A commercial office coffee machine will typically cost a business somewhere between £40 and £200 a month, or a one-off payment of between £2,000 and £10,000 to buy outright. Premium machines sit above that.
Those numbers might sound surprising if you have just started looking into how much commercial coffee equipment can cost. So, to shed light on the numbers, this article quickly covers how much you might want to spend on your office coffee machine, what different budgets get you, and how to get the most out of your setup.
You Probably Won't Pay for It All at Once
Most businesses lease their coffee machine rather than buying it outright, spreading the cost over a three or five-year agreement. Over the full term you will typically pay around 20% more than the purchase price, in return for keeping cash in the business and the leasing company takes on the financial risk.
Most offices that we work with and supply machines to choose to lease their machine in order to avoid that large upfront cost. It's a wise choice for businesses that are looking to use a machine for somewhere between 5 and 10 years, that are going to look after it.
Can You Get Away With a Consumer-Grade Machine?
Yes, if your office is small. With up to around ten people, a consumer machine can do the job. Home espresso machines from brands such as Sage start at around £500, with more robust prosumer models closer to £1,500 to £2,250.
They aren't rated for heavy use, but if they're looked after they can be fine, especially sturdier, heavy-duty espresso machines. You can also get bean-to-cup machines at this level. Expect them to be fairly slow and loud, to need regular cleaning, and to wear out faster if you push them to their limits, because they're designed mainly for the home.
Brand names to look out for in this consumer-grade category are Delonghi, Sage (Breville), Melita, Jura, Gaggia, amongst many others.
For offices with more than ten people, we would recommend a commercial-grade machine. At that point you are likely making 20 or more drinks a day - a level of service that requires robust parts that are built to last.
Budget Options for Commercial Coffee Machines
Expect to pay around £40 to £120 a month on a lease, or £2,000 to £6,000 to buy.
Axis
Our Axis is a compact bean-to-cup machine for smaller offices, boardrooms and meeting suites, serving up to around 100 drinks a day.
It grinds fresh beans for every cup, makes fresh milk drinks from an included cooler, and needs no hardwiring, so it can move between rooms. A version with a larger water tank suits busier mornings.
Core
Our Core is the high-volume workhorse, built for self-service in canteens, staff rooms and campuses.
It handles around 400 drinks a day, with two bean hoppers for a second blend or decaf, plus hot chocolate and hot water for tea. You can choose granulated milk, so there is no fridge to manage, or fully automatic fresh milk.
Mid-Range Commercial Coffee Machines
As your budget begins to increase, you're investing in tougher-made equipment with a larger drink capacity per day and increased menu flexibility. For mid-range commercial coffee machines for your office, you'll expect to pay around £160 to £200 a month on a lease, or £8,000 to £10,000 to buy.
Schaerer Coffee Soul
The Schaerer Coffee Soul is a Swiss-made self-service machine with a large touchscreen that guides first-time users and remembers what regulars like. It can hold up to three bean or powder canisters and two different milks, such as semi-skimmed and a dairy-free option, serving up to around 250 drinks a day. It suits offices, hotels and anywhere people serve themselves.
Pulse
Our Pulse gives you a coffee-shop menu at the touch of a button. Alongside coffee, it serves hot chocolate, matcha and chai, and its milk system makes both hot and cold foam, so iced lattes are on the menu too.
It serves around 200 drinks a day and suits receptions and client-facing floors.
Premium Commercial Coffee Machines
Expect to pay from around £360 a month on a lease, or upwards of £18,000 to buy. At this level you are looking at super-automatic machines, which recreate a skilled barista's coffee at the touch of a button.
Eversys Legacy
The Eversys Legacy packs that quality into a machine less than 37cm wide. It can hold up to four grinders, or three grinders plus two powder dispensers for hot chocolate, chai and matcha. Depending on the version, it either serves two different milks hot or cold automatically, or includes a steam wand for manual and automatic milk texturing, plant-based milks included.
Eversys Cameo
The Eversys Cameo is built for sites where the in-cup experience is the priority. It makes up to 175 espressos an hour, two drinks at a time, with a steam wand that textures milk to barista standard. It suits premium workplaces, hotels and anywhere coffee quality is part of the brand.
Investing in the Right Machine for Your Office
The best coffee machine isn't the most expensive one. It's the one that fits how your office actually works. Spend too little and a machine struggles under daily demand; spend too much and you pay for capacity nobody uses.
At Bridge Coffee Roasters, we help you find the balance: a reliable machine your team will enjoy using, sized for the number of drinks you make each day, with the menu flexibility your people want. We'll survey your site, recommend the right option for your budget, then handle installation and train your team.
