Fracino Dual Fuel Install - Press On Coffee Trailers

In this video we explain how to hook up a dual-fuel, two-group, single-boiler, heat-exchange, machine and talk about converting our mobile coffee shop into a fully off-grid service trailer. This is a different machine from the one we talked about in our last video. The machine here came from the UK so the electrical was a bit different. We chose it so we can serve without a generator. that's right! NO GENERATOR needed.
Follow along with our weekly videos to see a-day-in-the-life of a travel trailer turned food truck. Making money while serving coffee is an awesome way to meet new people and build a coffee culture community too. Our DIY trailer conversion is still a work in progress. Check out our E-book and be on your way to become a mobile barista.
We spent five months on our coffee truck build. If you're looking to start a mobile food unit or a mobile coffee shop, we can tell you right now, Yes! They can be profitable. We have created an E-book on how to build a mobile coffee trailer. It explains how to build a mobile coffee cart, what gear you need for your espresso bar and more details on starting your own business.
The rest of the channel here shows some basic how-to and diy tips.
Also check out our previous espresso machine review video here:
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We are Press On Coffee, THANKS FOR WATCHING!
CHEERS,
Rachel and Anthony Gerard
PRODUCT LINKS:
Propane regulator kit
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Exhaust fan (NEEDED to pull any propane fumes out of your truck/trailer):
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Starting a mobile coffee shop can be intimidating with so much info out there. We created an eBook to help you along your journey and take the guess work out of it all:
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[@sharpercoloradohomesllc7859]

I'm excited that you acually respond to people. Looking forward to learning from you. Thanks

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

Yep! Real people behind these screens seems few and far these days, doesn't it? Thanks for tagging along for the journey!

[@FracinoChileOficial]

Hello from Fracino Chile, great video !!! just the title saying Fraccino with 2 C and is only with one. best regards and thank you!!!

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@@FracinoChileOficial thank you for letting us know! I’ll correct it!

[@laszloszonyi2182]

The Aussie guy set up his solar systems in the desert where is the sun is up 25 hours a day...😊

[@sixblades]

This is one of the most useful videos on this machine! Do you know where I can find a manual or more information on programming and using it? I'm strongly considering this for my mobile cart build because of the freedom from being weighed down by batteries.

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@@sixblades thank you! Here’s the manual for this machine: www.fracino.com/downloads/manuals/user_manual.pdf

[@dariusjohn211]

Hey love the vid how is the machine treating you. I have one in my coffee trailer. Some days the pressure does not stay at 9 when the button is pressed to produce an espresso. Have you experienced anything like this. Its flickers to 5

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

It has been great! I haven’t experienced any drop in pressure. Your pressure screw might need tightened/adjusted. Do you open your steam wands all the way when you are waiting for the machine to get up to temp?

[@JoeTaucher]

The current installations instructions I have for the Fracino Contempo 2 dual fuel says I need a 37 millibar regulator for propane, which apparently they only sell in the UK. It doesn't look like you used one in this video, how did you work around this?

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@@JoeTaucher correct. I just used a regular propane regulator on my tank and it worked great.

[@JoeTaucher]

@@PressOnMobileCoffee okay thanks!

[@laszloszonyi2182]

G'day Anthony ! After one year how is your Fracino holding up? I will put the same machine in our teardrop coffee trailer too. Cheers Laszlo from Down Under

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

It’s amazing! I sold my trailer to a local buyer but the Fracino is still running strong!

[@hanklina7742]

Hi, Thanks for your video. I may have missed it, but I am wondering about your water source. Do you have a built in reservoir or do you rely on an external source? Thanks, Hank

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

Hello Hank! We have a water tank on board. Check out our latest plumbing video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5ekd4mMnpdspq8

[@hanklina7742]

@@PressOnMobileCoffee Many thanks!

[@ramtek55]

Thanks for the info on the Fracino. How do you think it's held up? What's your opinion on the machine as far as ease of use, flavor, consistency, etc? Unfortunately there aren't many 'reviews' available online (video idea maybe?).

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

You’re welcome. It’s held up great! So much steam power and very easy to use and program. It’s seems very compact for a 2 group. Customizable bespoke design options on their website as well.

[@andrewmcgaha9629]

I'm guessing this is the Con2, did you get the electronic or semi auto?

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

We went the electronic. I wanted to be able to free up my hands when in a rush. Great machine!

[@AntonellaDiSanto-s4n]

Hey, thanks for this video, was very helpfull. I have a question that maybe you are able to answer: I was programming the buttons with the left group and it was unsuccessfully. The right touchpad worked fine but as soon as one button stopped to work from the left group, it stopped in the right too. Its weird, they were working well and suddenly they stopped... have you hear about this? There is no much information about this trouble Im dealing with. One tech (without even having a look) suggested to change the buttons panels.. I dont know..

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

Hmm, I have not had this issue. I believe if you program the right side, the left side will be programmed at the same time. Have you tried programming from the right side?

[@AntonellaDiSanto-s4n]

I did, but did not work... Seems like the left group doesnt save the programming, unfortunately. And the 1st and the 2nd buttons stopped working :(@@PressOnMobileCoffee

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@@AntonellaDiSanto-s4n is the machine older? Is it still under warranty?

[@AntonellaDiSanto-s4n]

It is quite old, no under warranty@@PressOnMobileCoffee

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@@AntonellaDiSanto-s4n my first thought would be to replace the button panel as you mentioned someone suggested, but it might also be the electrical component that stores the memory of the button panel.

[@maverickcoffeeco1379]

Thanks for your video. We are almost done converting our coffee van and just about to setup the gas to connect the coffee machine. Do you have any more info on all the parts you used for the piping and connection? We were hoping to have a 'push and click' type system to connect the gas on the outside of the van.

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

Excellent! Do you have a gas/propane machine already? For our propane line, we used standard copper tubing (3/8"). I don't know if they do a "push-click" style fitting for propane. My guess is that if they do make them, they wouldn't be leak proof. Our copper line connects directly to the propane tank regulator, and runs straight to our propane/gas line from your machine. If you purchased the machine from overseas, it will most likely have a metric connection. This is the fitting we used to connect the machine line to the copper line: BSP-NPT Adapter 1/4" Male BSPT to 3/8" Female NPT Brass Pipe Fitting Euro to US Here's the copper tubing we used: www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-8-in-x-20-ft-Soft-Copper-Refrigeration-Coil-Tubing-D-06020PS/202287075

[@jaffasoft8976]

They are very expensive but the cost of lithium batteries is a big expense, i know of a guy in FB group Australia, set up a full lithium batteries and solar panels diy and says he'll save a packet on regular electricity costs. Lithium batteries don't make a return and dual fuel makes a large return so can see justify spending the money. Gas goes a long way but still need changing but could have a very big tall bottle and or two would last ages. Wandering if there is any other dual fuel group 2 programable machines around.

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

Thanks for your comment. There are many other dual fuel machines out there. Check out Magister, Wega, La Spaziale, or even Rancilio. I’ve had those 4 as well and very pleased with them. This is where I get all of my dual fuel machines from: thecoffeeguys.co.uk/product-category/dual-fuel-coffee-machines/

[@ForPropertyInvestors]

Wandering how well the Fracino holds up in peak hour, do you find i can keep up with steam & hot water if real busy? How many coffees an hr?

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@@ForPropertyInvestors it definitely keeps up. I usually have a separate hot water tap for hot water though, so I don’t take hot water from the Fracino. I’ve never kept track of how many coffees I’ve done in an hour but I have been back to back making drinks for a couple of hour straight with no issues.

[@OneIdeaTooMany]

Interesting that the coffee machine manufacturer doesn't do multi-boiler configurations and only do a single boiler heat exchanger. Bit of a lost opportunity there for them. Could have been the la Marzocco of the dual fuel espresso machine world.

[@nexderm5606]

Thx for sharing your journey!! Did you ever consider using ecoflow, or bluetti batteries that can run 120/240V and provide solar charging? Of course your solar input is to just 2-3 panels due to space limitations on top of trailer/van. Am intrigued by propane.

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

I looked into doing full battery set up but it would cost around $15k just for the battery system. Didn't want to make that leap just yet. The propane machine has been great and I just ordered 2 other propane machines for our next 2 trailers.

[@nexderm5606]

@@PressOnMobileCoffee thanks for your response. Power consumption is tricky in itself, because of fluctuations during startup vs when the boiler is maintaining a constant temp. 5kwh (100 amp h x 48 v) is about $2K each. What was your total power consumption requirement? 10kwh? 20kwh?

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@NexDerm if I ran absolutely everything I would be looking at close to 5k watts. If I wasn’t running propane I would be at 8,500 watts. My concern with batteries is how many I would actually need and the weight of them. Do you know what I would be looking at in terms of weight and how many?

[@Jonathan-pz2ks]

Hey how is that machine working ??I’m thinking of getting one is it worth it??

[@Jonathan-pz2ks]

How many propane tanks do you use per week?

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

It’s excellent machine! Keeps up with demand no problem. I use the 20lb propane tanks. My events are usually 4-6 hours and I can get 5 shifts out of a 20lb tank no problem.

[@jbl7092]

Anthony, we're you a batista somewhere before getting into the business? I have no coffee experience but would still like to start a mobile coffee business.

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

Only for about 3 months during the Christmas season at Starbucks. I don't really count that though since most everything is automatic there. I've been brewing at home on a basic espresso machine for awhile however. Once you have your hands on some good coffee beans, it really just comes down to grind size, tamping, and time. You can pick it up pretty quick I'm sure.

[@ghosttoo7467]

Where did you buy that espresso machine ( frachino)

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

It's only available overseas. I ordered it from thecoffeeguys.co.uk.

[@NazSBG]

I have the Fracino Dual Fuel Contempo on my coffee van. Had the coffee van business for two years now. The fracino is poor. Inconsistent to the max. An example from just this morning. I made a coffee and the strain time was 26 seconds. A good time for my particular coffee. Within a minute i made another coffee, this time the strain time dropped to 17 seconds. Throughout 2 hours of serving my strain times were jumping between 19 seconds and 30 seconds. My coffee grind was at the right consistency. My pressure guages were all showing to be correct. If my business was making decent money then I'd buy a new machine and definitely not a fracino. I'm stuck with the piece of shit which is made in my city of Birmingham, England!

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

Very surprised to hear that! I have to ask, is your grinder fairly new? I’m just curious if your burrs are worn out. I haven’t had any issues with Fracino.

[@NazSBG]

@Press On Mobile Coffee I have a fiorenzato Evo 64 and I've just had it serviced. I have had my grind good and yet I have such inconsistency with the strain times.

[@NazSBG]

@Press On Mobile Coffee I have also had group head rubber seals and plates replaced on the fracino as well as having a new pressure valve fitted late last year.

[@PressOnMobileCoffee]

@@NazSBG just curious, nothing inconsistent with tamping?

[@NazSBG]

@Press On Mobile Coffee hi again, I think I'm getting to the route of the issue. I do believe it is an issue with my recently serviced Fiorenzato Evo 64 grinder. I have spoken to a guy in the coffee industry who has given me some checks to do with my fracino and all is well. My baskets are the same size and not blocked. I've run water through both group heads, both with empty baskets and without baskets and water comes out fine and both heads release the same amount of water, give or take 1g. Pressure gauges are fine, and pumps are fine. So, it seems my grinder is not playing ball. I expect to make a couple of tiny adjustments to the grinder disc each morning but I'm having to make a lot more and also change the grind time on several occasions. I'm now in the process of sorting. So, my apologies for slating the fracino. I've had issues with it in the past so I assumed it was it this time. I'm two years in to running a mobile coffee van and we have taken so many kicks that I'm getting worn out with running it and both my wife and I are questioning whether to sell the business.