By: Restaurant Equippers • April 21, 2025 • 12 minute read time

Behind every successful coffee shop or café is a well-running, high-performing commercial coffee maker. This is the machine that ensures your operations are running smoothly—and your customers are happy. However, finding the best commercial coffee maker for your coffee shop or tea business can be a bit daunting: after all, you have a lot of options to choose from.

But, that’s why we’re here. 

Below, we’ve crafted our commercial coffee maker buying guide to help you find your perfect piece of machinery. From drip coffee machines to espresso systems and cold brew set-ups, Restaurant Equippers has what your business needs to create that dream cup of coffee your customers are craving. Let’s get started. 

Choosing the Right Commercial Coffee Maker Matters – Here’s Why

When you find the right commercial coffee maker for your restaurant or coffee shop, you’ve found a machine that enhances productivity and workflow in addition to making a delicious cup of joe.

For many customers, coffee is the first experience they have with your operation; thus, a commercial-grade machine ensures your products exceed expectations with every sip. This kind of quality will be consistent with the right machine, as choosing a model with the right brewery capacity and recovery time guarantees that you’re not leaving your customers waiting.

Investing in the best commercial coffee makers also means having a diverse range of products if you so choose. Say, right now, your business only offers drip coffee because of your machine. Why not try branching out into cold brew or espresso drinks with a more versatile machine?

Trust us: your customers will be beyond happy to see new options on your menu thanks to your versatile commercial coffee maker. 

Types of Commercial Coffee Machines

Before we dive into the best coffee makers on the market, it’s essential to understand the different types of commercial coffee machines available today.

From simple drip coffee makers to advanced cold brew or espresso machines, you have plenty to choose from for your coffee shop or café. Let’s explain how these machines differ to help you determine what’s best.

Drip Coffee Makers

Drip coffee makers are a staple in restaurants, diners, and hotels due to their simplicity and ability to serve large amounts of coffee quickly.

This type of commercial coffee machine uses gravity-fed brewing and typically features warming plates to keep the coffee hot for extended periods.

Ideal For: High-volume breakfast service, self-serve stations, or grab-and-go coffee setups

Key Features: Multiple warmers for large batches, plumbed-in water lines for continuous brewing, and programmable brewing cycles

Cold Brew Coffee Makers

Cold brew is one of the most popular types of coffee, especially during the warmer spring and summer months. Offering it on your menu will cater to a broader audience you may not have known existed.

A cold brew coffee maker relies on time rather than heat to extract coffee flavors—producing a smooth, less acidic product. Always served cold (hence the name), the best commercial cold brew coffee makers are designed to produce large batches efficiently. In fact, they often come in kegerator options for draft-style serving.

Ideal For: Coffee shops, summer menus, cafés with diverse menus

Key Features: Batch brewing capacity, long brewing and steeping time, refrigerated storage or tap system compatibility

Need help exploring all brewer types? Visit our commercial coffee brewers collection to compare models by category.

Top Picks: Best Commercial Coffee Makers for Restaurants

Let’s face it: there are many different types of commercial coffee machines on the market today. That’s why it helps to have a starting point.

Our commercial coffee maker buying guide lists some of the best models available from Restaurant Equippers that serve numerous needs.

From basic brewing to high-volume output or unique capacities, we’ve compiled a list of our five top choices.

Best Commercial Drip Coffee Maker: Bunn 23001.006 Automatic Airpot Coffee Brewer

The Bunn 23001.006 Automatic Airpot Brewer is perfect when you need coffee quickly and efficiently. This machine brews 3.8 to 6.8 gallons of coffee per hour directly into 1.9- to 3.0-liter airpots, ensuring that the coffee stays hot and fresh, even if it sits for a while.

As one of the best commercial drip coffee makers on the market, we highly recommend this machine for mid-volume restaurants, diners, or hotels that want to serve customers with ease.

Best for High-Volume Locations: Bunn 12950.0217 3-Burner Automatic Coffee Brewer

Working in a bustling, high-intensity environment can be stressful without the right equipment. Thankfully, the Bunn 12950.0217 is the perfect assistant.

This Bunn coffee brewer offers three burners—two upper and one lower—and can brew up to 3.9 gallons of coffee per hour. It boasts a slim design that doesn’t take up much counter space, and the added hot water faucet makes it ideal for high-demand settings.

Best Budget-Friendly Commercial Coffee Maker: Waring WCU110 110- Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Urn

When you want to appeal to your customers without breaking the bank, the Waring WCU110 Coffee Urn is the way to go. This urn brews up to 110 cups in just over an hour, and its stainless steel construction dual-heater system ensures durability and consistent temperatures.

This budget-friendly coffee maker is excellent for catering events or self-serve stations where you prioritize ease and demand.

Best Single-Batch Brewer With Dual Warmers: Waring WCM50P 2-Cafe Deco 2-Burner Stainless Steel Automatic Coffee Brewer

The Waring WCM50P 2-Cafe Deco 2-Burner coffee brewer is a single-batch automatic coffee brewer designed to meet the demands of busy commercial environments. This brewer features two individually controlled warming plates, one upper and one lower, allowing you to keep multiple pots of coffee at the perfect temperature.

The Waring 2-Burner brews up to 3.9 gallons or 62 eight-ounce cups of coffee per hour. It also includes a front-mounted hot water faucet, providing on-demand hot water for tea, soups, and other beverages. With user-friendly controls and energy-efficient, self-regulating warmers, this brewer functions beautifully for restaurants, offices, and catering services.

Best Commercial Cold Brew Coffee Maker: CBNS3SS 3-Gallon Cold Brew Coffee Brewer/Dispenser System

These days, nothing appeals to customers more than having cold brew options on your menu—and the Service Ideas CBNS3SS Cold Brew Coffee Brewer will give you that and so much more.

This 3-gallon cold brew system allows you to brew and serve cold brew from the same unit, reducing handling while maximizing freshness. With a large capacity for coffee and a simple design, this is one of the best commercial cold brew coffee makers for coffee shops looking to expand their cold beverage menu without feeling overwhelmed.

Comparing Top Commercial Coffee Maker Brands

Before you choose the best commercial coffee maker for your business, it’s important to quickly analyze the different brands available and which ones best suit your needs. 

Let’s compare the top two commercial coffee maker brands that Restaurant Equippers offers to help you determine your ideal choice:

FAQs About Types of Commercial Coffee Machines

Learn more about commercial coffee makers and their functionality through our frequently asked questions below.

How do I know what capacity coffee maker I need?

You should estimate how many cups of coffee you serve per hour, especially during peak times. Lower-volume operations may only need a small drip brewer or urn, while busier restaurants or coffee shops likely require a machine that brews 3-10 gallons (or more) per hour.

What’s the difference between pour-over and plumbed machines?

Pour-over coffee makers work by manually pouring hot water over a filter with coffee grounds. This is a great option for mobile setups, as it's small and portable. On the other hand, plumbed machines—often referred to as automatic brewers—connect directly to a water line, allowing for continuous use. These are ideal for high-volume or hands-free environments. You can explore our line of coffee and tea brewers here.

How often should I clean my commercial coffee maker?

We recommend cleaning your commercial coffee machine every day and fully descaling it weekly. Regular maintenance ensures consistent coffee quality and prolongs your equipment’s lifespan.