At Dear Green, we’re only able to function because of the relationships we have in the coffee community, so for us it’s important to celebrate those relationships whenever we can. Last year, we had a catch-up with our friends at Oz Espresso. After working closely with them for years, we headed down to their HQ just outside London to check out the exciting new developments in their world.

If you’re not familiar with the name already, Oz Espresso is a UK distributor of a wide range of awesome espresso equipment, supplying us with two quality brands we trust and enjoy: Conti espresso machines and Compak grinders.

Meeting Oz Espresso

Chris, Oz Espresso’s head honcho, provided a warm greeting upon arrival at their warehouse in Steeple Morden, just outside of the city. Having cycled in the spring sunshine from the nearby station following what was already a long journey straight from Glasgow, Chris’s bright smile and friendly demeanour were just what we needed.

We’ve met the team many times but have never had the pleasure of visiting their showroom for an immersive experience and tour of their product range.. Chris offered a coffee as he shared stories of his time in the coffee industry, events he’d attended, and friends he had met along the way.

Touring the Oz Espresso facility

We moved on to a tour of the showroom, where Chris confidently displayed his impressive and deep knowledge of the equipment, running through the ins and outs of each machine, from the entry-level CC100 to the bells and whistles of the powerhouse MC Ultima. 

Watching and listening to Chris speak about these machines was like watching a performance; he’s truly a master of his craft and knows them like the back of his hand. With no hesitation, he explained the similarities and differences between the machines, highlighting the advantages and progress of each, including the inner workings of Conti’s signature Accumetrix, their in-house volumetric system.

What makes Oz Espresso special

One thing that stood out during the tour was Chris’s connection to the manufacturers of Conti and Compak. Having operated Oz Espresso for close to 15 years and being the primary distributor of Conti/Compak in the UK, he has built trust with the manufacturers and provided feedback on what performs well and what needs improvement for the UK market. It’s a testament to Chris’s knowledge and skills that the manufacturer responds to Chris’s feedback and implements notable suggestions that could improve the machines’ performance.

Chris went on to discuss a recent change to the manufacturing process for Conti espresso during the development of their latest entry-level model, the NG-C. For this machine, Conti didn’t just reconfigure their existing machines; they reconfigured the entire factory to be more efficient, and produced a machine that emphasises energy efficiency and modularity, allowing for easier maintenance and tech access. Ever curious, we delved deeper and learnedr more details regarding the new manufacturing process:

“A total overhaul of the production line meant the factory had to be completely turned on its head, as our somewhat archaic process to build an espresso machine meant it had to do a couple of laps around the factory before it could be wrapped up and placed in its shipping carton.”

Chris went on to say that the redesign allowed for a modular build, with each aspect of the machine (hydraulics, electronics, central housing) having its own production line. Overall, this sped up the manufacturing process, improved parts storage efficiency, and enhanced consistency by minimising human error. The net result of this overhaul is a 30% more efficient process without increasing costs - incredible!

A lightbulb moment - this is why we work with Chris and Oz Espresso, and why we trust Conti Espresso as one of our suppliers. The effort and lengths they go to when developing their equipment ensure excellent build quality, and they are willing to change to evolve into a better version of themselves. This process of continual improvement is something we pride ourselves on at Dear Green, too. 

Following the showroom tour, Chris showcased other pieces of equipment, including grinders and an automated barista kit, such as the auto-portafilter cleaner, a new sight. We then stepped out of the showroom and crossed the car park to the other warehouse unit, which housed all the espresso machines, grinders, and equipment, as well as spare parts.

Chris mentioned that storing all spare parts on site gives them complete control over their distribution processes and helps partners manage and communicate stock levels and replacement parts effectively. This is impressive and incredibly useful for us, as it means they can have an espresso machine or replacement parts at our roastery the following day if needed.

After concluding the quick stop at the warehouse and workshop, it was time to get back to the showroom, where we chatted over an afternoon brew. It was lovely hearing more about his journey, a reminder that every person has their own story to tell, reaffirming that this is an industry not solely based on product - it’s an industry based on people.

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