Buying Guide Beverage equipment Introduction
The hot beverage sector has seen demand grow considerably over the past few years, coffee and tea have always been popular, but there is a real added opportunity coming from serving premium coffees such as latte and cappuccino – you only have to look in the High Street to see how many coffee shops have sprung up and this trend does look set to continue. The benefits that come from offering a quality hot beverage service can be huge, not only a great profit potential, but by getting the service right, it can enhance an establishment’s image and fulfil a real customer demand. But the service has to be right – quality of delivery is paramount for customer satisfaction. That is where having the right equipment helps. A quality hot drink allows for a premium selling price, which should provide the right level of margin to allow investment in high performance beverage equipment, which will soon pay for itself many times over. The range of beverage equipment available varies, from simple water boilers to pour and serve coffee systems through to semi-automatic coffee machines and fully automatic coffee and chocolate machines. Numerous features are on offer with each, so ideally see the equipment in action and understand each of the benefits – knowing this could save you additional cost, space and installation time. By getting the right equipment, correctly operated, and by using quality ingredients you will produce that quality offering which is very much expected by today’s consumer. ** Tips for buying Beverage Equipment**
How to choose the right equipment
Choose equipment to meet the demands of your establishment – the possible volumes, including expected peak demands and the choice of beverage and type you want to offer which will best suit your customer base. Remember, machines aren’t the only solution, water boilers and cafetieres are a convenient alternative and preferred by many. Consider the plumbing options too – some machines need to be plumbed in and some are self fill.Reliability and durability
Choose a leading brand with an established reputation for good quality, durability and reliability. Check the availability of spare parts and after sales service, and the length of warranty offered.What operational features should you look for?
Stylish design if locating your machine front of house; level of operation and skill required to operate (for example semi-automatic machines need staff well-trained on the equipment’s operation to provide coffee with the best flavour and final appearance); capacities – the time to dispense a cup of coffee; removable parts for ease of cleaning (some espresso machines now have a self-cleaning cycle). For water boilers or machines that need to be plumbed in, ensure they have an integral water treatment system to deal with limescale build-up on heating elements, the holding tank, inflow and dispense pipework. |