6 Best Commercial Espresso Machines in 2024 – Our Verdict

The health of your coffee shop or restaurant depends heavily on the espresso machine you use. It’s the beating heart around which everything else operates. You might have the best beans, expert staff, and an ideal location, but you’re not going to hit the sweet spot unless you’ve got the best commercial espresso machine on your side.

However, it can be hard to streamline your search. There are a lot of options and it’s difficult to choose because commercial machines are significant investments. We’re going to help you out on that front today, giving you a look at our favorite choices for 2024.

We’ll also offer some insight into factors you can think about while you’re making a selection. Hopefully, one of the following options fills the gap for you and your shop! Let’s take a look.

1. Top Pick – La Pavoni BAR-T 2V-R

The La Pavoni BAR-T 2V-R Commercial 2 Group Volumetric Espresso machine is our top pick this year.

It’s an excellent choice for small to mid-sized coffee shops, equipped with the ability to run excellent shots from two portafilters at one time. In other words, it offers two “groups,” as referenced in the full name of the machine. The unit is made with press-forged brass and chrome plates, producing a sleek and contained appearance.

The red and chrome exterior would complement any coffee bar in aesthetics as well as functionality.

Another beautiful thing about the La Pavoni is its intuitiveness. Buttons and functions are indicated by simple images, making it easy for anyone with a basic knowledge of brewing espresso. It’s also an affordable unit for the value; you will find it at ~$7,000-7,500.

Key features include:

• 14-liter capacity
• Voltage of 240
• Transversal heat exchangers and front injectors for both boilers
• Radiator hydraulic systems
• Electrical heating
• Manual reset safety features

2. Nuova Simonelli Appia II

The Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric 2 Group Machine is comparable to the La Pavoni BAR-T in functionality and quality. The human interface is similarly easy to learn and operate and the sizing is roughly the same.

Black and stainless steel exterior features create a sleek design. This is a great feature for modern and cozy coffee shops alike. The Nuova Simonelli Appia II also comes with a free espresso starter kit including thermometers, tamps, steaming pitchers, shot glasses, and cleaning products.

This is a sturdy machine created for regular and intense use. It comes in at approximately $8,500 and has options for financing. However, it’s important to note that the voltage and capacity are slightly smaller in this unit.

Key features include:

• Stainless steel features
• 11-liter capacity
• Voltage of 220
• Espresso starter kit
• Sleek aesthetic

3. Nuova Simonelli Aurelia II Volumetric 3 Group

Do you have a bustling shop? Are you constantly producing espresso drinks and managing multiple orders?

The Nuova Simonelli Aurelia II Volumetric 3 Group machine might be the choice for you. This unit is a combination of precision excellence and high-volume production potential. It comes with a digital screen that aids baristas in their execution of drinks, allowing the user to preset different energy outputs and settings.

Multi-pour portafilter heads allow baristas to pour six shots at one time on this unit. Customizable settings give baristas and shop owners the ability to optimize their output and pour perfect drinks.

Precision like that is what will make Q graders and coffee aficionados swoon. The Aurelia II usually costs between $12,500 and $13,000.

Key features include:

• 3 groups
• 17-liter capacity
• Customizable settings
• Intuitive interface
• Consistency

4. La Pavoni Bar-Star 2V-R

The La Pavoni Bar-Star 2V-R 2 Group Machine is something you’ll love having on your counter to visually impress your customers. The red, rounded, and slightly whimsical look of the Bar-Star is a thing of beauty.

Looks aren’t everything, though, and La Pavoni doesn’t disappoint. The unit produces excellent, highly customizable espresso. It’s equipped with two groups, making it the perfect fit for a small to mid-sized shop that cares about creating the right atmosphere.

You can automate several pull features and program settings to be just right every time. It’s also a great fit for shops that utilize hard water because the unit has a water softener included. The La Pavoni Bar-Star is priced at ~$7000-7,500, making it one of the more affordable semi-automatic options on this list.

Key features include:

• 14-liter capacity
• Intuitive button interface
• Manual override
• Water softener
• Automatic water level control
• Dual Pressure Gauge

5. Breville BES99OBSS Oracle Touch

Those of you with small shops dedicated to very high-quality drinks will love the Breville Oracle Touch.

It comes with a single group so you can only work on one drink at a time. Where you lose production, though, you earn quality. The Oracle Touch is equipped with a grinder, customizable water pressure, an automatic milk steamer, and an intuitive touch screen.

Those interested in high-grade espresso at home will benefit as well. The unit allows you to pre-program 8 unique drinks and recreate them over and over. It’s also a great partner to a larger machine in your shop if you find that you need an extra group.

The Oracle Touch comes in at ~$2,500-2,600.

Key features include:

• Precision temperature control
• Automatic steaming
• Programmable drinks
• Excellent espresso extraction
• Espresso kit included
• Voltage of 120

6. Breville BES87BSS Barista Pro

The Breville Barista Pro is another single-head unit, similar to the Oracle Touch but a little more compact.

If your shop needs a customizable unit to supplement your primary commercial espresso machine, the Barista Pro is an excellent choice. It offers customizable grinding, water pressure, extraction, and milk texturing. It gives you the ability to quickly and seamlessly craft drinks on the fly.

Again, you might also be interested in this unit if you’re a perfectionist at home. A big advantage of this device is that it provides comparable quality for a fraction of the price, coming in at only ~$700-800.

Key features include:

• 2-liter capacity
• Intuitive interface
• Customizable grinding
• Manual milk texturing
• Espresso kit included
• Voltage of 120

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve probably got questions and concerns about choosing the best commercial espresso machine for your use case. We’re going to look at some of the key considerations for choosing the right machine in the following sections. But, first, let’s answer some key inquiries café owners have.

What is the best espresso machine company?

Breville is, probably, the most popular brand due to its versatility and the variety of products they offer. The other two mentioned in this article – La Pavoni and Simonelli – are also highly renowned. La Marzocco is another brand you will often see in cafés everywhere.

How much is a coffee machine for a café?

Espresso machine prices vary according not only to quality and features but also depending on the number of groups. Smaller ones, like those you would use at home, can start at around $500. The more complete machines for big coffee shops cost around $12,000.

What is the best coffee machine for a small café?

For a small café, your best options are machines of one or two groups at most. Look for quality: look at online reviews to determine if the machine is durable enough. Any of the brands mentioned in this article will likely have a perfect model for you.

What To Look for in Your Commercial Espresso Machine

Even if you have years of barista experience, it’s a different story when you’re thinking in terms of voltage, capacity, and maintenance concerns. You’ve also got the “X” factor to consider. Is the machine in question ready to rise to the role of fueling your coffee shop?

Let’s explore some of the things you should consider when you’re making that final choice.

Budget

The main concern in making such a big (but necessary) investment is typically your shop’s budget. Espresso machines are expensive and there’s no getting around it. The catch is that you can produce a higher quality, more expensive product with more sophisticated machines.

Affording those machines on the front-end can be difficult, though, so you have to work with whatever your budget allows.

When you’re debating whether to invest more in a machine, think of your customers. Will your dominant customer base be able to tell the difference between a $3,000 machine and one that’s $5,000?

What are the factors that increase the price, and are they relevant to your shop? For example, an additional espresso group adds a few thousand dollars to the price of a machine. If you don’t think you need that extra production level, don’t bother paying for it. The same goes for sophisticated technology and interfaces.

There are very real benefits to those features, but some coffee shops prefer to do things manually whenever possible. You might be able to shave a few thousand dollars off the price of the machine you choose when you zone in on these considerations.

Ask yourself what you really need, consider your options, and avoid paying for features that aren’t in line with your vision.

Semi-Automatic vs Automatic

The difference between semi-automatic and automatic machines is significant. Both in terms of cost and functionality, the nature of your machine will impact several things in your shop.

Semi-automatic espresso machines are what most coffee shops use. The machines supply water at the right temperature, pressure, and the barista takes things from there. Grind settings, tamp pressure, timing, and pour mechanics are all the responsibilities of the barista.

The ability of the barista to do the fine-tuning gives your coffee (and your coffee shop) a more distinct personality. Well-trained baristas can master different drinks and flavor profiles by manipulating tamping, grinding, pouring, and extraction.

Semi-automatic machines tend to be more expensive. There’s more demand for semi-automatic machines in high-end coffee shops than there is for automatic machines. As a result, the best units are more sophisticated and costly.

Automatic espresso machines give you the ability to multi-task. Busy shops with few employees can produce more drinks with these machines than they might be able to otherwise. As we mentioned in our reviews, it’s not a bad idea to include both automatic and semi-automatic machines if you have the need.

Capacity

A machine’s capacity refers to the size of its steam boiler in most cases. Considerations of capacity should also include voltage output because both impact the number of drinks produced during one shift.

Consider the number of drinks you typically produce in an hour. During busy periods, you might make 45 drinks back-to-back without giving your machine time to rest. If you don’t have the right equipment for the job, the machine will suffer along with the quality of your drinks.

Production of that size – 40-50 drinks at a time – might require a 10-liter boiler. Look for a voltage of around 220v at that production rate as well. The tricky thing, however, is that voltage and capacity aren’t the only things that determine output.

Shops that only need to produce a few drinks at a time don’t have to worry too much about these factors. If you make a lot of espresso drinks around the clock, however, it’s worth looking deeply into the product to determine its true capabilities. If you need to, reach out to the manufacturer or peruse user manuals.

Maintenance

The maintenance of your machine impacts a lot of things. Good maintenance ensures the consistent quality of your drinks. The machine depends on numerous factors to work in harmony with your barista to produce excellent espresso.

When water pressure goes or the electrical system is on the fritz, the balance shifts, and your drinks don’t have the same effect.

The same is true for the longevity of your machine. If you maintain it well, it should last a very long time. If not, you’re in for expensive repairs and a shorter lifespan. Respective machines require different levels of user maintenance.

Some espresso machines do a lot of the cleaning and maintenance themselves, only alerting users when something requires serious attention. Many semi-automatic units require a more hands-on approach, though.

The maintenance requirements are worth looking into before you get your heart set on a particular unit. Ask yourself how much you want to do to keep the machine running and whether or not specific espresso makers might pose too much responsibility for you and your staff. That isn’t to say that staff wouldn’t be able to maintain the machine, only that it might be more efficient to buy a unit with fewer requirements.

Also, keep in mind that maintenance is a labor of love in coffee shops. The work you put in will come back to you in the form of quality coffee.

So, What Is the Best Commercial Espresso Machine?

We hope the options above gave you some useful food for thought. We stand by our top pick of the La Pavoni BAR-T 2V-R Commercial 2 Group as the best pick for 2024.

It’s functional, intuitive, produces a great drink, and has enough capacity for a bustling shop. La Pavoni units are always aesthetically pleasing as well. It’ll be a reliable workhorse for you and it comes with enough customization to give your baristas the freedom to express themselves.

There’s a lot more to explore when it comes to coffee shop essentials. Insights into the science of coffee, espresso machines, brewing styles, and more are all essential for success in the business.

Fortunately, we’re here to help you get all of the information you need. Our site is packed with useful information about coffee, business, and everything in between. Explore some of our useful coffee guides to get more answers to your burning coffee questions.