Why We Chose the Slayer Single Group for Our Coffee Cart
When we started building our mobile coffee cart, one of the biggest decisions we faced was choosing the right espresso machine. We wanted something reliable, visually stunning, and capable of producing exceptional espresso shot after shot. Like many small coffee businesses, we began by considering the classics: the La Marzocco Linea Mini, the GS3, and a few other solid contenders.
But everything shifted when we came across a Slayer Single Group listed for sale on a coffee forum. That find kicked off a deep dive into Slayer as a company — and it didn’t take long before we realized that this was the machine we wanted to build our service around.
Jason and Blake pulling a shot of espresso on the Slayer.
Why Slayer Stood Out
Slayer has a reputation for designing machines by espresso enthusiasts, for espresso enthusiasts. Their focus has always been on full control, craft, and capability — not shortcuts. Here’s why the Slayer Single Group quickly became our top choice:
1. Built in the USA with Seattle Craftsmanship
Slayer machines are assembled in Seattle using locally sourced materials. The build quality is exceptional, and the company’s focus on craft aligns with the values we hold as a coffee business.
2. Manual Control with the Right Amount of Technology
The Slayer is fully manual in the best possible way. The paddle control gives you complete control over extraction, while programmable volumetric options make consistency easy during high-volume service.
Key features we love:
Slayer Shot preinfusion for vibrant, juicy, expressive espresso
Manual paddle for complete control
Consistent programmable settings for service reliability
Clear, sweet flavor profiles that feel “Slayer-specific”
This balance of craft + reliability is exactly what we needed.
3. The Best Steam Quality We’ve Ever Used
One of the biggest surprises was the steam quality. The Slayer produces some of the best milk texture we’ve ever seen across any machine — silky, glossy, and extremely forgiving.
Even better, the Slayer features an adjustable steam pressure lever instead of a button. This means we can manually control how much steam pressure we’re using, which is perfect for switching between a cortado (where we want lower pressure and more control) and a latte (where we want full steam power).
For a mobile setup, this level of control is a huge advantage.
4. Serviceability and Ease of Maintenance
Working on the Slayer is intuitive. Accessing internals is straightforward, and regular maintenance fits easily into our workflow. When you’re operating in a mobile environment, reliability and serviceability matter just as much as espresso quality.
5. It’s Flat-Out Beautiful
There’s no hiding it: part of the decision was aesthetics. The Slayer Single Group looks incredible on a coffee cart. It instantly elevates our bar setup and creates a premium experience before we even pull a shot.
The Cons (Because No Machine Is Perfect)
1. It’s extremely heavy
Moving it requires planning and muscle. This is not a machine you casually shuffle around.
2. Longer warm-up time
It takes a bit to reach operating temperature. Not a dealbreaker, but something we need to plan for at events.
3. No cool-touch steam wand
Not a major issue, but on a small, fast-paced cart setup, a cool-touch wand would make workflow a little friendlier.
Blake moving the Slayer to our shop on a tool cart.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the Slayer Single Group was more than a gear decision — it was a direction-setting decision for Patience Coffee’s espresso experience. We looked at some incredible machines, but the Slayer offered the perfect blend of craft, control, reliability, flavor clarity, and beauty.
It’s a machine made with intention and built for people who genuinely love espresso.
And that’s exactly why it ended up on our cart.