Marco MIX PB3 3 l Hot Water Boiler

The Marco MIX PB3 is a professional countertop hot water dispenser for cafés, restaurants, hotels and self-service points. Three programmable buttons each store their own temperature and serving volume, so one unit covers tea, pour-over and topping up americanos. The 3 l tank refills automatically from the mains water supply at 28 l/h, so the three litres are an instant reserve, not a daily working limit.

Three temperatures and three volumes, one per button

Each of the three buttons can be given its own water temperature and dispensing volume. Staff do not have to measure each serving or wait for boiling water to cool down. The temperature unit can be switched between °C and °F.

You can use the presets, for example, for green tea at 70-80°C, white tea at 80-85°C, oolong at 85-90°C and black or herbal tea at 95-100°C. Match the settings to the specific tea, the recipe and the size of the cups and pots you use.

How does the 3 l Marco MIX PB3 work?

The 3 l tank holds water ready for immediate dispensing. The unit is permanently connected to the mains water supply and refills itself as water is used, so the tank capacity does not mean a limit of three litres per shift.

An output of 28 l/h corresponds to a maximum of about 156 cups of 180 ml per hour. The actual number of servings depends on their size, the set temperature and the temperature of the water coming into the unit.

The tank is vacuum-insulated. The manufacturer states up to 70% higher energy efficiency compared with an uninsulated tank. The 2,800 W rating is the maximum draw while heating. An hour of continuous heating would use 2.8 kWh, but actual consumption depends on the number of servings dispensed and the temperature settings.

For tea, pour-over and supporting the espresso machine

• Tea: three presets let you store temperatures suited to different types of leaf, along with set serving volumes.
• V60, Chemex, Kalita and AeroPress: you can set the water to 92-96°C and dispense a consistent amount into a pour-over kettle.
• Americano: hot water is available without drawing it from the espresso machine boiler, which reduces the extra load on it. A classic lungo is made with a longer extraction, not by adding water.
• Cups and jugs: the dispenser makes it easy to warm them before preparing a drink.

The distance from the spout to the counter is 126 mm. Before buying, measure the height of your mugs, jugs and coffee servers. A taller Chemex or a dripper and server set may not fit directly under the spout. In that case, dispense the water into a kettle first. The drip tray can be removed for emptying and cleaning.

Water and electrical connection

The Marco MIX PB3 needs a permanent 3/4″ BSP water connection no more than 1.5 m from the unit. The permitted supply pressure is 5-50 psi, which is 35-345 kPa. BRITA or equivalent filtration is a condition of the warranty, and it also limits scale build-up and helps keep the taste of drinks consistent.

The unit runs on 230 V, 1N~, 50 Hz and draws up to 12.15 A. It needs an earthed single-phase socket on a circuit protected at 16 A. The ambient temperature during operation should be within 5-35°C.

The housing combines stainless steel with black panels. The unit measures 210 x 421 x 435 mm and weighs 11 kg. According to the manufacturer, 95% of the materials used are recycled or recyclable.

Marco MIX PB3, MIX3 and PB8: what do the names mean?

In retail listings this boiler also appears as the Marco MIX3, Mix 3 or Mix PB 3. All of these names refer to the unit with manufacturer code 1000870, but the official model name is Marco MIX PB3. The 3 stands for the 3 l tank capacity, not the number of buttons. The larger MIX PB8 also has three programmable buttons, but an 8 l tank.

PB stands for Push Button: the countertop version with the buttons on the housing. In the UC (Under Counter) version the tank is installed under the counter, and the dispensing tower and drip tray are separate items.

Manufacturer: Marco Beverage Systems, Ireland. Distributor in Poland: Coffema. Manufacturer code: 1000870. Price: 6,399 zł gross.