Ciao is a commercial bean to cup range built for venues that want espresso-based drinks without putting a barista behind the counter. Every model grinds to order and builds the drink to a stored recipe, so the cup is the same whoever presses the button, and most of the range is housed in cabinets around 60cm wide — narrower than many under-counter fridges, which is usually what makes them fit.
The range steps up in a straightforward way. The VS1 opens it, scaled for low to medium volumes: a shop counter, a reception desk, a waiting area. The VX1 adds the MIA fresh milk system for lattes and flat whites that hold their texture, and the VX1 Milk package arrives configured with its fridge. The VX3 Duo and VS5 carry more capacity for sites with a genuine rush, while the Prima and Primo X let you specify one hopper or two — the second usually for decaf or a darker roast — and either fresh milk or ingredient canisters. The Primo X will also pour two drinks at once, which is what stops a compact machine feeling slow at eleven o’clock. Before choosing between them, work out the cups per day you actually serve.
Several models are also sold as a Coffee to Go station: the same machine built into a serving cabinet with worktop, cup storage and waste bin, which is the quickest route to a finished self-serve coffee point.
Whichever you pick, budget for the daily routine — a fixed cleaning schedule is what keeps a fresh milk machine tasting right rather than merely running. House beans, decaf sachets and matched glassware sit in Ciao Essentials.