The Ultimate Guide to Mobile Coffee: Equipment & Business Essentials

Welcome to Espresso Outlet!

Hey there! I’m Dylan, the head of commercial sales here at Espresso Outlet and the owner of Brew Head Espresso, my own mobile coffee business. With years of hands-on experience in both specialty coffee and commercial espresso equipment, I know firsthand what it takes to craft the perfect cup—whether you’re running a bustling café, a mobile setup, or building your dream coffee space.

At Espresso Outlet, we’re more than just a retailer—we’re a team of passionate coffee lovers dedicated to helping you find the best equipment to suit your needs. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

I’m excited to connect with you and help bring your coffee vision to life. Let’s brew something great together!

Have questions or need help choosing the right machine? Feel free to reach out—I’d love to chat and help you find the perfect setup!

sales@espressooutlet.com

Here are my top espresso machine picks for cafés and mobile businesses: 


Nuova Simonelli Appia Life Volumetric 1 Group

https://espressooutlet.com/collections/nuova-simonelli/products/nuova-simonelli-appia-life-volumetric-1-group

  • A compact yet powerful machine perfect for small cafés, mobile coffee carts, or businesses with lower espresso volume. Its volumetric dosing ensures consistency and ease of use, making it great for solo baristas or small teams. I currently use this machine on my trailer and it has been fantastic! 

Nuova Simonelli Appia Life Compact

https://espressooutlet.com/collections/nuova-simonelli/products/nuova-simonelli-appia-life-compact

  • Designed for high-volume mobile setups or cafés with limited space, this two-group compact model delivers excellent performance while fitting into tight workspaces. It balances power and efficiency, making it ideal for food trucks and busy pop-ups. I’m upgrading my current setup to this machine because we’ve become busier over the past three years. It will be a nice jump from the already amazing single group. 

Nuova Simonelli Appia Life Volumetric 2 Group

https://espressooutlet.com/collections/nuova-simonelli/products/nuova-simonelli-appia-life-volumetric-2-group

  • A step up for busier cafés, this machine offers fast recovery time and consistent extractions with volumetric dosing. Its ergonomic design and reliability make it great for medium- to high-volume cafés that need efficiency without compromising quality.

Nuova Simonelli Aurelia Wave Volumetric

https://espressooutlet.com/products/nuova-simonelli-aurelia-wave-volumetric?_pos=1&_psq=Nuova+Simonelli+Aurelia+Wave+Volumetric&_ss=e&_v=1.0

  • A premium choice for specialty cafés that require precision, consistency, and advanced features. Its Smart Water Technology helps maintain optimal water quality, making it ideal for businesses focused on high-end espresso preparation.

Nuova Simonelli Aurelia Wave Digit

https://espressooutlet.com/collections/nuova-simonelli/products/nuova-simonelli-aurelia-wave-digit

  • The ultimate high-performance espresso machine with digital controls for total brew customization. Ideal for specialty coffee shops or high-end cafés that prioritize innovation, temperature stability, and repeatable excellence in every shot.

My Journey into Coffee 

https://espressooutlet.com/blogs/news/my-coffee-cart-journey

https://espressooutlet.com/blogs/news/mobile-coffee-series-everything-you-need-to-know-about-equipment-and-business

If you're considering starting your own coffee business, I’ve shared my journey below to help guide you.

Videos to come....

  • How to create your menu, what goes into it, size of cups, ect. 

  • How to upsell items, Increase your ticket sales. 

  • What products could you sell in addition to your coffee business? Baked goods, Apparel, candles and more. 

  • Things to consider when setting up your trailer/coffee cart for a good workflow. 

  • How to pick the right generator for your setup. 

  • How to measure the amount of running amps your generator has.