We're thinking of upping our coffee service by offering espresso, cappuccino and so on. However, a commercial machine is probably beyond our budget. Would a cheaper domestic unit do the job?

You should never consider using a domestic machine in a commercial environment they aren't built for the job and are unlikely to last. In working out your budget, bear in mind that a commercial machine delivering good-quality coffee can quickly pay for itself through sales, since ingredient costs are low and profit potential is high. You could consider a loan machine, where the coffee supplier gives you a machine so long as you buy its coffee. This makes the coffee more expensive, of course, but you can still make a good profit per cup - and you won't have the initial capital outlay to worry about.

For more advice

Visit www.cesa.org.uk and click on the link "CESA Buying Guides".  For energy-saving advice click on "CESA Energy Saver". If you have a question on equipment, send an e-mail to enquiries@cesa.org.uk.