Opening or upgrading a coffee shop and wondering which machine is best? This guide walks you through traditional espresso vs bean-to-cup vs hybrid machines, daily volume, barista skills and budget — and explains why we recommend Biepi commercial espresso machines as the best choice for most independent coffee shops.
What Makes a Coffee Machine “Right” for Your Coffee Shop?
The best coffee machine for your coffee shop isn’t simply the one with the highest price tag — it’s the one that matches your menu, volume, staff, and space. Before you fall in love with a shiny machine on Instagram, sanity-check it against the following:
- Drinks per day: How many coffees do you realistically expect to serve at peak times?
- Menu style: Are you offering specialty espresso drinks, basic cappuccino/latte, or a mix with tea and hot chocolate?
- Barista skills: Will you have trained baristas, or do you need more automation?
- Counter space & power: Can your counter and electrics comfortably handle a 2-group machine?
- Support & servicing: Who will maintain and repair your machine when you’re busy and something goes wrong?
With those questions in mind, let’s look at the three main types of machines you’ll be choosing between.
Types of Coffee Machine for Coffee Shops
Most coffee shops end up choosing one of these three categories.
Traditional Espresso Machines
The classic 1- or 2-group espresso machine plus grinder setup. Gives you full control over espresso extraction, milk texture, and workflow.
- Highest cup quality and consistency (in trained hands).
- Fast steam for flat whites, lattes and cappuccinos.
- Scales with your growth and volume.
Best choice if: Coffee is central to your brand and you employ baristas.
Bean-to-Cup Machines
One-touch machines that grind, brew and often froth milk automatically. Ideal for offices or secondary coffee service, but less common as the main engine of a serious coffee shop.
- Very easy to use and clean.
- Consistent output, even with untrained staff.
Best choice if: Coffee is important, but not your core product.
Hybrid / Prosumer Machines
Machines like the Sage Oracle or De’Longhi La Specialista Touch: more control than bean-to-cup, more automation than full commercial.
- Ideal for small sites with modest volume.
- Great stepping stone before investing in a full 2-group system.
Best choice if: You’re starting small and want a gentle learning curve.
Why We Recommend Biepi for Most Independent Coffee Shops
For a real coffee shop — not just a waiting room or office — we almost always recommend a traditional commercial espresso machine. It gives you maximum control over flavour, speed, and presentation. Among those, Biepi has become our go-to choice for small to medium-sized businesses.
Biepi machines combine Italian engineering, compact footprints and powerful steam with a design that looks great on the counter. They’re built for daily commercial use, but sized to work perfectly in smaller coffee shops, kiosks and mobile setups.
Biepi MCE 2 Group Compact
A powerful 2-group espresso machine designed specifically for sites where space is tight but standards are high.
- Two group heads for back-to-back drinks at busy times.
- Fast, dry steam for silky microfoam and latte art.
- Compact body — ideal for small counters and kiosks.
- Pairs perfectly with Biepi on-demand grinders.
Biepi MCE 2 Group Traditional
A stylish traditional 2-group espresso machine for shops that want a real “centre stage” coffee setup with Italian flair.
- Classic café aesthetics with modern internals.
- Reliable performance across busy shifts.
- Available in different finishes to match your brand.
Both machines are backed by UK-wide delivery, installation, and servicing from Espresso Repair, so you’re not left on your own after purchase.
Traditional Espresso vs Bean-to-Cup: What’s Best for a Coffee Shop?
Here’s how the two main approaches stack up when coffee is at the heart of your business.
| Factor | Traditional Espresso (e.g. Biepi MCE) | Bean-to-Cup Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Cup quality | Highest potential quality & consistency with trained baristas. | Good and consistent, but harder to reach specialty-shop level. |
| Speed at peak times | Excellent — multiple drinks at once with 2 groups + steam wand(s). | Limited — most machines brew and steam sequentially. |
| Milk texture | Fine control for latte art and microfoam. | Automated; decent foam but less nuance. |
| Staff skill requirement | Requires barista training, but pays off in quality and upsell. | Minimal training; anyone can make drinks. |
| Customer perception | “Proper coffee shop” feel — visible espresso machine and barista work. | Feels more like an office or self-service system. |
| Best use case | Dedicated coffee shop, specialty café, or coffee-led bar. | Offices, hotel lobbies, secondary coffee service. |
For most independent coffee shops, a Biepi 2-group espresso machine wins this comparison — especially if you want to grow your reputation for great coffee rather than just “hot drinks”.
How to Choose the Right Size & Setup for Your Coffee Shop
A quick sizing guide so you don’t under- or over-buy your first machine.
1. Estimate Your Peak Hour Volume
Instead of only thinking about total drinks per day, ask: “How many coffees will we serve in our busiest hour?”
- Up to 30 drinks/hour: 1–2 group machine is usually fine.
- 30–60 drinks/hour: 2-group Biepi MCE with good workflow.
- 60+ drinks/hour: 2-group with fast grinder and dialled-in baristas.
2. Don’t Forget the Grinder (or Grinders)
Your espresso machine is only half the story. A poor grinder will bottleneck you and ruin consistency.
- Choose an on-demand grinder for fresh shots.
- Consider a second grinder for decaf or guest espresso.
- Match the grinder to your machine’s volume and burr size.
Biepi’s grinders (such as the RD-83 or RD-58 Pro) are designed to pair with MCE machines for a balanced setup.
FAQ: Choosing the Best Coffee Machine for Your Coffee Shop
What is the best type of coffee machine for a coffee shop?
For most coffee shops, a traditional commercial espresso machine is the best choice. It offers the highest cup quality, fastest service at peak times, and the most control over your drinks. Bean-to-cup machines are fantastic in offices, but they rarely give the same “barista-led” experience that customers expect in a dedicated coffee shop.
Is Biepi a good brand for a new coffee shop?
Yes. Biepi is a specialist Italian manufacturer focused on espresso machines and grinders. Their MCE 2 Group Compact and MCE 2 Group Traditional models are ideal for new coffee shops because they combine commercial performance with a relatively compact footprint and sensible pricing — all supported in the UK by Espresso Repair.
Do I need a 2-group machine, or is 1-group enough?
If you expect to serve more than around 25–30 coffees an hour at busy times, we strongly recommend a 2-group machine. It allows two baristas to work side by side, or one barista to pull shots while steaming milk without slowing the queue. For most coffee shops, a 2-group Biepi MCE is the safest bet.
Should I start with a bean-to-cup machine to save money?
It’s tempting, but if coffee is your main product, a bean-to-cup machine can limit your quality and brand perception. A better approach is often to invest in a solid 2-group espresso machine (like a Biepi MCE) and a quality grinder, then keep your menu focused until you grow. You can always add a bean-to-cup machine later for self-service zones.
Who will install and service my coffee shop machine?
Espresso Repair provides UK-wide delivery, installation and servicing for Biepi machines and other commercial coffee equipment. We can help you plan your setup, install the machine correctly, train your team on daily operation, and provide ongoing maintenance so you’re not left without support when you’re busy.
Need Help Choosing the Best Coffee Machine for Your Coffee Shop?
Tell us about your menu, daily volume, and space, and we’ll recommend the right setup — from Biepi espresso machines and grinders to alternative options where bean-to-cup makes sense.