Best Espresso Commercial Machines

Hey everyone, James here. As someone who's spent over three years pulling shots, steaming milk, and crafting all manner of caffeinated creations as a professional barista, I know a thing or two about espresso machines. The right one can be the difference between a lackluster latte and a mind-blowing macchiato.

In this guide, I'll be sharing my top picks for the best espresso machines on the market in 2024, drawing from hands-on experience and a deep appreciation for the art and science of espresso. Whether you're looking to upgrade your home brewing setup or outfit your café with the crème de la crème of espresso technology, you've come to the right place.

Top 2 Commercial Espresso Machines by James Hoffmann

Before we dive deep into the world of espresso equipment, here's a quick look at my two favorite machines across different categories:

Best for Home Baristas: The Breville Oracle Touch is a true all-in-one powerhouse, combining a built-in grinder, automatic milk texturing, and intuitive touchscreen controls. While pricy, it offers unparalleled convenience and consistency for home users.

Best for Cafés: The Victoria Arduino White Eagle is a sight to behold, marrying stunning Italian design with cutting-edge temperature profiling, volumetric dosing, and multi-boiler technology. A top choice for high-volume specialty coffee shops.

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Table of Contents:

• Espresso Machine for Commercial Use: Buyer's Guide
• Best Commercial Espresso Machine: Top 4 Picks
• Espresso Machine Commercial: Comparison
• Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric: Review
• Breville Oracle Touch: Review
• La Pavoni Domus Bar: Review
• Victoria Arduino White Eagle: Review
• Commercial Espresso Machines: Frequently Asked Questions

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Espresso Machine for Commercial Use: Buyer's Guide

Choosing an espresso machine can be daunting, especially with the dizzying array of options out there. As a former barista, I've learned that there are a few key factors to consider when shopping for your perfect machine.

Type of Machine: There are several types of espresso machines, each with their own pros and cons. Semi-automatic machines offer more hands-on control but require some skill to operate. Fully automatic machines, like the Breville Oracle Touch, simplify the process with one-touch brewing and milk frothing. Manual lever machines, such as the La Pavoni Europiccola, are prized by purists for their old-school charm and analog control over pre-infusion and pressure.

Boiler System: The heart of any espresso machine is its boiler, which heats water for brewing and steaming. Single boiler machines are more compact and affordable but can't brew and steam simultaneously. Heat exchanger (HX) machines use a single boiler with separate pathways for brew water and steam, allowing for continuous operation. Dual boiler machines dedicate one boiler to brewing and another to steaming for ultimate temperature stability and steam power.

Group Heads: The group head is where the magic happens, holding the portafilter in place and distributing water over the coffee grounds. Look for commercial-grade 58mm group heads for maximum compatibility with accessories and regular cleaning. Multiple group heads allow baristas to prepare several drinks at once in high-volume settings.

Plumbing: Espresso machines come in two varieties: tank (pour-over) and direct-connect. Tank models have a removable water reservoir that needs to be refilled manually, offering flexibility of placement. Direct-connect machines hook up to a water line for continuous supply but require professional installation and proximity to plumbing, a topic frequently explored in YouTube tutorials and Reddit discussions.

Grinder: While often sold separately, a good grinder is just as important as the espresso machine itself. Look for stepless adjustment, low retention, and consistent particle size. Some machines, like the Breville Oracle Touch and La Pavoni Domus Bar, have built-in grinders for added convenience.

Budget: Espresso machines range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. Consider your budget and intended use - a high-end dual boiler machine may be overkill for occasional home use, while a basic single boiler model may not keep up with the demands of a busy café. By prioritizing your needs and doing your research, you can narrow down the options and find the perfect espresso machine to suit your lifestyle and brewing preferences. Speaking of research, let's take a closer look at my top picks!

Best Commercial Espresso Machine: Top 4 Picks

After years of hands-on experience with dozens of espresso machines, from humble home models to commercial behemoths, I've narrowed down my top four picks for 2024:

Espresso Machine Commercial: Comparison

For easy comparison, here is a table of specifications of the Best Commercial Espresso Machines:

Feature	Nuova Simonelli Appia II	Breville Oracle Touch	La Pavoni Domus Bar	Victoria Arduino White Eagle
Group Heads	2 (expandable to 3)	1	1	2 or 3
Boiler System	11L Heat Exchanger	Dual Boiler (Brew + Steam)	1.5L Single Boiler	14L or 17.3L Multi-Boiler
Plumbing	Direct Connect	2.5L Reservoir	2.7L Reservoir	Direct Connect
Dosing	Volumetric with Manual Override	Programmable with Adjustable Grind and Tamp	Manual with Pressurized Portafilter	Volumetric with T3 Temperature Control
Grinder	Sold Separately	Built-in Conical Burr with 45 Settings	Built-in Conical Burr with 7 Settings	Sold Separately
Steam Wand	2x Cool Touch with 4-Hole Tips	1x Automatic with Adjustable Temperature and Texture	1x Manual with Turbo Frother	2x Cool Touch with Push-Pull Levers
Display	Shot Timers and Pressure Gauges	Full-Color Touchscreen with Pre-Programmed Drinks	Analog Pressure Gauge and Indicator Lights	Digital Touchscreen with Shot Timers and Programmable Doses
Construction	Stainless Steel with ABS Accents	Brushed Stainless Steel	Polished Stainless Steel	Powder-Coated Steel with Customizable Side Panels
Dimensions (WxDxH)	31" x 22" x 21"	15.4" x 14.7" x 17.8"	10.6" x 11" x 14.6"	33" x 26" x 20" (2 Group)
Power	3400W, 220V	1800W, 110V	1200W, 110V	4500W or 5200W, 220V
Best For	High-Volume Cafés and Restaurants	Passionate Home Baristas, Offices and Small Coffee Shops	Beginners and Budget-Conscious Users	Specialty Coffee Shops and High-End Hospitality

Now let's take a closer look at each of the Espresso Machine's models.

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Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric 2 Group: Review

Universal Choice

The Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric is a commercial-grade espresso machine designed to keep up with the high-volume demands of busy cafés and restaurants. As a long-time barista, I appreciate the Appia II's perfect balance of programmability and manual control, allowing me to dial in shots to my exact specifications while still maintaining consistency across multiple operators.

The star of the show is the Appia II's volumetric dosing, which lets you program single and double shot volumes for each group head. This means your baristas can start an extraction with the push of a button and walk away, trusting the machine to dispense the perfect amount of water every time. You can still manually override the programmed volume using the semi-automatic button, ensuring flexibility to pull shorter or longer shots on the fly.

Another standout feature is the Appia II's soft infusion system, which gently pre-wets the coffee grounds before applying full pressure. This helps create a more even extraction and reduces channeling, resulting in balanced and sweet espresso with gorgeous tiger-striped crema. The 11L heat exchanger boiler provides ample steam power for silky microfoam, while the cool-touch steam wands minimize the risk of burns during busy service.

The Appia II's dual group heads and raised group caps accommodate a wide range of cup sizes, from demitasse for straight shots to large takeaway cups for lattes and Americanos. An integrated shot timer and pressure gauge help baristas monitor extraction in real-time, while the automated cleaning cycles make end-of-day maintenance a breeze. Plus, with the option to connect the Appia II directly to a water line, you'll never have to worry about refilling a reservoir in the middle of a rush.

The Bottom Line: For busy cafés or restaurants requiring an espresso machine that can handle high-volume demand while maintaining consistent quality, the Nuova Simonelli Appia II Volumetric stands out as one of the best espresso machines. Its ideal combination of programmability, manual control, and barista-friendly features ensures a delightful experience for both staff and customers, day after day.

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Breville Oracle Touch: Review

Best for Home Baristas

As a former barista turned home espresso enthusiast, I know firsthand the challenges of trying to replicate café-quality drinks at home. The Breville Oracle Touch aims to bridge that gap by combining a built-in grinder, automatic milk texturing, and intuitive touchscreen controls into one sleek and user-friendly package.

The Oracle Touch's built-in conical burr grinder with 45 adjustable settings ensures you always have freshly ground beans at the perfect consistency for espresso. The grinder doses and tamps 22g of coffee directly into the 58mm portafilter, minimizing mess and waste. From there, the Oracle Touch's dual boiler system and PID temperature control maintain optimal brew temperature and steam pressure for balanced extraction and silky milk texture.

One of my favorite features of the Oracle Touch is its automatic milk texturing system, which froths milk to your desired temperature and consistency at the touch of a button. As someone who's steamed countless pitchers of milk over the years, I can attest to the Oracle Touch's ability to produce café-quality microfoam with minimal effort. You can even customize and save your favorite milk settings for different drink styles.

The Oracle Touch offers an exceptional user experience with its full-color touchscreen interface, featuring pre-programmed recipes for popular beverages such as espresso, Americano, latte, and flat white. The machine provides recommendations for easily adjusting parameters like shot volume, milk temperature, and foam level to tailor drinks to your preferences, allowing you to save your customized creations for one-touch brewing. Additionally, the LCD display guides you through essential maintenance tasks like cleaning cycles and descaling, ensuring hassle-free upkeep.

Aesthetically, the Oracle Touch is a stunner with its brushed stainless steel casing and sleek, modern lines. It's a bit on the larger side for a home machine, but its built-in grinder and steam wand mean you won't need separate accessories cluttering up your counter space. And with its powerful dual boiler system and commercial-grade components, the Oracle Touch is built to last for years of daily use.

The Bottom Line: If you're a passionate home barista looking for the ultimate all-in-one espresso solution, the Breville Oracle Touch is hard to beat. Its combination of built-in grinder, automatic milk texturing, and user-friendly touchscreen interface make it easy to create café-quality drinks at home, while its commercial-grade components ensure long-lasting performance.

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La Pavoni Domus Bar DMB: Review

Best Value

The La Pavoni Domus Bar DMB is proof that good things can come in small packages. This compact and affordable espresso machine packs a surprising amount of professional-grade features into its sleek stainless steel frame, making it a great choice for home baristas or small offices on a budget.

One of the standout features of the Domus Bar is its built-in conical burr grinder with seven adjustable settings. This allows you to grind fresh beans directly into the portafilter before each shot, ensuring optimal flavor and aroma. The grinder's low RPM motor and stepless adjustment collar minimize heat and static buildup, preserving the integrity of your carefully sourced beans. Despite its compact size, the Domus Bar boasts a roomy 2.7L removable water tank, which means less frequent refilling during your morning coffee routine.

The tank, along with the removable drip tray and coffee grounds drawer, makes the Domus Bar easy to clean and maintain even in tight spaces. Technically, the Domus Bar is considered a "semi-professional" machine due to its pressurized portafilter baskets, which help compensate for less-than-perfect grind consistency or distribution. However, as a former barista, I found the Domus Bar's stock baskets produced surprisingly good results with proper technique and freshly ground coffee. The machine's 15 bar pump pressure and 1.5L brass boiler deliver ample steam power for velvety microfoam.

One feature I particularly appreciate on the Domus Bar is its active cup warmer on top of the machine. This helps ensure your espresso is extracted into a pre-heated cup, preserving crema and maintaining optimal serving temperature. The machine also includes a removable tamper and stainless steel milk pitcher, rounding out the accessories needed to pull a great shot and steam like a pro.

The Bottom Line: The La Pavoni Domus Bar DMB offers excellent value for money, packing professional-grade features like a built-in grinder and active cup warmer into a compact and affordable package. While its pressurized portafilter and single boiler may not satisfy the most discerning of coffee snobs, the Domus Bar is a great choice for beginner to intermediate home baristas looking to up their espresso game without breaking the bank.

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Victoria Arduino White Eagle Digit: Review

Best for Cafés

If you're looking for a high-end espresso machine that combines cutting-edge technology with stunning Italian design, the Victoria Arduino White Eagle Digit is a top contender. This commercial-grade machine is a true work of art, with its sleek white and chrome exterior, illuminated group heads, and customizable RGB lighting. But the White Eagle is more than just a pretty face.

Under the hood, it boasts a host of advanced features designed to deliver unparalleled consistency and control over every aspect of the brewing process. The star of the show is the White Eagle's T3 Technology, which allows baristas to independently adjust the temperature of each group head using a simple touchscreen interface. This means you can fine-tune your extraction to suit different bean varieties, roast levels, and drink sizes.

The White Eagle not only boasts volumetric dosing, enabling coffee experts to program exact shot volumes for each group head, ensuring consistent results across multiple baristas and shifts, but also allows for manual override when necessary. Equipped with dual PID-controlled boilers and integrated shot timers, this machine allows for real-time monitoring of extraction and on-the-fly adjustments.

One of my favorite features of the White Eagle is its Soft Infusion System (SIS), which gently pre-wets the coffee grounds before applying full pressure. This helps create a more even extraction and rich, syrupy crema. The machine's cool-touch steam wands and push-pull levers make steaming milk a breeze, while the hot water spout is perfect for Americanos and tea.

Aesthetically, the White Eagle is a true showstopper. Its illuminated side panels and customizable lighting allow you to match the machine to your café's décor, while the ergonomic layout and intuitive touchscreen controls make it a joy to use even during the busiest of rushes. Plus, with its energy-saving features and automated cleaning cycles, the White Eagle is as eco-friendly as it is user-friendly.

The Bottom Line: If you're a specialty coffee shop looking to make a statement with your espresso machine, the Victoria Arduino White Eagle Digit is hard to beat. Its combination of cutting-edge technology, precision control, and jaw-dropping design make it a worthwhile investment for high-volume cafés committed to serving the best possible coffee.

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Commercial Espresso Machines: FAQ

As a barista trainer, I've fielded my fair share of questions about espresso machines over the years. Here are some of the most common ones I encounter.

What's the difference between a semi-automatic and fully automatic espresso machine?

Semi-automatic machines require the barista to manually start and stop the shot, while fully automatic machines have programmed shot volumes and will stop the extraction automatically. Semi-automatics offer more hands-on control, while fully automatics prioritize consistency and ease of use.

How often should I clean my espresso machine?

Daily cleaning is essential to maintain the quality and consistency of your espresso. This includes wiping down the steam wands, purging the group heads, and cleaning the portafilters and baskets. Most machines also have automated cleaning cycles that should be run weekly to prevent buildup and ensure longevity.

Can I use pre-ground coffee in my espresso machine?

While it's technically possible to use pre-ground coffee, I strongly recommend grinding fresh beans for each shot. Pre-ground coffee can quickly go stale and lose flavor, while freshly ground beans ensure optimal aroma and extraction. If you don't have a separate grinder, consider a machine with a built-in one like the Breville Oracle Touch or La Pavoni Domus Bar.

How do I texture milk for latte art?

The key to great latte art is starting with cold, fresh milk and a clean, purged steam wand. Angle the wand just below the surface of the milk and turn on the steam. As the milk starts to stretch and foam, gradually lower the pitcher until the wand is fully submerged and creating a vortex. Continue steaming until the pitcher feels hot to the touch (around 140-150°F) and turn off the steam. Tap the pitcher on the counter and swirl to incorporate the foam before pouring.

What's the ideal grind size for espresso?

Espresso requires a fine, powdery grind that's slightly coarser than table salt. The exact grind size will depend on your specific machine, beans, and desired extraction time, so it's important to dial in your grinder and make small adjustments as needed. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a shot that extracts in 25-30 seconds from the first drip of espresso.

Choosing Your Ideal Commercial Espresso Machine

Choosing the perfect espresso machine ultimately comes down to your specific needs, preferences, and budget. Whether you're a home barista looking for an all-in-one solution like the Breville Oracle Touch, a small business owner in need of an affordable and compact option like the La Pavoni Domus Bar, or a high-volume café seeking the ultimate in consistency and control with the Victoria Arduino White Eagle, there's an espresso machine out there for you.

As a former barista and lifelong coffee guy, my best advice is to prioritize the features that matter most to you, whether that's hands-on control, built-in convenience, or cutting-edge technology. Don't be afraid to invest in a quality grinder, practice your technique, and experiment with different beans and recipes until you find your perfect cup. Above all, remember that great espresso is as much an art as it is a science. It takes patience, skill, and a willingness to learn and adapt. But with the right tools and mindset, you too can experience the joy and satisfaction of pulling a perfect shot and steaming velvety microfoam, whether at home or in your very own café.

I hope this guide has been helpful in your quest for espresso excellence. May your crema always be rich, your latte art always be swoon-worthy, and your love for coffee never waver. Happy brewing!