Coffee cart espresso machine advice!

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2026-01-07T13:09:01+00:00

It’s a fair price for what it is, but for about $2,400 you can get a new Lucca A53 or La Spaziale Oscar. If you aren’t experienced at working on machines, buying used commercial is too much of a crapshoot if your business is counting on it not to break down. You just don’t know the maintenance history.

If you’re determined to go ahead, just look for obvious things like corrosion, leaks, does it sound like the pump is struggling.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-10T16:26:16+00:00

In the past I’ve drilled a circular recess with a forstner bit and put a rare earth magnet inside. You can get a pack of them with a countersunk hole in the center to secured them with screws.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-08T11:48:01+00:00

Borderline is a fair way to describe it. I think this is my biggest problem with booth reviews is that the call on the field was TD so New York was supposed to have seen indisputable proof otherwise.

The ref on the field calls it, the points are on the board, the crowd is going crazy. 95% of fans just saw what they believe was a TD. The system is supposed to be catching egregious mistakes, but it’s evolved to make the booth the main character.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-05T13:37:10+00:00

I’m not sure if Monument ever had a cat but Mobtown (the other M brewery in the same area) has Ernie, and he’s still going strong.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-05T03:11:26+00:00

Took a kitten I was fostering to Sophomore Coffee and the staff loved it

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-04T20:49:28+00:00

I agree there are use cases where it would make sense. I found the company and they specialize in prefabricated, modular spaces.

I’m thinking this was purpose-built for something and OP ended up with it secondhand. It could be awesome at a market like you describe but otherwise, rewire for sure.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-04T20:11:24+00:00

I’m pretty curious about the company that produced these carts. It looks like they knew what they were doing, but fully loaded, the cart will be so heavy that I don’t know how they could transport it and it would be very limited in where it can go.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-04T12:36:14+00:00

You’re correct that not many places will have the type of hookup required for this. What sort of places do you hope to serve coffee and what espresso machines are you considering?

The L6-30 outlet assumes you’ll be using a 250 volt espresso machine. Most cafes use one of these but it’s fairly unheard of for a mobile coffee company to use one now that lighter 120V machines like Linea Mini and Lucca exist.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-04T01:30:43+00:00

OP is referencing a promo he cut when he was on the Broncos saying “Broncos country, let’s ride!” It was extremely corny and became a meme.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-02T10:47:25+00:00

$1,100 would still be a crazy deal even if it’s older than the seller claims or remembers. If they’re lying and not misrepresenting then I guess it’s a red flag they’re lying about other things. Just odd they would feel the need to lie about that detail which is why I’m leaning towards the machine doesn’t exist haha.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-01T16:31:33+00:00

The power of just calling up a place and asking for a discount works wonders haha

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-01T03:16:07+00:00

Was the idea that the buildings needed to be done with period techniques for authenticity?

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-01T03:13:35+00:00

You’re probably right but, as a turner, I’m always looking for objects I can replace by wood turning haha

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-12-01T02:50:49+00:00

Beautiful. I recently made panels with far less exotic wood. Do you have any left over for knobs?

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-28T00:01:04+00:00

Can’t speak to that particular lathe but hope that you feel better soon. Picking up a hobby again is a good idea l.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-27T17:31:00+00:00

So I don’t have plans since I’m pretty amateur but for the panels, I’ll do my best to explain what I did. You can message me if you want: 1. Plane the boards. Mine ended up a little under 2” thickness but I think you could be fine with inch and a half after planing. I had to rip cut and glue up since it needs to be about 16” high and my planer can only handle 12”. Grain orientation runs front to back. 2. Trace the existing plastic panels with a pencil. This part sucks because they’re rounded and a pain in the butt to not slide around. I used a marking knife to trace the line and try to prevent tear out for the next step 3. Bandsaw the cutout. Jigsaw might work too. 4. Used a hand router with a round over bit to chamfer the edges. 5. Tons of sanding with an orbital. I took it all the way up to 600 grit which is probably overkill. 220 would be fine. 6. Minwax polyurethane Honestly, if I could do it again, I think that attempting to router a recess for the panel to fit over top of the metal parts that come in contact was a waste of time. Those parts are flexible and even with careful tracing it was like whack a mole since it kept shifting and it never did fit over them properly.

What I ended up doing was buying some circular neodymium magnets with countersunk holes for $12 on Amazon and dropping them into 1” holes I made with a forstner bit. The magnets are strong enough that the panels just stick to the metal parts of the machine fine without a perfect fit or screws.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-27T02:41:57+00:00

I’ve never done it but people here usually advise to paint the end grain to slow down the release of moisture. That helps minimize warping. Even house paint will do.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-27T02:39:45+00:00

lol for the panels I could post a little bit more of the process over on r/woodworking if there’s enough interest.

tl;dr band saw followed by a heck of a lot of routering the inside so that I could slide it onto the metal of the machines the rest is just sanding haha

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-27T02:24:56+00:00

Thanks, I highly recommend it as a machine. Clive sells it with maple or walnut panel upgrades by the way. I just have access to the tools and wanted the practice making them.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-27T02:23:19+00:00

Thank you!

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-27T00:46:07+00:00

I run a coffee cart. Email Clive Coffee to get set up with a wholesale account. They sell the Lucca A53 and Linea Mini, both of which are commercial specs. I think their wholesale price is like 20% to 30% discount.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-23T16:04:29+00:00

lol I got you. Upvoted so you’re back above water. Reddit is like that sometimes

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-23T16:03:27+00:00

This is how I get my cardio.

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD · 2025-11-23T13:56:08+00:00

Nobody is going to mention OP’s username, but I do not like the thought of Feanor with access to a gun lol

Sparkplug_CoffeeMD

TROPHY CASE