2 Group Espresso Machines: UK Buyer’s Guide (Electric, LPG & Dual Fuel)
Last updated: October 2026
In 30 seconds:
- A 2-group espresso machine has two group heads, so shots can be pulled side by side: the usual choice for a busy café, coffee van or trailer.
- Fracino rates its 2-group machines at around 240 cappuccinos or 400 espressos an hour.
- Choose by power first: a 13A plug (2.85kW), a 20A or 30A supply, or LPG gas for vans and trailers.
- Then choose automatic (programmed shot volumes) or semi-automatic (the barista stops the shot).
- We sell 11 two-group machines, from £2,380 to £4,870.
Not sure how big a machine you need? Start with what size coffee machine your shop needs, or plan a full set-up with our coffee machine planner.
Do you need two groups?
- 1 group: quieter cafés, carts and events where one barista makes a drink at a time.
- 2 groups: steady trade with queues at peak times. Two baristas can work side by side, or one barista can keep two drinks going.
- 3 groups: very high-volume cafés with several baristas on at once.
If a queue regularly builds at your busiest hour, a second group is usually the first upgrade worth paying for.
Electric, LPG or dual fuel?
- Electric (mains): for cafés and fixed sites. A 2.85kW machine such as the Bambino 2 Group runs on a 13A plug; 4kW machines need a 20A supply, and the Romano PID needs 30A. More power means faster recovery in a rush.
- LPG (gas-heated): the Magister HRC and Stilo heat their boilers on gas, so the electrics draw only about 200W. Made for vans and trailers. Read our Magister review.
- Dual fuel (LPG or electric): the Fracino Contempo and Retro dual fuel machines heat on gas or on their 2.85kW element, so they work on a pitch with or without a mains hook-up. See all of them on our dual fuel and LPG coffee machines page.
Any LPG or dual fuel machine in a catering vehicle must be connected by a Gas Safe engineer registered for mobile and commercial catering (CMC and COMCAT 2), who will issue the gas safety certificate you need to trade.
Automatic or semi-automatic?
Automatic machines stop each shot at a volume you programme, so a new member of staff pours the same coffee as your best barista. Semi-automatic machines leave the barista to stop the shot by hand, which some coffee-led cafés prefer. Our semi-automatic vs automatic guide covers it in detail.
Compare every 2-group machine we sell
| Machine | Fuel | Controls | Boiler | Power | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fracino Bambino 2 Group | Electric | Automatic | 10 litres | 2.85kW, 13A plug | Cafés on a standard plug | £2,380 |
| Fracino Contempo 2 Group (CON2) | Electric | Semi-automatic | 14 litres | 2.85kW or 4kW / 20A | Barista-led cafés | £2,490 |
| Fracino Contempo 2 Group (CON2E) | Electric | Automatic | 14 litres | 4kW / 20A (2.85kW 13A on request) | Busy cafés | £2,900 |
| Fracino Retro 2 Group (FCL2) | Electric | Retro styling | 14 litres | 4kW element | Cafés wanting classic looks | £2,900 |
| Fracino Romano 2 Group Electronic | Electric | Automatic, touch panel | 14 litres | 4kW / 20A (2.85kW 13A option) | High-volume cafés | £4,570 |
| Fracino Romano PID 2 Group | Electric | Automatic, PID temperature per group | 14 litres + group boilers | 6.2kW / 30A | Speciality coffee shops | £4,870 |
| Fracino Contempo Dual Fuel 2 Group | Dual fuel (LPG or electric) | Semi-automatic | 14 litres | LPG, about 350W electrics on gas | Coffee vans, barista-led | £2,799 |
| Fracino Contempo Dual Fuel 2 Group (CON2ELPG) | Dual fuel (LPG or electric) | Automatic | 14 litres | LPG, or 2.85kW electric | Busy coffee vans and trailers | £3,249 |
| Fracino Retro 2 Group Dual Fuel | Dual fuel (LPG or electric) | Retro styling | 14 litres | LPG (5.5kW), or 2.85kW electric | Vans and horseboxes wanting classic looks | £3,199 |
| Magister HRC 2 Group LPG (black) | LPG (plus 4.5kW electric element) | Automatic | 11 litres | About 200W electrics on gas | Coffee vans and trailers | £2,900 |
| Magister Stilo 2 Group LPG (grey) | LPG (plus 4.5kW electric element) | Automatic | 11 litres | About 200W electrics on gas | Vans and horseboxes, front of house | £3,100 |
Prices include VAT and are the lowest option for each machine. Cups-per-hour figures are the manufacturer’s ratings.
Our picks
- Coffee van or trailer on LPG: Magister HRC for the lowest price with automatic dosing, or the Fracino Contempo Dual Fuel automatic for a bigger 14-litre boiler and the option to run on electric.
- Café on a standard 13A plug: Fracino Bambino 2 Group.
- Busy café with a 20A supply: Fracino Contempo CON2E (read our Contempo review).
- Speciality coffee shop: Fracino Romano PID, with group temperature you can set between 80 and 115°C (read our Romano PID review).
- Best looks front of house: the Fracino Retro range, or the curved grey Magister Stilo.
What else you need
- A grinder: the machine does not grind beans. See our coffee grinders.
- Water treatment: a filter or softener protects the boiler from limescale. Our water filter guide explains why.
- Water supply: a mains feed in a café; in a vehicle, water containers with a pump.
- For gas machines: LPG pipework and the gas safety certificate (see our CP44 guide).
Looking for a machine anyone can use with no barista? Compare our commercial bean to cup coffee machines.
Shop 2-group espresso machines
Bambino 2 Group Automatic Espresso Luxury Coffee Machine BAM2E-3V-IVORI
From: £2,380.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200
Contempo 2 Group Coffee Machine Semi-Automatic Electric CON2
From: £2,490.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200
Romano Electronic Coffee Machine 2 Group FR 2E-R Espresso
From: £4,570.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200
Romano PID Electronic – 2 Group (PID2) Espresso Coffee Machine Fracino
From: £4,870.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200
Contempo Dual Fuel Coffee Machine Semi Automatic 2 Group
From: £2,799.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200
Contempo Dual Fuel Coffee Machine Automatic 2 Group CON2ELPG
From: £3,249.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200
Magister HRC 2 Group LPG Espresso Coffee Machine – Black, Automatic (HRC ES100)
From: £2,900.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200
Magister Stilo 2 Group LPG Espresso Coffee Machine – Grey, Automatic (Stilo ES100)
From: £3,100.00 inc VAT · free delivery over £200Frequently asked questions
What is a 2 group coffee machine?
It is an espresso machine with two group heads, so two shots (or two pairs of shots) can be made at the same time. It is the usual size for a busy café or coffee van, sitting between a single group for quieter sites and a 3-group for very high volumes.
How many cups an hour can a 2 group coffee machine make?
Fracino rates its 2-group machines at around 240 cappuccinos or 400 espressos an hour, and the Retro 2 Group at about 200 cups an hour. In practice your barista and grinder set the pace.
Can a 2 group coffee machine run on a 13 amp plug?
Some can. A 2.85kW machine such as the Fracino Bambino 2 Group runs from a standard 13A plug. 4kW machines need a 20A supply, and the Romano PID needs 30A. For vans, an LPG or dual fuel machine takes the heating off your electrics.
What is the best 2 group machine for a coffee van?
One that heats on gas. The Magister HRC and Stilo heat on LPG and draw about 200W of electrics. The Fracino Contempo and Retro dual fuel machines run on LPG or electric.
How much does a 2 group espresso machine cost?
Our 2-group machines run from £2,380 to £4,870. Automatic models, dual fuel and per-group temperature control cost more.
Should I choose automatic or semi-automatic?
Automatic machines stop each shot at a programmed volume, so every member of staff pours the same coffee. Semi-automatic machines leave the barista to stop the shot. Our semi-automatic vs automatic guide explains the trade-off.
Do I need a separate grinder?
Yes. An espresso machine pulls the shots but does not grind the beans, so you need a commercial grinder alongside it. See our coffee grinders.
Do gas coffee machines need a certificate?
Yes. An LPG or dual fuel machine in a catering vehicle must be connected by a Gas Safe engineer registered for mobile and commercial catering (CMC and COMCAT 2), who issues the gas safety certificate. See our CP44 guide.