Choose a commercial coffee brewer by three things: how many gallons you brew in your busiest hour, whether you can run a water line to it (plumbed automatic brewers fill themselves, pourover brewers do not need a line), and how you will hold the coffee after brewing, on warmer plates, in airpots or thermal servers, or in an urn. Get those right and the rest is fit, power and cleaning.
Shop the equipment in this article: Prepline PCM2D pourover coffee maker with 2 warmers, Prepline CAFE-3D pourover coffee maker with 3 warmers and Prepline PACM-3D automatic coffee maker with 3 warmers. Freight is included on every order.
1. Size the brewer to your peak hour
Brewers are rated in gallons per hour. Count the cups you sell in your busiest hour, multiply by your cup size in ounces and divide by 128 to get gallons. Then compare with the ratings on our product pages:
| Brewer | Type | Rated output | Holding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepline PCM2D | Pourover | 3.5 gal per hour | 2 warmers |
| Prepline CAFE-3D | Pourover | 3.5 gal per hour | 3 warmers, decanters included |
| Prepline PACM-3D | Automatic | See product page | 3 warmers, decanters included |
| Prepline PACM-1A | Automatic airpot brewer | 3.8 gal per hour | Airpot included |
| Waring WCM60PT | Pourover or plumbed | 3.9 gal per hour | Thermal server |
| Prepline CU-15 | Percolator urn | 103 cups per batch | Holds in the urn |
If your peak is close to a brewer’s rating, size up. A brewer running flat out every morning leaves no room for a busy Saturday.
2. Pourover or plumbed automatic
- Pourover brewers have no water line. Staff pour a pitcher of cold water into the top for each batch. They can go anywhere with an outlet, which suits catering, offices, churches and counters without plumbing.
- Automatic brewers connect to a water line and fill themselves at the push of a button, which saves time and keeps every batch the same. A licensed plumber should install the line with a shut-off valve and any backflow protection your plumbing code requires. The WCM60PT can run either way.
If you serve coffee all day, plumbed is usually worth it. If you brew a few pots in the morning, pourover is simpler.
3. How you hold the coffee
- Warmer plates keep glass decanters hot. They are simple and cheap to run, but as common practice coffee on a hot plate loses flavor the longer it sits, so brew smaller batches more often.
- Airpots and thermal servers hold heat without a burner, which keeps flavor longer and lets you set up self-serve stations away from the brewer. The Waring WCA25 is a 2.5 liter (84.5 oz.) lever pump airpot with a stainless liner, and the PACM-1A brews straight into an airpot.
- Urns brew and hold a large batch for events. The CU-15 is a 103 cup stainless percolator with boil-dry protection; plan the brew time before guests arrive.
4. Power and placement
Brewers draw a lot of power to heat water. Check the amperage and plug on the product page; the Prepline pourovers are listed at 120 V. Avoid putting several brewers, a microwave and a hot water dispenser on one circuit. Leave room above the brewer to slide the brew basket out, and keep it off the edge of the counter where a decanter could be knocked down.
5. Water and taste
Coffee is mostly water, so water quality shows in the cup. A water filter on a plumbed brewer improves taste and slows scale buildup. Hard water means descaling more often.
6. Cleaning and the Food Code
Wash decanters, brew baskets and spray heads daily, and descale on the schedule in the manual. Milk and cream for the coffee station have to be kept at 41 F or below (FDA Food Code section 3-501.16), so keep them in a small refrigerator or on ice, not on the counter. A countertop display refrigerator or undercounter unit at the station works well.
7. Getting the same coffee every time
Write one recipe and post it by the brewer: coffee weight per batch, grind and filter type. Pre-portion coffee into bags so staff do not guess at rush. Label each decanter or airpot with its brew time and dump coffee that has sat too long.
Questions to ask before you buy
- How many cups do I sell in my busiest hour, and what size?
- Can I run a water line to the brewer?
- Warmers, airpots or thermal servers?
- Do I need an urn for events?
- Is there a circuit with enough capacity?
Frequently asked questions
What size coffee brewer does a small cafe need?
Work it out from your peak hour. A cafe selling a few dozen cups in its busiest hour is often well served by a 3.5 gal per hour pourover or automatic brewer with two or three warmers.
Is an airpot better than a warmer plate?
For holding longer, yes. Airpots keep coffee hot without a burner, which keeps flavor better and lets you serve away from the brewer.
Do automatic coffee brewers need a plumber?
Yes. The water line should be installed by a licensed plumber with a shut-off valve and any backflow protection your plumbing code requires.
What to buy
Compare brewers, airpots and urns in beverage equipment, and see the rest of the station in our coffee shop and cafe equipment checklist. Freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price, and brewers have a 7-day return window from delivery as powered equipment.
Models in this guide at a glance
The models linked above are listed here with the main points from each product page, so you can compare them side by side before opening the full listings.
Prepline PCM2D Pourover Coffee Maker with 2 Warmers, 120V (model PCM2D)
- Brand: Prepline
- Prepline PCM2D Coffee Maker ✔ Durable Steel, Built to last ✔ Fast Brewing, 3.
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Prepline CAFE-3D Pourover Coffee Maker with 3 Warmers, 120V (model CAFE-3D)
- Brand: Prepline
- Pourover brewer, no water line needed
- 3 warmers: 2 top, 1 bottom
- Brews 56 cups (3.5 gal) per hour
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Prepline PACM-3D Automatic Coffee Maker with 3 Warmers (model PACM-3D)
- Brand: Prepline
- Compact, 120V
- 3 Warmers, Steel
- Brews 60 Cups
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Prepline PACM-1A Automatic Airpot Coffee Brewer (model PACM-1A)
- Brand: Prepline
- Prepline PACM-1A Coffee Brewer ✔ 1 Airpot, 120V, Hot coffee ✔ Durable Steel, Long-lasting ✔ Easy Control, Simple use ✔ High Output, 3.
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
Waring WCM60PT Medium Volume Thermal Coffee Maker, Automatic, 120v (model WCM60PT)
- Brand: Waring
- Medium Volume Thermal Coffee Maker
- Pourover or Plumbed
- 3.9 Gallons Per Hour
Prepline CU-15 103 Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Urn Percolator (model CU-15)
- Brand: Prepline
- Efficient Brewing, 103 cups
- Durable Design, Stainless steel
- Safe Operation, Boil-dry protection
- Warranty: 1-Year Parts & Labor
WCA25 2 1/2 Liter Lever Action Airpot, Stainless Steel Liner
- Brand: Waring
- WCA25 2 1/2 Liter Lever Action Airpot
- 2.5 Liter Capacity
- Durable Stainless Liner
Before you order
- Measure the space and every doorway on the delivery path, and compare them with the dimensions on each product page.
- Check the spec sheet for power, gas or water requirements and match them to what your building has.
- Compare capacity with your busiest day rather than your average day.
- Read the warranty terms for the brand before you order.
Delivery, warranty and payment
- Delivery: delivery within the continental US is included in the price on the product page, and freight orders include liftgate service.
- Warranty: each product carries its manufacturer warranty. Terms by brand are on our warranty page.
- Financing: lease-to-own financing through Clicklease is offered on items of $500 and up. See how financing works.
- Quotes: buying for a business and need a written quote? Call +1-877-558-2253 or use our contact page.
Not sure which model fits?
Call +1-877-558-2253 with your space, power supply and daily volume, and we will help you narrow it down.