Bean to cup coffee machines enable the caterer to serve
superb tasting fresh espresso coffee drinks and speciality
coffee variations at the touch of the button with the
minimum of fuss.
Customers demand quality and choice. Gone are the days of
offering a choice of a black or white coffee. Nowadays it
is important to offer the very best coffee and coffee
variations in different cup sizes together with a
decaffeinated option.
The most convenient way of supplying this insatiable demand
is with a bean to cup machine.
Bean to cup machine capacity (usage) is usually divided
into three criteria.
Light volume - serving between to 30-80 cups a day
Medium volume - serving 100-200 cups a day
High volume - serving 250+ cups a day
If your expected number of cups per day is close to the
overlap of volume then we recommend that you go for the
next model up.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when choosing
a machine is whether to go for a model with a 'built in'
milk frother'.
Cheaper models will not have a built in milk frother, but
may have the option of an 'add on' unit that froths the
milk. The more expensive models have a fully automatic milk
frother built into the machine which is also refrigerated
to keep the milk cool.
Since a high percentage of drinks served will likely
contain frothed milk it only really makes sense to go for
the fully automatic built in versions unless your budget is
very restrictive. Add-on milk frothers can be clumsy and
not function to a consistent basis. There is nothing more
frustrating to a busy caterer than a shop full of customers
and milk that won't froth!
If your budget is tight it is best to compromise on some
other features rather than the fully automatic frother
option. If you are happy for you or your staff to froth
milk by hand then you might as well go for the more
traditional espresso machine instead and froth the milk
whilst waiting for the coffee to come through the group
head.
Recently there have appeared on the market bean to cup
machines which incorporate a canister of powdered milk for
those who do not want the inconvenience of fresh milk,
although this is a trade off with sacrificing overall drink
quality.
Bean to cup machines are big business. There are now a
large number of manufacturers of bean to cup machines and
the number is growing all the time.
It is best to choose a model from a manufacture that they
have been producing for a number of years so that any
initial problems have long since been ironed out. Now is
not the time to be a guinea pig with a brand new model
however fantastic it may seem.
Most manufacturers produce a series of models with
different functions and features suitable for low, medium
and high volume coffee production.
This is where you pays your money and takes your choice!
Machines are available with one, two, three or even four
bean hoppers. This gives extra capacity for busy periods
and / or the option of a decaffeinated coffee.
Auditing facilities are also available on the top models
where information about the drinks served over any given
period can be obtained and maybe downloaded onto a computer
for later analysis.
Digital displays, visual looks should also be considered
before making your final choice. Note that many of the top
models are available in a choice of colours to match the
decor of the establishment.
However as already mentioned the two most important things
to establish are that the machine can cope with expected
demand and that it has a built in milk frother. All other
features can be considered secondary.
Before contacting a potential supplier make sure you have
decided which size and what features you would like from
your machine with reference to this report. That way you
will not be persuaded to upgrade or pay for things you do
not really require.
Don't forget to pay particular attention to the servicing
costs and water treatment systems.
Remember that without a built-in milk frother you will have
to froth the milk by hand and that may cause problems.
However a reliable and well maintained bean to cup machine
should give many years of profitable service and provide
excellent quality delicious drinks to your customers.
----------------------------------------------------
For more information about bean to cup coffee machines ,
espresso machines and cappuccino systems visit
http://www.cafebar.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment