machine, and let it handle the rest of the brewing cycle. 

This contributes to them being notably smooth to learn, so training new employees is a snap. Through their automation, a consistent level of quality is guaranteed no matter who’s working, too. 

Semiautomatic machines give more control over to their users. With this setup, baristas will choose when the brew cycle is finished rather than the machine ending it for them.

Predictably, this means they take a bit more training to use.

But it also means that there’s more flexibility to customize drinks. Additionally, they are often less of an expenditure than automatic machines.

DUAL BOILER OR HEAT EXCHANGE BOILER

Another feature you’ll see a lot in commercial espresso machines is dual boilers or heat exchange (HX) boilers. 

Either boiler setup allows you to brew and steam at the same time, so you can multitask and make drinks faster. The way they achieve this goal is what’s different between them.

Dual boiler systems are built with two boilers. One boiler heats the water up to steaming temperature, and the other heats the water up to brewing temperature.

Heat exchange boiler systems use one boiler that’s been specially designed to steam and brew together. A tube running through the boiler carries brewing water to the group head, and keeps steaming water separate. 

Which one is better than the other? It really depends on your preferences and needs.

Dual boilers tend to be more powerful, but they also take longer to warm up when you turn the machine on. 

On the other hand, heat exchange boilers have a shorter heat-up time because they only need to heat one boiler. However, you’ll need to purge the group head before pulling a shot so you get water of the optimal temperature during extraction.

POUR-OVER OR DIRECT-CONNECT

If you’re looking for an espresso machine to go in a commercial environment, such as a coffee shop or a restaurant, a direct-connect machine is usually a safe bet.

Direct-connect machines have to be hooked into a water line in order to function. Once they’re set up, they refill the espresso machine’s tank automatically during use.

This means your employees won’t need to stop to refill the water tank themselves, which can save you time – especially when there’s a line of customers.

Pour-over machines have water tanks that must have water added by hand. Since they don’t need to be plumbed into a water supply, this makes them very portable.

The disadvantage to them is that they need to be refilled manually, so you’ll need to pay careful attention to its water level yourself. We also recommend you use a water softener or filter to protect the tank from scale buildup.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST COMMERCIAL ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Since no two businesses are exactly the same, it stands to reason that each one will have different needs. 

So, how do you choose the best espresso machine for your particular enterprise? 

You’ll need to look at the combination of needs that’s unique to your situation.

Here are some things to consider:

• Espresso volume
• Employee proficiency
• Business type

ESPRESSO VOLUME 

Consider the volume of espresso orders your business sells, for example. If you make a large number of espresso drinks in a typical day, you’ll want a faster machine that can keep up with the lines.

Machines that are best for speed are generally automatic ones. Your baristas won’t need to keep a close eye on the espresso as it’s brewing, so they’re freed up to work on other tasks like steaming the milk or talking to the customer.

The water tank can contribute to speed a bit, too. If you have a direct-connect machine, you won’t need to stop in the middle of a rush to refill the tank.

EMPLOYEE PROFICIENCY 

Next: think about how proficient your employees are.

For beginning employees and new hires, automatic machines are typically easier to learn. An automatic machine will ensure that your customers enjoy the same great-tasting drinks time after time, even when someone new is making them.

At the same time, skilled baristas prefer semiautomatic machines because of greater user control. This is an excellent choice for you if you need the greatest possible flexibility to personalize drinks.

BUSINESS TYPE 

Now consider the type of business you run. 

Coffee carts and caterers who serve delicious espresso drinks at events need a portable machine. Businesses like this are in a unique position to reap the benefits of a mobile pour-over espresso machine.

Restaurants, coffee shops, or hotels that want an espresso machine for their location will normally prefer direct-connect machines for their convenience.

4 BEST COMMERCIAL ESPRESSO MACHINES FOR UNDER $3,000

NUOVA SIMONELLI MUSICA

Businesses with a clean and refined aesthetic will absolutely love the Nuova Simonelli Musica. 

Its bright steel face with rounded sides makes it extremely easy on the eyes. It’s also a working demonstration of functional beauty and comes incorporated with ergonomic features like a push-pull steam switch that make it as easy to use as it is to look at.

Choose this machine if you want a sleek automatic machine that’s uncomplicated to learn.

• Machine Type: Automatic (volumetric dosing)
• Majesty Coffee Price: $2,925 ($3,240 for the configuration with built-in LED lights)
• Boiler Type: Heat exchange
• Plumbing: Direct-connect (Available as pour-over for $2,245 in Black and $2,515 for LED lights)
• Reverse Mirror: Visually monitor the espresso for any issues from all angles through the reflective mirror above the drip tray.
• Push-Pull Steam Lever: Steaming is more comfortable than ever and can be operated with just a quick push or pull of a lever.
• Insulated Boiler: The copper boiler is already energy-efficient by nature. But with insulation, it’s even more so as the Musica does not need to work as hard to keep itself up to temperature.
•  Articulating Steam Wand: Cleaning and steaming are more convenient with a steam wand that can be moved to whichever position you need.

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LA SPAZIALE S1 VIVALDI II

The La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi II is an espresso machine that can effortlessly get through your rushes.

It has an impressive speed of 20 espressos an hour, which means it can be a real asset for small or even medium-sized businesses. Its faithful rotary pump is also durable, saving you from having to worry about frequent repairs.

Bonus: The rotary pump makes this an especially quiet machine. You won’t need to worry about it disrupting your customers.

This is the choice for you if you’re looking for something fast and dependable to carry you through long lines of customers.

 

• Machine Type: Automatic (volumetric dosing)
• Majesty Coffee Price: $2,575
• Boiler Type: Dual Boiler
• Plumbing: Direct-connect
• Rotary Pump: Low-volume and dependable, so you won’t have to fix it anytime soon.
• Built-In Diagnostic System: Have you ever struggled to figure out what was wrong with a piece of equipment before? The Vivaldi II makes troubleshooting painless with a diagnostic system that will tell you what the issue is.
• Group Temperature Adjustment: Guard espresso from changes in temperature by easily making adjustments to the group temperature.
• Dual Manometer: Boiler and group pressure readouts are combined in one gauge right on the front of the machine, so you can look in one place to make sure pressure levels are sufficient.

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LA SPAZIALE S1 DREAM

With its stainless steel front and back panels, the La Spaziale S1 Dream is a sturdy and polished machine.

The quality of each espresso shot is safeguarded by numerous features to ensure uniformity. Volumetric dosing ends each brew cycle at precisely the right time and pre-infusion means even extraction happens drink after drink no matter who’s working.

Pick this espresso machine if you’re looking for consistency with a capital C in one affordable package.

• Machine Type: Automatic + manual dosing
• Majesty Coffee Price: $2,395
• Boiler Type: Dual Boiler
• Plumbing: Direct-connect
• Group and Boiler Temperature Adjustment: Enjoy the maximum level of control over both group and boiler temperature through an intuitive touch pad display that allows you tweak temperature in one-degree increments.
• Programmable Passive Pre-Infusion: Enhance each and every coffee profile with the ability to add your own pre-infusion settings that soak the espresso before brewing for a balanced extraction.
• Manual Semi-Automatic Button: Get the best of both worlds with a semi-automatic button that lets you enjoy the flexibility of a semiautomatic machine within the convenient structure of an automatic one.
• Rotary Pump: Keep your customers relaxed using an espresso machine that won’t interrupt the mood with excessive noise.

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NUOVA SIMONELLI OSCAR II

 

The Nuova Simonelli Oscar II is proof that powerful espresso machines can be affordable.

It’s a particularly flexible machine that can thrive in a variety of settings, from homes to small businesses such as coffee shops or offices.

The Oscar II succeeds at make quality at a great price possible with features such as soft infusion, which delicately soaks espresso before extraction, smoothing out any channels caused by mistakes in tamping. It also has programmable buttons so you can input the ideal settings for each drink in advance, saving new baristas time spent in training.

Please note, this machine does not have a separate outlet for hot water. If you are providing drinks such as Americanos or teas, you’ll need to keep a hot water tank nearby.

This is the machine for you if you’re searching for quality on a budget.

• Machine Type: Semiautomatic 
• Majesty Coffee Price: $1,295
• Boiler Type: Heat exchange
• Plumbing: Pour-over
• Cup Warmer: Prevent your drinks from cooling down too fast by pouring them into cups pre-warmed right on top of the machine.
• Programmable Dosing: Enjoy the ease of use typically restricted to automatic machines by programming the time for espresso shots into the Oscar II.
• Reverse Mirror: Your baristas will be aware of any issues with the espresso quickly by watching it through the back plate mirror.
• Surface LEDs: Don’t let low-light conditions affect your baristas’ ability to work – strategically placed LED lights built right into the Oscar II will make it easy to see in your workspace. 

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