Info on new set-up.

[Waveform]

Hello every one. I am new here and also to the coffee game. At the risk of offending people I must say that i do not drink coffee myself. Just never tried it. I hope you are still able to give some advice. I would rather tell you than be a pretender .  I intend on exploring all that is coffee as my folks and I have purchased a business which does have coffee. It has been very interesting so far to explore the intricacies of the coffee bean. As we are in the market for a new set-up- Coffee machine and grinder I have been doing some googling and stumbled upon this sight. If anyone can point me in the direction of some good threads or reviews or products that would be great. Our budget is up to 10K for the both. Which brands/mdles should we look into? We need a two-group machine and a burr grinder of some kind. Preferably a grind on demand. Thanks in advance and enjoy your next coffee

[Andy]

Re: Info on new set-up.

i do not drink coffee myself. Just never tried it.

Ok... before you get beaten to pulp Ill toss in my 2c worth.

I think you will need to "partner" with a local barista or coffee roaster and trust their opinion 100%

Could you sell cars without a driving licence? Maybe but I certainly wouldnt trust you!

in the market for a new set-up- Coffee machine and grinder

As for buying hardware, send an email to:

Let them know where you are, what you are after and what your budget is and someone that can help should come back with some ideas.

If anyone can point me in the direction of some good threads

Start at: www.coffeesnobs.com.au and when you have finshed reading the 250,000 posts you should know plenty.
;D

...else try using the [Quick Search] at the top of this page and should find something more specific that interests you.

Enjoy the journey!

8-)

[Waveform]

Re: Info on new set-up.

Thanks for that Andy. I will be doing some product R&D with coffee. I just wish I had many years experience so I would already have a good base to work from. I will check out the search bar too cheers

[jkarlis]

Re: Info on new set-up.

This could easily become a thread where you a given a lot of varying opinions mostly from people with little or no commercial coffee experience.

Let us know where you are and we can send you in the direction of your closest site sponsor.

Out of curiosity is the previous owner taking the coffee equipment with them?

[Waveform]

Re: Info on new set-up.

Hi Caffinejunky, The store is located on the far South Coast of NSW. The equipement is still at the store so is ours to trade-in or sell. They did not focus on coffee much at all. We are looking at changing that. My folks have some experience from a previous shop they owned and feel that they know what they are doing in terms of making a good coffee.  I want to do some research into the equipment side of things and will be exploring all avenues to get the best equipment we can afford, as this is obviously an important step in the art of making a great cuppa. It has been quite fun learning about coffee beans and grinders. I imagine that it could be a lifelong learning experience.

[hisimon]

Re: Info on new set-up.

I have no experience running a coffee business but lots of experience buying both good and bad coffee from all sorts of cafes. Im sure the equipment is important, as are the beans and milk etc, but so much of it comes down to the barista. Lots of cafes have great equipment and make bad coffee. Some make good coffee, very few make consistently great coffee.

As Andy said, "I think you will need to "partner" with a local barista or coffee roaster and trust their opinion 100%". If you are brave, seek some impartial feedback on the quality of the coffee your cafe can produce and when you are told its just ok, seek to improve all the time. Dont be satisfied with OK coffee.

[Waveform]

Re: Info on new set-up.

Im thinking of doing a coffee making course to pick-up some of the fundamentals. We wont to make consistently great coffee for our customers. I believe that this will entail good training practices and machinary and techniques to alleviate the variables. Some things that are difficult to quantify are weather or not we need to have a grind on demand grinder, weather temperature variations of some machines produce an impact or not ect...are electronic grinders much better once dialed in at giving exacting doses and hence easier for all staff to use. This website is great for instilling the view that good coffee is very important for some people. On a side point I wonder if people make coffee differently for their smoking customers. Anyways thank you all for your time and great website Andy!

[iaindb]

Re: Info on new set-up.

You have a serious budget and most (not all) of the questions here are from people with lesser amounts of money looking for home equipment, so its definitely worth going and seeing a sponsor that has experience in this level of machine, and can let you use some before buying.

The equipement is still at the store so is ours to trade-in or sell.

I found that my likes and dislikes about machines changed as I used them more - so why not get your current machine serviced and start using that? Then you might have a better idea of what you like after a few months.

[Fresh_Coffee]

Re: Info on new set-up.

It so happens the far south coast of NSW is in our "back yard" so if you want to talk just give us your details (off forum) and we will give you a call.

As some have said there are people using very expensive equipment but run their businesses so as to turn out mediocre coffee, and others that use regular brand name (regular price) equipment and turn out very good coffee.

The choice is yours and the difference is in the attitude of the owners, their managers and staff. If good coffee is not a priority, I am afraid it doesnt matter how much money you spend or what perception any one gets of particular equipment brand names from reading internet forums .

Also note some of the ideas or perceptions gained in these mostly non trade forums of what you should or shouldnt do in your business, dont always match with the reality of what to do in a trade situation.

Not wishing to carry on too much but you might be interested to know that our business coach believes the following are the 5 most important components of being successful:

1) Identity
2) Belief
3) Capability
4) Behaviour
5) Environment.

Make of them what you will

We can help if you wish and have a wealth of experience from the trade side of things, we import our own excellent equipment, and of course roast our own award winning coffee.

Regards,
Attilio
very first CS site sponsor.

[Waveform]

Re: Info on new set-up.

I found that my likes and dislikes about machines changed as I used them more - so why not get your current machine serviced and start using that? Then you might have a better idea of what you like after a few months.

We had the machine serviced yet wasnt done properly and the grinder is in need of some attention. We are getting the machine serviced again to rectify the issue and looking into a new grinder. The folks arent too happy with the machine and they have more experience than me. Im learning all that i can about machines and grinders so that I can have some positive input. I have found some useful threads on here and youtube vids. I would like to have a grinder with two hoppers so that I can have some free-trade coffee as well. The folks had decided against FT coffee but maybe with a grinder with two hoppers I can sneak it in and give the customers a choice. I dont know if this would complicate the coffee making procedures further. I imaging it may mean that we have two different coffee vendors...and would have to calibrate the coffee machine and maybe the grinder(dont know if this is possible) differently for each vendors beans, dunno...if so does this mean that a more expensive programmable machine is needed. I imagine so. Its always hard trying to find out the sweetspot of price vs flexiblity, reliability so on and so forth. And no disrespect to sales people out there but sometimes we need to sift through some of the sales pitches to discover what makes a difference in the real world(or more accurately in our unique situation).

[Fresh_Coffee]

Re: Info on new set-up.

Hello W,

lucky I am a humble if very passionate coffee roaster and equipment importer, rather than a sales person 

Experienced coffee roasters / suppliers will be able to give you very good advice, tempered by their extensive trade experience, when listening to what you would like to do in your unique situation  They will be able to explain what did and didnt work for others in similar situations in the past, and help you to make the right decisions for you, which in the end are also the right decisions for them if you are to partner together.

You need only choose the right one or the one that "fits" for you. Too often people who are new to the business and seem to have some kind of aversion to talking to professional suppliers, seem to take a lot of advice from people that dont.......have professional experience.  I think its important to get the balance right!

Rgdz,
A.

[Javaphile]

Re: Info on new set-up.

If you want a 2 bin grinder you might consider something like this: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1319804584


Java "Grinding up a storm" phile

[Waveform]

Re: Info on new set-up.

Thanks for that Javaphile. Im a big fan of the US. hope you guys keep that Bill of Rights and Constitution strong. Cheers

[Fresh_Coffee]

Re: Info on new set-up.

Yes but.....

For less than the asking, you should be able to buy three new (as in with a guarantee and local support that you wont need because the items will be new) very good quality grinders that will, do:
a) your main blend
b) your "special"  and
c) your decaff.

This is because, the volume of coffee put through each will be different. The main grinder will be a volume model, the "special" may be the same or less (volume...not quality), and the decaff grinder will be smaller again.

This is business and therefore:
a) the purchases will be tax deductible in some way or other and GST claimable so the real cost to the business will be less than the total asking or paid  figure (ie the deductions will come off some tax return or other) and
b) owing to the above there is no point buying second hand gear where the deductibility will be less and the equipment in used condition and there wont be (may not be) any local support.

A professional roaster supplier will be able to help with this kind of "bread and butter" information and decisions.

Rgdz,
Attilio
very first CS site sponsor

[Waveform]

Re: Info on new set-up.

Does anyone know if the Swift can only be used with LM machines due to the group heads. Or is there any other reason that the Swift Grinders are not compatible with other machines. cheers