How to Choose Commercial Coffee Machines - Espresso Machines, Bean to Cup, Bulk Brew
The following details are meant to provide a general overview of the various commercial coffee equipment currently in use in the coffee industry. If I seem to be "Teaching you how to suck eggs," I apologise in advance. Having worked as a consultant in the coffee industry for some time, I have given customers advice and assisted them in selecting the best equipment for their needs. I'm not exaggerating when I say that a lot of people have wondered what an egg is. The following is my interpretation and how I counsel customers since facts are facts.
In the past 10 to 15 years, there have been considerable changes in the UK's interest in coffee. Real espresso-based coffees are now much espresso vs cold brew more in demand. For the past thirty years, coffee has primarily been served using "Pour and Serve" filter coffee makers or instant coffee from a tin. I've had success in the past selling espresso-based coffees made using "real bean" coffee machines to companies in the food and beverage industry. Nowadays, these businesses wouldn't settle for anything less than a classic espresso machine or a bean-to-cup machine. Back then, espresso was an alien beverage to the British people, who were primarily used to "instant" coffee. Businesses did not feel the need to expand abroad.
Fortunately, everything has changed. With the development of the major coffee shop brands on the High Street. the expansion of café culture in the UK and the impact of popular "American" restaurants. The general public's opinion of coffee has evolved and gotten more sophisticated. In fact, coffee drinking is now recognised as a national pastime in the UK. In order to compete in the coffee industry, many small enterprises have shifted to more advanced techniques of producing coffee. It is possible to make a variety of high quality espresso-based coffees fairly easily, using anything from the conventional Italian style espresso machine to the more complicated Bean to Cup automatic coffee machines.