Restaurant and hospitality services need to budget in the pricing and costs of commercial coffee machines and tea supplies. Whether an establishment is just opening or is looking to replace old equipment, commercial coffee supplies and machines are an important part of these industries.

When shopping for coffee and tea supplies, it is critical to know the approximate amount of coffee that you will brew each day. A small Mom and Pop restaurant will spend much less on equipment than a large establishment that serves thousands daily.

Smaller establishments can get away with a small commercial coffee machine and tea brewer. Large establishments need to serve a wider range of coffee beverages, making an espresso machine necessary. As you pin point a budget for commercial coffee makers and tea equipment, consider the following:

1. Use commercial espresso coffee machines to create specialty drinks.

2. Have a standard commercial coffee maker for standard coffees.

3. Brew tea with commercial tea equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Price commercial espresso coffee machines

When your restaurant serves specialty coffees such as lattes, cappuccinos and mochas, an espresso machine will be in order. These high-pressure machines come with a hefty price tag. Commercial espresso machines range from $1,000 to nearly $12,000.

I recommend: For a wide variety of commercial espresso makers, look to ACityDiscount. It carries espresso machines from simple to complex, in a wide range of prices. The Coffee Brewers sells commercial espresso coffee machines in a wide variety. Its listing of machines includes single and triple steam wands.

Figure the cost of commercial coffee machines

Commercial coffee makers are a standard piece of equipment for hotels, restaurants, cafes and convenience stores. These machines reflect a price depending on the number of features they have. The volume of the commercial coffee equipment affects the price. A small coffee machine will sell for as little as $250, but large-capacity commercial coffee roasters can run as high as $6,000.

I recommend: The Bunn Store specializes in smaller commercial coffee machines. It has machines priced anywhere from $250 to $600. CoffeeMakersEtc specializes in large capacity commercial coffee machines. It has machines priced from $1,000 to over $6,000.

Budget the cost of commercial tea equipment

Iced tea isn't just a summer beverage anymore. Many customers enjoy this refreshing drink year round. The majority of brewers cost between $500 and $700.

I recommend: Coffee Wholesale USA is a distributor of several commercial iced tea brewers. It has 3- and 5-gallon brewers to choose from in a variety of models. Another distributor of iced tea brewers is A-Best Fixture Company. Along with ice tea brewers, it also sells ice tea dispensers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Small establishments can save money by purchasing commercial coffee makers that brew coffee and make espresso.

All employee benefits don't have to cost a fortune. Sometimes simple is just fine, and for many people, few things are as rewardingly simple as a hot cup of coffee.

A coffee service for many small businesses will be worth exploring, though the tiniest of firms may find it more cost effective to buy a coffeemaker and hit the supermarket themselves. There are three things you should consider when selecting a provider:

1. Pick a vendor that provides the selection you want
2. Compare the prices and quality offered by services
3. Make sure your vendor will repair any leased equipment

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Choose the right vendor

America is a nation of coffee drinkers – you won't have a problem finding vendors. Most will offer a wide selection, from plain to fancy – gourmet, flavored and organic. Usually, all the extras are provided as well, the sweeteners, creamers and the like. Consider whether you also want to offer teas, hot chocolate, oatmeal and instant soups, because that's an option too.

I recommend: Start your coffee research at BuyerZone. A great forum for discussing all things coffee can be found at Coffee Forums.

Get the right price

The cost of a coffee service depends on the brand and quality of your coffee, but figure anywhere from 6 to 60 cents a cup. Do the math. How many cups of coffee might each employee drink a day? One rule of thumb says coffee service pricing runs from $60-$120 per employee per year. If your ballpark figure seems affordable then proceed.

I recommend: To submit a service request and receive quotes from various providers, visit Office Coffee.

Ask about service

The final piece of this selection pie is service. If you don't get deliveries on time and the vendor has poorly maintained equipment, your perk loses its steam. Do ask for references.

I recommend: Big-name outfits offer office coffee service. Check out the options provided by major players, such as Dunkin' Donuts, Peets, and Starbucks. Also, check out providers like Flavia.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You may be required to sign a contract to get service. The agreement usually automatically renews unless you cancel it. You may have to pay a penalty if you cancel service before the contract term expires.
• •  Some advanced brewing systems connect to your water line for hot water. You may have to pay hundreds of dollars for installation, filters and hardware, as well as replacement cartridges every few months, so consider this option carefully.
• •  Choose a delivery schedule that provides enough coffee to serve everyone. Employees will frown upon dry periods when they have that coffee craving.
• •  Find out whether shipping or delivery charges are part of the service. If not, do ask if the fees are a fixed amount or a percentage of the total amount you spend monthly.

Supplies for commercial coffee machines and tea supplies are similar to those that you would purchase for home use. Some of the basic supplies to purchase for a restaurant or hospitality service are a coffee grinder, filters and commercial grade cleaners.

Grinding coffee beans on site will allow you to sell fresh-tasting, full-flavored coffee and coffee products. Nearly every commercial coffee machine requires filters, which are available from several manufacturers in different sizes and styles. Commercial-grade cleaners are necessary to keep coffee and tea equipment running well and stain free. Consider the following as you shop for commercial coffee and tea supplies:

1. Grind coffee beans on site for the best flavor;

2. Purchase filters for coffee and commercial tea equipment;

3. And use commercial-grade cleaners to remove tough coffee and tea stains from commercial coffee equipment.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase grinders to supplement commercial coffee roasters

Fresh ground coffee beans not only add to the aroma of your business, they produce fresher, more flavorful coffee. Commercial coffee grinders are available in several sizes and grind varying amounts of coffee. Have an estimate of how many pounds of coffee beans you grind in a day to purchase the best grinder for your establishment.

I recommend: Commercial coffee equipment is available at CoffeeAM.com. It sells several commercial coffee grinders that hold 2 to 6 pounds of coffee beans. Another company that has a wide variety of commercial coffee grinders is Coffee Wholesale USA. It has grinders available from $50 to over $1000.

Buy filters for commercial coffee machines

Commercial coffee makers require filters, just as any home machine. The main difference you will see in filters is the size; manufactures make coffee filters for different sizes of baskets and for half batches of coffee. Know what size filter you need before shopping.

I recommend: Espresso Parts sells commercial coffee supplies, including coffee filters. It has a variety of filter sizes to choose from. Hamilton Beach sells coffee shop supplies, including over-sized commercial coffee filters.

Clean coffee and tea equipment with commercial-grade cleaners

Hard-water stains and coffee build-up make keeping coffee and tea equipment clean a tough job. Commercial-grade cleaners keep brewing machines, carafes and mugs free from stains and sparkling clean. These cleaners also keep water lines, valves and heads free from build-up.

I recommend: KegWorks.com sells cleaning supplies for commercial tea equipment and coffee machines. It has metal polisher, pot sanitizers and scrubbing brushes for removing tough stains. Espresso Zone also sells cleaner for commercial coffee and tea brewers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When your customers are environmentally conscious, use reusable filters and organic coffee grounds. Advertise your environmentally friendly commercial coffee supplies on your menu. You can also consider purchasing coffee from fair-trade companies.

With such a wide variety to choose from, finding the best products for your coffee machine and tea supplies can be tricky. Learn these key terms to help your coffee shop run smoothly. Choose between carafes and urns as a way to serve your customers. If you are selling your coffee and tea to go, consider a sleeve, clutch or jacket. Using descaling products for your equipment can make the difference between an OK cup of coffee and the best cup of coffee, while properly preparing your product with a frothing thermometer or a permanent filter will save your employees time and save you money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Urn

An urn comes in handy when you need to serve a crowd. Urns are large-capacity coffee or tea pots that keep your beverages warm, and some can even brew your coffee for you. Urns have a handy spout on the front that makes it easy for everyone to serve themselves.

I recommend: To learn more and find out all the ways an urn can make your coffee and tea service easier, check out Beverage Factory.

Clutch, sleeve or jacket

A coffee clutch, sleeve or jacket is a great addition to your cafe. These heavy-duty paper sleeves slide over a paper cup to keep your customers from burning their hands. A cup sleeve also works to keep your customer's coffee or tea warm longer.

I recommend: Find a detailed description of coffee sleeves at Coffee Icon.

Frothing thermometer

It is important to be able to make your frothy drinks at the right temperature. A frothing thermometer is a tool used to tell you when your milk froth has reached the perfect level of heat, but not too hot as to scald the milk.

I recommend: Learn more about frothing thermometers and all that they can do at Espresso Zone.

Permanent filter

When making coffee and tea, a permanent filter can come in handy. Permanent filters are stainless steel, wireless mesh filters that work the same as paper filters. Permanent filters have a handle for easy use and are dishwasher-safe.

I recommend: Learn more about permanent filters and their specifications at Coffee Makers.

Descaling products

To be able to provide the best-tasting coffee and tea, you must use descaling products. Descaling products are cleaners that remove the build up of lime scale and other mineral deposits that cling to your coffee and tea pots and take away from the taste of your coffee.

I recommend: Espresso Italia discusses descaling products, why they should be used and how often they should be used.