What to Look For in a Used Commercial Espresso Machine
You certainly can save a large sum of money by choosing to purchase a used commercial espresso machine rather than splashing out on a new one. When you consider that a commercial unit can go for between one and up to several thousands of dollars, it would be wise to do some research and take your time when making your choice.
As with buying anything used, there are some things that you need to look out for, these are potential hazards and pitfalls that can mean the difference between gaining an asset for you business as opposed to a massive liability. So you need to take the time to review the options and try and use some common sense to make the decision and not just make the choice on price alone. Because cheaper doesn’t always mean it’s a better value for your money, especially if it ends up costing many thousands of dollars to get the thing working as it should.
Auctions and restaurant closing sales are often prime places to look for bargains and in fact, most of the better quality models that you might find at these sales are generally well taken care of. And since you are starting with a good quality machine, it should conceivably offer you a similar life expectancy to that of a new one.
There are several things that you do need to take the time to review and check when purchasing used. First and foremost would be the actual age of the machine. This is important not just from a longevity standpoint but also from the fact that as models change and get older, replacement parts become harder to find and more and more costly so the cost of maintaining it down the line will go up exponentially.
Also keep in mind the shop that it came from. If it was a regular restaurant there is a chance that it got limited use. However if it was a specialty coffee shop, it will be a safe bet that it got daily heavy use. As you can imagine, the first of these two choices is going to be a much better buy for you than the latter.
Now the flip side of that is that if it was being used regularly in a coffee shop that specializes in things like espresso and cappuccino, then they more than likely took better care of the unit than the mom and pop shop that used it sporadically. This is where you need to look at it and make a decision based on the visual condition and your gut instinct.
If you are one of the millions of people that prefer to buy online, it is imperative that you ask to see a recorded video demonstration of the used commercial item so you know it works. If you are buying in person, it is a good idea to ask to have a sample so you can see how long it takes to brew and what the coffee tastes like before actually making the purchase.