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Coffee machines for mobiles vans

GrinderGrinder
edited January 1970 in Have your say
I'd appreciate advice or comments on the most suitable coffee machines for mobile vans.

It would have to cope with movement and vibration not usually required of cafe setups.

It runs from a 15 amp generator, shared with refrigeration & water heater.

Any doubles available, where one steamer could be turned off, thus saving power, when not in use? I'd like double steamers.

Grinder
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Comments

  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    most mobile vans use quite small machines.... and i havejust  totally forgotten what the name is!!!!!!!! dam!! sorry i use an epressimo machine in my mobile... its 15 amp (2900 watts).. it handles big crowds easily how ever it takes 20mins to heat up first thing.... most machines vans use heat up in 5mins! (small boilers) but loose steam with big crowds most machines can handle the movement but shouldnt be "on" when van is moving as the boiler water moves side to side and exposes the elements which will blow if they arent covered with water i have a 5.5 kva gene which powers everything with about 900watts spare sorry i cant remeber the name of the machine but they are out there go get a coffee from a van and see what machine the're using Ryan
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  • GrinderGrinder
    I haven't found any one particular brand used by mobiles as yet. Some have their machines modified to a reduced power level, and that doesn't sound good to me. I have heard comments about mobiles being slow on coffee production due to the power limits on machines. In WA we're limited to gens producing no more than 15 amps in vans. More powerful generators require trucks & I don't have one. I'd like to be able to produce fantastic coffee, fast and in large volumes, delivering door to door mostly but also doing the odd show as well. Does switching off your machines between deliveries mean you will have to wait for steam, reheating between each stop? I appreciate your comments Ryan. thank you!! I'll go and find some mobiles to stalk and check out their machines. If you remember the name let me know:-)  Ms Bean
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    limited to a total 15amps?? dam! 15amp on 240volt equates to 3600watts.... although my machine (2 group 2 steam)is classed as 15amp, it only draws 2900watts. so if you had a cafe style 15 amp machine that only draws around 2900watts, that leaves you with 700watts for fridge, water pump, grinder, cash register etc without compromising on the machines ability to pump them out... i would suggest... 12 volt dc
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  • blanyonblanyon
    I've got a 3400 watt machine that runs on 15 amps, which includes the grinder and two fridges. I may come unstuck one day but I haven't had any issues yet. I know of one franchise that used to run a 3200 watt machine.
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    is that a total gene output of 15 amps? (3600watts) or it has 15amp plugs? easy way to tell is how many watts or kva the gene is rated at my gene has two 15amp output plugs but a maxium 6500watts avalible (5500 continuous) most do...what make/ modal are the genes? Cheers Ryan
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  • sketchysketchy
    Hi Try a 2 group La Pavoni. If you want to know where to get one send a PM for the details LE
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  • blanyonblanyon
    I was just talking about when I am plugged in I only use one 15amp outlet. My Genset is a kubota 6kva (5.5). The 3400 is just for the coffee machine.
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    I may come unstuck one day but I haven't had any issues yet.
    you wont come unstuck with a kubota lol  ;) ..they're a quality unit.... :) like most houses, a single circuit breaker's always rated higher than its outlet ie; 10amp house output socket, has a 16amp breaker you may have a 20amp breaker on each 15amp output you maybe maxing out the one ciruit breaker but if it hasnt tripped yet, it wont. cant wait to see pics of your new van :) Ryan (sorry grinder for highjacking)
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  • GrinderGrinder
    Hi Le, Moto and Ryan, Its great to see how helpful people are on this forum. Great comments Ryan, Moto and Le, thank you!!!  :)Your notes have given me some things to think about. I can't really pretend to understand all that stuff about amps watts phases though. :-[ Where I am at the moment is.. I'd just like to get more power for my proposed van. I can't see why there'd be a licensing problem with running a larger gene or even 2 smallish ones, providing I have the payload ability on the cab chassis and the space. More power would solve the problems and allow me to be creative in what I produce and sell in the future. I'm thinking of maybe upgrading to air suspension in the chassis to carry more weight. As I'm starting from scratch I can do all of this easily (its only money isn't it??). I have the chassis but nothing else yet. Cheers, Ms Bean
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  • blanyonblanyon
    Grinder, The only issues with more power is more noise from the genset and less room for everything else. Also why do you want to do more that make great coffee? If you do it right you wont have time for anything else LOL!!!
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    Grinder, The only issues with more power is more noise from the genset and less room for everything else. Also why do you want to do more that make great coffee? If you do it right you wont have time for anything else LOL!!!
    lol ild second that :) ms bean (cool name btw) if your building the van yourself, then watts, power supply etc is something thats very handy to know, and suprisingly very simple to figure out like Moto said you dont want a huge gas guzzling noisey gene when chances are youll only use half its power, ill try explain how it all works as simple as possible (for anyone who may be interested) first off... forget about volts and amps for the time being... the only thing you need to know is watts. example; a 5000watt generator, has 5000watts on standby waiting for you to use them your fridge may need 200watts to work... which leaves you with 4800watts left your grinder might use 500 watts... which now leaves you 4300watts your coffee machine may use 3400watts (coff machines use the most) your now left with 900watts in your generator your cash register may use 90watts which leaves you with 810watts left in you generator and so on remember the tv show "Married With Children"? lol at the start where Al Bundy  distrubutes all his cash out to the kids?... and theres little left for him? same thing :) when looking for appliances, ask the salesman how many watts it uses.... add all the watts together (add another 300 or so watts for good measure) and find a generator to suit hope this helps :) Ryan
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  • LoveyLovey
    I'll try explain how it all works as simple as possible (for anyone who may be interested) first off... forget about volts and amps for the time being... the only thing you need to know is watts. example; a 5000watt generator, has 5000watts on standby waiting for you to use them your fridge may need 200watts to work... which leaves you with 4800watts left your grinder might use 500 watts... which now leaves you 4300watts your coffee machine may use 3400watts (coff machines use the most) your now left with 900watts in your generator your cash register may use 90watts which leaves you with 810watts left in you generator and so on remember the tv show "Married With Children"? lol at the start where Al Bundy
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  • Greg41Greg41
    Hi there. Just to get more technical. When i was looking into gens the "experts" mentioned the "startup" of an appliance. That is an appliance that runs at max 3600 watts for eg may need 3900(estimate only) watts to initially start it up from cold. Different appliances obviously use different startup watts. Someone may be able to explain better but just something to consider when buying a gen for any reason.
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    this is true and where it starts getting fiddley some appliances do have a "start up" watts... commonly appliances that have motors in them..... ie a fridge has a motor to turn the compressor a grinder has a motor etc think of it this way; you are rolling a big stone bolder down the road, it takes a heap of pushing energy to get the bolder rolling.. but once its rolling it takes very little energy to keep going.... a standed bar fridge takes around 100watts to run.... but when the compressor fires up (as all fridges do, all day) it needs 5 times that amount but only momontarily (couple of secs if that) thats why genes have a continuous rating and a maxium rating if you keep your "watts needed" well under the genes continuos watts rating, then it should be fine, the genes maximim rating should take care of the "start up" power needed the power input that is written on the coffee machine is the maxium power it will comsume thats including start up.... its only really the fridge and grinder. if all your appliances come to say 4800watts combined then a 5500watt gene will power it easy as the genes max watts will be around 6500... more than enough for start up Ryan
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  • Greg41Greg41
    That's the best explanation i've heard yet. Thanks for that Ryan. So your saying a 5.5 Kva gen. max output is 6500 kva?
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    not all of them some have a 6kva max (6000watts) some have a 6.5kva (6500watts) they all are different but they all seem to be around those figures :) Ryan
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  • Greg41Greg41
    Can you recommend a good silent 5 kva gen that can be used outdoors?
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  • blanyonblanyon
    Petrol or Diesel? Honda have a 6kva petrol unit, onan or kubota do a good diesel. The honda would be the quietest, smallest and cheapest, but its not the one I chose due to the fact it is petrol.
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    you cant realy go wrong with a honda but like Moto said they arnt diesel which is a shame diesels are built for the long haul there is a 5kva honda this ones a good little unit but abit thirsty with the fuel and only has a 5.5kva max but is very quiet http://www.hondagenerators.com.au/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=16 or this is abit more heavy duty http://www.hondagenerators.com.au/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=18 this is the one i use its a honda rip off but works well.... http://www.batteriesxpert.com/SiteInternet/BatteriesExpert/generatrice/html/IG6000.htm Onan also make great genes but VERY pricey hope this helps Ryan
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  • floatncoffeefloatncoffee
    this is an Onan alot of vans use http://www.generatorjoe.net/product.asp?0=250&1=252&3=960 it also says its Kabota??? is this the unit you have Moto?
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  • Greg41Greg41
    Thanks for the info Ryan and Moto. very much appreciated. Darn expensive little buggers though.
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  • blanyonblanyon
    Yeah I have a kubota, some modifications required however as its not designed for installation in a van. Greg41 expensive yes but they are the heart and soul of your operation, no workie no coffee no money!
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  • Greg41Greg41
    Agreed Moto. I see on ebay there is a company selling5 and 6 Kva Ducar gensets. Ducar claim to be "one of the largest and reputable manufacturer in china. In 2001 initiated a joint venture with Honda to develop engines and share technology." all sounds good. People are picking them up for from 250 to 700 bucks on auction! They have 10 amp sockets though. You have to wonder though. whats your thoughts.
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  • blanyonblanyon
    I go back to a saying about motorbike helmets "If you buy a $100 helmet then you have a $100 head!" I would steer clear because a 5-6 kva generator that costs 700 dollars will break down or won't be up to spec or something of the sort. Then you have spare parts backup etc. When you are at a festival etc and you are finally making some money you want trouble free operations!!!! Anyway that is just my opinion, the reference to helmets might be a bit out there but I hope you get my point. Finally started doing some decent latte art this morning!! Blew people away don't think you generally get it in Wagga.
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  • Greg41Greg41
    Yeah now and again i can pull off a decent latte art and it does still amaze the country folk. even the city folk travelling through.
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