Best Coffee Machine for a Coffee Van or Catering Trailer (LPG, Dual Fuel and Battery)
Last updated: October 2026
In 30 seconds:
- For most coffee vans and trailers, the best machine is a 2-group LPG espresso machine. Propane heats the boiler, so a battery and inverter only have to run the pump and controls.
- Our top pick is the Fracino Contempo CON2ELPG, from £3,249. It is push-button automatic, with a 14L boiler and a Fracino rating of 200 to 400 cups an hour.
- Smaller van or quieter pitches? The Contempo 1 group LPG starts from £2,159 and weighs 35kg.
- Other strong choices: the Fracino Retro 2 group lever (from £3,199) and the Italian Magister HRC (from £2,900) and Stilo (from £3,100).
- Biggest mistake: buying on cups per hour alone and forgetting height, clearance and weight inside the van.
Your coffee van can have the best beans in town and still lose the queue. The machine decides how fast drinks come out, and how long you can trade with no hook-up.
A dual-fuel LPG espresso machine is the standard choice for UK coffee vans and catering trailers. It runs its boiler on propane, and it can also run on electric when you do have a proper supply. This guide picks the right one for your vehicle, your pitch and your power.
The quick answer: which machine for which van?
| Your setup | Our pick | Price from | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busy van or trailer, events and markets | Fracino Contempo CON2ELPG | £3,249 | Push-button automatic, 2 groups, 14L boiler |
| Small van, cart or quieter pitch | Fracino Contempo 1 group LPG | £2,159 | 575mm high, 375mm wide, 35kg |
| Skilled barista who wants a lever | Fracino Retro 2 group LPG | £3,199 | Lever groups, 14L boiler, a real showpiece |
| Two groups on a tighter budget | Magister HRC (black) | £2,900 | Italian-made, 11-litre gas-heated boiler |
| Two groups with a softer, curved look | Magister Stilo (grey) | £3,100 | Same idea as the HRC, plus a programmable hot water dispenser |
Want every gas and dual-fuel model side by side? See the full range on our dual fuel and LPG coffee machines page.
How the power works in a van: LPG, dual fuel and battery
A coffee machine uses most of its energy heating water. In a van, that is the hard part to power.
LPG does the heating. On these machines a propane burner heats the boiler. That takes the big load off your electrics. Fracino’s dual-fuel machines run on propane at 37 mbar.
The battery runs the small stuff. Fracino’s dual-fuel setup uses a 12V battery and a 1000W inverter for the pump and controls. The Magister listing puts its electrical draw at around 200W on gas.
Electric is the backup. Each dual-fuel machine also has an electric element for pitches with a strong mains hook-up. The CON2ELPG element is rated 2.85kW. The Magister’s is 4,500W.
One switch matters. The Fracino manual warns that on an inverter, the fuel selector must be set to GAS. If it is left on electric, the unit will overload.
Could a battery or power station run an all-electric machine instead? For a short stall, perhaps. For a full trading day, the heating load drains it far too quickly, which is why gas wins in a van.
For more on how the gas and electric sides share the work, read our best dual fuel coffee machines guide.
Our top pick: Fracino Contempo CON2ELPG
The Fracino Contempo CON2ELPG dual-fuel coffee machine is our best-selling coffee machine for mobile catering. It suits a van that does real volume at events, markets and on busy streets.
Quick specs
- Groups: 2, push-button automatic
- Boiler: 14L
- Output: 200/400 cups per hour (Fracino rating)
- Electric element: 2.85kW
- Size: 575mm high, 580mm wide, 500mm deep
- Weight: 55kg
- Cup clearance: 132mm under the high groups, for large takeaway cups
- Price: from £3,249
Best for
Coffee vans and trailers with a steady queue. Push-button shots mean a new team member pours the same drink as you do.
Honest note
At 55kg it is a two-person lift. Plan its spot on the counter before the van is fitted out. Our Fracino CON2ELPG review covers it in full.
For a small van or cart: Fracino Contempo 1 group LPG
The Fracino Contempo 1 group LPG coffee machine is the compact way into gas-heated espresso. It suits a solo trader with a smaller van, a cart or a pitch with a gentler pace.
Quick specs
- Groups: 1, semi-automatic (you start and stop each shot)
- Boiler: 7L
- Electric element: 2.7kW
- Size: 575mm high, 375mm wide, 500mm deep
- Weight: 35kg
- Price: from £2,159
Trade-off
One group means one shot at a time. If your queue regularly runs past a handful of people, the 2-group machine pays for itself in speed.
For the lever lover: Fracino Retro 2 group LPG
The Fracino Retro 2 group LPG (from £3,199) uses lever groups. Customers watch you pull each shot, which suits speciality coffee vans and weddings.
- Output: up to 200 cups per hour
- Boiler: 14L
- Size: 830mm high to the top of the levers, 580mm wide
- Weight: 55kg
The catch is height. At 830mm it stands far taller than the 575mm Contempo, so measure up to your shelves before you choose it.
The Italian alternative: Magister HRC and Stilo
The Magister HRC (black, from £2,900) and Magister Stilo (grey, from £3,100) are Italian-made 2-group automatic machines. Both have a gas heating kit, so the 11-litre boiler heats on LPG.
They give you two groups for less than the CON2ELPG. The Stilo adds a curved body and a programmable hot water dispenser. Our Magister HRC and Stilo review compares the two.
What you need in the van besides the machine
- Propane cylinder and a 37 mbar regulator. Propane only, never butane, because butane struggles to vaporise in cold weather.
- A 12V battery and 1000W inverter for the pump and controls on a Fracino dual-fuel machine.
- A fresh water tank and pump, so the machine never runs dry.
- A water softener or filter. Fracino advises changing the filter at least every 2 months.
- A grinder, bought separately.
- A gas safety certificate. The gas side must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Spreading the cost? Lease finance lets you buy the machine and pay over time on orders over £1,000.
Measure the van before you choose
Fracino’s manual asks for 600mm clear above the machine, plus 75mm behind it and 75mm at each side.
- Contempo (575mm high): allow roughly 1,175mm from counter to the nearest shelf or ceiling.
- Retro (830mm high): allow roughly 1,430mm.
- Width: allow roughly 525mm for a 1-group Contempo and 730mm for a 2-group machine.
These are approximate totals, worked out from the machine size plus the manual’s clearances.
Warm-up time matters too. The manual says steam starts after about 30 minutes on gas, or about 15 minutes on electric. After that the pressure builds to 1.0 to 1.2 bar and you are ready to serve.
The biggest mistake: buying on cups per hour alone
Most buyers compare output figures and stop there. Then the machine arrives and will not fit under the serving hatch shelf.
Start with the van instead. Check the counter height and the space above it. Check who will lift the machine in. Then pick between one group and two by how long your queue really gets.
The second mistake is a fully electric machine in a van with no hook-up. A 2-group electric machine needs a 20A supply, which most pitches cannot give you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best coffee machine for a coffee van?
For most coffee vans, the Fracino Contempo CON2ELPG is the best choice. It heats on propane, has 2 push-button groups and a 14L boiler. It starts from £3,249.
Can a coffee machine run off a leisure battery?
Only the small electrics can. On a dual-fuel machine, propane heats the boiler and a 12V battery with a 1000W inverter runs the pump and controls. A battery cannot heat the boiler for a whole day.
Do I need a generator for an LPG coffee machine?
Usually not. Fracino’s dual-fuel machines run their pump and controls from a 12V battery and inverter. The Magister draws around 200W on gas, so a small inverter or generator runs it.
Can I run a coffee machine on butane instead of propane?
No, use propane. Butane struggles to vaporise in cold weather, so it lets you down on winter pitches. Fracino’s dual-fuel machines are set up for propane at 37 mbar.
Is a 1 group or 2 group machine better for a coffee van?
A 2 group machine suits most vans with a regular queue. Two baristas can work at once, or one can run two shots together. A 1 group machine suits a solo trader on a quieter pitch.
How much space does a coffee machine need in a van?
The Fracino manual asks for 600mm above the machine and 75mm behind and at each side. For a 575mm high Contempo, that means roughly 1,175mm from counter to shelf.
How long does an LPG coffee machine take to heat up?
About 30 minutes on gas, according to the Fracino manual. On electric it takes about 15 minutes. Light it before you open the hatch so it is ready when customers arrive.
Does an LPG coffee machine need a gas safety certificate?
Yes. The gas side must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, who checks it and issues the certificate. Event organisers and councils will usually ask to see it.