Espresso Carts, Machines & Electricity
by Terry Ziniewicz
Fresh Cup Techno-Jolt Archive, July 1993

While for the most part cart operators will utilize the power supplied to their carts correctly, there are other factors to consider when installing the electrical service to your location.

When it comes to the electrical portion of an espresso cart assembly, many prospective operators do not always consider what their specific electrical needs will be, and will normally install whatever the cart manufacturer calls “standard.” The amount of power usage at an espresso cart will vary from location to location, based on the type and amount of electrical devices being operated. Also, not all espresso machines draw the same amount of amperes (amps). These are the deciding factors you must keep in mind when ordering the electrical service to your location.

Most espresso machines will draw in the vicinity of 20 amps during the initial heating process and during boiler recovery; yet, there are other machines that draw in excess of 30 amps during heating and boiler recovery. Electrical devices are designed with a particular ampere rating and when your espresso machine is not supplied with the amperes it demands, you will find decreased steaming capabilities and slower boiler recovery time. What all this means is that your espresso machine (the core of your business) is being forced to work harder than it was designed to, as well as other electrical devices you may be using.

Now if you consider that your espresso machine may be drawing anywhere from 20-30 amps, and your cart is plugged into a 20 amp electrical service and you are also running a refrigerator, hot water heater, water pump, cash register, space heater, radio, granita machine … Well, you get the idea! Something is bound to give in this situation and it can be potentially hazardous. The only way to avoid this scenario is to consider all your electrical needs and have the correct electrical service installed at your location. In general, for the most part, a 50 amp service will handle the above mentioned list of devices adequately.

The use of proper ampere rated plugs and receptacles should also be considered. It is suggested that the use of twist-lock style plugs and receptacles be incorporated into your electrical service. This will help reduce the chance of power surges caused by loose, straight blade style connectors. Power surges are the main cause for cash register failures, and to reduce the chance of cash register “melt down,” the use of surge suppression devices should also be considered.

We all know that water and electrical do not mix, and the chance of electrical shock hazards should not be considered a minor problem. To protect yourself from a potentially hazardous situation, all 110 volt receptacles should be of the grounded fault interrupt style (GFCE). Water tight and non-corrosive components can also be included into your electrical service and are available through most electrical supply companies.

While these suggestions are meant to provide you with the base information regarding electrical service, you should always work within the guidelines set by your local and/or state agencies.