Buying a coffee grinder to suit your needs correctly is very important.

If you are only serving 10 cups an hour then you don’t need a grinder with a big motor.

But if your going to be busy through long periods and your restaurant, café, bar or sandwich shop is thriving, you should buy a big grinder with a big motor.

Buying the right grinder to suit your needs can make a big difference to your long-term outlay.

The right size coffee grinder can last you 10 years, but the wrong coffee grinder for your needs and you could burn it out within the year!

Always buy a grinder with big blades and a relatively slow number of rotations per minute.

This will mean that although your grinder is spinning slower, your blades are bigger and the balance is better, producing a much better coffee output than a grinder with smaller blades and a high speed motor, with the same amount of ground coffee output per hour.

The ground coffee is then ready for use in the same amount of time, but the result is your coffee is not in any way burnt, keeping in the maximum amount of taste.

A big coffee grinder does not necessarily mean a faster grinder. In fact a lot of big grinders operate at relatively small amounts of rotations per minute, hence the importance of big blades.

If your potential chosen vendor has only one or two different grinders on offer then the chances are that you will end up with a grinder that does not suit your needs, this may cost you in the long run.

So which Coffee Grinder is right for you?

You need an Country Coffee On Demand 1/2 Kilo grinder if:

If you are serving less than 30 drinks a day or you are serving an alternative coffee like decaff.

You need a Country Coffee On Demand 1/2 Kilo grinder if:

You are serving less than 50 cups a day or your limited in terms of space available.

For all other needs a Country Coffee SR 1 1Kg if:

If you are serving up to 300 cups a day.

You need an Country Coffee SR1 2Kg if:

If you are serving up to 500 drinks per day, also you have 2 kilos of coffee beans available at any one time, which will produce 280 cups of coffee.

You need a Country Coffee SR1 2Kg Automatic if:

You are serving up to 1000 cups per day and also need a constant supply of fresh ground coffee all the time.

You need a Country Coffee SR1 2Kg Automatic if:

You are a very busy High Street cafe/sandwich bar.

This grinder will grind huge amounts of coffee beans, it also grinds at lower speeds to ensure you don’t get burnt coffee.

Because of its large grinder blades ground coffee production is kept to a maximum.

You need a Country Coffee Deli Grinder if:

You are selling ground coffee to the general public, this grinder is adjustable, simply weigh the beans, turn the grinder on, pour the beans in and the ground coffee will be dispensed into the bag, clipped onto the front of the grinder.

You need a freestanding or a wall mounted coffee dispenser if: You are serving either pre ground coffee, example decaff, or any other powder ingredient like chocolate or soup.

Dispenser is adjustable between 5 and 12 gms.

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When first faced with task of selecting an espresso coffee machine, it can seem rather daunting. However the choice becomes a lot easier when you know what to look for and why you are looking for it.

This espresso machine buyers guide aims to help you make an informed decision, quickly and effectively, once you have read the information below you should have a much better idea and understanding of why a particular espresso machine is the right choice for your particular needs.

There are four main choices of espresso machines on the market; Group can in the first instance break these down.

The amount of group heads an espresso machine has defines what group the machine is, so a two group espresso machine will always have two group heads, a three group machine will always have three group heads and so on. A group head is the part that dispenses the espresso drink, so if you have a two group machine two people can make espresso at the same time, a three group machine can have three people serving at the same time and so on.

Machines are generally readily available in 1, 2 or 3 group configurations.

Four group machines are available but not many outlets use them, you are often better installing two, 2 group machines. That way you never have to depend on just one machine, if your four-group machine develops a fault, you’re in trouble! In a twin 2-group scenario you always have at least, in theory, one machine that is working.

In the second instance we can break these machine down into further categories and note that these machines are typically available in both semi-automatic and automatic versions, so now we see that there are basically 6 configurations of machine on offer to us, the next thing to do is decide which configuration is right for your requirements.

The difference between automatic and semi-automatic.

A fully automatic machine will allow you to pre-define the measure of espresso a machine dispenses, that is when the button on the machines control panel is pressed, water will run through the group head, providing you with espresso, for a set amount of time, producing a pre-set level of espresso in the cup, jug or shot glass.

With Semi - Automatic espresso machine you simply press the button to start the water flowing through the group head to make your coffee and then press it again to stop the process.

Which group machine is right for you?

You need a 1-group espresso machine if:

You serve an average of 50 or less drinks a day and

you only need hot water for making tea and chocolate occasionally from your machine.

Though if your servings are averaging 50 a day and you need water for chocolate and tea regularly, you could always purchase a hot water boiler as well, or buy a 2-group machine. Never buy a 1 group machine with a boiler that has a capacity of less than 6 Litres, you’ll need a 6 Litre boiler in order to avoid waiting for the all essential continuous supply of hot water.

You need a 2 group espresso machine if:

You regularly average in excess of 50 servings a day and you require hot water for tea and chocolate making on a regular basis and/or

you have busy bursts of custom/demand and it is necessary for more than one person to make espresso at a time, in order to supply demand.

The above requirements are better served by a 2 group machine as it will have a bigger boiler to help you with the tea and coffee, also it will have 2 group heads enabling 2 individuals to work at the same time.

Look for a machine with a large boiler, a 14 Litre capacity boiler is ideal, this coupled with a 5KW powered heating element will equip you with a powerful set up to cope with your required espresso/hot water output.

Also note that it preferable to buy a 2-group machine that has 2 steam tubes (which must be stainless) if you are making a variety of drinks, so that two operatives can make alternative drinks, or froth milk at the same time.

You need a 3 group espresso machine if:

You have a very high output of servings and you need at least 2 and sometimes 3 operatives making espresso, tea and or chocolate at the same time.

You have intense bursts of custom/demand and it is necessary for you to have the ability to supply without fail.

It should now go without saying that the boiler on a 3-group machine will supply you with a shed load of hot water on a constant basis; ideal boiler capacity for a 3-group machine is 20 Litres.

Ok so now you know your group, here’s the all important stuff

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS: Look for a machine with a large boiler (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT)

The larger the boiler, the more water you have to hand, therefore the more efficient your operation will be. In other words, the more money you’ll make!

Some cheap 2-group machines will only have an 8 Litre boiler; this is bad news, as the hot water to potential output ability is compromised by the limited boiler capacity.

The ideal boiler capacity size to group head ratios are:

1 Group – 6 Litre Boiler

2 Group – 14 Litre Boiler

3 Group – 20 Litre Boiler

Buy a machine that has easy to remove side panels, allowing instant access to all components (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT)

Without the above, you’ll be looking at high servicing and repair costs, your machine will also be down for longer as well.

For example if you or your engineer have to remove the top panel to change steam valve washers, this can take 20 minutes per valve.

With ‘front of machine’ access this can be reduced to 3 to 4 minutes. If the pump head is under the boiler it can take an hour to change, if it’s at the side of the boiler it can take as little as ten minutes, big difference.

Buy a machine with a STAINLESS steam wand/tube (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT)

The alternative is usually a chrome type steam wand/tube, often the chrome falls off, the wand becomes very difficult to clean and looks unsightly, not to mention the potential hygiene risks involved with loose chrome particles in your milk or water.

Look to buy a machine with an internal pump and motor: (VERY IMPORTANT)

A machine with an external pump and motor will cause you to:

a) Find space for the motor, as it needs to sit directly below the machine in order to function efficiently, unsightly and difficult.

b) Replace the motor and or pump more frequently than you would with an internal unit, as the external ones get splashed and subjected to dust, shortening the potential lifespan, an expensive problem to remedy.

Look to buy a machine with an easy to use boiler drain: (VERY IMPORTANT)

If an espresso is left without use for more than a day at a time it will be necessary to drain the boiler and replace it with fresh water, an easy to use boiler drain also makes servicing and general maintenance easier, quicker and therefore more cost effective.

Get a 5KW powered heating element with a 2 group or higher machine: (VERY IMPORTANT)

This is essential for a fast recovery time, a 5KW element will require a 30amp mains power supply, even if you don’t have one at present then the machines element can be temporarily downgraded to power as 3KW, then reverted back to 5KW at a later date if you decide you need the extra power and wish to convert to 30amp mains.

Any 2 group machine with less than 5KW may have you ending up wanting to upgrade, that is, you’ll need to buy another machine.

Buy a machine with 12 months parts and labour warranty (OBVIOUSLY).

If a machine warranty costs you LESS than £150 per year, then the chances are you’ll not get the cover you need, or, and yes this does happen, the warranty doesn’t, in reality, even exist.

Warranties never cover problems caused by lime scale, this is down to you as an individual to sort out, if you live in a hard water area YOU MUST use a water filter system. (See next point).

Use a water filter: (ESSENTIAL)

Most water sources these days contain hardness, which builds up lime scale.

This is NOT in any way good for your espresso machine and you should therefore install a water filter, which must be monitored and maintained to ensure it works efficiently for you.

A good water treatment system will keep your water tasting good and eliminate unwanted odours.

This will help to give you excellent espresso that your customers will come back for time and time again.

Lime scale can cause parts to function incorrectly and get you in all sorts of expensive trouble.

AND FINALLY

The old saying fit’s exactly when applied to an espresso machine, “buy cheap – buy twice”.

If a machine deal seems to good to be true, it most probably is, use the advice above and buy wisely, spending a bit more on a well equipped machine to start with will save you a lot of money in the long run.

You need a freestanding or a wall mounted coffee dispenser if:

You are serving either pre ground coffee, example decaff, or any other powder ingredient like chocolate or soup.

Dispenser is adjustable between 5 and 12 gms.

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If you have an espresso setup you should take time to read this, the cleaning and well being of your machine should never be overlooked.

Puly caff special detergent for espresso coffee machines ensures perfect cleaning and hygiene of the delivery group (spout, filter and filter holder) thus preventing the clogging of filters.

If your espresso machine is not clean, your coffee will not taste nice and the life of your machine will be much shorter.

• Puly Caff can help you preserve the perfect functionality of your machine thus giving you the ability of serving the best espresso possible.
• The periodic use of Puly caff constantly maintains the best conditions for making good coffee.
• Puly caff is completely soluble in water, it leaves no traces or unpleasant smells, it does not attack metals. It is not toxic.
• There is no better specialist product on earth.
• Puly Caff solves a number of problems often due to dirt and contaminations in your espresso machine:
• When you find deposits on the bottom of the cup, the cause is very likely to be a dirty filter and/or a dirty filter holder.
• Puly Caff can easily clean these parts, thus restoring the full machine functionality.
• A too light a cream can be caused by the high-pressure when your filters and other machine devices are not clean.
• Cleaning them with Puly Caff will restore the full flavor of your coffee.
• A too dark a cream is often due to dirty filters and filter holders.
• Puly Caff can clean them in order to restore the fresh aroma of your espresso.

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There is literally hundreds of different brands of coffee beans out there for you to choose from.

Our advice is never buy cheap coffee, your customers will only give you one chance to get it right, if you serve them a dodgy coffee, they will not be back for more.

Breaking it down we can safely assume that 1 kilo of coffee beans will make, on average, approximately 160 cups of coffee, once ground.

If your coffee beans cost you £5 per Kilo, that equates to around 3.p per cup, that's great, however this probably means that you end up with a poor quality beverage and not many repeat customers.

If your coffee beans cost you £10 per Kilo, you are paying 6p per cup, twice the outlay, but that means that you should, in theory, be serving some of the best espresso coffee money can buy.

Your customers will come back time and time again; you will also justify charging a premium rate for you coffee.

Make sure your coffee supply is a good one, don't buy cheap stuff, it's just not worth it.

Also remember that your customers tastes will vary, therefore it is often a good idea to have two types of coffee on offer.

Your coffee should always be as fresh as possible, only ever grind the amount you believe you will sell during the following hour.

Beans can, and should be kept as fresh as possible reseal packaging if possible or once open should be kept in an airtight container and used as soon as possible.

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Country Coffee uses water treatment units manufactured for us and we are able to replace most other named brands such as Britta, European Water and Flotech.

To look at, most of these units are blue or cream vessles of varying height.

The most common sizes being: 5 Litre, 10 Litre and 15 Litre.

Country Coffee is able to offer an onsite replacement within a 45 mile radius of Salisbury or alternatively, you can return your old unit to Country Coffee in exchange for a new one.

New Units installed to site: (using the Country Coffee System)
CC 3000 / 05litre - £195.00
CC 8000 / 10litre - £235.00
CC 12000 / 15litre - £285.00

Recharged Onsite replacement service: (using the Country Coffee System)
05 Litre Exchange - £155.00
10 Litre Exchange - £185.00
15 Litre Exchange - £235.00

We can also fit a water counter to your new replacement unit and take a water sample so we can let you know how long your water filter will last.

Return service: (using the Country Coffee System)

We are able to supply the new unit in advance of receiving the old one.
05 Litre Exchange - £105.00
10 Litre Exchange - £145.00
15 Litre Exchange - £195.00

The above prices include delivery of your new unit, but you are responsible for returning the old one to us.

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These are the metal filters that fit in the handle to make coffee.

It is important to use the right size basket when making coffee, the single basket will only allow enough coffee to make one cup at a time.

The double filter basket will enable one or two measures, however if you only use one measure of coffee, the coffee will not be able to rise in the filter and thus not give proper extraction.

The blank filter has no holes in, this is used for cleaning the group head of the coffee machine with the assistance of a detergent, we recommend Puly Caff, see our cleaning products section.

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In order to achieve the best from your espresso coffee grinder we recommend that you change the blades in your grinder every two years, dependant on the volume of coffee you are grinding.

• All the coffee grinders on Country Coffee are of the best quality available and most will last ten years, or longer.

• When buying new blades for your grinder it is important to know the size and rotation of the grinder blades.

The general rule is:

• If the waves of your grinder blades point to the right (clockwise), then you have LEFT rotating blades.

• If the waves of your grinder blades point to the left (anti clockwise), then you have RIGHT rotating blades.

• Manufacturers occasionally make small modifications to their grinders, it is therefore important that you take the dimensions to check you are ordering the correct blades.

• If you order the wrong blades we will charge a small admin fee if you then wish to return them to be replaced by the correct ones.

• If in doubt, please mail us first, we will try our best to help you get the right grinder blades for your machine.

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• Place half the contents of one cleaning sachet , or one heaped tablespoon of cleaning powder into your blanking disk which should be fitted into one of your filter handles.

• Put the filter holder handle into the coffee machine as though you were going to make coffee and press the button to make one cup of coffee, count to ten and repeat this process three times, you should see white froth coming from the bottom of the group head via the exhaust tube.

• In some machines this part is internal and you will not see the froth, but this is nothing to worry about.

• After this remove the filter holder handle and clean the group seal with the group head cleaning brush by gently moving the brush in a complete circle round the group seal.

• Lastly run the continuous flow button on the group until no further white froth can be seen.

• Repeat whole process for each group head.

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Water Filters are an essential addition to any espresso coffee setup.

Water filters should also be used for the following applications to ensure best results: • combination steam convection ovens and baking ovens with water injection systems
• hot water boilers for beverage making
• drinks vending machines
• ice-makers

Benefits of using Water Filters.

Water Filters (calcium treatment units) improve water quality in several important ways:

Assures food grade standards of potability including removal of the scum which can occur in tea and vended drinks.

• removes heavy metals - lead, copper, mercury, etc - chlorine, thus improving the taste, colour and odour of the treated water.
• prevents scale formation on metal services.
• reduces maintenance costs and revenue loss through equipment breakdown.
• increases equipment life.

Canister Exchange

As CTUs cannot be regenerated on site, exhausted cannisters need to be exchanged for fresh canisters at pre-determined intervals.

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