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  • Small Office Machine

    Hi Guys,

    Need some advice.

    We are a small office that will be pumping out about 6-12 coffees daily. Usually double flat whites. We are looking for a tried and tested good machine for a cheap price (I know, I know they dont exist, but you get the picture)

    Previously I spent years in the hospitality industry, so I have no problems making, cleaning, textuing adjusting grind etc etc.

    Any advice is welcome.

    Cheers

  • #2
    Re: Small Office Machine

    if your in Sydney heres a great deal to kick you off.

    pay for it self in 2 weeks @ 10 coffeesa  day @ $3.50

    buy these 2 CS bargains

    http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1249956943/6#6
    http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1249953918

    yes i have an interest

    or you need to give us a budget to work with and what your looking for

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Small Office Machine

      Hi catseye and welcome to CS!

      Good machines with a built in grinder do exist - the Lelit Combi. More info can be found at the following link.

      http://www.talkcoffee.com.au/specials/index.php

      If you would like to contact either Chris (in Melb) or myself (in Sydney), we would be happy to assist.

      Cheers!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Small Office Machine

        When you say double flat whites, would they 2 shots in a regular cup or in a mug?

        If you are making up to 12 mug-sized
        Originally posted by 382E2B2B3A38343D3D3E3E5B0 link=1250134836/2#2 date=1250136750
        Hi catseye and welcome to CS!

        Good machines with a built in grinder do exist - the Lelit Combi.  More info can be found at the following link.

        http://www.talkcoffee.com.au/specials/index.php

        If you would like to contact either Chris (in Melb) or myself (in Sydney), we would be happy to assist.

        Cheers!
        We have a Quaha Napoletana II in our office which is essentially the same machine. Makes 10-15 milk-based coffees per day. A nice choice.

        If you have a bigger budet Id definitely go for an HX machine. When youre making more than 2 at a time frothing the milk can be quite time consuming.

        As Maheel mentioned we really need a budget to give suitable advice.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Small Office Machine

          No more than $500 ideally

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Small Office Machine

            $500 with a grinder?

            If it has to be new then Id recommend a Sunbeam EM0450 grinder (~$150)
            +
            Then maybe a Breville Ikon ($300?) or Sunbeam EM4800C (~$220).
            +
            Unpressurised basket
            +
            Tamper
            +
            Knock box

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Small Office Machine

              Originally posted by 3D3E3A3A2E3A570 link=1250134836/4#4 date=1250138604
              No more than $500 ideally
              Seriously, with a budget of $500 Id get a decent grinder and a plunger. You can make nice coffee with it.

              Any coffee machine/grinder in that budget range will die in very quick time with that amount of usage.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Small Office Machine

                Originally posted by 7B787C7C687C110 link=1250134836/0#0 date=1250134836
                We are a small office that will be pumping out about 6-12 coffees daily
                Lets do some math for fun...

                If you were buying coffees:

                6 coffees a day @ $3.50ea = $21 a day
                (12 coffees a day @ $3.50ea = $42 a day)

                52 weeks in a year, 5 workdays a week less 10 odd for public holidays = 250 days

                So... 6 bought coffees each work day would add-up to $5250 a year.
                and if it was the higher quoted 12 coffees a day then it is $10500 a year.

                So... if you were to buy 6-12 coffees a day in your office you would need a budget of $5000-$10000 and that doesnt count for the staff time lost in buying/fetching them.

                Your budget of $500 for the machine is $2 a day (over 1 year)... I expect you spend nearly that on paperclips!

                While you might get something that fits into the $500 budget I think if you costed a reasonable price per staff member per day (eg: 4 staff at $2/day = $2000) or even got everyone to pay $1 a cup then you might source a budget that will be far less restrictive.

                Just an idea!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Small Office Machine

                  and isnt there a 50% refund/tax incentive for small business purchases at present?...this would make your budget balance more easily if you go for something a little more robust...I am sure your staff would really appreciate this gesture.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Small Office Machine

                    OK...small family run business.

                    Getting the boss to cough up $1000-$2000 for a coffee machine will be difficult (considering Coffee does not come out of the budget as it is, so it is impossible to justify a $2000 spend)

                    Also available funds....it is easier for an individual to put forward 3 bucks for a coffee than put in $400 each for a coffee machine.

                    Sure if we all put in 3-6 bucks a day into a kitty it would all add up..but in the mean time what are we gonna drink?!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Small Office Machine

                      Originally posted by 2F2C28283C28450 link=1250134836/9#9 date=1250204121
                      Sure if we all put in 3-6 bucks a day into a kitty it would all add up..but in the mean time what are we gonna drink?!  

                      I reckon Dennis hit the nail on the head. Get a good grinder and drink freshly roasted coffee in a french press. It will be a quantum leap. Keep in mind if you sign up to spend more than $1k pre dec 31, Kev will give you a big tax bonus

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Small Office Machine

                        Originally posted by 7144494E7A664A43434040250 link=1250134836/10#10 date=1250205290
                        Originally posted by 2F2C28283C28450 link=1250134836/9#9 date=1250204121
                        Sure if we all put in 3-6 bucks a day into a kitty it would all add up..but in the mean time what are we gonna drink?!  

                        I reckon Dennis hit the nail on the head. Get a good grinder and drink freshly roasted coffee in a french press. It will be a quantum leap. Keep in mind if you sign up to spend more than $1k pre dec 31, Kev will give you a big tax bonus
                        A fair approach:

                        For the tax break; the company still has to meet the guidelines to qualify...

                        As it appears to be for your selves...

                        I would chat to the boss...

                        Depending on who is interested and how it is managed...

                        You could do a deal with the boss and or set up a joint funding arrangement..

                        Thus teh Lelit Combi would be an ideal solution and not too far off the mark $$ wise.

                        In addition Andy makes some very good points in his post; http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1250134836/7#7

                        From experience at my last place... Two of us split the start up costs and every one pays $2 and shares in providing milk... The kitty pays for fresh coffee beans and minor maintenance....

                        As teh kitty has grown... The primary owners are in a position to recover some of their initial outlay.... In fact we soon were in a position to drop our contribution to 1$ and every one else was still happy to pay the $2... Every one drinks LARGE mugs, so always a double shot...

                        It once cost many of us $10 to $15 a day for coffee off site and instant in teh office :-( = $50 to $60 a week... Thats almost $200 plus a month... That could be coming off ya mortgage

                        Now they have it on demand and costs $15 to $20 a WEEK, including milk etc... And no driving or coffee runs off site... Happier boss :-)

                        So after that; $80 a month for self and good coffee - $120 off the mortgage and a few $ in teh kitty.. Over a year etc... The machine will not only pay for its self, but you will all be in a stronger position... THEN UPGRADEITUS will get involved :-) But that another story...

                        Do the maths... If your got a good crew... And your prepared to make teh effort, you will save significant $$ in a very short time..

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Small Office Machine

                          heres another idea

                          go buy a nice machine / grinder / setup on your credit card

                          balance transfer the amount to a creditcard that offers 6 months interest free (still a few around not many but )

                          start charging $2.5 a coffee

                          make $100 a week after costs on 10 coffees a day?

                          pay back ccard then bank the profit for any service the machine needs etc

                          start selling chockies and chips bought from woolworths etc on special for a small markup
                          trial small boxes of breaky ceral etc, for those no breakfast people?

                          wow you just set up a micro-business, it could pay for the social drinks on a friday night once a month and improve relations between all employees (not that sort of relations you dirty minded people)

                          priceless................

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Small Office Machine

                            All of this sounds good in theory - however, who is going to end up cleaning the thing?
                            In my experience of using any shared kitchen, most people using equipment will only give things a cursory wipe down, if that.
                            With the added cleaning requirements of an espresso machine; backflushing, descaling (most will not bother to put softened water in), steam wand cleaning etc, I think you could be asking for trouble.
                            Added to that is the possibility of many untrained users, who will end up costing the time of the few that do know how to use the machine properly.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Small Office Machine

                              Originally posted by 24212626292D26480 link=1250134836/13#13 date=1250208536
                              All of this sounds good in theory - however, who is going to end up cleaning the thing?
                              In my experience of using any shared kitchen, most people using equipment will only give things a cursory wipe down, if that.
                              With the added cleaning requirements of an espresso machine; backflushing, descaling (most will not bother to put softened water in), steam wand cleaning etc, I think you could be asking for trouble.
                              Added to that is the possibility of many untrained users, who will end up costing the time of the few that do know how to use the machine properly.
                              Good points that need to be considered...

                              But I have assumed from the first post that Maintenance / Use and teh numbers involved would make it workable..

                              Dumping any machine in a place where there are more than a few users and no ownership is asking for trouble..

                              Comment

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