Ideal group height above floor

by **pocojoe** on Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:58 pm

Hello!

I am rebuilding a La San Marco 2-Group machine, and will be fabricating a stand for it to sit upon.

Is there a recommended (in the ergonomic sense) height above the floor for the average Barista to find a machine comfortable to work with? It often seems awkward for some Baristas to get the portafilter locked, especially for shorter individuals.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Joe

by **barry** on Thu Jan 12, 2012 3:24 pm

make an adjustable hydraulic lift stand.

machine height is a compromise between ease of portafilter insertion (barista height), the ability to see the work surface (drip tray), and often the need to locate equipment under the machine (eg. refrigerators).

by **stefano65** on Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:20 pm

PS FOR COMMERCIAL location check local codes
some counties will required enough space between the machine bottom and your counter to "wipe" clean underneath

by **pocojoe** on Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:39 am

Thanks Barry!

Your answer reminds me a little of the ideal answer to a math question... "Multiply by zero and add the answer in the back of the book"!

May I ask- How tall are you? How far is you portafilter handle above the floor? and is it a comfortable height?

Thanks-
Joe

by **pocojoe** on Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:15 pm

To close out the thread, I found an earlier posting that was very helpful

Lever Espresso Machine Ergonomics and the Evolution of the Coffee Bar

Thanks
Joe

by **barry** on Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:57 am

stand up straight... hold your hand out straight, with your elbow bent 90 degrees. that is your minimum portafilter height.

by **boar_d_laze** on Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:43 am

The machines were designed to go on standard height counters -- because that's what everyone has. In the US, that's 36"; In Italy, I think it's 915mm which is very close to the same thing.

In my experience, it's usually not a good idea to reinvent the wheel unless you've got specific, compelling reasons.

BDL

by **barry** on Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:37 pm

"standard height" isn't so standard any more... ADA specifies 34" maximum counter height. Then things like machine leg length and group-to-tray height come into play, and whether the machine has angled or straight portafilter handles.

I've got machines on 34", 32", and 42" counters at my house.


Contact Us	Legal disclaimer and copyright: This content and all its parts are copyrighted, all rights reserved. Content including all text and images in part or in whole may not be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission. Home-Barista, Home-Barista.com and related logos are trademarks of Home-Barista.com, LLC. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. By accessing this site, you agree to the terms of service. Overall speed: , current page: s, avg: s, max: s