the purchase price is not everything
The purchase price is only one of the costs of an espresso machine. A café machine works every day for many years, so you also need to account for service and day-to-day running, possible breakdowns and the machine's value when you sell it later.
That is why it is not worth comparing purchase prices alone. It is better to work out the cost of using the machine per coffee and compare it with the price of a drink on your menu.
| Cost | What it covers | How to reduce it |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | espresso machine, grinders, water filter, fitting, installation and commissioning, and training | match the number of groups and equipment to the actual traffic in your venue |
| Service and running costs | scheduled services, gaskets, filter baskets, filter cartridges, cleaning products | good filtration, daily cleaning, services on schedule |
| Downtime | sales lost while the whole machine or one of its groups is out of action | a pre-season service, fast repairs, parts in stock |
| Resale | what you get for the machine after several years | a brand whose used machines have a second-hand market, plus a documented service history |
how to work out the machine cost per coffee
- Equipment cost = price of the set minus resale value plus service and running costs over the whole period of use.
- Number of coffees = coffees per day × working days per year × number of years.
- Cost per coffee = equipment cost ÷ number of coffees.
Example: a café sells 150 coffees a day and is open 330 days a year. Over 7 years that is 346,500 coffees. If one machine costs more, the difference is spread across all of those coffees, so per coffee it is usually small.
The calculator below does this for you. Enter the price from the quote, the annual service costs and the average number of coffees you sell per day.
what a breakdown costs
When a machine breaks down, the problem is not the machine cost per coffee but the sales you cannot make in the meantime. At 150 coffees a day, one day of downtime means 150 drinks not sold, and some customers may go to another café instead. Enter the average drink price and the calculator will show the value of lost sales.
So when choosing a machine, check not only the price but also the availability of service. If something goes wrong, we first try to solve the problem over the phone. If it cannot be fixed remotely, we send a technician, and if the repair will take longer, we provide replacement equipment. Parts for La Marzocco machines are available for at least 10 years after a model goes out of production. We describe what a service covers in the guide espresso machine service.
how to keep costs down
- Groups matched to your traffic. Too few groups make the queue longer at peak times. Too many mean a higher purchase price and more energy use. The group calculator will help. We choose the simplest model that gives you the output your venue's traffic needs.
- Water filtration. Scale build-up can lead to expensive repairs, so the right filtration usually costs less than repairing the water circuit later. More in the guide water for espresso machines.
- Daily cleaning. Backflushing and cleaning the portafilters and steam wands take a few minutes a day and reduce wear on gaskets and valves. You will find the schedule in the guide cleaning and backflush.
- Services on schedule. A gasket can be replaced during a planned service. If it wears out during the morning rush, it can take a group out of action.
- On-demand grinder. It grinds each dose straight into the portafilter, which cuts coffee waste. More in the guide espresso grinders.
the machine's resale value
After several years a machine still has value on the second-hand market. A well-kept machine from a good brand can be sold or moved to a second venue, and the amount you get can be deducted from the total cost of ownership.
“Every specialty café should have at least a dual boiler, like the one in the La Marzocco Linea AV. These machines last a long time, look beautiful and hold their value on the second-hand market.”
If you do not plan to sell the machine later, enter zero in the calculator. You will then get a more conservative result. We explain when replacing a machine makes sense in the guide when to replace your espresso machine.
cash or leasing
Leasing does not change the machine cost per coffee, but it lets you spread the purchase into instalments. The calculator does not include financing costs. The instalment amount and terms are set by the leasing company, and tax matters are worth discussing with your accountant. More in the guide leasing an espresso machine for a café.
Already have a quote and want to compare it? Tell us how many coffees you sell a day and what is on the menu. We will match the machine and grinder to the real traffic in your venue.
a cheaper machine or La Marzocco
With low traffic, or in a venue where coffee is not the main part of sales, a cheaper machine may be enough. With more coffees a day, look beyond the purchase price at temperature stability under heavy load, availability of service, reliability and the value of the equipment after a few years. The simplest La Marzocco model is the Linea Classic S. We cover the most common pitfalls in the guide mistakes when buying an espresso machine.
espresso machine cost calculator
Enter the price from the quote, the annual costs and the number of coffees you sell per day. The calculator will work out the machine cost per coffee.
frequently asked questions
How do you work out the cost of an espresso machine per coffee?
Add the service and running costs over the whole period of use to the price of the set-up, subtract the resale value and divide the result by the number of coffees: coffees a day × working days a year × number of years.
What are the running costs of an espresso machine?
Scheduled services, wear parts such as gaskets and filter baskets, water filter cartridges and cleaning products. It is also worth allowing for the risk of downtime.
Does the calculator show machine prices?
No. You enter all amounts yourself, for example from our quote. The calculator converts them into a cost per coffee.
How many coffees will a machine make over several years?
At 150 coffees a day, 330 working days a year and 7 years, that is 346,500 coffees. With more traffic, correspondingly more.
How long are parts available for La Marzocco machines?
For at least 10 years after a model goes out of production, which is why a well-maintained machine can work for many years.
Does the calculator take leasing into account?
No. The calculator counts the cost of the equipment without financing. The instalment amount and leasing terms are set by the leasing company.
read also
- Linea Mini or GS3? Which one for your home?
- Which espresso machine for an office? Does a traditional one make sense?
- Linea Micra or Linea Mini? Which one for your home?
- Grind-by-Sync: how La Marzocco controls a Mahlkönig grinder
- How to make milk drinks faster in a café
- Espresso machine for a roastery or showroom: how to show off your coffee
- 10 mistakes when buying a café espresso machine (and how to avoid them)
- Espresso machine for a bakery or patisserie: selling coffee alongside your bakes
- New espresso machine in your café: a barista training plan for the first month
- Espresso grinder for a café: on-demand or doser, and how many you need
- ABR drip tray scales or AV dosing? When the extra cost pays off
- Espresso machine service: what it covers, how often, and when to call a technician
- Café espresso machine leasing: lease, rent or buy?
- La Marzocco in Warsaw: Tekla, Doza and Wandal
- Specialty café: which espresso machine to choose? What a specialty café needs
- Opening a café? An equipment plan, step by step
- Dual boiler, saturated group, independent boilers: what they change in the cup
- When to replace your café espresso machine? 5 signs
- Water for espresso machines in venues: hardness, filtration, boiler protection
- Espresso machine cleaning and backflush: a schedule for your team
- Espresso machine for a restaurant or hotel: what to look for
- Which espresso machine for a café? A guide to La Marzocco machines
- Linea Classic S, Linea PB, KB90 or Strada? A comparison
- AV, ABR, EE, MP: what La Marzocco machine versions mean
- Preparing your venue for an espresso machine: power, water, drain
- How many groups does your venue need?