I am going to start a breakfast business soon and with that, of course, there should be a good coffee machine. So far I like the sage line the best, but I am still hesitating on which model. Can someone help me with this please. I give you the following information:

  • my budget is around 1000

  • I expect a calm start where I will prepare 50 - 100 coffees in busy shifts

  • I have never made a coffee before, so preferably I want a user-friendly machine that is easy to use

Thanks in advance for the responses. I am looking forward to it!

Kind regards,
Izzy

    IzzyAg I have never made a coffee before, so preferably I want a user-friendly machine that is easy to use

    Unfortunately there is no such thing! The skill of a Barista is his knowledge, not his machine! Sage products, on the whole are made fro the ever so enthusiastic amateur who possibly never progress. The average coffee machine in a domestic environment makes 3 to 5 coffees a day. To do your numbers you need a ‘proper’ commercial machine. You have not mentioned a grinder yet. Please bear in mind that the grinder is more important than the machine

    Dear dfk41

    First of all, thank you for your response. My goal is not to be a barista, as I have other specialties. But since it is a breakfast business, I am aware that I need to be able to offer quality coffee to my customers. With that in mind, could you recommend me a beginner modest coffee machine that fits within my budget? Thanks in advance for your reply.

      I think you’d be better off with a bean-to-cup machine.

      They have grinders built in and you press a button and it makes the coffee for you. I can’t recommend any personally but that would save you trying to learn barista skills.

      Could you suggest me some beginner coffee machines without a built-in grinder? I will take some time off to learn to do it the right way. Thanks in advance.

        You’re going to take time off to learn to be a barista, or take time off to try to learn how to use a coffee machine?

          Perhaps if you asked yourself what your customers would want. There is no criticism in anything I say, so let us role play.
          Coffee with my bacon roll please
          Certainly, what would you like?
          A Ristretto please.
          Sorry, I cannot do those
          Ok, how about a Cappuccino
          No problem.
          or this scenario

          Coffee with my bacon roll please
          Certainly, is that black or with milk?

          The second scenario is because folks have come for something to eat and the drink is secondary. For this reason you do not have an espresso machine but a filter coffee machine. Simple, you buy pre ground coffee. Add it to the machine, add water and it drips though the coffee bed into a glass pouring jug. Quick and easy and will satisfy the coffee needs of most of your customers. If you get the odd person who is a coffee nut and wants a speciality drink, when he sees the level of equipment you have he will realise the limitations.
          Have a look ,locally for tea and coffee merchants. They will often supply you with a decent filter system for nothing as long as you buy your coffee through them.
          https://www.nisbets.co.uk/buffalo-filter-coffee-machine/ct815

            -Mac

            whatever it takes to make good quality coffee. The title barista does not interest me, as coffee is not the main focus in my concept.

              dfk41

              My target market is not coffee lovers. That said, I would still want something of a higher standard that people still taste the difference compared to a coffee at the station.

                So you say:

                IzzyAg whatever it takes to make good quality coffee. The title barista does not interest me, as coffee is not the main focus in my concept.

                IzzyAg My target market is not coffee lovers. That said, I would still want something of a higher standard that people still taste the difference compared to a coffee at the station.

                That feel contradictory to me. The coffee at the station is most likely provided by a bean to cup machine, (e.g.: you press a button, it grinds the coffee, and it makes the beverage you want) and that machine is periodically cleaned and maintained by a company which supplies those. There are quite a few of those out there.

                You have no interest in learning to make coffee - therefore leave it to someone who has, or to a machine that’s programmed to do so. If you put a machine there and expect it to just make coffee without any care from you, the product will be to match.

                If I were you, I’d simply get a bean to cup machine - a Delonghi Magnifica for example. How long will it last in your environment? Who knows.

                  MediumRoastSteam

                  As I said earlier, I am willing to spend time learning how to use a machine with grinder. I just don’t want to make that my main focus. Only beginner skills, I don’t want to be a master at it. Please, if you want to help and not be a sensitive little donkey, first read my previous posts carefully, and you will find your answer there.

                    IzzyAg whatever it takes to make good quality coffee. The title barista does not interest me, as coffee is not the main focus in my concept.

                    I am trying to explain nicely to you! To get a good coffee, you need certain skills. If you went to a Gordon Ramsay restaurant, would you be happy with being served frozen chips? Think of a coffee machine as an oven. All it does is cook whatever you put into it. You cannot put a fatty piece of brisket into it and take out a fillet steak. You cannot serve good coffee without learning to make it. I suggest you spend a few days visiting coffee shops etc and buy from them. You will come across the odd good coffee. A lot of mediocre coffee, and a lot of shite! But if you do not know the difference how can you do any better. A Bean to Cup machine does not serve tasty coffee……and anyone seeing it would know with 100% certainty that you are not up for it matey

                      Making 50 - 100 coffees during a busy shift will pretty much mean that is all you are doing during said shift. It probably takes at least 2 minutes to make a coffee if you are also steaming milk

                      dfk41

                      I understand completely, but do you understand me? I said I am willing to invest time to make a good coffee. I don’t want to be the best either, but quality coffee. As you say yourself, you have five-star restaurant like Gordon Ramsay’s, but you also have a lot of star restaurants that offer good quality. You shouldn’t look at everything black and white, my friend. I just want to offer good quality coffee and spend moderate time on it. Can’t believe it’s such a difficult question.

                        IzzyAg As I said earlier, I am willing to spend time learning how to use a machine with grinder. I just don’t want to make that my main focus. Only beginner skills, I don’t want to be a master at it. Please, if you want to help and not be a sensitive little donkey, first read my previous posts carefully, and you will find your answer there.

                        Good quality coffee for the customers is the focus. The experienced folks here have given you enough helpful information.

                        Perhaps, a used Mazzer Major with a new mazzer burrs will be helpful. As far as the machine, I am not sure you can get a used commercial machine for that price. You aim to make 50-100 coffees and busy shifts. I am afraid you are going to require a machine that can deliver that. Perhaps, a B2C as others have suggested. I am not sure about the longevity either.

                        You have choose what you think will suit your customers.

                        That said, beginner’s skill, good quality coffee and not willing to be commit the required time and resources to make the good coffee don’t go together! You might have to get a barista to get a good cup, otherwise!

                        I am afraid some one has not shown a little more sensitivity and appreciation here!

                        Ok. If I were to be objective and go by the first post:

                        IzzyAg So far I like the sage line the best, but I am still hesitating on which model. Can someone help me with this please. I give you the following information:

                        my budget is around 1000

                        IzzyAg Could you suggest me some beginner coffee machines without a built-in grinder? I will take some time off to learn to do it the right way

                        For your budget of “1000” I’m assuming it’s GBP.

                        Let me ask you a question: which machines from Sage are you thinking of? On another post you say you don’t want a machine with a built-in grinder. Do you already have a grinder, is a grinder to be part of the budget of “1000” or are you thinking of using pre ground coffee? Or maybe pods?

                          IzzyAg
                          You can have a look at Bella Barista for example and see machines that cost £1000 and less, these work fine at home but they’re not built to do 50 - 100 shots a day. Your budget is quite low unfortunately and you’ll need a good grinder to get the most out of the coffee.

                          https://bellabarista.co.uk/collections/espresso-machines?sort_by=price-ascending

                          If you want to serve better coffee that’s served at a train station then you’ll need to go down the semi-automatic machine route. I’d suggest contacting a local roaster and asking if they can provide you with something suitable that you could pay for weekly or perhaps second hand. They can provide you with a reliable ‘house blend’ of coffee, training and machine support.