2 replies to this topic

[gripex]

What are the pros and cons of Coffee/Hot Beverage vending machines? I understand they must be cleaned often, how often? How long does it take to clean them? What else do you know about coffee vending? Where do you buy the coffee, and coco mix etc? Thanks

gripex

[kevin]

What are the pros and cons of Coffee/Hot Beverage vending machines? I understand they must be cleaned often, how often? How long does it take to clean them? What else do you know about coffee vending? Where do you buy the coffee, and coco mix etc? Thanks

gripex

We buy the product from VISTAR. I have 5 brios and one Ap cafforia... The con is that you will never make money off these machine. You can make money off of them with other machines though. The whole point of a coffee vendor is to offer what the competion cant. I have done it and so have my bigger competitors. In fact I just landed a very large account by giving them a cafforia($6000) and a frozen($4500). The account we have had for 30 years since we pretty much opened but we have almost always shared it with another vendor. By giving them this I now have 3 more machines and will be looking at around 20+ cases/week more. The machine does ok ut once it is finally paid off by itself it will most likley need maintnance.

Cleaning is the worst part but with the newer ones they do rinse themselves periodicly. That makes a big differnece in the upkeep. In fact I just filled the new machine I spoke of and it was nearly spotless becuase of the self cleaning with the rinsing.

[BVI]

We buy the product from VISTAR. I have 5 brios and one Ap cafforia... The con is that you will never make money off these machine. You can make money off of them with other machines though. The whole point of a coffee vendor is to offer what the competion cant. I have done it and so have my bigger competitors. In fact I just landed a very large account by giving them a cafforia($6000) and a frozen($4500). The account we have had for 30 years since we pretty much opened but we have almost always shared it with another vendor. By giving them this I now have 3 more machines and will be looking at around 20+ cases/week more. The machine does ok ut once it is finally paid off by itself it will most likley need maintnance.

Cleaning is the worst part but with the newer ones they do rinse themselves periodicly. That makes a big differnece in the upkeep. In fact I just filled the new machine I spoke of and it was nearly spotless becuase of the self cleaning with the rinsing.

Kevin, I just bought - today in fact - a refurbished AP RMI-213 (Freeze-Dry) with Nescafe' graphics for $2,122 including freight. Refurbished, meaning they thoroughly clean the machine and rebuild the valves as necessary. They also sand and repaint the outside where there is paint, and install new trim. This one has a new Mars bill validator. They are completely setting this machine up for me - including setting the throws - with the flavor selections I have decided on and everything.

The location it is going to is a kick-butt location. Man, I really need this machine to make money, so I hope it's the exception. Hopefully it will be, because like I said, it didn't cost too much so far as coffee machines go. I chose the Freeze Dry model because it is mostly the hot chocolate and cappuccinos that they want (and not necessarily "coffee"), and when they do want coffee, the Freeze Dry version is much easier to keep clean than fresh brew & grinders and they much more reliable than using most grinder models because they have fewer moving parts (grinders have a tendency to break).