Setting Up a New Coffee Machine in Your Shop: First-Day Checklist

Last updated: September 2026

In 30 seconds:

• Sort the water, power and a filter before the machine arrives — that’s 90% of a smooth first day.
• Never fire it dry. Water in the boiler first, then switch on, or you’ll damage the element.
• Give it about 15 minutes to heat to pressure, then flush every group before the first shot.
• Fit a water filter or softener from day one — hard water is the number-one killer of café boilers.
• Biggest first-day mistake: plugging in and pulling a shot straight away, before it’s filled, heated and flushed.

Not chosen a machine yet? Start with our electric coffee machines buying guide and what size your shop needs.

Before it arrives — the setup checklist

Get these ready and day one is easy:

• The right socket. A single-group or 13A machine plugs into a normal socket; a full-power 2-group needs a 20A supply and a 3-group needs 30A. Check the machine’s rating before delivery day.
• Water. Tank-fed machines just need filling by hand. Plumbed-in machines need a 15mm cold supply and a waste pipe within reach.
• A water filter or softener, fitted before first use — here’s why it matters.
• Space and airflow. Sit it on a solid, level counter with room at the back and sides so it can breathe.
• A grinder, ready to go — the machine doesn’t grind beans (see our grinder buying guide).

Day one — first fire, step by step

1. Unpack and level it. Sit it flat on the counter and take off all the packing tape and protective film.
2. Get water in first. Fill the tank, or open the mains isolator on a plumbed machine. The boiler must have water before any power goes on — never switch it on dry.
3. Switch on the right supply. Plug into the correct socket (or turn on the isolator switch for a 20A/30A machine).
4. Let it fill and heat. The boiler fills and comes up to pressure over about 15 minutes. Don’t rush it.
5. Flush each group. Run water through every group head for a few seconds to clear it and confirm flow.
6. Set the grinder and dial in. Grind, dose and pull a few test shots, adjusting the grind until the shot runs right.
7. Purge the steam wand. Steam a jug of water or scrap milk to clear the wand, then wipe it down.

Check these before you serve a customer

• Pressure looks right — the boiler gauge should sit around 1 to 1.2 bar once warm (what the gauge is telling you).
• Steam is strong and the wand isn’t dribbling.
• Water tastes clean — that’s your filter doing its job.
• The first few shots pour evenly, not gushing or dripping.

Common first-day mistakes

• Firing it dry — the fastest way to wreck a new element. Water always goes in first.
• Skipping the water filter — limescale starts building from the very first tank.
• Wrong socket — a full 2-group on a 13A plug will trip out; match the machine to the supply.
• Serving before it’s flushed and up to pressure — the first shots will taste flat and thin.

If it won’t power up at all, work through our coffee machine won’t turn on checks before you call anyone out.

Keeping it running after day one

• Clean and descale on a routine from week one — the simple routine.
• Change the water filter every couple of months.
• Know your warranty: Fracino machines are back-to-base, so a workshop repair means sending it in — how servicing and warranty works.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a new commercial coffee machine take to warm up on the first day?

About 15 minutes from cold to reach working pressure. Let it fill and heat fully before pulling your first shot — rushing it gives flat, under-temperature coffee.

Do I need to fill the boiler with water before switching a coffee machine on?

Yes. Water must be in the boiler before any power goes on. Switching it on dry damages the heating element — it’s the most common and most expensive first-day mistake.

Do I need an electrician to set up a new coffee machine?

Not for single-group or 13A machines — they use a normal socket. A full-power 2-group needs a 20A supply and a 3-group needs 30A, which an electrician should wire in.

Should I fit a water filter before I use the machine?

Yes, from the very first day. Hard water furs up the boiler and group from the first tank, so a filter or softener protects your machine straight away.

What pressure should the machine show once it’s warm?

The boiler gauge should sit around 1 to 1.2 bar, and the brew pressure around 9 bar when you pull a shot. Much outside that and something needs adjusting.

Why do my first shots taste weak on day one?

Usually the machine isn’t fully up to temperature and pressure yet, or the group wasn’t flushed. Give it the full warm-up, flush each group, and dial in the grinder before serving.

Do I need a separate grinder for a new coffee machine?

Yes. The machine pulls the shots but doesn’t grind the beans, so have a café grinder set up and dialled in before you open.