How to Package your Espresso Equipment for Shipping
How to Package an Espresso Machine for Shipping
If you need to ship your espresso machine (either for repair, return or to a new location), ensuring that it arrives damage-free is essential. To help you do so, we asked one of our shipping experts to guide us packaging best practices in these step-by-step how-to videos. Please also see below on how to drain your boiler and on how to ship your grinder!
We cover Rocket Espresso Machines, other Semi-automatic Espresso Machines, and Superautomatic espresso machines in these detailed videos. Before you begin packing up your gear, we highly recommend you check these out!
Packing a Rocket Espresso Machine (Or other semi-automatic espresso machines with a heat exchanger) for Shipping
Packing Semiautomatic Espresso Machines without a Heat Exchanger
Packing a Superautomatic Espresso Machine for Shipping
Need tips on packing up your larger machine over 50 lbs? Drop us a line and we'll send you our recommendations.
If your commercial espresso machine requires repair, it's best to have this service performed on site. Smaller commercial espresso machines (such as the La Marzocco GS/3 or single group Rancilio Epoca machines) can be shipped to us for repair, but you will need to ship these using a freight service that can transport them to our location on a pallet.
If you need to transport/ship your machine or are planning to store it in an area where it could possibly freeze, it's important that you first drain the boiler to mitigate any damage from leaking or freezing.
Here are some general guidelines for how you can do this on different machines, but please refer to your user manual's instructions and rely primarily on its directions if these differ in any way. Not sure which type of machine you have? Your user manual should reference this.
Draining your Boiler for Service or Storage
Semi-Automatics without Heat-Exchanger
Please read these instructions in their entirety and let us know if you have any questions prior to beginning the process.
- Turn the machine on and prime the boiler (please refer to the machine's user manual for specific instructions on how to do this).
- Turn on the steam switch and let the machine get up to steam temperature.
- Bring the machine to the sink and tip it onto the side with the steam wand.
- Open up the steam knob all the way and allow the machine to push all the water out of its system.
- When there is no more water coming out, close the knob and pack your machine for cold weather transport.
Semi-Automatics with Heat Exchangers
Please read these instructions in their entirety and let us know if you have any questions prior to beginning the process.
Proceed with Caution! Your machine must be heated to its normal steaming temperature in order to properly drain the boiler, so keep in mind that your machine and water are at scalding temperatures. Please take care -- remember that the splashing water & steam during dispensing is scalding and will burn.
- Plug in your machine and bring it to its normal brewing temperature/pressure. This may vary from machine to machine, so refer to your user manual on how to do this.
- Place 2 large, tall-sided containers -- one under the brew group, one under the hot water dispenser -- that are securely and solidly supported so they won't spill when water drains into them. Keep in mind that the combined capacity of the two containers must be greater than or equal to your boiler's capacity.
- Remove the top of your water reservoir and its water intake line.
- Engage the pump by turning on the brew button.
- Run the machine until the water stops flowing from the brew head.
- Turn off the brew button and the main power switch.
- Open the hot water dispensing valve and then run the machine again until water stops flowing from this valve.
- Once water no longer comes from the valve, turn it off. Your boiler is now drained.
Superautomatics
Please read these instructions in their entirety and let us know if you have any questions prior to beginning the process.
Proceed with Caution! Your machine must be heated to its normal steaming temperature in order to properly drain the boiler, so keep in mind that your machine and water are at scalding temperatures. Please take care -- remember that the splashing water & steam during dispensing is scalding and will burn.
- Plug in your machine and bring it to its normal brewing temperature/pressure. This may vary from machine to machine, so refer to your user manual on how to do this.
- Place a heat-proof, tall-sided, 20oz.+ container under the steam wand. We recommend a heavy plastic container or one with a handle, as the draining water will be scalding hot and you will need to touch the container.
- When the machine has reached steam temperature, open the steam valve.
- While the machine is steaming, remove the water reservoir.
- When water or steam no longer dispenses from the machine, close the steam valve.
- Turn off the steam button and the main power switch. Your boiler is now drained.
How to Package your Espresso Grinder for Shipping
If you need to ship your grinder (either for repair, return or to a new location), ensuring that it arrives damage-free is essential. To help you do so, we asked one of our shipping experts to guide us packaging best practices in this step-by-step how-to video.
Please read these instructions in their entirety and let us know if you have any questions prior to beginning the process:
- Take pictures of the machine prior to packing.
- Close the bean hopper chute (if the hopper has this feature).
- Remove the bean hopper. If you are returning the machine, wrap the hopper in bubble plastic to prevent it from bouncing around during transit and thereby damaging the machine. Secure it inside the shipping box. If you are sending the machine in for repair, leave the hopper out of the box and keep it at home.
- Clear out the burr chamber by dumping its contents and/or extracting them with a vacuum cleaner hose.
- Use residue-free tape to tape down any loose items on the grinder.
- Send the machine in a liner to protect it from the packing material you will be putting around it. If the machine has a removable portafilter fork, remove it; wrap it in bubble plastic to prevent it from bouncing around during transit and thereby damaging the machine. Secure it inside the shipping box.
- Place the machine in the liner and tape it up. Drape the power cord outside the liner.
- Wrap the standing machine in bubble wrap with the bubble side facing the machine. Tape it lightly with packing tape to secure the first layer of bubble wrap. Leave the cord loose.
- Lay the machine on its back and wrap it in bubble wrap again. Tape it securely with packing tape. Wrap the loose cord around the machine.
- Place the machine in a shipping box. If possible, use the original manufacturer’s shipping box and pack the machine in the same way as you received it. If it is no longer available, place the machine in a box big enough to allow a two-inch layer of packing peanuts under, around the sides, and over it. Use enough peanuts to ensure the machine does not shift during transit.
- Tape up the box with packing tape.
- Place the box in a second, larger shipping box. Use the same amount of peanuts as in the first box. Allow for two inches of peanuts under, around the sides, and above the first box. Use enough peanuts to ensure the box does not shift during transit.
- Tape up the box. Place fragile stickers on it. Enlist the help of the carrier if needed for assistance in the packaging process.
- Insure the machine with the carrier.
- Label the box.
- Your grinder is ready to ship.