Best Commercial Espresso Machines 2020 (Reviews & Buyer’s Guide)

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Commercial espresso machines can be fantastic for small, medium, and larger businesses. The best commercial espresso machines enable you to extract plenty of flavor at exact temperatures while being able to make cups of coffee efficiently. 

To learn more about what the best commercial-grade espresso machines have to offer, take a look at our review below. By the end, you’ll be able to have an easier time focusing on the type of machine that fits your needs the best.

5 Best Commercial Espresso Machines Comparison Table

ProductFeatures (highlights)Link
1yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7La Pavoni BAR-STAR Commercial Espresso Machine✔ 12-liter water softener available
✔ Simple controls
Buy on Amazon
2yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7La Pavoni PA-1200 Napolitana Automatic Espresso Machine
✔ Conical burr grinder
✔ Durable stainless steel baskets
Buy on Amazon
3yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7QuickMill Anita EVO Espresso Machine✔ “Thermosiphon” temperature control
✔ Durable stainless steel construction
Buy on Amazon
4yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7La Pavoni PUB 1V-R1 Espresso Machine
✔ Programmable features
✔ Easily portable 
Buy on Amazon
5yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine✔ Ergonomic handle
✔ Easy-to-use steam wand
Buy on Amazon

🌟 CoffeeVerdict Top Pick: La Pavoni BAR-STAR Commercial Espresso Machine

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Highlights:

  • 12-liter water softener available
  • Simple controls

La Pavoni’s commercial espresso machine has been made with chrome-plated materials. Therefore, you can feel confident in knowing that the machine is incredibly durable and can last you for years.

Users have been liking how the red color of the machine provides it with a retro design while having advanced coffee-making technology available. 

If you’re running a busier place that sells coffee, you’ll be able to make good use out of the 2-group head feature. This means that you can make 4 espressos at a time. 

Moreover, there’s a 12-liter water softener available which is ideal for making great tasting cups of coffee. Softer water means that various chemicals in the water are removed before being used to brew the coffee for improved flavors. 

People have been liking how the coffee machine comes with a control panel that’s simple to use. It includes a digital pad and a range of buttons that let you have an easy time learning how to make coffee.

Pros 👍
✔ Water softener included
✔ Can make 4 espressos at a time
✔ Easy-to-use controls

Cons 👎
✘ Very expensive option

View La Pavoni BAR-STAR Commercial Espresso Machine on Amazon

La Pavoni PA-1200 Napolitana Automatic Espresso Machine

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Highlights:

  • Conical burr grinder
  • Durable stainless steel baskets

We were impressed with how the baskets that have been implemented to this espresso machine have been made with high-quality stainless steel materials. They’re of a commercial-grade to ensure that they can remain durable for years. 

You’re also able to make coffee to a high standard as a result of the 16 bars of pressure that’s available. Having this much pressure to make coffee means that you’re able to extract lots of flavors. 

A conical burr grinder has been fitted to the espresso machine too. This is a fantastic feature that enables you to use fresh coffee beans that you can grind up right before you brew coffee. Conical burr grinders are the best type of grinder available as they allow for finely ground coffee. 

The machine works on a semi-automatic system. This means that you have to start and stop the coffee from being poured yourself. 

We liked how the overall design of the espresso machine has been made with a polished finish. Therefore, you can be sure that it will fit in with modern decor.

Pros 👍
✔ Stainless steel baskets
✔ Conical burr grinder
✔ Sleek design

Cons 👎
✘ Trays could be more durable

View La Pavoni PA-1200 Napolitana Automatic Espresso Machine on Amazon

QuickMill Anita EVO Espresso Machine

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Highlights:

  • “Thermosiphon” temperature control
  • Durable stainless steel construction

QuickMill’s Anita EVO Espresso Machine enables you to have an easy time refilling the water tank. They’ve designed it so that you don’t have to remove the cup warming tray, which lets you refill the machine faster.

The hot water and steam arms have been constructed with high-grade stainless steel materials. This construction allows the arms to remain incredibly durable for years. Furthermore, the machine has been coated in copper and brass materials to enhance the durability of the machine even further. 

We noticed that there’s a function that lets you steam milk and brew coffee at the same time. It’s an excellent feature that can come in handy when it comes to making cups of coffee for multiple people in shorter periods. 

You’re also able to brew coffee at consistent temperatures as a result of the thermosiphon circulation system. The temperatures that it brews coffee at are ideal for the best flavors. 

To ensure that the machine is easy to use, the on/off buttons have been placed in a position that’s easy to access. There are also indicator lights to let you know the status of your coffee while it’s being made.

Pros 👍
✔ Durable construction
✔ Thermosiphon for temperature control
✔ Can brew coffee & steam milk simultaneously

Cons 👎
✘ Boiler temperature can be tricky to adjust

View QuickMill Anita EVO Espresso Machine on Amazon

La Pavoni PUB 1V-R1 Espresso Machine

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Highlights:

  • Programmable features
  • Easily portable

The La Pavoni PUB 1V-R1 comes with a digital control pad that’s super easy to use. We liked how you’re able to use this control pad to set the range of programmable features that are available. 

This programmable function lets you get a headstart on making cups of coffee. There are also four different cup sizes available. 

Customers have mentioned how they’ve been liking how there are 4 different cup sizes available. This lets you use the machine for brewing coffee in a range of different types of cups. 

There are two knobs included with one of them being used for controlling the hot water and the other one for the steam. They have different designs on them so that you know the functions of each knob. 

Thermal stability technology has been implemented to the espresso machine to ensure that you’re able to brew your coffee at consistent temperatures. These temperatures allow for the coffee to be brewed at temperatures that allow for the best flavors.

Pros 👍
✔ Easily programmable
✔ Thermal stability technology
✔ Weighs 80 lbs for easy portability

Cons 👎
✘ Smaller 6.5-liter boiler

View La Pavoni PUB 1V-R1 Espresso Machine on Amazon

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine

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Highlights:

  • Ergonomic handle
  • Easy-to-use steam wand

If you were looking for a commercial espresso maker that’s comfortable to use, you’ll be glad to hear that this one includes a portafilter handle that has been made with an ergonomic design. 

We were also impressed with how the coffee machine can extract fantastic flavors from coffee grounds as a result of the heat stability feature. The heat stability feature works to brew coffee at specific temperatures so that it’s able to get the best possible flavors from coffee grounds consistently. 

The steam wand is flexible which means you’re able to have an easy time moving it around when frothing up milk. You’re also able to have total control over the steaming pressure by using the knob control. 

The espresso machine is available in either stainless steel or black color. Both of them look excellent and allow you to slot the machine into a modern decor. 

High-quality iron materials have been used for the frame of the machine too. This solid construction means that the coffee machine can stay durable for years of use.

Pros 👍
✔ Heat stability feature
✔ Ergonomic handle
✔ Flexible steaming wand
✔ Sleek design

Cons 👎
✘ Takes time to learn how to use the machine
✘ Coffee ground baskets could be larger

View Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine on Amazon

Our Verdict

La Pavoni’s BAR-STAR Commercial Espresso Machine is our number one choice due to how it has a 12-liter water softener for better-tasting coffees. Furthermore, the control panel is very easy to use to ensure that baristas can have an easy time learning how to use it.

There are also some other fantastic options in our review that you’ll want to consider before making a final decision. Be sure to take into account the size of your business and the main benefits that you want to receive from an espresso machine so that you pick the one that’s best for your specific needs.

Buyers Guide on Commercial Espresso Machines

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Capacity

The capacity of a commercial espresso machine is an incredibly important aspect to consider. You’ll want to consider the size of your business before deciding on the capacity of your coffee machine.

If you’re a small or medium-sized business, a lower capacity may be perfect for your needs. However, if you find that you’re often overrun with coffee orders, a machine with a larger capacity would be worth it. 

Group-heads and the size of the boiler are the two main factors that affect the capacity of a commercial espresso machine. Most commercial espresso machine brands will come with group-heads of between 2 and 4. 

These are great for allowing multiple baristas to be able to make coffee simultaneously. However, you’ll also want to consider the amount of space that you have before choosing the larger capacity options.

The bigger espresso machines can take up a lot of space. Therefore, before you make a final decision, you’ll want to be sure that you have the room for it. If not, then a machine with a smaller capacity could be a better choice. 

It’s also a good idea to think about the size of the boiler to ensure that it can get you through the busiest periods of coffee-making. Some businesses may find that they have certain peak hours where they need a large boiler capacity to continue making coffee without delays. 

Automatic or Semi-Automatic 

There are commercial automatic espresso machines and semi-automatic ones. These are among the most popular type of espresso machines due to how easy they are to use. 

When it comes to running busy establishments, an automatic espresso machine helps baristas continuously brew and pour cups of coffee all day long without delays. For most people, a fully automatic espresso machine would be best because of how easy they are to use. 

It can reduce the time taken for training staff and help you dish out cups of coffee more efficiently. Having said that, if you’re serving less coffee daily, a semi-automatic machine could be more beneficial. 

This is because semi-automatic coffee machines allow you to have more manual control over the flavors that you extract from the coffee grounds. As a result, you can produce cups of coffee that have more specific flavors as you have a little more time to spend on each cup you make. 

Maintenance & Ease of Use

Maintaining a commercial espresso machine is one of the big factors to think about when making a final decision. This is because you want to ensure that you can have it easily maintained to continue using every day.

The maintenance refers to the general ease of having the machine repaired and how readily available replacement parts are. However, maintenance daily refers to how easy the machine is to clean. 

It’s a good idea to descale commercial espresso machines at least once every few months. Depending on the type of machine you have and how much you use it, you may need to descale it more often than this recommendation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the cost of a commercial espresso machine?

One of the main factors that affect the cost of a commercial espresso machine is its capacity. Hen implementing a commercial coffee machine, it’s an investment for the business, meaning that going for the least expensive option may not be as beneficial in the long run.

The brand of espresso machines has a big impact on the cost. Furthermore, the more features it has to offer and the larger its capacity is, the more it’s going to cost.

We recommend getting a clear idea of the needs that you expect from a commercial espresso machine and stick to the ones that offer what you need, without too many extras. This can help you stay within budget.

What does “group heads” mean?

The number of group-heads available with a commercial espresso maker lets you know how many baristas you can have making coffee at the same time.

Tips on Using Commercial Espresso Makers

  • The temperature of the water is a huge factor in what makes commercial espresso makers make such good coffee. Ideally, the temperature should be around 203F. 
  • Considering the power available with your espresso maker is an important factor to think about. The amount of electricity it uses will have an impact on how fast it can recover between making coffee with regular use.
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