Hot Water for Cafes, Salons and Small Commercial Sites: What to Buy
A commercial instant hot water system for a small site is sized by outlets running at once, not by floor area or headcount.
The best commercial instant hot water system for most small cafes and salons with 3 phase power is a 28 kW Stiebel Eltron: the DHE 27 ($1,545) for a cafe that needs sink water up to 60°C, or the DEL 27 Plus ($1,399) for a salon, because it caps itself at 50°C. Once three or more outlets run hot at the same time, go gas: a Midea M26 continuous flow at $849 moves 26 litres a minute.
That is the short version. The rest of this page is how to tell which one your site is, because the wrong guess shows up at 8am on a Saturday with a queue out the door.
Want your exact size? Our instant hot water sizing calculator works out the kW or litres a minute you need in winter, checks single or 3-phase power, then shows the units that fit.
Our picks for cafes, salons and small commercial sites
The Stiebel Eltron DHE 27 is the best electric pick for cafes, the DEL 27 Plus for salons, and the Midea M26 gas unit for any site running three or more hot outlets together.
| Site | Pick | Supply | Output | Max temp | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small cafe, 3 phase, no gas | Stiebel Eltron DHE 27 | 3 phase electric | 28 kW | 60°C | $1,545 |
| Salon, 1 to 2 basins at once | Stiebel Eltron DEL 27 Plus | 3 phase electric | 28 kW | 50°C | $1,399 |
| Busy cafe or salon, gas on site | Midea M26, 70°C preset | Natural gas or LPG | 26 L/min at 25°C rise | 70°C (temper hygiene outlets) | $849 |
| Gas site, indoor install only | Midea M26 internal | Natural gas, flued | 26 L/min | See product page | $1,569 |
| Hand basin only, single phase | Stiebel Eltron DHC-E 8/60 | Single phase electric | 9.5 kW | 60°C | $915 |
| Tea point or staffroom | Stiebel Eltron HOT 2.6 N | 230V plug in | 2.6 L boiler | 95°C | $999 |
Prices current as of November 2026, AUD including GST, unit only. Installation not included. The DHC-E 8/60 has very limited stock; contact us before you plan around it.
How to size hot water for a small commercial site
Size a small commercial hot water system by adding up the flow of every hot outlet that runs at the same moment, at the temperature each one needs, in winter.
Not every tap in the building. The ones running together at the worst moment. In a cafe that is usually the hand basin plus the sink being filled while someone rinses. In a salon it is the number of backwash basins in use during the Saturday rush.
As a working figure for a Sydney winter, each litre a minute of water costs about 1.9 kW at 40°C, about 2.6 kW at 50°C and about 3.3 kW at 60°C. Colder cities need more. That is why a 28 kW unit gives roughly 13 to 17 litres a minute of warm water, but only about 8 or 9 litres a minute at 60°C for filling sinks.
| Outlet | Typical temperature | Rule of thumb flow |
|---|---|---|
| Hand basin | Warm, up to 50°C | About 3 to 5 L/min |
| Salon backwash basin spray | 38 to 40°C | About 6 to 9 L/min, check the fitting |
| Kitchen sink fill | 50 to 60°C | About 8 to 12 L/min |
| Staff shower | 40°C | About 7 to 9 L/min |
Rules of thumb only. Your fittings' rated flows decide the real numbers.
Best for a small cafe: Stiebel Eltron DHE 27
The Stiebel Eltron DHE 27 is the best electric commercial instant hot water system for a small cafe because it delivers 28 kW, sets to the degree from 20 to 60°C and needs no flue, safe tray or ventilation.
That 60°C ceiling matters in a kitchen. Sink water for washing up wants to be hotter than shower water, and a 50°C capped unit leaves you short. The DHE 27 fills a sink at around 8 to 9 litres a minute at 60°C in a Sydney winter, and covers a hand basin and a rinse comfortably at lower settings. It carries a 7 year manufacturer warranty and is made in Germany.
The catch is power. 28 kW means a big 3 phase circuit, and in an older shopfront the board may not have it. Get a licensed electrician to check the supply before you order. Our explainer on single phase vs 3 phase instant hot water covers what to look for.
Where the hand basin delivers water for personal hygiene, your plumber must make sure that outlet stays within the temperature limit, usually 50°C, with a tempering valve or a separate capped supply.
View the Stiebel Eltron DHE 27 →
Best for a hair salon: Stiebel Eltron DEL 27 Plus
The Stiebel Eltron DEL 27 Plus is the best electric hot water system for a salon running one or two backwash basins at once, at $1,399 for 28 kW with output capped at 50°C.
Salons wash hair at around 38 to 40°C, and the DEL 27 Plus adjusts in 0.5°C steps, holds that temperature as flow changes, and cannot exceed 50°C, so no tempering valve is needed. Two basins at about 7 litres a minute each is roughly 27 kW in a Sydney winter. That is the DEL 27 Plus working hard but within itself. In Melbourne, Canberra or Hobart, two basins at once tips past 28 kW and the water goes lukewarm when the second client sits down.
Three basins or more, or a cold city: go gas.
View the Stiebel Eltron DEL 27 Plus →
Best for busy sites with gas: Midea M26 continuous flow
The Midea M26 is the best commercial continuous flow gas unit for small sites in our range, delivering 26 litres a minute at a 25°C temperature rise for $849, which beats any single electric instant unit on capacity.
Twenty six litres a minute covers three salon basins together, or a cafe's sinks plus hand basins plus a staff shower, in most Australian winters. Like every continuous flow unit, the litres a minute figure drops as you ask for a bigger temperature rise, so expect less at 60°C.
Which M26 to buy:
- M26 70°C preset ($849): for cafes that want hot sink water. Hygiene outlets must be tempered down to the limit by your plumber.
- M26 50°C preset ($849): for salons and sites where every outlet is a basin or shower.
- M26 internal ($1,569): for an arcade or indoor tenancy where nothing can go on an outside wall. Needs a flue.
Smaller site with gas? The Midea M20 ($749) gives 20 litres a minute. Gas units must be installed by a licensed gas fitter. For a straight comparison of the two fuels, see electric vs gas instantaneous hot water.
Hand basin only: Stiebel Eltron DHC-E 8/60
For a site that only needs warm water at a hand basin, such as a takeaway counter, a barber or an office kitchenette, a single phase Stiebel Eltron DHC-E 8/60 at $915 is enough.
It is 9.5 kW on a 240V circuit and sits under the basin, so hot water arrives in seconds instead of after a long run from a distant tank. It gives about 5 litres a minute of 40°C water in a Sydney winter. Plenty for hand washing. Useless for a salon basin or filling a sink quickly, so do not stretch it.
Boiling water for the tea point: Stiebel Eltron HOT 2.6 N
The Stiebel Eltron HOT 2.6 N is an under sink boiling water unit that delivers water up to 95°C from a 2.6 litre tank through its own tap, for $999.
It plugs into a 230V power point, has a programmable timer to cut standby energy and a push and turn childproof tap. Good for a salon's coffee station, a staffroom or a cafe prep area that keeps boiling the kettle. It is not a substitute for the main hot water system.
View the Stiebel Eltron HOT 2.6 N →
Dishwashers and glasswashers
Most commercial dishwashers and glasswashers heat their own wash and rinse water internally, so they usually do not need to be counted in the hot water system's peak load.
Check the machine's installation manual. Some models want a hot feed to recover faster, some want cold only. If the manual asks for a hot feed, add its fill rate to the outlets running together and size for it.
Electric or gas for a small commercial site
Electric instant suits small commercial sites with 3 phase power, no gas connection and no more than two hot outlets at once, and gas continuous flow suits anything busier.
Electric wins on simplicity: no flue, no gas fitter, no gas bill, a unit the size of a shoebox on the wall. Gas wins on capacity per dollar. Running cost depends on your tariffs, so compare your actual electricity and gas rates rather than taking anyone's word for it. Our gas continuous flow price guide covers the install side.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best commercial instant hot water system for a cafe in Australia?
The best commercial instant hot water system for a small cafe in Australia with 3 phase power and no gas is the Stiebel Eltron DHE 27 at $1,545, a 28 kW unit adjustable up to 60°C for sink water. Busier cafes with gas are better served by a Midea M26 continuous flow unit at $849, which delivers 26 litres a minute (prices as of November 2026).
Can a hair salon run on electric instant hot water?
A hair salon can run on electric instant hot water if it has 3 phase power and uses no more than about two backwash basins at once, in which case a 28 kW Stiebel Eltron DEL 27 Plus capped at 50°C suits. Salons with three or more basins in use together, or in cold cities, usually need gas continuous flow.
What size hot water system does a hair salon need?
A hair salon needs a hot water system sized for the number of backwash basins running at once, at roughly 6 to 9 litres a minute each at around 40°C. Two basins need about 27 kW of electric instant capacity in a Sydney winter, while three or more basins suit a 26 litre a minute gas continuous flow unit.
Do commercial dishwashers need a hot water supply?
Most commercial dishwashers and glasswashers heat their own water internally and can run from a cold feed, but some models specify a hot feed for faster recovery. Check the machine's installation manual and include its fill rate in the hot water sizing only if it asks for a hot supply.
Is gas or electric hot water better for a small business?
Electric instant hot water is better for a small business with 3 phase power, no gas connection and one or two hot outlets in use at once, while gas continuous flow is better where several outlets run together. Running cost depends on the site's electricity and gas tariffs, so compare actual rates before deciding.
Tell us your outlets and we will size it
Send us your city, whether you have 3 phase power or gas, and a list of every hot outlet: basins, sinks, showers and any machines that want a hot feed. We will tell you which unit fits, or tell you straight if one unit will not do it.
Get your commercial hot water sized →
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This guide is general information for Australian small businesses and is not a substitute for advice on your specific site. Electric instantaneous water heaters must be installed by a licensed electrician and plumber, on a dedicated circuit sized to the unit. 3-phase units need a 3-phase power supply. Gas continuous flow units must be installed by a licensed gas fitter, and 70°C preset models need tempering to personal hygiene outlets. Temperature limits and food business requirements vary by setting and state, so confirm them with your plumber and local council. Confirm final sizing with us or your installer before you buy.