The Commercial Coffee Machine Guide.

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What are Commercial Coffee Machines?

Commercial coffee machines are a professional grade coffee machine designed to withstand the demand of workplace coffee needs. Unlike domestic coffee makers, coffee machines for the office are built for durability, speed and delivery consistently high quality drinks under pressure. These coffee machines for office use range from fully automated bean to cup coffee machines that grind fresh, premium coffee beans at the touch of a button to floor standing coffee machines that can even serve soup.

Why Invest in a Commercial Coffee Machine?

Providing quality coffee at work is no longer just an office perk, it has become an essential tool in boosting workplace morale.

Keep Employees Onsite
Businesses without an office coffee machine experience their employees leaving the site to get coffee for 20-30 minutes daily, which costs £2,500-£4,000 per employee in lost productivity. Keep employees onsite and productivity high with a commercial coffee machine
Boost Employee Satisfaction
76% of UK employees report that they feel more valued by their employer when they have access to high quality coffee at work
Increase Workplace Productivity
Coffee breaks at work foster informal collaboration, networking and develop team relationships

What Types of Commercial Coffee Machines Are Available?

Bean to cup Coffee Machines

Bean to cup coffee machines are fully automatic coffee systems that grind fresh coffee beans before brewing to provide a coffee shop experience at the touch of a button. These business coffee machines are popular for medium to large UK offices who are seeking a premium, barista experience without the associated labour costs.

Modern bean to cup coffee machines come equipped with cutting edge technology such as self cleaning capabilities, touch screen interfaces and automatic milk frothers. Since the UK has become a coffee nation in recent years, being able to provide a wide range of options from the office coffee machine is essential. With a bean to cup coffee machine, your employees can access a broad range of drinks from cosy cappuccinos to amazing americanos and with some machines coming equipped with dual bean hoppers your employees can also enjoy caffeinated or decaffeinated options.

Floorstanding Coffee Machines

Floorstanding coffee machines are large capacity coffee vending solutions which are designed for high traffic environments, or locations where there is limited counter top space. Unlike other coffee vending machines these robust hot drink machines, like the Crane Coti, sit directly on the floor with built in stands, eliminating the need for valuable counter top space while still providing the industrial grade performance that busy workplaces need.

The key advantage of floor-standing models is their ability to handle sustained high-volume use without compromising coffee quality or requiring constant attention. With water tanks holding 5-10 litres (compared to 2-3 litres in countertop models) and bean hoppers storing 1-3kg of coffee beans (versus 250-500g), these machines can serve hundreds of employees throughout the day with minimal refilling.

branded illy coti lifestyle

Tabletop Coffee Machines

Tabletop coffee machines, also known as countertop coffee machines, are compact commercial coffee vending machines designed to sit on top of an existing kitchen countertop. These space saving office coffee machines have become increasingly more popular due to their compact built and ability to brew barista quality hot drinks, making them perfect for smaller workspaces.

The primary advantage of a tabletop business coffee machine is their flexibility and minimal installation requirements. Countertop coffee machines can be placed wherever there’s adequate counter space (typically 1-1.5 meters including preparation area), a standard electrical outlet, and reasonable access to water for refilling. This makes them ideal for businesses in rented offices, co-working spaces, or any environment where permanent installations aren’t practical or permitted by the landlord.

Franke A300 for a social and happy office and catering space with coffee machine management
Who Needs a Commercial Coffee Machine?

All business from small to large all rely on coffee to make the world go round and keep their employees energised throughout their shifts.

Connect Vending Recommends:

Small Businesses (5-30 employees)

  • illy coffee pod machines for ultimate simplicity
  • Compact bean to cup coffee machines with powdered milk for better long term value
  • Commercial coffee machines for lease to minimise upfront costs

Medium Sized Offices (30-100 employees)

  • Commercial bean to cup coffee machines (150-300 cup capacity a day)
  • Service contract with our guaranteed response time
  • Purchase or lease coffee machine for office use depending on cashflow
  • Plumbed in systems to reduce admin

Large Workforces (100-500+ employees)

  • High capacity bean to cup coffee machines (300+ cups capacity a day)
  • Floorstanding coffee machine to reduce restocking time
  • Multiple coffee vending machines distributed across different floors/buildings to reduce congestion
  • Fully managed maintenance plans

Where Should You Install a Commercial Coffee Machine?

Location matters. Placing your commercial coffee machine in the right spot maximises usage, minimises queues and helps foster a positive breakroom experience.

Main Break Room/ Office Kitchen
The most common location for a business coffee machine is in the main break room or the office kitchen. This location is ideal for a centralised coffee service because of the proximity to main water supplys and storage for premium coffee beans and milk.
Office Reception Area
Greeting your clients or visitors with premium coffee leaves an impression.
Floor by Floor (for large offices)
Multiple smaller machines beat one large machine in offices over 100 people. Reduces queues and travel time across floors.
Multi-Site Considerations
Businesses with multiple locations need consistent machine types, beans, and service across sites for unified employee experience.

How Connect Vending Can Support Your Coffee Needs

DIY & Wholesale Support

  • Wide range of coffee beans
  • Training provided by our expert team of operators
  • Next day delivery available for milk, coffee and kitchen consumable orders

Professional Installation & Service

  • Free site survey
  • 4 hour break down response time
  • Regular filter changes

Fully Managed Vending Solutions

  • Restocking schedule tailored to suit your sites needs
  • Fresh milk machines cleaned daily

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Buy or Lease a Commercial Coffee Machine?

Buy a commercial coffee machine if you have the capital and plan to keep it for 3+ years. If you want predictable monthly costs and the flexibility to upgrade your office coffee machine then a commercial coffee machine lease is a better option for you.

How Often do Commercial Coffee Machines Need Servicing?

It is recommended that you get your commercial coffee machine serviced every 6 months. Our service contracts include all scheduled maintenance and we strive for a 4 working hour response times for breakdowns.

How Do I Choose The Right Capacity?

Assess your sites daily cup count and the number of employees you have on site. Connect Vending's sales team are on hand to help you with this calculation.

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