Rent, rent-to-own or buy a portafilter machine? A guide for hospitality
A good portafilter machine is the heart of every café and many restaurants. But it can easily cost as much as a small car. Especially when opening a new business, with refurbishment, fittings and staff already tying up a lot of money, the question arises: buy, rent or something in between? Here we compare the three options, their strengths and a worked example.
The three options at a glance
| Buy | Rental | Rent-to-own | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-off cost | full purchase price | down payment | down payment |
| Monthly cost | none | fixed monthly instalment | fixed monthly instalment |
| Service and maintenance | as incurred | included | labour and travel included, parts as incurred |
| Spare parts | as incurred | included | as incurred |
| Term | – | at least 36 months | 48 months |
| Ownership | yours straight away | stays with the lessor | yours after 48 months |
| For whom | businesses with equity | anyone who wants predictable costs | anyone who wants to own the machine in the end |
Buying: full freedom, full risk
When you buy, the machine is yours from day one. You can modify it, sell it or take it with you as you wish. But the purchase price is only the beginning: service, maintenance, spare parts and repairs add up over the years, and nobody knows in advance how much they will be.
Advantages:
- No ongoing instalments, no contract
- Full freedom over the machine
Disadvantages:
- A lot of capital in one go, right at the start when every franc counts
- You pay for service, maintenance and spare parts separately. A major repair can be unexpectedly expensive, and while the machine is down, you sell no coffee.
Makes sense for: established businesses with enough equity and experience in maintenance.
Renting: predictable costs, no capital tied up
With a rental, you pay a down payment and then a fixed monthly instalment. It covers everything a machine needs in operation: service, maintenance and all spare parts. If something breaks down, it does not cost you a single franc extra.
Advantages:
- No large capital tied up, ideal for a new opening
- Fixed costs you can budget precisely
- Service and all spare parts included, no nasty surprises
Good to know:
- The machine remains the property of Espressoklinik. In return, we carry the risk of repairs and spare parts.
- Minimum term of 36 months
Makes sense for: new openings, businesses with tight liquidity and anyone who does not want to deal with repairs.
Rent-to-own: paying the machine off in instalments
Rent-to-own combines both. You pay a down payment and 48 monthly instalments, after which the machine is yours. A service plan is included for the whole term: labour and travel for maintenance and faults are covered, spare parts are charged as incurred.
Advantages:
- You own the machine in the end without paying for it all at once
- Lower monthly instalment than with a rental
- Service covered for the whole term
Good to know:
- Term of 48 months
- Spare parts are charged as incurred
Makes sense for: businesses that plan long-term and want to keep the machine while protecting their liquidity.
Worked example: Raptor 2 groups with JX-683 grinder
This is what the three options look like for a typical café set-up. Amounts excl. VAT, guide prices.
| Buy | Rental | Rent-to-own | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-off | CHF 11'841.– | down payment CHF 3'534.– | down payment CHF 3'534.– |
| Per month | – | CHF 579.– | CHF 398.– |
| Term | – | min. 36 months | 48 months |
| Capital at the start | CHF 11'841.– | CHF 3'534.– | CHF 3'534.– |
| Included | handover and instruction | delivery, installation, instruction, barista course, service, maintenance, all spare parts | delivery, installation, instruction, barista course, service (labour and travel) |
| Afterwards | yours | machine stays with the lessor | yours |
When you buy, service, maintenance, spare parts and any barista course come on top. With rental and rent-to-own, travel of up to 1 hour is included; beyond that we charge a supplement. The quote becomes binding after a credit check.
Your own instalment takes a minute to work out in the rental calculator.
Which option suits you?
- You are opening and the budget is tight? → Rental. No capital tied up, no repair costs.
- You want to own the machine in the end, but not pay for it all at once? → Rent-to-own.
- You have the capital and experience with maintenance? → Buy.
- Not sure yet? → Give us a call and we will work out the options for your business. Good to know: rental is usually an operating expense, while a purchase is depreciated as an asset. Your accountant will be happy to advise you.
Frequently asked questions
Who are rental and rent-to-own for?
For hospitality businesses such as cafés, restaurants, bars, hotels and bakeries. For private customers we offer purchase.
Which machines can I rent?
The Izensso Raptor and ACS Vostok portafilter machines in various group sizes, each with a matching grinder.
Is a barista course included?
From 2 groups the barista course for your team is always included; for 1-group machines it is optional.
Do I have to buy a particular coffee?
No. You choose your roaster freely; there is no tie to any type of coffee.
How quickly can the machine be delivered?
That depends on the model and version. We will state the delivery date in the quote.