picking a coffee machine for the office.. help

Posted 6th Mar 2023

hi all, not sure where to ask but we are renovating our office, everyone has asked for a coffee machine. i was looking at various machines, the bean to cup look good but im not sure who is going to keep the up keep of it, so perhaps the pod system is better.
its a small office, no more than 30 people and they wont all be drinking coffee.

would the home machines be ok. i do need a water tank thats on the side, the top kitchen units are low at 47cm so a water tank that is at the back and lifts out will be a pain to keep pulling it out to change.

this is the one i thought looks pretty good and there is a deal on with the pods, plus also a separate milk frother.

vertuo plus

10 Comments

sorted by

r_danon0
6th Mar
r_danon0
6th Mar
joking aside, a nespresso would be more convenient, chuck in a pod - get coffee. pods can be a bit pricey but have the benefit that you can keep your own stash at work and not have to worry about there not being any pods left when you want a coffee.
darlodge
6th Mar
Before you buy one factor in the total cost, having seen first hand the total cost of a lot of machines in terms of cost, maintenance, supplies it's shockingly high and a lot of employees take the p**s.

Can the costs be written off and operating costs?
oli_1_uk
7th Mar
I agree check your total costs, you'll have the cost of the machine plus a maintenance contract as well. A bean to cup machine sounds the best, just remember that staff won't look after it (see you kitchen microwave for example).
tardytortoise
7th Mar
Some local companies will provide an appropriate machine FOC. All you need to do is enter into a contract to purchase coffee from them. Care and maintence is thrown in - expect a weekly visit. The very, very sophisticated ones are plumbed into mains water. Worth every penny.
bob-mk2
7th Mar
I agree with your conclusions: a pod machine is the simplest option:

easy to use
easy to clean
cheap to buy a replacement if it breaks, or if only one machine is too slow
the separate frother is good as not everyone wants to wait for fancy milk, so throughput is quicker

I wouldn't get a Vertuo though - get a standard Nespresso capsule one and you can use all the cheaper knock-off capsules from Aldi/Lidl/Morrisons/Waitrose, which taste as good.
TristanDeCoonha
6th Mar
If they want coffee with all the various milk options then send them to the nearest coffee hut.
Get a basic bean to cup, with milk from the jug, because absolutely nobody will clean that milk frother. Or get the £1 Ikea whisk frother.
It is an office of grown adults. If they can't look at the water reservoir to decide if there is enough, then should you be working with them?
Or just say to heck with it, and find a company that will install a Levazza (example) automated machine as found in petrol stations. But then someone still has to add the milk.
Will it be paid by subs or by the company? That will decide the quality of the beans.
And then who collects the money? (edited)
Simon_E
7th Mar
My father's work have used a Melitta solo Bean to Cup coffee machine with a similar staff count office for over 5 years without issue. That has a side water tank. The maintenance has only been occasional cleaning and new water filters
MicroManaged
7th Mar
My work has one too.

I now also have one! There is a nominated person in my office who is responsible for cleaning etc.
bozo007
7th Mar
Is everyone clear on who will pay for it, who will maintain it, who will get it repaired, etc.?