Takes roughly 6 seconds to dispense enough grounds for a double shot. Our other machines take about 2 seconds.
Absolutely loving my Puq press mini loveing the sleek look and it’s precision job of tamping I highly recommend 🤜🏻🤛🏻☕️
Is your business constantly on the go?
Whether you’re a food truck, caterer, or a business that attends conventions regularly, you might need an espresso machine that can hit the road with you. Pour-over machines are uniquely well-matched to businesses on the move.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the best portable commercial espresso machines.
Here’s what else you’ll learn along the way:
Let’s get this show on the road.
Normally, businesses favor direct-connect machines that connect to a water line.
But that design isn’t very mobile. If your business needs to be able to provide espresso to customers at constantly changing locations, you need a machine that can travel with you and set up easily.
This is where pour-over machines really stand out. Because they don’t need to be hooked up to a water line, they can work virtually anywhere.
As long as there’s an outlet and you can pour water into them, you can operate a pour-over machine from a truck, cart, or stand. Choose this type of machine if portability is a must for you.
If you’re just beginning your search for the perfect portable espresso machine, it’s important that you understand some basic terminology. They say knowledge is power for a reason, and some background will help you make an informed decision.
These are the common variations of espresso machines you’ll come across:
If you’re looking for a portable espresso machine, a pour-over model will likely be your best bet. But it’s still useful to compare them with the alternative, direct-connect models, for informational purposes.
Direct-connect machines are hooked up to a water line, and because of this, they refill themselves automatically. Additionally, it’s usually easier to install water filters and softeners in them, which protects the machine from scale buildup and results in tastier water.
These are almost always the standard in brick and mortar coffee shops or businesses, but they can’t operate from anywhere because of their water line connections.
Pour-over machines, on the other side, do not need to be connected to a water line, but do need their users to refill their water tanks manually. We also always recommend using water softening tablets or filters with them.
This portability makes them a terrific option for mobile business types, so this guide will focus on them over direct-connect models.
Portability aside, the next trait that will affect you the most is whether an espresso machine is semiautomatic or automatic.
There are many that prefer each type, and for different reasons.
Semiautomatic machines are wonderful for espresso masters. That’s because the barista has total control over the brew cycle, beginning and ending it whenever they see fit.
Predictably, this means the quality of each shot can vary based on who’s making it. But this also means that, at the hands of a skilled barista, you’ll get memorable-tasting espresso on these machines.
Automatic machines are very common in businesses these days because they’re so easy to control. These machines will handle ending the brew cycle for you at precisely the right time based on pre-programmed settings.
Shot quality will be more consistent in these machines, regardless of who’s at the counter. These are the machines for you if consistency is high up on your list of priorities.
The only real downsides to automatic machines are that they’re not as flexible as their semiautomatic counterparts and they can be more expensive. In the end, which one you should choose is largely a matter of preference, however, as either kind can make high-quality espresso.
Your boiler is another indispensable part of your espresso machine. Without your boiler, you can’t steam milk and get water hot enough to brew.
There are a few different kinds of boiler designs available, but the two most common in commercial settings are heat exchange (also called HX) boilers and dual boilers. The reason these are most popular is because they allow simultaneous steaming and brewing.
How do they work?
Heat exchange boilers are single-boiler systems that have a tube in them which siphons brewing temperature to the group head and keeps steaming temperature separate.
Dual boilers allow steaming and brewing at the same time by simply having one boiler dedicated to either of those functions.
If you’re wondering which one is better, the answer isn’t so simple. Either one may be preferable to you for different reasons.
For instance, heat exchange boilers tend to be more affordable, and they can warm up faster when you turn the machine on. Dual boilers can be more expensive, but they also are usually stronger when it comes to steaming.
Chances are, if you’re looking at this guide, you’ve made up your mind that you need a portable espresso machine.
That takes you one step closer to picking the best machine for you, but there are still a few other factors to consider.
You can start by looking at your or your employees’ level of experience with espresso machines.
Don’t have much experience? An automatic machine is perfect for you, then, because it’s easy to learn and guarantees you unwavering quality time after time.
If your business sells highly specialized coffee to its customers or you and your employees are skilled baristas, perhaps you should consider a semiautomatic machine.
The flexibility of a semiautomatic machine truly makes espresso into an art form, and can help your employees really shine if they know what they’re doing.
Do you get lines of customers as soon as your business opens? A heat exchange boiler system, which has a shorter heat-up time, could be just the ticket for you.
For bringing more steam power into play for drinks like cappuccinos, a dual boiler system might edge out the alternatives.
Really, the conclusion here is that you should pay attention to all factors and how they may affect you in addition to the price of each machine. Only once you’ve balanced the features you need with the cost will you find the portable machine that’s the best match for your business.
A versatile and powerful machine, the Rocket R58 is sturdy enough to hit the road with you.
It gives you the legendary strength that comes with dual boiler machines, so you can make back-to-back drinks without worrying about how it will hold up.
Encased in 304 grade stainless steel, you’ll also be worry-free when it comes to how this hardy little machine withstands the rigors of travel.
One of the first things anyone will notice about the Nuova Simonelli Musica is how gorgeous the machine is.
It has gently rounded sides and a sleek metal case that makes it gleam. The Lux configuration of this machine even comes with LED edges that add a literal shine to it.
But it’s so much more than beauty – its 2-liter heat exchange boiler means it can speed through batches of drinks, and its pre-infusion system takes each espresso to a whole new level by eliminating tamping mistakes.
The La Spaziale S1 Dream-T helps bring high-tech to you in a mobile format.
It uses a memory card reader and writer that you can program up to 4 different drink profiles into for easy future access.
If you’re feeling like a challenge, you can even brew shots using its manual semiautomatic button. There’s a timer built right into the Dream-T, so if you’re manually brewing shots, you can keep track of the time in one place.
The Rocket Appartamento packs a ton of power into a small package.
This is a great machine for those who need a compact machine without sacrificing advanced features. You’ll get the stable temperature and automatic pre-infusion that comes with its E-61 commercial group.
You’ll also get a gleaming, durable stainless steel case with artistic circular cutouts on the sides as an extra aesthetic touch.
The Nuova Simonelli Oscar 2 is designed to bring the features of a high-end espresso machine to those on a budget.
Although it’s a semiautomatic machine, it comes with single and double dose buttons that you can program by time, increasing your consistency. It also has a long articulating steam arm designed to be easily repositioned to accommodate milk pitchers of all sizes.