We’ve all been there – you see a coffee machine you like, but think you can snag a better deal by buying a used model. And you really might save some money by going this route, but is it really worth buying a used coffee or espresso machine? There are some good and not-so-good aspects to buying a pre-owned machine.
The Good
The first and most obvious benefit to buying a used machine is that it costs less. You can go on eBay, Craigslist or Amazon right now and buy a used Keurig system for half the price of a brand new one. If your budget is the biggest issue, a used machine could save you quite a bit of money.
If you’re looking at pre-owned coffee machines, you may be able to score a commercial machine for the same price as a mid-range home coffee maker. That’s a major bonus for espresso drinkers. Commercial machines tend to be the better option for espresso, and home machines can sometimes be expensive. In this case, buying used may be the best option.
Oftentimes, you can get your hands on a used machine that’s still in great condition. Some might as well be brand new. This means you can save money and still get plenty of use out of the coffee maker.
While a pre-owned coffee maker may be an economical choice, there are some drawbacks that you need to consider.
The Bad
One of the biggest concerns with buying a used machine is its quality. How old is the machine? How well did the previous owner take care of it? Sure, you might save some money by buying a used coffee maker, but if it doesn’t work properly or stops working altogether, was it worth buying? Probably not.
The age of the machine is really important. Why? Because if an old machine breaks, you may not be able to find replacement parts.
How the machine was stored and taken care of will also determine whether or not it’s a good buy. If the previous owner kept the coffee maker in the garage and only used it once or twice over the last year, it may not work properly. Water can corrode the internal components of the machine. Scale buildup can also cause issues.
Missing parts and pieces can be an issue as well. If you’re buying the machine in person, you can do your homework ahead of time and make sure no parts are missing. But if you’re buying online, you’re taking a gamble.
Buying a used coffee or espresso machine can save you money, but you’ll have to do your homework ahead of time to make sure it’s worth buying. If an older machine is missing parts, you may not be able to buy replacements. If the machine wasn’t well taken care of, it might stop working shortly after you buy it. But if the machine is newer, in great condition and not missing any parts, it may be worth buying. And in some cases, you may even be able to purchase a used commercial machine that brews top quality coffee.
