Let's be clear on this topic. What are refurbished coffee machines? First of all, it is a coffee machine that is not new from the manufacturer or dealer. The machine has already been used for various periods of time. It may have had more than one previous owner over time. The year of manufacture is usually older, but a newer model of coffee machine can also be refurbished. The important thing is that refurbished coffee machine has been opened, inspected, repaired and made ready for use again by a professional technician.
You may say to yourself: "they looked inside, so it will be almost as good as new". With a quality service, this could be the case. Unless you are confident in the expertise of your refurbished coffee machine dealer. A service guarantee will help your credibility, but check the extent of it. In any case, the machine will not reach the warranty of a new coffee machine after refurbishment. This is the first of the risks of buying a refurbished pro coffee machine.
What is a refurbished coffee machine ?
- Disassembling the coffee maker and cleaning the boiler to remove limescale. Replacement of defective parts, especially safety valves or 3-way valves. Replacing the seals, especially the seals of the coffee machine heads, is of course an option.
What is not a refurbished coffee machine ?
- Replacing the coffee machine gaskets and polishing the coffee machine chassis.
Risks of a refurbished lever coffee machine
- unrepaired hidden defects in the coffee machine
- reduced service life due to wear and tear
- short warranty with limited effectiveness
- reliability of the coffee machine in operation
- higher failure rate and frequent servicing
- economic and environmental burden
- abrasions or other defects in appearance
Before buying a refurbished coffee machine, you've probably already accepted that it won't be flawless for the benefit of a lower price. Even a layman will notice aesthetic defects caused by previous use. You may see scuffs, dents, and other minor scars. However, you can count on this risk.
The worse defects are the ones you can't see. Hidden problems may not even show up in a professional diagnosis during a refurbishment. For example, faults in the electronics that may not make themselves known until after a few weeks of daily use in your cafe. Related to this is component wear. Some of them have certainly been replaced in the workshop even just as a precaution. However, the original components will inevitably have a shorter service life compared to a new coffee machine. A common problem is the irregular replacement of the water softener. Liming the coffee maker wears out the pump and clogs the tightest spots in the coffee maker.
That you are buying a "used" coffee maker will be confirmed by the warranty of the repair shop that performed the refurbishment. The warranty may not cover the complete machine, but only specific parts, for example. The content and duration of the warranty will certainly not be the same as that of the manufacturer of the new coffee machine. Are you prepared for this risk?
The price of a professional refurbished coffee machine
It's a cheap coffee machine and you want to reduce the initial investment in your coffee business. A refurbished coffee machine seems like the best solution, but...is it really worth it? What does the cost of getting a refurbished coffee machine for your coffee shop include?
Apart from the price of the coffee machine itself, you also need to take into account:
- malfunction rate, service
- productivity, features
- energy consumption
- residual value
The ongoing maintenance of the most exposed components of the coffee machine can be handled within a year by yourself. Changing the seals is not that difficult. Worse can be finding spare parts for the coffee machine itself, especially for older models from smaller manufacturers. In the worst case scenario, you may even find that parts for your coffee machine model are no longer available at all. Regular servicing can turn into buying a replacement coffee maker.
The age of the machine is also linked to its performance, e.g. heating speed. Also, the features of modern coffee makers that support barista productivity may be missing from an older refurbished machine. Because you need every second to be efficient when the coffee shop is fully operational, your cheap coffee machine may end up costing you less in order volume.
You can very well calculate the difference between a new and refurbished coffee maker on how much energy they use. While new coffee makers are earning more for themselves by operating more and more efficiently, older ones don't even have boiler insulation to reduce heat leakage or energy loss. Apart from the actual energy saving in operation, the use of eco-friendly materials in the manufacture of a new coffee machine is its other added value.
If you look a little bit into the future, what happens to your coffee machine after a few years? If you are already comparing the pros and cons, then as time goes on your refurbished coffee machine will have very little residual value.
When to get a refurbished coffee machine?
Cheap refurbished pro coffee machines also have their uses. It all depends on the context, or how the coffee machine is to be handled - what your specific needs are. A refurbished coffee machine may be ideal where you are counting on its risks. For example, as a coffee machine for pop-up events alongside a permanent coffee shop operation. Again, it's the quality of the refurbishment that matters. Do you have this assurance in your dealer?
When not to buy a refurbished coffee machine?
The recommendation not to get a refurbished coffee machine applies to those of you who need a reliable coffee machine for the long term. The temptation of buying a 30-50% cheaper coffee machine (compared to a new model) may dissipate in the long run. What you save up front will load up on energy, more frequent servicing, and other operational constraints.
It's usually novice coffee drinkers who make the decision to buy a refurbished coffee machine. However, the desire to reduce the upfront costs of a coffee shop should not limit the operation of your new business. Which can easily happen with the erratic nature of refurbished coffee machines from non-renowned vendors.
How to get a new coffee machine for the price of a refurbished one
You can reduce the financial investment in a reliable brand new coffee machine in other ways. As a partner, you can take advantage of our and discounts on the purchase of complete coffee equipment. For buying a coffee machine from us, will reduce the price of your roasted coffee purchase. You can buy on hire purchase both the coffee machine itself and as an individually designed set-up with a suitable grinder at a better price. In any case, with a new coffee machine from us you have the full manufacturer's warranty and our comprehensive service support.
