Free Commercial Coffee Machine with Coffee Purchase — How It Works at Di Pacci

It's an arrangement that's been common in the Australian café industry for years — sometimes called a "free machine" deal, sometimes a "tied supply" arrangement. The mechanics are simple: instead of paying $8,000–$20,000 upfront for a commercial espresso machine, you commit to buying your coffee from Di Pacci at an agreed weekly or monthly volume, and we supply the machine as part of that relationship.

It works well for the right business. It doesn't work for everyone. This post explains exactly how it works, what the packages cover, and what questions to ask before you sign up.

What "Free Machine with Coffee Purchase" Actually Means

The machine isn't literally free — the cost is amortised across your coffee bean purchases over the agreement period. Think of it as a supply arrangement where the machine is part of the deal rather than an upfront capital expense. You get the machine on day one, you don't pay for it upfront, and you supply your café or venue from Di Pacci's coffee range for the duration of the agreement.

For a new café operator, this removes one of the biggest barriers to opening — commercial espresso equipment is expensive, and tying up $10,000–$20,000 in a machine before you've served a single customer is a significant risk. This model spreads that risk differently.

Di Pacci roasts its own coffee blends in Sydney — After Dark, Elements, By the Bay, and Sydney Road — available for commercial supply alongside machine packages.

What's Included in the Package

Package details vary depending on your volume and venue type. As a general guide:

The Coffee Supply Commitment

You'll commit to a minimum weekly or monthly coffee purchase from Di Pacci's range. The specific volume depends on your business size — a small café doing 3kg a week and a corporate office kitchen doing 10kg a week are different conversations. Di Pacci roasts its own blends in Sydney — After Dark, Elements, By the Bay, and Sydney Road — all roasted on a Brambati automated roaster and available in bulk supply for commercial accounts.

The supply commitment is the core of the arrangement. If you walk away from the agreement early or fail to meet the minimum purchase volume, the machine isn't free — there are exit terms. Read them carefully before you sign. Di Pacci will explain them upfront — ask specifically about the exit clause, minimum term, and what happens if your volume drops.

Who This Works For — And Who It Doesn't

Good fit: New café or restaurant opening with limited capital. Existing venue adding an espresso bar for the first time. Office or corporate kitchen wanting a commercial machine without capital expenditure. Food truck or mobile coffee cart needing a full setup. Hospitality venue that needs a quality machine and wants ongoing supply and support handled by one company.

Less suitable: Venues with very low coffee volume — the arrangement is structured around meaningful regular supply. Operators who already have a preferred coffee supplier they're committed to. Businesses that want to own the machine outright from day one. Anyone who wants the flexibility to switch coffee brands freely during the agreement period — that's not how tied supply works.

Di Pacci's 5 Australian Store Locations

You can discuss packages in person at any Di Pacci store, or call Roselands on (02) 9758 0760. We've been running commercial machine supply arrangements since 2008 — our team knows what questions to ask about your volume, venue, and workflow before recommending a package.

Questions to Ask Before You Commit

• Minimum term: How long is the agreement, and what are the exit terms if your business closes or you want to leave early?
• Minimum volume: What's the weekly or monthly coffee purchase commitment — in kilograms, not dollars?
• Machine ownership: Do you ever own the machine, or does Di Pacci retain ownership for the duration?
• Maintenance: What's covered and what isn't? Is there a callout fee for repairs, or is all service included?
• Machine upgrade: If the machine needs replacing mid-agreement, what happens?
• Price lock: Is the bean price fixed for the agreement period, or subject to review?

Di Pacci will answer all of these directly — it's a commercial arrangement and both parties need to understand the terms clearly. Call (02) 9758 0760 and ask them specifically. The more clearly you understand the commitment, the better the arrangement works for your business.