Start with daily drink count. Under about 100 drinks a day, a single group is enough. Between 100 and 200, go two group. Above 200, or with more than one barista working the bar at once, go three group. After volume, the deciding factors are cup clearance for tall takeaway cups, available counter depth, your water supply, and whether your team wants manual control or automatic volumetric dosing. If you are close to a threshold, size up, because a machine running at its limit recovers slowly during a rush.

It varies by machine, group count and heating configuration, and it is the single most common thing buyers get wrong. Voltage, phase and amperage all differ between a compact single group and a three-group multi-boiler. Tell us what your outlet provides and we will confirm exactly what a given machine requires before you order, rather than you finding out at installation.

Equipment budgets vary widely with volume and whether you buy new or pre-owned. The main line items are the espresso machine, a commercial grinder, water filtration and a knock box, plus install. Buying pre-owned is the single biggest lever, since a serviced machine with a warranty typically lands well under its new equivalent. Talk to us with your volume and budget and we will build a realistic equipment list rather than a wish list.

Yes. We ship commercial machines and grinders to all 50 states, and customs and duties are covered on delivery, so there is nothing extra to pay when the machine arrives. Larger machines are crated and freighted; we will confirm timing and access requirements with you before dispatch.

Every pre-owned machine is inspected and serviced before it is listed and carries a 3-month warranty. Machines described as ex-demo, display or connected only once are effectively new and carry a 12-month warranty. The listing states which applies, and you can call the team if anything is unclear.

Finance options are available on commercial equipment. Terms and eligibility depend on your business and the equipment package, so the fastest route is to tell us what you are looking at and we will talk you through what applies. See our finance options page or call the team on +1 (646) 774-0590.