Currently own or looking to setup your own cafe? Here's everything you need to know about setting up your cafe coffee machine, grinder and brewing equipment. From installation costs, plumbing requirements, and choosing the right milk for your coffee shop. Here's how to elevate your café experience today.

Coffee machine installation costs

The cost install a coffee machine depends largely on the specific circumstances. For clients who have bought their equipment through us, are on rental agreements or On Loan Agreements - there is no cost to installing your equipment. 

If you have your own coffee machine, costs will depend on whether you’re coming on board as a wholesale coffee client or are simply in need of a hand when it comes to coffee machine installation. How much work is required to do the installation, such as special plumbing materials or partial challenges can also affect costs, but the average coffee machine installation costs ranges from $300 - $600. 

You can get in contact with our friendly Service Department, and they can walk you through the costs.

Coffee machine plumbing - do I need a plumbed in coffee machine?

While most cafes will require a plumbed in coffee machine - both to meet Food Safety Standards and for convenience - this may not apply to all setups. Mobile coffee carts, smaller venues and places with pre-existing space limitations may be granted the option of having a more flexible solution. The best thing to do is to first seek advice from your local council about what you can and can’t do. Once you know that, we can talk you through the pros and cons of both options for your cafe.

How long does it take to install a coffee machine?

Installing a coffee machine can take as little as 1 hour, if all the necessary preparation has been done beforehand. Our service technicians can help you prepare for your installation date by making you aware of what needs to be in place before they arrive, gathering the information they need from you,  and letting you know what you might need to organise ahead of time. However, installations can always run into problems that require creative solutions to overcome, and these can often take extra time to resolve. Service technicians will always plan for an average of a few hours, but are quick to communicate with our clients if anything unexpected arises.

Coffee machine water connection requirements

Commercial coffee machines require access to an easily accessible cold water outlet, which will typically run through a water filter to maintain water hardness between 30ppm and 150 ppm, and a pH between 6.5-8.5 for optimal coffee flavour and to prevent damage to the equipment. Our service technicians will test the mains pressure and use a pressure limiting valve to regulate the flow between the water outlet and the water filter to ensure smooth operation. Waste water will also be plumbed out into available drainage holes, and all plumbing will be installed as neatly as possible in the space provided, to ensure safe and efficient operation. Our service technicians will ask you about available water outlets and drainage positions before they come to install the machine, to ensure you have the right set up in place to move forward.

Commercial coffee machine power requirements

Commercial espresso machines can vary in their power needs, so it’s important to check with our service technicians about your specific machine and grinder before having power outlets and supplies installed. As a guide, their requirements can be anywhere from 220-240 single-phase outlets, with a power supply of between 15A-30A depending on the size and power of the coffee machine. If your power or isolating switches are in locations that could be affected by water, they must have weatherproof power switches installed - this is compulsory. COmmercial coffee machines that come direct from the factory do not always have a suitable power plug attached, but our service technicians can fit one for you if necessary.

FINE TUNING SETTINGS & PROGRAMS

When we install your new grinder, we will set a grind size that works well with your coffee machine - more specifically, you group handle basket sizes. The relationship between grind size and coffee dose is tightly woven, and needs to be paid attention to. If you have an electronic grinder that also measures out a timed dose, we will need to set  both the grind and the dose using some scales. 

Even after being set, a new electronic grinder can experience large fluctuations in consistency for the first few weeks of operation - often called the ‘seasoning period’ - before settling down to a more manageable range of change.

If you’re winding ‘how do I adjust my coffee grinder?’ - then it’s a good idea to take advantage of the complimentary commercial coffee training we offer our wholesale coffee clients, or book in for a paid coffee course with the Crema Coffee Academy to make sure you’re ready to keep on top of your coffee quality! 

Programming shot volumes on your coffee machine

Most commercial coffee machines these days work on what we call ‘volumetrics’. This means that each button on the machine can be programmed to deliver a set amount of water each time it’s pressed, consistently. When your service technicians set up your machine for the first or perform a scheduled maintenance service, they will check and set your coffee volumes for you. They will also often label the buttons for you until you get used to what they all do.

Over time, shot volumes can slide out of calibration and begin delivering more or less water than the original setting. For this reason we always recommend our clients have an accurate measuring shot glass to check their espresso shots. While many baristas monitor their espresso shots based on weight, this weight can change depending on the coffee being used and therefore we do not consider this an accurate method for programming. If there is a problem you can identify it early and have a service technician assist you, or get advice on how to reprogram the button yourself.

We often get asked what the symbols on the buttons of an espresso machine mean, and the answer might surprise you. Those symbols - one cup, two cups or half a cup - are only there as a guide for those who program the volumes. Realistically, you can program those buttons to do whatever you want. In this way, you can choose which symbols you want to use for each volume, whatever works best for you!

Learning how to calibrate coffee machines and adjust the shot volumes on your coffee machine isn’t too difficult, but it does require a range of tips and considerations to do it accurately. For this reason, we strongly recommend having one of our knowledgeable trainers or service technicians run you through how to do this properly to avoid mistakes.

Adjusting your calibrated tamper or automated tamper

If you’re lucky enough to have a calibrated tamper, which ‘click’ when you reach the right amount of downward pressure, they will still need to be set to a comfortable and effective weight first. Usually this is done by adjusting a screw or ball joints with an allen key. When you’re choosing a weight to set your tamp to, we recommend about 10-12kg of pressure. While it really doesn’t matter which weight you choose, it does matter that you choose a weight that your smallest or physically weakest barista can comfortably perform. Otherwise, you’re going to have an issue of inconsistent tamping across staff members, and possibly put some at risk of injury. We aren’t all gym bunnies!

If you have an automated tamper like a Puqpress, you will need to set it to a ‘kilograms of pressure’ setting on the digital display. Usually this is between 15-25 kgs of pressure. Once this has been set, don’t change it! Changing the pressure constantly will affect the consistency of your espresso shots. Ideally you should be making sure your coffee dose also stays stable with scales, with the only thing changing regularly being your grind size.

Giving your barista tools and accessories a test run

Once we get the biggest players set up and working - your coffee machine, grinder and tamper - it’s time to make sure all your barista tools are in working order and arranged in a way that makes sense for workflow. 

If you’re a very lucky barista, you’ll also have a milk jug rinser installed. These have been revolutionary for hygiene and fast service, but you do need to get across how they work and how to take them apart to clean them properly. We recommend getting your hands on some milk line cleaner to give parts a soak and deep clean at least once a week ( it’s also great for soaking milk jugs in!).

Other coffee machine accessories, barista supplies and tools you should unpack and test run include:

- Espresso shot timers

- Milk thermometers

- Barista cloths

- Barista whisks

- Latte art pens

- Espresso cleaning powder

- Group head brushes

- Grinder brushes

- Dosing scales

- Measuring shot glasses

- Milk Jugs

- Chocolate shakers

- Coffee waste tubes and knock boxes

- Rubber tamper mats

The types of coffee shop accessories you will need will depend on your unique setup and equipment. ALways make sure you talk to one of our friendly team members at Crema before spending up a storm! Sometimes you may end up with stuff you don’t need,, or you might look past something absolutely essential. IOt’s a pretty big world of coffee supplies out there, and it’s easy to get lost without a coffee sherpa to guide you through it.

CHOOSING PRODUCTS & TESTING RECIPES

Choosing the right milk for your coffee is therefore an extremely important decision - it’s a massive contribution to the flavour of composition of the coffee most of us are drinking.

The top considerations when it comes to choosing the right dairy milk for your coffee shop are first quality, followed closely by:

- Availability - who delivers to your area, and is it frequent enough?

- Price - Is it an affordable price for where you’re at financially now?

- Ownership - is it local and or/Australian made and owned? This is an important consideration for many, including Crema Coffee Garage.

- Sustainability and ethical responsibility - Do they invest in and carry out sustainable practices, and are their cows cared for? Depending on your stance, this might be a deciding factor.

- Customer service - This may seem less important, but finding a supplier who is friendly, helpful and will work with your invoicing and accounts system as best they can makes a lasting relationship.

Our Crema team can give you local insider knowledge when it comes to suppliers we have worked with, and some of the best performers in the region. We can also put you in touch with their representatives to start talking about a supply.

- What is the best non-dairy milk for coffee in Australia?

- While the best alternative milk for coffee somewhat depends on customer preference, there are some clear winners including:

- Almond milk

- Soy milk

- Oat milk

- Coconut Milk

- Macadamia Milk

- Rice Milk

- Hemp Milk

- Cashew Milk

Some fan favourites at Crema Coffee Garage include Milk Lab Almond Milk, Happy Happy Soy Boy, Bonsoy, Milk Lab Macadamia Milk, Alternative Dairy Co Oat Milk, and Milk Lab Coconut Milk.

Something every cafe owner and barista should note - if they don't know already - is the common and normal phenomenon of alternative milks ‘splitting’ or appearing a little curdled when mixed with coffee. The main reason for this comes down to how acidic the coffee you’re using is, and while there are some ways to minimise it - such as not over-heating the milk - you ultimately cannot stop it from happening without changing your coffee. 

The conundrum is that a coffee high in acidity is what pairs best with dairy milk and gives it the flavour we know and love, so only one milk can win this fight and it’s almost always going to be in favour of your biggest customer base. If you’re a super dedicated coffee shop, you could consider setting up an extra coffee grinder with a lower acid coffee bean, which would pair well with alternative milks and black coffees.

We like to switch it up from time to time on the alternative milk front, as new and improved products arise. The R&D going into creating better and better alternative milks is a space to watch, and no one is watching more closely than us! We can recommend some alternative milk suppliers that we know and trust, and give you a taste test of some of the products we have chosen to run with to help you make a decision.

Wholesale beverage suppliers

Most coffee shops still need to offer non-coffee options, including cold drinks. A coffee shop is an inclusive environment after all! You might have some thoughts already about what kinds of drinks to offer, but these might include:

- Juices

- Soft drinks

- Bottled water

- Sparkling water

- Flavoured milks

- Kombuchas

- Iced teas

- Energy drinks

- Sports drinks

- Protein drinks

Depending on your customer base, offering at least a small selection of these will keep everyone happy, as they are often purchased to have before or after a coffee. The team at Crema Coffee Garage can put you in touch with somegreat suppliers, and give advice when it comes to signing up for contracts with bigger suppliers.

Drinking chocolate,  Chai latte, Coffee syrups, teas & more

Whether they’re intended as standalone drinks or you’re adding them to coffee, the Australian consumer loves nothing more than variety. Part of your standard weekly order is usually going to include drinking chocolate, chai latte powder or syrup, teas and a range of flavoured coffee syrups. Some other popular products that can be overlooked sometimes include:

- Turmeric latte

- Matcha latte

- Beetroot latte

- White drinking chocolate powder

- Raw Liquid Sugar Syrup for baristas

- Frappease powder for iced frappes

It’s pretty rare that we run into a drink product we’ve never heard of, so it’s with great confidence that we can guide you through the most popular choices and products for each category. Crema Coffee Garage supplies wholesale cafe supplies to their clients, along with freshly roasted coffee beans, so we know what we’re about.

Ready to go treats & local cafe food suppliers

Few things rouse a weary office worker or tired mum like the phrase ‘coffee and a muffin’. So when you’re setting up your cafe, it’s wise to consider what sort os tasty little treats and ready-to-go food options you might consider offering. Not everyone has a full kitchen or a way to offer food prepared onsite, but there are heaps of great options to get snacks delivered to you fresh each day by some truly fantastic local suppliers.

Many cafes use a combination of suppliers who excel at different things - you might get your bread from one place and your cookies from another.

With our fingers on the pulse and access to a huge client network, we can definitely help you make some choices and get in contact with suppliers who can keep you stocked up with:

- Cookies

- Muffins

- Doughnuts

- Slices

- Protein balls

- Danishes

- Breads

- Tarts

- Cakes

- Pastries

- Pies

- Quiches

This is hardly a comprehensive list, and largely depends on the kind of storage you have available (refrigerated or ambient), but when it comes to sneaky little cafe treats there is definitely something for everyone out there!

We have different cold brew options for our clients depending on their budget and how much cold brew they are selling, from a small retail setup through to a fully installed  cold brew keg system and everything in between!

We can also assist you in trialling and deciding on some tasty coffee to use as your cold brew blends, because not all coffee shines as a cold brew. For that reason we roast a dedicated Cold Brew Blend, and can recommend several other coffees in our range that are consistently delightful served cold.

If you’re on the fence about choosing to offer cold brew or you’re not sure if it’s worth it, do yourself a favour and ask our staff why you shouldn’t write it off as a passing trend. Not only is it here to stay, it's easy to make, cost efficient and speeds up service. What’s not to like?

Don’t rush the process.

We help our café clients upskill by providing free coffee training for every new client. Not only that, we continue to provide a consistent amount of complimentary training spots to each venue, every year. Whether you have had a little bit of staff turnover or you have some staff that want to come along for a refresher, sending your baristas and café staff to coffee training for us is never a waste of time.

This is the part where we get to set up and play with all your cool new stuff, and make sure it’s exactly what you need it to be.

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