BUYING GUIDE
Buying Advice: Frequently Asked Questions
Buying equipment isn't a technical decision. It's a question of lifestyle. What coffee do you want to drink? How do you want to brew it? What brings you joy? What you're reading here is our opinion, one of many in the coffee world. There's no ultimate truth when it comes to choosing equipment. Everyone has to figure out for themselves what works. The only thing that matters: the coffee has to taste good to you.
Before you dive deeper: in our sensory world with interactive simulators you can experience, risk-free, how machines, grinders, water and other variables affect your coffee. Playful, sensory, easy to follow. It's often the fastest way to understand what you really want.
Which espresso machine suits me?
Before we get into individual brands, there's often a more fundamental question: should the machine take as much off your hands as possible, or do you want to pull the espresso by hand and shape every step yourself? Our comparison Automatic coffee machine or espresso machine helps with this decision. Once you've settled on an espresso machine, the finer questions come next.
The honest answer: the one you're happy to switch on every morning. An espresso machine is more than a kitchen appliance. It's part of your everyday life, your ritual, your kitchen. Before you think about technical specs, ask yourself another question: What kind of coffee moment do you want to have?
Do you want to calmly pull a mindful espresso in the morning, controlling every step yourself? Then a manual machine from Flair Espresso could be exactly right. The ritual of the lever, the slowing down, the craft.
Do you want reliably great espresso and cappuccino at the push of a button, without giving it much thought? Then machines from Profitec, ECM or Rocket are worth a look. Solidly built, proven, they simply do their job. How the three differ in detail is shown in our comparison ECM vs. Rocket vs. Profitec.
Do you want to get the maximum sensory potential out of every bean, with full control over temperature and pressure? Then the path leads to machines from La Marzocco or Arkel. Their saturated group heads deliver an aroma profile that's more refined and layered than what a classic E61 group head produces, regardless of whether it sits on a single-boiler, heat-exchanger or dual-boiler machine. At Arkel, you have a choice of two dual boilers, Coast and Tide; our comparison Arkel Coast vs. Tide shows the differences.
Or do you simply want a beautiful machine that stands in your kitchen and makes you happy before you've even had your first coffee? That's a perfectly good reason too. Discover our simulators or come by our showroom in Bern or Zurich and find out which machine feels right for you.
What's the difference between single-boiler, heat-exchanger and dual-boiler machines?
Single-boiler, heat-exchanger and dual-boiler describe how the machine heats its water. That affects your workflow, but it says little about whether you'll enjoy the coffee in the end. A single-boiler machine isn't worse than a dual boiler. It's different. And a dual boiler doesn't automatically make you a better barista.
A single-boiler machine has one boiler, so brewing and steaming happen one after another. That takes a moment longer, but some people appreciate exactly this deliberate, sequential process. A heat-exchanger machine lets you brew and steam at the same time via a heat exchanger. Handy if you make milk drinks regularly. A dual-boiler machine has two separate heating systems for maximum temperature control.
But here's the point that often gets overlooked: The group head shapes the taste more than the heating system does. A machine with a saturated group head, such as those from La Marzocco or Arkel delivers a refined, aroma-rich result. That comes down to the thermal mass and stability of the group head itself. A classic E61 group head, whether it's on a single-boiler, heat-exchanger or dual-boiler machine, has a different character. Not worse, different. More on this in our deep dive on heating systems and our group head comparison. These are our observations; others see it differently, and that's just as valid.
Which grinder suits me?
Here too, it's less about specs and more about how you experience coffee. A grinder has to fit your everyday life and bring you joy. Whether you grind by hand meditatively in the morning or want finished grounds at the push of a button in three seconds, both are right.
Hand grinders from Comandante, Timemore or Varia are quiet, compact and deliver excellent grounds. The process of grinding becomes part of the ritual. For many, that's exactly the appeal. And when travelling, a hand grinder is unbeatable. How Comandante and Timemore differ in detail is shown in our comparison Comandante vs. Timemore.
Electric grinders from Eureka, Mazzer, Fiorenzato or Mahlkönig offer comfort and speed. Ideal if you make several drinks in the morning or simply don't want the effort. If you're passionate about design and sensory experience, you'll find grinders at Option-O and Weber Workshops that are precision instruments and design objects at the same time.
Our honest recommendation: spend at least as much on the grinder as on the machine, if not more; that's a bit of an exaggeration :) The grinder has an enormous influence on the taste in the cup. But that's our experience, not a law. In our grinder simulators you can playfully trace how grind size and particle distribution change the taste. Or you test different grinders directly side by side in our Espresso Machine and Grinder Comparison – the difference is something you'll taste and feel.
Do I really need a separate coffee grinder?
Yes, and that might be the one point we're truly convinced of. Pre-ground coffee loses most of its aromatic compounds within minutes. What comes out of the bag has already lost a lot of its complexity and vibrancy. Your own grinder changes everything: the aroma while grinding, the freshness in the cup, the ability to adjust the grind size to each bean and each day.
Machines with a built-in grinder are one possible starting point. But once you've experienced the difference a separate grinder makes, you won't want to go back. Our coffee grinder range covers the full spectrum, from the compact hand grinder to the precision instrument.
What does a good home-barista setup cost?
There's great coffee at every price point. The most expensive setup isn't automatically the best one for you. It's about what fits your life.
A manual machine from Flair Espresso and a hand grinder from Comandante or Varia already delivers excellent espresso. The experience is deliberate, hands-on, unhurried. Perfect if you love the ritual.
A machine from Profitec, ECM or Rocket with an electric grinder from Eureka or Fiorenzato brings you daily consistency and comfort. Espresso and cappuccino, reliably, every morning.
Machines from La Marzocco or Arkel combined with a grinder from Option-O or Weber Workshops offer maximum sensory control and equipment that's a design object at the same time. For anyone who's drawn to that.
Every one of these paths is equally valid. What matters isn't the price, but whether the coffee tastes good to you and the process brings you joy. Discover our simulators, to experience how the different components work together. Or book a consultation at the showroom.
Hand grinder or electric grinder?
This isn't a question of better or worse. It's a question of your everyday life and your preferences.
A hand grinder from Comandante, Timemore or Varia is a deliberate ritual. Grinding takes 30 to 60 seconds, you feel the bean, you smell the grounds. For many coffee lovers, that's the best part of the day. On top of that: in the same price range, hand grinders often deliver more even grounds than electric ones. And when travelling, they're unbeatable.
An electric grinder from Eureka, Mazzer or Varia is convenience. Beans in, press a button, done. Ideal if you need three cappuccinos in a row in the morning or simply don't want to grind by hand. That's a perfectly good reason too.
The best way to find out is to experience both yourself. In our showrooms in Bern and Zurich, you can see hand grinders and electric grinders live, and we're happy to show them to you. If you'd like to compare grinders directly side by side in the cup, there's our Espresso Machine and Grinder Comparison for that. A detailed grinder comparison to read up on is available here.
Do you need two grinders for espresso and filter coffee?
Not necessarily, but the question is worth asking. Espresso needs a very fine, extremely even grind, because water is pressed through the puck under pressure in a short time. Filter coffee, on the other hand, needs a noticeably coarser grind, because the water flows through the coffee bed for longer and with less pressure. Particle size and consistency determine extraction quality in both methods, just in different ranges of the grind scale.
A single grinder with a wide adjustment range can certainly handle both. If you regularly prepare both, espresso in the morning, filter coffee on the weekend, having two separately set grinders is often the more relaxed solution: one set fine for espresso, one set coarse for filter coffee, both ready to go at any time, with no adjusting needed. Our entire coffee grinder range covers both paths. In the end, what matters isn't the number of grinders in your kitchen, but whether you enjoy the result in the cup.
Can I see equipment before I buy it?
Yes, that's exactly what our showrooms are for. At Coffee Coaching Club Bern (Gerberngasse 44) and at the Zurich Oerlikon showroom (Hagenholzstrasse 50b), espresso machines and grinders are ready and waiting.
As a coffee roastery, we use the same machines and grinders ourselves every day. We advise you from our own experience. If you want to see a specific model, get in touch with us beforehand so we can make sure it's actually in the showroom at that time. And if you'd like to test several espresso machines and grinders directly side by side, there's our Espresso Machine and Grinder Comparison for that.
Do you offer barista courses?
Yes. Our workshops are for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the world of coffee, no matter how much experience you bring. We offer private barista workshops as 1-on-1 training, team events for companies, coffee tastings for sensory training, and latte art courses. All formats in German and English. On request, we also come to you and run the workshop on your own equipment.
How fast is delivery?
Delivery within Switzerland and to Liechtenstein usually takes 2 to 4 business days. More details can be found in our service section.
More questions? Discover our other FAQ sections: Brewing and troubleshooting | Brands and products | Service and shipping. Or discover our interactive simulators.
