passion led us here
Sustainability is at the heart of what we do
This report examines the power consumption of traditional commercial espresso coffee machines compared to next-generation machines. Against a backdrop of rising carbon emissions and concerns about the resulting environmental impact, this report aims to give cafe owners and baristas the tools to make decisions that will help reduce their environmental impact.
The reason for the research is that Sanremo is taking the first steps to raise awareness about the energy consumption of different coffee machines. Research shows that 60% of coffee’s carbon footprint comes from the point of service where the coffee is prepared and served [1]. Commercial coffee machines are power hungry and the energy they use to serve coffee throughout the day not only incurs direct financial costs, but is also a major contributor to coffee's environmental impact.
More and more people are concerned about the environmental impact of consumer and business decisions. As a company, we are taking steps to reduce our own impact and want to help coffee machine owners do the same.
We want to raise awareness about the energy consumption of coffee machines at the point of service. Because a single machine change can reduce the carbon footprint of every cup of coffee you serve.
When it comes to working conditions, our research has shown that some advanced multi-boiler machines, such as those in our Sanremo Energy Efficient Machine (SEEM) range, make a big difference. A single boiler machine can use up to 55% more energy than a next generation multi-boiler espresso machine. Pinpoint's multi-boiler PID power application software, along with boiler insulation, not only helps improve quality, but can also significantly reduce energy consumption.
And that's something we want to shout about!
What we have done?
To create the Espresso Machine Energy Report, we examined the difference between traditional single boiler espresso machines, which make up at least 95% of the world's espresso machines, and the newer, more technologically advanced machines. To give the tests a strong methodological stance, we used the WCE (World Coffee Event) 2017 machine testing protocols, which are used to evaluate the performance and suitability of coffee machines for SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) global industry competitions. We designed our tests to understand how much energy Sanremo UK espresso machines use during the three typical phases of a working day:
Heat Up – The initial heat up time was measured over a one hour period to ensure thermal equilibrium throughout the machine. This is recorded as “Heating”.
Standby – To replicate the standby periods, the device was then left idle for an additional hour. This is recorded as “Standby”.
Working – The “WCE Method for Measuring Brew Water Temperature in Espresso Coffee Machines 2017” was used to provide a reproducible working phase. This is recorded as "working".
Which espresso machines have we tested?
Our research involved testing the most commonly purchased professional espresso machines from Sanremo UK, as well as machines from other manufacturers, to see how the newer, more technologically and energy efficient advanced machines compare to the more traditional coffee machines in terms of energy consumption.
These are the machines we tested:
Sanremo Energy Efficient Machines (SEEM) – PID controlled, isolated machines with multiple boilers
Sanremo Café Racer
Sanremo Opera II
Sanremo Verona RS
Traditional Single Boiler (TSB) – Standard configuration single boiler machines
Sanremo Zoe Vision
Sanremo Verona SED
other producers
Machines from other manufacturers were also tested and their results confirmed the findings for the Sanremo UK series, i.e. H. that the multi-boiler PID control with isolation offers the most energy efficient coffee machines. However, we did not use this data in the output of our report.
How we measured power consumption
We used the machine's power connection via a data logger to constantly monitor voltage and current and record it in data and graph form. To obtain the KWH (kilowatts per hour), we multiplied the average voltage recorded over the specific test period by the average amps drawn over the period. This allowed us to extrapolate electricity consumption data on an hourly basis.
What did the research reveal?
The tests showed that the biggest differences in power consumption occurred when the machines were running and producing coffee. For this reason, we summarized the results of each section of the test and then assimilated this data to replicate different workday scenarios.
Heating During the heating phase:
The most efficient machine tested was the Sanremo Zoe Vision (TSB), which required 21% less energy to heat than the Opera II (SEEM), which used the most energy.
This is not surprising since the Opera II has more boilers and metal parts and water to heat from the ambient temperature. The Zoe Vision, on the other hand, has the smallest individual boiler and therefore the least amount of metal work and water to heat.
Stand by
In standby, i.e. when the machine is warmed up and idle, there is not much difference between the machines.
The Café Racer (SEEM) uses the least energy in standby
The Zoe Vision (TSB) consumed the most energy, 10% more
Again, this is not surprising since in a stable environment heat dissipation is not significant. Therefore, the internal insulation of the Opera II, Café Racer and Verona RS (SEEM) helps to reduce heat loss, but only with a difference of 6-10% compared to the uninsulated single boiler machines.
Work
Sanremo Cafe Racer Energy Efficient MachineThis is where the data gets more interesting. In this part of the test:
The Opera II stands out as the most efficient machine, consuming only 420 watts to carry out the WCE test over 1 hour, followed by the Verona RS and the Café Racer (SEEM).
Notably, the larger Verona SED (TSB) single boiler machine used 740 watts (about 75% more than the Opera II) to produce the same amount of coffee, and the Zoe Vision isn't far behind at 660 watts.
This is a key difference and highlights the true power of energy management technology, using exactly enough energy to replace lost heat in exactly the right place in the most high-tech and insulated machines. In contrast, single boiler machines go into overdrive when it comes to heat exchange, repeatedly heating the entire boiler while the machine is being used to make coffee.
The Opera II (SEEM) also has more control over simple factors such as the two-second rinse, which minimizes heat loss and allows sufficient water delivery to purify the coffee water, but with minimal impact on heat dissipation.
Working day scenario
To provide a better understanding of how this data applies to a coffee machine's working day, we processed data to emulate how much energy is used in a relatively typical coffee shop day, i.e. heating, 12-hour operation, with four of them would be consumed in standby mode and eight working.
In this everyday work, we see that Opera II offers the most energy efficient platform, followed by Café Racer and Verona RS (SEEM series).
The single boiler machines increase power consumption significantly and the largest single boiler machine (12L), despite having PID temperature control on the boiler, uses almost 60% more energy than the Sanremo Opera II.
What have we learned?
Overall, the Sanremo Opera II is the most energy efficient machine in the Sanremo UK range.
The least efficient is the larger of the traditionally configured single boiler coffee machines, the Verona SED.
Under working conditions, traditional single boiler coffee machines consume more electricity than the Sanremo UK SEEM range with energy-saving design.
Energy savings increase with use, i.e. H. a larger single boiler machine that works for eight 12 hours uses 55% more energy than an Opera II and 36% more energy than the Café Racer.
The larger the individual boiler, the more energy is required to heat it up and prepare coffee. The Verona SED has a 12L boiler and this uses 10% more electricity than the Zoe Vision with its 10L boiler. This suggests that machines with even larger boilers, such as E.g. 14L, will probably require even more energy to do the same work!
Although Opera II and Café Racer (SEEM) have a higher power rating on the label, i.e. H. the maximum power that the machine could require if all systems and components were fully powered at the same time, this does not mean that these machines use more energy. On the contrary, they use less energy.
The combination of energy-controlled PID control of heat application and multiboiler and piping insulation significantly reduces the amount of energy required for coffee production in the SEEM range of machines.
What makes the SEEM range energy efficient?
Water from a traditional single boiler machine leaves the boiler at 120 - 125 °C and must be cooled down by heat dissipation before the tapping point in the group head. This is effectively heat and therefore energy release. In contrast, SEEM machines brew coffee from water that is only raised to the exact target brewing temperature, so no heat is wasted by cooling group heads or brewing water.
The Sanremo Multiboiler's PID control means that just enough heat is supplied to specific points throughout the machine's coffee hydraulic system. This means that energy is only used in exactly the exact amounts on the exact parts of the machine needed to maintain temperature, and therefore waste is minimal.
Sanremo UK SEEM machines use insulation over the internal boilers and hot piping, further improving both temperature stability and therefore control of coffee extraction, as well as energy storage.
Other factors that may further widen the energy gap.
Group head flushing
Many single boiler machines on the market run at higher temperatures to brew coffee well and are fed from the boiler at 120-125°C. As a consequence, a rinse is performed to cool the water of the group head so as not to over-extract the coffee. In this very common circumstance, heat loss increases significantly, both due to longer purge times and the fact that heat is specifically removed to cool the brew cycle.
In contrast, the Opera II, for example, has a simple press of the illuminated group button that triggers a second flush. This is enough to clean dirty coffee water, but limits hot water delivery. Combined with a water temperature of, for example, 93°C, this minimizes heat loss and energy waste. (In testing for this report, rinsing was standardized across all machines tested.)
Group performance reduction
All high-tech machines in the Sanremo SEEM range can turn off a group (or two in a 3-group machine) during quieter times. This means that there is no delay in heating up the machine when coffee is needed, but energy consumption is also reduced when there is a lull.
It could be argued that an Eco mode to reduce heat readiness, which is available on some other machines on the market, could also be used to reduce energy consumption. However, this type of functionality means that if there is a need for coffee, there will be a delay of a few minutes while the machine restarts, which can result in loss of customers in many scenarios.
Therefore, at this point in our research, we believe that this functionality, alongside the ability to manually turn off groups, is unlikely to be used in practice and therefore has less impact on the overall performance of a coffee machine.
Steam wands
Features like cool-touch steam nozzles, available on all Sanremo SEEM units, retain more heat, helping to reduce energy waste.
Considerations for wider machines
Because Sanremo Single Boiler (TSB) machines are designed and can be calibrated to run at specific coffee flow rates, the additional heat loss caused by machines or group water running hotter than required is recognized but was not a factor in our testing.
However, all of this suggests that in practice the comparable energy savings of the Sanremo SEEM range may be even greater than our data currently shows.
What we can conclude
We clearly see that the combination of Sanremo SEEM Multiboiler eco-technology and functionality, combined with insulation inside the coffee machine, results in a noticeable reduction in the energy consumption of a coffee machine.
A large single boiler coffee machine uses over 50% more energy than the Sanremo Opera II (SEEM).
Looking at it another way, choosing a Sanremo SEEM espresso machine over a single boiler coffee machine can help reduce energy consumption (and therefore CO2 emissions) and electricity costs by around a third.
This is for many coffee companies, particularly those concerned with environmental issues and those with operations on multiple sites
locations, a serious consideration.
The savings from switching from a large single boiler to a Sanremo SEEM Opera II is approximately 250 watts per hour.
What's next for an energy rating system for coffee machines?
From the data collected, this report will form the basis of an energy rating system that will be used, similar to other electronic devices, to help buyers evaluate and select machines based on environmental performance criteria.
By assimilating the knowledge about the energy consumption of different commercial espresso machines, we can propose an initial categorization of espresso machines in an energy-related table.
Recommended energy levels for espresso machines
We positioned each of the tested machines on a first-ever energy rating chart for traditional espresso coffee machines.
We have left space under our largest consumer as there are undoubtedly machines on the market that have larger boilers and run significantly hotter than the Sanremo Verona SED.
We also included space above the tested performer because we believe Sanremo Coffee Machines S.r.l. While the market has made great progress in this area, we hope for further developments in the future.
Why does this even matter?
According to WWF, Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the last 40 years. This is a shocking statistic and should encourage us all to take every step to make things better for future generations. Of course, there are many factors that affect biodiversity. Energy consumption in all facets of human activity is undoubtedly a key factor.
While coffee machines are not the biggest culprits, the global need to reduce energy consumption and our carbon footprint indicate that we should take every measure possible to manage and reduce the impact we have as individuals and businesses to reduce.
While there are already many initiatives in our industry to reduce environmental impact, little attention has been paid to espresso machines. So we wanted to see how Sanremo UK could get the ball rolling by raising awareness of coffee machines and promoting environmental understanding, potentially helping to reduce the environmental impact of our industry.
References
[1] A recent Alliance to Save Energy ₄ ex article shows that 60% of the energy used occurs on the consumer side of the process, with brewing being the most energy intensive phase.
₂ https://www.foodbev.com/news/uk-meat-substitutes-sales-grow-25-four-years/
₃https://www.bostonteaparty.co.uk/blog/post.php?s=2018-12-01-cup-ban-six-months-in Boston Tea Party took the bold move to ban single-use takeaway cups, within 6 months they had prevented a lorry load of 81,500 cups from going to landfill.
₄ https://www.ase.org/blog/coffee-gives-us-energy-how-much-does-it-use
₅ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_energy_label#Major_appliances
₆ https://coffeebi.com/2016/04/22/europe-and-the-espresso-machine-market/
₇ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/29/earth-lost-50-wildlife-in-40-years-wwf