If your goal is to serve about 100 cups a day without turning your counter into a training ground, the Franke A400 is designed for that sweet spot. It brings the reliability of Franke’s commercial line into a compact, fully automatic format that suits small cafés, convenience stores, boutique hotels, and office hubs that live on quick, consistent drinks. If you want the spec sheet and pricing, start with the product the Franke A400 Commercial Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, or compare it against the rest of the range in our collection of Franke commercial coffee machines.
Below is a practical, operator-first look at whether the A400 is the right commercial coffee machine for your volume, menu, and team.
Who the A400 is for
Think of the A400 as the entry to mid tier of Franke coffee machines. It is a bean to cup workhorse for venues that want premium beverages and simple workflows, but do not need the extreme throughput of the Franke A800 or the flagship Franke A1000. It fits best where you want barista-level results without dedicated service personnel on the machine all day.
- Daily volume: ~100 cups is its comfort zone.
- Menu style: Espresso, flat white, latte, hot chocolate, and other milk based coffee specialities made fast and repeatable.
- Service model: Staff-served counters or self service points where guests can make a memorable coffee moment in a few taps.
Key features that matter at 100 cups a day
1) Drink quality with minimal training
The A400 uses Franke’s FoamMaster technology to deliver perfect milk textures, including hot and cold milk and high quality milk foam. It is consistent enough that even the best barista on shift will trust it, while new team members can serve a perfect milk latte after a short handover. This is the definition of repeatable quality.
2) Menu breadth without menu bloat
The touch screen technology and customisable menu let you add or remove items, set drink sizes, and create presets for seasonal drinks. You can make drink adjustments on the fly and push updates so every cup meets your standard. Add the flavour station as an optional feature if you want syrups for caramel lattes or mochas.
3) Real hygiene, real time saving
Cleaning is not glamorous, but it is where profit and uptime live. The A400’s advanced cleaning system with automatic cleaning and an integrated cleaning cartridge runs a verified cycle that achieves an entire clean of the milk path and brew circuit. That minimises workload and keeps hygiene at the highest standards. Less scrubbing, more selling.
4) Efficiency the team will feel
From standby mode power saving to smart milk and water dosing, the A400 keeps waste low and service fast. It is a super smart coffee machine that has been tuned for the realities of a quick service environment, so you can serve a wide range of beverages with fewer touches and less additional input from staff.
5) Scale up, not out
If your line is growing beyond 100 cups, stepping up to the Franke A600 or Franke A800 increases headroom. If your growth is seasonal or day part specific, the A400 can still carry the morning peak and settle into a steady rhythm day long.
What the workflow looks like
- Choose beans
The grinder is tuned for bean to cup coffee, so start with fresh coffee beans that suit your profile. For brighter brews choose a lighter roast, for chocolatey lattes pick a medium. Set grind size so extraction is balanced. - Set the menu
Use the screen to define your core set: espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, hot chocolate, and iced options using cold milk foam where needed. You can change drink sizes quickly for small, regular, or large. - Serve and switch
The machine handles espresso brewing, milk texturing, and can automatically switching modes between hot and cold recipes. It is designed so a single operator can keep a queue moving, or guests can self-serve with confidence. - Clean and close
Run the automatic cleaning cycle with the integrated cleaning cartridge. The cycle is guided and predictable, which protects uptime and keeps quality stable.
Is the A400 fast enough for 100 cups a day
Yes, for most sites targeting around 100 cups across a day. The A400 is built to produce drinks at a pace that fits a steady service, not a stadium. If your rush compresses into a very tight 60 to 90 minute window with complex customisation, consider pairing an A400 with a second unit or moving to the A600 or A800 for more simultaneous capacity. For balanced day parts in a small business or office, the A400’s efficiency and consistency are exactly what you want.
Why bean to cup is the right approach here
A bean to cup platform gives you the freshness and aroma of freshly ground espresso with the push-button convenience that keeps queues short. It is also kinder to training budgets than a full manual setup. The A400’s design means you get the craft without the complexity, which is why cup machines like this are such a good fit for commercial coffee programs that aim for repeatable quality.
For a deeper view on freshness, extraction, and how grind and water affect flavour, the National Coffee Association has a clear primer. For UK-specific consumption and service context that informs menu planning, the British Coffee Association is a helpful reference.
Menu examples guests actually order
- Espresso and Americano for speed and clarity
- Flat white with silky microfoam
- Latte and cappuccino as all-day staples
- Hot chocolate for families and late evening service
- Iced latte with cold foam in warmer months
If you want to offer syrups, add the flavour station. If you run breakfast service, keep hot water on hand for tea drinkers. The A400 lets you set and change drink sizes and recipes so each cup meets your standard.
A400 vs A600 vs A800 vs A1000 in one minute
- A400
Best for ~100 cups per day. Compact, flexible, and cost effective. - A600
Adds speed and headroom for sites that are trending above 100 cups with longer peaks. - A800
Built for high volume and multi drink lines where throughput is a top priority. - A1000
Flagship experience for luxury hospitality where breadth of menu and premium presentation matter most.
If you need help choosing, our team at Coffee Seller will map your day part demand, staffing model, and menu to the right footprint and feature set.
The simple business case
- Consistency
A machine that tastes the same on Monday as it does on Friday protects your brand. - Speed
Faster drinks mean shorter lines and more happy customers. - Hygiene
The A400’s cleaning is guided and verifiable, which supports safety and quality. - Uptime
Automated routines and a clear interface reduce operator error and downtime. - Costs
Standby mode, controlled dosing, and fewer training hours improve the bottom line.
Final answer to the big question
Is the Franke A400 the right machine for serving 100 cups of coffee a day?
For most venues at that scale, yes. It delivers the quality your guests notice, the features your team needs, and the efficiency your manager cares about. If your growth pushes sustained peaks well beyond 100 cups, look one rung up the ladder. If you want a compact, reliable system that creates a premium experience with minimal fuss, the A400 is the right call.
Start with the Franke A400, compare it with other Franke commercial coffee machines, and reach out to Coffee Seller if you want help matching features to your menu and daily demand. Contact us we will help you go from decision to first pour without the detours.