Commercial Coffee Machine ROI: The Hidden Cost of Takeaway Coffee

Coffee is the most consumed hot drink in the UK… but can we afford to keep paying up to £5 for a takeaway coffee? The British Coffee Association reports that 80% of people visit a coffee shop at least once a week, with 16% stating that they visit daily (that’s a whopping £25 on coffee every working week).

Installing a commercial coffee machine can save you and your team money. Think of it as workplace coffee machine ROI. With smart office coffee technology developing it is now super easy to supply your office barista styled drinks at the touch of a button (and a fraction of the price). Not only do bean-to-cup coffee machines provide delicious tasting coffee, but they also boost workplace productivity, creates a social environment for colleagues to have a coffee chat, and contributes to a healthy workplace culture.

Why is takeaway coffee so expensive? Quite simply because everything else is so expensive. Those quirky little coffee shops that whip up your £5 vanilla matcha latte are also facing electricity bills increasing, costs of employee labour, rent, ingredients… everything is increasing so it’s only natural for the coffee prices to skyrocket with it. Experts say if you give up fancy coffees you could save up to £2k a year, of course depending on how often you drink takeaway coffee.

At Connect Vending, we know daily coffee rituals are important and can turn the simple act of drinking coffee into a mindful, sensory practice. We’re not saying you need to give up quality coffee completely and drink instant coffee… not when table top coffee machines can give you that caramel latte fix that you’re so used to (without the price tag). More offices are opting for office coffee machines to provide in-house coffee for employees, and they’re seeing plenty of office coffee machine benefits from doing this. Not only does coffee reduce fatigue and boosts productivity, but it also breaks down the barrier between work and play by creating a better company culture that strengthens workplace relationships.

Which brings us to the big question… how much does a commercial coffee machine cost? It all depends on the size of your workplace and your needs. You’ll want to establish some requirements with your team, but at Connect Vending we have a machine for everyone. We can create bespoke recipe calibrations, recommend the best machine for your needs, and even maintain the machines for you. Depending on your coffee solution, you could be paying as little as 21p per cup of coffee… much cheaper and quicker than that team lunch run to the Starbucks across the city.

Capacity and speed: Choose machines that can handle your team’s coffee consumption during peak times.

Variety of drinks: Modern office coffee machines should offer more than just basic black coffee. Seek machines that can create your staff’s favourite drinks and specialty drinks to satisfy diverse taste preferences and replicate the coffee shop experience.

Touchless operation and hygiene features: Post-pandemic workplace considerations make contactless operation essential. Look for machines with app controls, sensor-activated dispensing, and easy-to-clean surfaces that maintain high hygiene standards.

Support and maintenance: Ensure your chosen provider offers comprehensive maintenance packages, quick response times for repairs, and regular cleaning services to keep your machine running smoothly and hygienically.

If the cost savings and productivity boosts isn’t enough to convince you then let’s talk about sustainable office coffee solutions. Office coffee machines can support your workplace sustainability goals by removing the need of single-use takeaway cups and instead giving you a reason to use those mugs that are taking up space in the kitchen cupboards. Not only does it reduce waste, but commercial coffee machines also reduce your carbon footprint by keeping employees in the office during lunch breaks rather than driving to the local café.

The math is simple: at £25 per week for takeaway coffee versus 21p per cup from an office machine, the cost savings are immediate and substantial. But the benefits extend beyond finances – office coffee machines boost productivity, strengthen workplace culture, and support sustainability goals by eliminating single-use cups and unnecessary travel.