Answered: The Top 10 Coffee Machine FAQs.

The cost of an office coffee machine can range anywhere from £2,000-£12,000+. Depending on the specific requirements of a business, such as machine functionality, number of staff on site, and the type of coffee being brewed, the price of an office coffee machine can vary greatly.

For example, basic office coffee machines may start at around the £2,000 mark, while more complex machines with extra features like fresh milk fridges, syrup stations and dual bean hoppers, may set organisations back a substantial amount more.

Additionally, large businesses with many employees may need to purchase multiple office coffee machines to accommodate the needs of all their workers. This isn’t just because more staff will drink more coffee, but for sites that have sprawling complexes, machines need to be available across the premises so staff don’t have to walk far to get their drinks.

The amount of counter space that an office coffee machine needs depends on the type of machine you require. For most small to medium size office settings, a compact tabletop model is sufficient.

However, if you need to brew large amounts of coffee because your workspace is extremely busy, you may need to invest in a larger floor standing option. Depending on the size of the space, these machines can be installed in corners or narrow areas that aren’t being utilised, or are otherwise unsuitable for the business to use.

Additionally, if you specifically want or need a tabletop machine, but are lacking worktop space in your office kitchen or breakout areas and can’t justify a floor standing unit, you can often buy a bespoke base cabinet for a tabletop to sit on, effectively extending your worktop space.

When it comes to choosing a commercial coffee machine, space considerations are often overlooked, which can cause serious problems down the line when it comes to installation!

When it comes to choosing the right type of coffee beans for your office coffee machine, there are several factors to consider. Most commercial coffee machines offer either fresh beans or instant coffee as standard, so it’s important to check which type of machine you have before making your purchase – you won’t want coffee beans if your machine doesn’t take them!

At Connect we offer a range of different beans to fit your flavour profile and your budget, all of which have been specially formulated to be ground and dispensed by coffee vending machines. It’s crucial that you check any coffee beans you’re buying are suitable for automatic machines, as most coffee beans will not be ground, compacted and brewed well by automatic machines.

Additionally, some machines offer a wider variety of options such as fresh-brew tea. It’s also important to consider the brand and flavour of tea you’d like to be serving from your machine, as well as considering the other consumables for the machine, such as milk and chocolate, as these can all impact the quality of drinks produced.

Overall, it’s best to select a high-quality brand of coffee beans that will ensure a great tasting cup of coffee. If you’re looking for convenience, then opt for pre-ground beans or instant coffee. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a unique and flavourful brew, you may want to invest in whole coffee beans.

Regardless of what type of beans you choose, make sure they are stored properly and kept fresh for the best results.

It is essential to clean your office coffee machine regularly to maintain good hygiene levels and avoid any potential risks to health. Regular cleaning also helps keep the machine running smoothly, so that it can make great-tasting coffee every time.

In an office setting, it is recommended to clean the coffee machine thoroughly at least once a week – if you are contracted with a vending supplier for a fully managed service, your machine will likely get a clean each time they visit to replenish. If you’ve opted to clean your machine out yourself, you’ll need to purchase cleaning solution and any other equipment, and ensure that someone is running the machine through a cleaning cycle regularly.

This cleaning process helps cycle any lingering coffee, milk or water from the system’s pipes and internal components and will eliminate any bacteria and minimise the risk of consumers becoming ill.

Franke Coffee Systems and other manufacturers have also developed self-clean systems that can help keep your machine in top condition and reduce the amount of manual cleaning required. However, regular maintenance and cleaning is still necessary for optimal performance.

We would always recommend organisations opt for a fully managed service with their office coffee machines, as vending companies have decades of experience managing your exact machine and will be able to provide a consistently high quality service across frequent site visits.

Making great-tasting coffee from an office coffee machine requires more than simply selecting your favourite beans and hitting the start button. For the perfect cup, you need to make sure your commercial coffee machine is correctly calibrated, that you’re using high quality coffee beans, and that all consumables like water, sugar, and milk are of good quality. It’s also important to make sure that the machine doses are correct so that the right amount of espresso or instant coffee and milk are dispensed.

Fortunately, there is a single easiest way of making great quality coffee – let the experts set it up for you! Experienced commercial coffee machine specialists can help you get the most out of your machine by calibrating and programming it to perfectly match your needs. With their help, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious cups of coffee in no time.

Automatic coffee machines that you typically find in office environments will have the temperature and pressure set through the machine settings, and you won’t usually be able to monitor these yourself without an engineer being present.

Manual coffee machines like those used in coffee shops by baristas have pressure and temperature monitors, but this is all taken care of internally with office machines. This is by design, as the machines are calibrated on install and will only usually need to be altered if there’s a noticeable decline in coffee quality or the machine has had parts replaced due to a fault.

If you do have concerns about the pressure and temperature of the water being used in the brewing process, your best bet is to contact your vending operator to discuss – if there’s a likely issue they can support you with an engineer who will be able to check the machine’s ‘core vitals’ and take any remedial action.

The main difference between an automatic and manual office coffee machine is that an automatic machine requires little to no user intervention. It uses an automated system to grind the beans, heat the water, and brew the coffee. This makes it ideal for offices since it eliminates any need for staff training to operate the equipment.

On the other hand, manual coffee machines are typically operated by a trained barista or experienced coffee-maker without using a machine interface. This can be time consuming and difficult for inexperienced users to operate, making it inappropriate for workplace settings and also means that there’s a need for trained operators to get coffee made.

Ultimately, when it comes to office coffee machines, automatic coffee machines are the way to go for convenience and affordability. They require minimal staff input and upkeep and can easily be maintained without costly staff training. In contrast, manual coffee machines are often more expensive and require more involvement from staff.

There are many different features to consider when it comes to office coffee machines, and the right setup for your organisation will depend on what your aims are for the final product. For example, you may have huge numbers wanting coffee but they don’t necessarily value a premium product, which will lead you down a very different route when selecting a good machine to match these requirements.

Some of the most important things to consider when it comes to office coffee machine features, include:

• Machine capacity: How many drinks can be dispensed per day, and how much coffee ground waste can be stored before needing to be emptied. If you’re buying the machine on a DIY basis, it’s also crucial to know the capacity of the bean hoppers and canisters for consumables as you’ll be responsible for ordering new stock and topping up ingredients when they are running low
• Ease of use: Most office coffee machines are very straightforward to use, but it’s always worth seeing whether a touchscreen or physical button option would be better for your particular business, and how easy the end-to-end process would be for your consumers to work through.
• Extras: If you’re looking for something premium, you may want to opt for a dual-bean or even dual-milk machine, with the ability to add syrups to customise drinks. If you’re looking for something small or you’re operating within a tight budget, you might be better having an instant machine with a more limited drink range.

As we’ve previously mentioned, having a clear understanding of how the machine is cleaned (and whether there’s any self-clean capability) is important, especially if you’re looking to take the machine maintenance and management on yourself.

Finding the right office coffee machine to fit your budget can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are experienced vending operators like Connect Vending who can help guide you through the process and find the perfect commercial coffee machine for your office. With decades of experience in the vending industry, Connect Vending is well-equipped to help businesses of all sizes find the ideal office coffee machine that meets their needs and budget.

Connect Vending will help you find the perfect commercial coffee machine at a price that suits your budget. We can also offer advice on selecting coffee beans and other consumables that will ensure you get the best-tasting coffee from your office coffee machine, should you need this guidance.

We have an extensive range of solutions from the industry’s leading machine manufacturers, covering the smallest budgets to the highest budgets. We can also help you select the best financing approach for your particular situation, whether that’s a lease or an upfront purchase.

This is a critical consideration, for obvious reasons. Depending on the type of machine you are looking for, you may have two options: a water tank or a plumbed in connection.

A water tank is great if your office has limited access to plumbing. The water tanks are easy to fill and can be used with most coffee vending machines. However, they do need to be refilled regularly and this puts extra pressure on your team internally to be on hand to support.

If you have access to a plumbed in water supply, then you can opt for a machine that has this type of connection. Plumbed-in connections are more convenient as they do not require refilling and will allow for larger amounts of coffee to be made without any manual replenishment. This is also helpful for machine cleaning, with the water supply being used to flush the piping and any components without draining a water tank.

You’re in the right place to get the ball rolling! Our team of sales consultants are on hand to support you from day one, and will be able to craft a bespoke solution that solves your problems and delights your team with great quality coffee.

Getting in touch is straightforward – give us a call on 01865 341011 or get in touch through our contact page. We’d love to hear from you.