BAR AND TABLE TOP COFFEE MACHINES: WHICH ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

In the market of professional coffee machines there are two main types: the bar coffee machines, planned for public places and for quality and high-performance levels and the table top coffee machines that are perfect for offices, small businesses and places that look for versatility and simplicity.

The choice between these two types of machines is not easy because everyone has its own advantages for specific places.

In this article we will look through the main differences between the bar and the table top coffee machines in order to allow you to do the best choice to meet with your needs.

1. Capacity and performance

The bar coffee machines are planned for places with many customers such as cafés and restaurants and some categories of hotels.

They are equipped with more coffee brewers (from one to four) so that more coffee drinks can be prepared at the same time. This typology of coffee machines is planned in order to grant a high-level performance during rush hours without compromising the coffee quality.

The table top coffee machines are planned to supply additional drinks such as chocolate, tea or barley coffee.

They are ideal for offices, waiting rooms, hotel breakfast rooms, stores where there is the need to supply different drinks at the same time.

2. Size and design

The two machine types are also different for the dimensions and the design.  The bar coffee machines are usually big and they need to be placed on a counter that is big enough.

Their elegant and often modern design is an important contribution to the professional looking of the place.

Instead, the table top machines are compact and they can be placed on tables, desks or small shelves being able to be adapted to small places. Ther design is practical since they can be placed in different places such as meeting rooms or offices offering comfort both to the staff and to the guests.

3. Coffee types and versatility

The bar coffee machines are different for the quality of the supplied coffee that depends on the constant pressure and on the adjustable extraction parameters.

They usually use coffee that is ground on demand in order to grant an intense aroma and a perfect cream. For the most expert barmen the bar machines can offer the possibility to try new preparation procedures and to personalise every drink with the so called  milk art or coffee art

The table top machines can offer different types of drinks but automatically:  the operator will have to place the cup, press the button and the machine will do all.

The personalisation of the drinks is replaced by the versatility and the practicality.

4. An easy use

For the best use of the bar coffee machines specific skills are required to the barman that must be able to manage the grinding, the coffee quantity, the pressure and the water temperature in order to prepare a perfect espresso.

As a result, the bar coffee machines are ideal for places with a prepared staff that is able to use all the machine functions.

Instead, the table top machines are conceived for an easy and immediate use.

Anyone with no experience can get a good coffee by pressing easily the drink button.

5. Maintenance and cleaning

The coffee bar machines need a constant maintenance because of their continuous and heavy use. It is fundamental to clean the supplying spouts, the steam arm and the filter holder in order to grant the good coffee quality and the machine longer life.

The table top machines are easier to deal with and need a minor maintenance.

Most of the models have automatic cleaning and descaling programs that facilitate the daily service and reduce the extraordinary maintenance.

Anyway, we recommend doing the daily cleaning, above all in machines with fresh milk.

6. Our models

Flymax does not manufacture professional coffee bar machines but cooperates with a trusted company that produces these models in order to be able to supply them when there is a customer request.

In our product range there are models that are similar to bar ones and can be used in small-medium offices, in home market or on occasion of events/celebrations.

These models are mainly with the capsule in order to facilitate to the operators (mainly volunteers) the drink supply and speed it up.

Our business is mainly focused on table top coffee machines that can have different optional devices according to the customer request.

One of our key selling points is the personalisation of the machines according to the customers’ needs.

We have different product ranges with different price ranges; for example, one of our base models, F3 Revolution (both with the touch screen and the glass keyboard) can be equipped with an automatic milk frother for the fresh milk supply, with a powerful boiler for a higher performance and with a larger brewer (14 gr instead of 7 gr). With all these additional parts our F3 Revolution machine can offer the same performance of a professional bar coffee machine.

In 2014 upon one of our overseas customers’ request , we developed a “bar” table top machine, called  La Regina, a hybrid model to be located in “stores” and able to supply the drink cappuccino in the same way of a traditional bar machine  by using  a steam arm or an automatic milk frother.

Therefore, the choice between a bar coffee machine and a table top coffee machine depends both on the use and on the service typology that is looked for.

• The bar coffee machine is ideal for professional and commercial contexts with a high volume of customers such as cafés where the request is for a high-quality espresso prepared by a professional staff.
• The table top coffee machine is ideal for offices, meeting rooms or small businesses where the request is for different drinks prepared easily thanks to the easy use and service of this machine model.

The choice of the right machine depends on the coffee type you want to offer, on the business volume and your budget.

For both machine models we have looked through this article the machine quality can make the difference since any machine of good quality can dispense a good and pleasant coffee.

Don’t hesitateto contact us and discover our product range!