Coffee Machines

Portafilter and Coffee Machine Buying Switzerland – curated by Roastery Experts

Do you want to buy a portafilter machine and are looking for clear facts instead of lengthy marketing texts? Here you will find machines that we, as a coffee roastery and barista specialist, know from daily practice. We don't sell boxes, but tools for an espresso with a dense body and clean aromatics.

Why buy your setup from the Coffee Coaching Club

Because we understand what happens in the cup. We assess equipment not by glossy brochures, but by extraction quality in everyday use. Our range includes icons like La Marzocco, Rocket Espresso, ECM, Profitec, Torre, Arkel as well as Flair Espresso as manual lever machines (exclusive Swiss importer). What is listed here has passed our practical filter.

You order directly online and receive your machine nationwide in Switzerland and Liechtenstein within 2 to 4 business days. For high-value machines from the La Marzocco Linea Micra or Mini R class, we recommend Click and Collect in one of our showrooms – we will commission the machine with you. When purchasing an espresso machine, an introductory course is included: about 60 minutes, during which we will go through the extraction philosophy together and set up your personal espresso ritual, which then takes about 5 minutes. Financing via Heylight is possible.

The Machine Categories in Focus

System Comparison at a Glance

Group Heads – E61, Saturated, Saturated Group

The group head determines the temperature stability during extraction and thus a large part of what ends up in the cup. With an E61 group head (standard for Rocket, ECM, Profitec, many Bezzera models), hot water circulates through a heavy, preheated metal head. This works reliably after about 20 minutes of heating up, but requires thermal discipline.

With a saturated group head (La Marzocco, Arkel, Rocket R Nine One), the brew boiler and group head merge into a directly heated block. Reacts faster to temperature changes; the first shot in the morning has the same character as the third. In our roastery, we observe that saturated group heads deliver a more refined aroma profile – others see it differently, and that's okay.

Roastery Knowledge – What Really Shapes Your Cup

In our courses, we see daily where potential is wasted. The most expensive machine won't help you if the foundation isn't right. The taste of espresso stands and falls with the water. Hardness and mineralization in Zurich or Bern directly influence how lively the aromas appear. Learn more on our coffee water guide and with the mineralization drops from Apax Labs (exclusive Swiss importer).

The second factor is the grind. A good portafilter machine mercilessly exposes the weaknesses of your grinder. Plan your budget so that you also invest in a precise coffee grinder – it is often more crucial for body and texture than the machine itself.

And the beans: industrial goods work mechanically in any portafilter. If you want to experience what a dense body and chocolatey nuances taste like, start with freshly roasted beans. Our own roasts – Cozy Chocolate, Nutty Delight, Wild Peach, Bright Cassis – are precisely tuned for this.

Honest Words – What You Should Know Before Buying

Here are some practical facts without a sales filter:

• Single boiler and light roasts: If you primarily want to brew very light, fruity roasts with precise temperature control, you will reach the limits of a single boiler without PID control.
• E61 Patience: A massive E61 group head needs its 20 minutes to warm up. If you want to pull an espresso after 3 minutes in the morning, you should use a timer or choose a machine with quick heating (e.g., Profitec FAST E61, La Marzocco with saturated group head).
• Flair and Cappuccino: Flair builds espresso tools, not steam boilers. For milk frothing, you need an external solution – e.g., the Flair Wizard Steamer or a Subminimal NanoFoamer (exclusive Swiss importer).
• Daily Care: A portafilter requires daily backflush without cleaning agents and every approx. 50 shots with cleaning agents (approx. 5 minutes). Clean brew group, clean taste.
• Logistics for high-value machines: From the La Marzocco Mini R class, we recommend Click and Collect or personal delivery with instruction. An introductory course (approx. 60 min) is included with the purchase.
• La Marzocco Linea Micra Order: We order the Linea Micra personally with you, no direct online purchase. Color, configuration, delivery are clarified in advance. Contact: office@coffeecoachingclub.ch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which coffee grinder suits my new machine?

Without a good grind, no dense extraction. For a good mid-range, you'll find options in our grinder collection. For dual boilers or La Marzocco, a stepless grinder with large burrs is worthwhile. Personal consultation: office@coffeecoachingclub.ch.

What is the difference between single boiler, heat exchanger, and dual boiler?

A single boiler has one boiler for both – brewing and steaming alternate, with a short waiting time. A heat exchanger has a large boiler that supplies brew water via a heat exchanger – brewing and steaming are possible simultaneously. A dual boiler has two completely separate boilers with individual temperature control – maximum stability. Learn more in our heating system guide.

What is a saturated group head?

The brew boiler and group head merge into a directly heated block – instead of circulating hot water through a cold metal head as with E61. Reacts faster to temperature changes; the first shot in the morning has the same character as the third. La Marzocco Linea Micra, Mini R, and GS3 use saturated group heads, as do the Arkel Coast and Tide and the Rocket R Nine One.

Do I need Brew-by-Weight?

For the La Marzocco Linea Mini R, a compatible Acaia Lunar (USB-C, serial number AL008+) can be upgraded to a Brew-by-Weight scale via a Connected-Scale license since March 2026. The Mini R then automatically stops at the programmed target weight. Not mandatory, but convenient.

Can I see the machines live in advance?

Yes. In the showrooms in Zurich (Hagenholzstrasse 50b, 180 m²) and Bern (Gerberngasse 44, 60 m²), we have many models powered on. Since not every device is set up simultaneously, please contact us briefly in advance.

How long does delivery take?

2 to 4 business days nationwide in Switzerland and to Liechtenstein. For high-value machines, we recommend Click and Collect in Bern or Zurich. An introductory course (approx. 60 min) is included with the purchase of a machine.

Do you offer financing?

Yes. In the checkout process, we offer a financing option via Heylight for eligible products.

Completing the Setup

• Coffee Grinders – the heart for texture and aroma
• Barista Tools and Tampers – clean puck prep without channeling
• Acaia Lunar or Pearl – Espresso scale with app and flow rate display
• Normcore – affordable tampers, WDT tools, scales (exclusive Swiss importer)
• Airscape – airtight bean storage
• Apax Labs – mineralization drops for precise coffee water
• Fresh Roasts – Cozy Chocolate and Nutty Delight suit about 80% of all setups; Wild Peach and Bright Cassis for brighter specialty profiles
• Cleaning Products – coffee fat remover for a clean brew group