5+ BEST MINI COMMERCIAL ESPRESSO MACHINES

 

Have you ever invested in something only for it to turn out to be the wrong size? 

Clothes, sheets, appliances – you need them all to fit, otherwise you’re unable to use them. Just like with countless other products, the appliances you add to your business also need to be able squeeze in.

Mini commercial espresso machines take some of the hassle out of organizing your business, because they don’t take up so much space. In this guide, we’ll show you the best mini commercial espresso machines. 

Here’s what we’ll review:

• Basic espresso machine choices and how they each work.
• What to think about so you choose the right espresso machine
• Our selections for the best mini commercial espresso machines

MAKING SENSE OF YOUR BASIC ESPRESSO MACHINE CHOICES

SEMIAUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINES

Semiautomatic espresso machines are the choice of experts. 

This is because experienced baristas get more power in the drink-making process on these machines. It’s a little like heating the ingredients for a meal fresh on a stove as opposed to letting the microwave handle the warm-up for you.

On a semiautomatic machine, the barista needs to begin and end the brew cycle at the right time. The length of time a shot of espresso is brewed for has a huge impact on its taste, so a knowledgeable barista can really shine here when they know what they’re doing.

Here are some of the pros of a semiautomatic machine:

• More control over extraction of espresso
• Generally cheaper than other types of espresso machines
• Greater flexibility to personalize drinks

Now for the cons:

Drink quality heavily depends on the experience of the user

Training is required

Can be a little slower than automatic machines

AUTOMATIC ESPRESSO MACHINES

If yours is a business that often has lines of customers ordering espresso, consider an automatic espresso machine.

Rather than time the doses for espresso themselves, baristas simply put the portafilter on the machine and start it. Then the espresso machine keeps track of the proper dose itself, through duration of the extraction or by weighing the volume of the shot. 

Although they might not be the choice for purists who view espresso as an art form, automatic machines are a common choice for high-volume establishments. They’re great at making consistently tasty shots no matter who’s working each day.

Here are some of the advantages to automatic espresso machines:

• Consistent espresso quality
• Easier for beginning employees to learn
• Frees up employees to multi-task while espresso brews

These are some of the disadvantages:

• Limited flexibility for on the fly customization
• Normally pricier than semiautomatic machines

POUR-OVER MACHINES

With pour-over machines, the water necessary for steaming in brewing is hand-supplied by the user.

So when the water tank gets low, you have to refill it by hand yourself. Manual refills are the greatest reason why you don’t really see this design too much in businesses – you don’t want your employees to have to drop everything to pour water into your machine when you’ve got a line out the door.

But there are some advantages to this setup:

• Portability, as the machine can work anywhere you have an outlet
• Usually less expensive than direct-connect machines

The following are disadvantages of pour-over machines:

• Increased water tank maintenance

DIRECT-CONNECT MACHINES

Direct-connect machines take the hassle out of refilling a water tank by being connected to your water line. 

With this design, the espresso machine replenishes its own water supply automatically. No more stopping to pour water in. 

Direct-connect machines are also extremely easy to install water filters and softeners in. This not only guards the taste of your water, but protects the machine itself from scale buildup.

These are the pros of direct-connect machines:

• No need to stop and refill the water tank
• Easier to install water softeners or filters

Here are the cons:

• Can be more expensive than pour-over machines
• Not as portable as pour-over machines

Generally, business owners find that the benefits of direct-connect machines outweigh the disadvantages. The decreased water tank maintenance can save you a lot of time, and help you serve customers faster during a rush.

SELECTING THE RIGHT ESPRESSO MACHINE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

There are countless variations of espresso machines available today, each one designed for specific environments. Because they are all different, you can’t just pick any one – you need to select a machine that will benefit you the most.

To determine your best match, consider the following:

• Your staff proficiency
• Your machine plumbing options
• Your volume of espresso orders

STAFF PROFICIENCY

Where better to start than thinking about the people who will be using the machine every day?

Depending on what kind of business you have, your staff either may or may not use the espresso machine enough to become espresso veterans. 

If they’re not going to be using the espresso machine a lot, or you often have to train new hires to use it, then you’ll probably want to look for machines that are easy to use, such as automatic models.

For businesses with a staff that’s proficient in espresso machine use, a semiautomatic machine may be a good match. These types of machines highlight the skill in a barista’s work and allow them to add personal touches to each espresso.

MACHINE PLUMBING OPTIONS

Direct-connect machines need areas where plumbing access is possible. 

So if you’re interested in the easiness of a direct-connect espresso machine, make sure you examine potential places for it. Keep in mind that you may potentially have to cut through countertops to set up the machine.

If there isn’t plumbing readily available, you may need to consider a pour-over model instead. 

VOLUME OF ESPRESSO ORDERS

Do you usually have lines of customers at your counter waiting for espresso?

Then you’ll require an espresso machine that can keep up with high volumes of orders. In that kind of situation, you may want an automatic machine that makes consistent espresso every time and allows your employees to multitask.

For speed, you might also look at direct-connect models. This type of machine keeps employees from having to drop everything to refill the water tank when the water levels get too low.

But for small businesses where espresso orders aren’t as common, you’ll likely be able to get by using a pour-over model.

BEST MINI COMMERCIAL ESPRESSO MACHINES

ROCKET DUAL BOILER R58 

Those who view espresso-making as an art will be able to hone their craft on the Rocket R58. 

Because it’s a semiautomatic machine, your employees will have the power to add customizations easily to any drink by pulling longer or shorter shots as necessary. Its E-61 commercial group will raise the quality of each shot to new heights with increased thermal stability and automatic pre-infusion that eliminates errors in employee tamping.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $3,000
• Machine Type: Semiautomatic
• Plumbing: Pour-over with option to convert to direct-connect
• Boiler: Dual boiler
• Dimensions: 16.25 inches tall, 12.25 inches wide, 17.50 inches deep
• E-61 Commercial Group: This type of group prevents cold pockets in your water by circulating water from the brew head to the boiler nonstop. It also soaks your grounds before extraction, evening out the particles for a balanced extraction.
• Boiler and Group Pressure Gauges: Visually monitor brewing and steaming pressure right on the front of the machine.
• Low Water Sensor: If you’re using the water tank, the R58 will let you know with a flashing light when you need to refill it so you’re not caught off guard by the tank running dry.
• Rotary Pump: Customers won’t be disturbed by a noisy machine with the R58’s quiet rotary pump.
• No-Burn Hot Water and Steam Wands: With hot water and steam wands that remain cool to the touch, employees won’t collect burns from long hours of working on this machine.

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LA SPAZIALE S1 VIVALDI 2

The La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi 2 is a machine that combines user-friendliness and control into one compact package.

Beginning baristas will love that it’s an automatic machine, but experts can still strengthen their skills on it with a variety of advanced options. 

With programmable pre-infusion, talented baristas can tweak flavors by adjusting pre-infusion to last from 1-8 seconds, while the group temperature adjustment allows experienced users to play with the temperature of the group in precise 1-degree increments.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $2,575
• Machine Type: Automatic
• Plumbing: Direct-connect
• Boiler: Dual boiler
• Dimensions: 15 inches tall, 16.5 inches wide, 16.5 inches deep
• Programmable Passive Pre-Infusion: By programming the pre-infusion stage of extraction to last anywhere from 1 to 8 seconds, you can draw different flavors out of the same kind of coffee.
• Group Temperature Adjustment: Highly accurate one-degree adjustments allow your employees to enhance any flavor profile.
• Electronic Boiler Refill: Rather than activating a boiler refill mode, the Vivaldi 2 will refill its boiler for you.
• Integrated Diagnostic System: Confusing and frustrating troubleshooting is a thing of the past, as the Vivaldi 2’s fault diagnosis alarms will notify you the moment there’s any kind of system failure.

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LA SPAZIALE S1 DREAM

If you’re worried that an automatic machine means no control over making espresso, that couldn’t be less true on the La Spaziale S1 Dream.

Your new employees can use its automatic dosing while they learn, while your experienced ones can use its semiautomatic button to experiment with drinks. It comes with high-level features that allow seasoned baristas to mark artisan espresso, such as an accurate PID temperature control system that lets you adjust its internal temperature in one-degree steps.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $2,395
• Machine Type: Automatic + manual dosing option
• Plumbing: Direct-connect
• Boiler: Dual boiler
• Dimensions:  15 inches tall, 16.5 inches wide, 16.5 inches deep
• Manual Semiautomatic Button: When customers want highly specialized drinks or baristas want to improve their skills, the semiautomatic button gives you complete power over the brew cycle.
• PID Temperature Controller: Adjust the temperature in tiny one-degree steps to bring out the best tastes in every kind of coffee bean.
• Rotary Pump: On top of being quiet, this pump is designed to be long-lasting, so repairs won’t often be necessary.
• Shot Timer: If employees are using the semiautomatic button, the built-in shot timer will allow them to end the extraction step at just right the time without having to use a separate timer.

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NUOVA SIMONELLI MUSICA 

Elite drinks and looks are just two things the Nuova Simonelli Musica brings to the table.

A thermo-compensated group keeps temperature fluctuations from harming your shots, while its powerful heat exchange boiler helps you generate smooth microfoam for those cappuccinos. All of this comes with an elegant metallic look that will amaze your customers.

• Majesty Coffee Price: $2,245 (Pour-over without LEDs), $2,515 (Pour-over with LEDs), $2,925 (Direct-Connect without LEDs) or $3,240 (Direct-Connect with LEDs)
• Machine Type: Automatic + manual dosing button
• Plumbing:  Available as pour-over or direct-connect
• Boiler: Heat exchange
• Dimensions:  17 inches tall, 16 inches wide, 13 inches deep
• Backlit Button Pad: The buttons on the Musica are beautifully backlit, so you can operate the machine easily in low-light environments.
• Thermo-Compensated Group: By circulating hot water continuously, this group eliminates cold pockets that could harm your espresso
• LED Edges: The Lux configuration comes with LED edges that make this machine shine while keeping the workspace safely illuminated.
• Reverse Mirror: Employees can visually monitor each shot from all sides using the shiny reverse mirror right above the drip tray.

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NUOVA SIMONELLI OSCAR 2 

Affordable and powerful, the Nuova Simonelli Oscar 2 brings high-performance espresso to home users and small businesses alike.

Its extended steam arm has no problem reaching farther into milk pitchers to evenly distribute steam as you heat milk. The remarkable Nuova Simonelli soft infusion system works at the same time to ensure even extraction and full-bodied flavor by settling the espresso grounds. 

• Majesty Coffee Price: $1,295
• Machine Type: Semiautomatic + timed dosing buttons
• Plumbing:  Pour-over
• Boiler: Heat exchange
• Dimensions: 16 inches tall, 16 inches wide, 12 inches long
• Extended Articulating Steam Arm: Allows you to reach farther into milk pitchers during steaming, guaranteeing even heat distribution.
• Push-Pull Steam: Instead of twisting steam valves that can make wrists sore, steaming is turned on or off with a gentle push or pull of a lever.
• Programmable Timed Dosing Buttons: Truly bridging the gap between semiautomatic and automatic, the Oscar 2 has dosing buttons that you can time for single and double espressos to ensure consistency.
• Stainless Steel Body: The sturdy stainless steel body of the Oscar 2 both looks fantastic and is long-lived.

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