Best Instant Coffee Machine Types for Your Workplace
- Absolute Drinks
- Apr 7
- 8 min read
A great cup of coffee can transform a workplace, boosting morale and keeping your team energised. For many offices, instant coffee machines are the ideal solution, delivering high quality coffee and hot drinks quickly without the need for barista style coffee expertise. Whether you’re equipping a small office or a large corporate hub, choosing the best instant coffee machine types for your workplace ensures you meet coffee preferences, streamline operations, and enhance employee satisfaction. This guide explores top options, focusing on convenience, variety, and efficiency, with insights into standout coffee machines from Absolute Drinks’ coffee machines to help you make the right investment.
Why Instant Coffee Machines Are Perfect for Workplaces
Instant coffee machines excel in office environments due to their speed, simplicity, and versatility. Unlike bean to cup machines or traditional espresso machines, they use pre ground coffee or instant coffee, bypassing the need to grind fresh beans or handle coffee grounds. Here’s why they’re a top pick:
Speed: Serve hot coffee, hot chocolate, or milk based drinks like latte macchiato in moments, minimising wait times during busy breaks.
Low Maintenance: Require less cleaning than commercial espresso machines or drip coffee makers, saving time for staff.
Variety: Provide black coffee, flat white, cappuccino, or hot water for tea, catering to diverse coffee drinkers.
Affordability: Lower initial costs compared to bean to cup coffee systems and cheaper per cup than pod coffee machines.
With the right coffee maker, your office coffee machine becomes a hub for delicious coffee and high quality drinks, fostering a happier workplace.
Types of Instant Coffee Machines for Your Workplace
Not all instant coffee machines suit every office. Your choice depends on office size, budget, and coffee making needs. Below, we highlight the best instant coffee machine types for your workplace, featuring top models from Absolute Drinks’ coffee machines.
1. Compact Instant Coffee Machines
For small offices or cramped break rooms, compact instant coffee machines deliver convenience without hogging space. These cup coffee machines prioritise ease and speed, perfect for quick coffee making.
New Italia Bean to CupThe New Italia Bean to Cup is a stylish, compact coffee maker designed for small offices. Its 7-inch touchscreen simplifies operation, offering up to 16 drink options, including instant coffee or espresso. While it supports bean to cup coffee, it also handles instant blends for faster service, blending premium coffee beans or powdered milk effortlessly.
Why It’s Great for Workplaces: Measuring 629mm high and 308mm wide, it fits tight spaces, and its card reader option streamlines payments in shared offices. Customisable lighting adds a modern touch, enhancing break room aesthetics.
Best For: Teams of 5-15 people wanting high quality coffee with minimal effort.
Pro Tip: Use Absolute Drinks’ instant coffee blends to ensure consistent flavour and quick prep.
Advantages: User-friendly, low upkeep, and budget-friendly compared to commercial bean to cup machines.
Drawbacks: Limited to basic drinks (mostly black coffee or simple milk based coffee).
2. Fully Automatic Instant Coffee Machines
Medium to large offices benefit from fully automatic machines, which balance speed with versatility. These machines often include milk frothers for milk based drinks like cappuccino or flat white, catering to varied tastes.
Italia TouchThe Italia Touch is a fully automatic machine that combines instant coffee convenience with premium drink quality. Its intuitive touchscreen delivers a range of coffee specialities, from espresso to latte macchiato, using instant or ground coffee. The built-in milk frother creates creamy milk based drinks, and its robust design handles moderate to high demand.
Why It’s Great for Workplaces: The machine’s one-touch brewing process produces barista style coffee in under a minute, and its easy-clean system reduces maintenance time. Its sleek design complements professional settings, boosting workplace appeal.
Best For: Offices of 15-50 people needing variety and efficiency.
Pro Tip: Opt for fresh milk in the frother for richer flat whites, or use instant milk powder for hassle-free operation.
Advantages: Broad drink menu, reliable output, and consistent delicious coffee.
Drawbacks: Higher cost than compact models, though more affordable than commercial espresso machines.
3. Commercial Instant Coffee Machines
For large workplaces or high-traffic environments like co-working spaces, commercial instant coffee machines are built for volume and durability. These machines serve hundreds of cups daily, making them a powerhouse office coffee machine.
The Absolute Brilliance is a commercial-grade machine designed for busy offices. It supports instant coffee, ground coffee, and milk based drinks, offering a wide menu from cold brew to hot chocolate. Its high-capacity water tank and fast brewing process ensure no one waits long, even during peak hours.
Why It’s Great for Workplaces: Its stainless steel build withstands heavy use, and the user-friendly interface makes it accessible to all staff. The machine’s versatility suits diverse coffee preferences, from black coffee to milk based coffee.
Best For: Offices with 50+ employees or shared workspaces with high demand.
Pro Tip: Pair with Absolute Drinks’ premium instant coffee for cost-effective, great tasting coffee.
Jura Giga X3C Gen II Bean to CupWhile primarily a bean to cup machine, the Jura Giga X3C Gen II Bean to Cup supports instant coffee options for speed. With a 5-litre water tank and 1kg bean hopper, it delivers up to 150 drinks daily, including flat white and latte macchiato. Its 4.3-inch touchscreen and dual spouts allow two cups to be poured at once, cutting wait times.
Why It’s Great for Workplaces: The machine’s advanced technology ensures high quality drinks, and its plumbed-in design eliminates refilling hassles. It’s perfect for large offices needing both instant and bean to cup coffee.
Best For: High-traffic environments requiring speed and sophistication.
Pro Tip: Use the hot water bypass for tea or instant hot drinks to expand options.
Advantages: High capacity, extensive customisation, and support for multiple drink types.
Drawbacks: Larger footprint and higher cost, though ideal for big teams.
These machines, available through Absolute Drinks’ coffee machines, cater to workplaces of all sizes, ensuring there’s a solution for every need.
Comparing Instant Coffee Machines to Other Types
To find the best coffee maker for your workplace, let’s compare instant coffee machines to alternatives like pod coffee makers, bean to cup machines, and filter coffee machines:
Vs. Pod Coffee Machines: Capsule coffee machines (e.g., Nespresso machines) rely on coffee capsules, which are convenient but costly per cup and less sustainable. Instant machines match their speed while offering lower costs and flexibility with ground coffee or instant coffee.
Vs. Bean to Cup Machines: Commercial bean to cup machines grind fresh beans for unmatched flavour but demand more maintenance and a higher budget. Instant machines prioritise speed and ease, perfect for offices valuing efficiency over artisanal brewing.
Vs. Filter Coffee Machines: Drip coffee makers are great for bulk black coffee but lack variety like milk based drinks or hot chocolate. Instant machines deliver a wider menu and faster per-cup service.
Vs. Traditional Espresso Machines: Manual espresso machines produce coffee shop quality but require skill and time, making them impractical for most offices. Instant machines automate the coffee making process for consistent high quality drinks without training.
Instant coffee machines often provide the best balance for workplaces, especially with reliable options from Absolute Drinks.
Key Features to Look for in an Instant Coffee Machine
When choosing the best instant coffee machine types for your workplace, prioritise these features for optimal performance:
Drink Variety: Ensure the machine offers black coffee, espresso, milk based coffee, and hot drinks like hot chocolate to satisfy all coffee drinkers.
Capacity: Match the water tank to your office size 1-2 litres for small offices, 2.5+ litres for larger ones. Daily cup output should align with demand.
Milk Frother: Crucial for latte macchiato, flat white, or cappuccino. Automatic frothers save time, while steam wands allow fresh milk flexibility.
Ease of Cleaning: Look for self-cleaning functions or removable parts to maintain hygiene with minimal effort.
Energy Efficiency: Reduces costs for machines running all day, like the energy-saving modes in Absolute Drinks’ models.
User Interface: Simple controls or touchscreens make the machine accessible to everyone, from new hires to managers.
The New Italia Bean to Cup, Italia Touch, Absolute Brilliance, and Jura Giga X3C Gen II excel in these areas, making them top choices for workplace coffee solutions.
Setting Up Your Workplace Coffee Station
A top-notch office coffee machine needs a well-planned coffee station to shine:
Supplies: Stock instant coffee, ground coffee, milk powder, cups, and stirrers. Absolute Drinks provides compatible supplies for their machines.
Maintenance: Clean daily (e.g., wiping steam wands) and descale weekly to ensure great tasting coffee and machine durability.
Accessibility: Place the machine in a central, well-lit spot to encourage use and avoid congestion during breaks.
Variety: Offer decaf, tea, and hot chocolate alongside coffee. The Absolute Brilliance’s broad menu makes this seamless.
For tips on optimising break rooms, explore resources like Inc.com’s workplace guides to complement your new coffee machine.
Cost Considerations and Budgeting
Investing in the best coffee maker requires balancing initial costs with long-term value. Here’s a breakdown:
Upfront Costs:
Compact machines (e.g., New Italia Bean to Cup): £500-£1,000.
Fully automatic machines (e.g., Italia Touch): £1,200-£2,000.
Commercial machines (e.g., Absolute Brilliance, Jura Giga X3C): £2,000-£5,000.Absolute Drinks offers leasing to ease costs for small offices.
Running Costs:
Instant coffee: £0.10-£0.20 per cup, cheaper than coffee capsules (£0.30-£0.50).
Electricity: Energy-efficient models like the New Italia minimise power use.
Maintenance: Budget £100-£200 yearly for cleaning and servicing.
Savings: A 20-person office spending £3 daily on coffee shop drinks saves over £15,000 annually with an instant coffee machine, even including costs.
Refurbished coffee machines can cut expenses, but new models from Absolute Drinks ensure reliability and warranties for peace of mind.
Marketing Your Office Coffee Perk
A high quality coffee machine is more than equipment it’s a workplace benefit that lifts spirits. Promote it to maximise its impact:
Internal Comms: Share news of the new coffee machine via email or intranet, highlighting options like flat white or hot chocolate.
Tasting Events: Host a coffee morning to demo the machine, letting staff try their own coffee creations.
Signage: Display a menu board listing coffee specialities near the machine for easy navigation.
These steps position the machine as a valued perk, enhancing workplace culture.
Why Choose Absolute Drinks for Your Office Coffee Machine?
Absolute Drinks, based in Leigh, UK, is a trusted supplier of commercial coffee machines, offering instant, bean to cup, and filter coffee solutions. Their range, available at Absolute Drinks’ coffee machines, includes:
Quality: Machines like the New Italia Bean to Cup, Italia Touch, Absolute Brilliance, and Jura Giga X3C Gen II deliver consistent, delicious coffee tailored to offices.
Support: Free Northwest installation and ongoing advice ensure smooth operation.
Flexibility: Purchase or lease options, plus supplies like instant coffee and milk powder, simplify setup.
With years of expertise, Absolute Drinks helps you find the best instant coffee machine types for your workplace.
Brew Success with the Right Coffee Machine
Selecting the best instant coffee machine types for your workplace means aligning convenience, quality, and variety with your team’s needs. From the compact New Italia Bean to Cup to the versatile Italia Touch, high-capacity Absolute Brilliance, or robust Jura Giga X3C Gen II, Absolute Drinks offers solutions for every office. By choosing the right coffee machine, you’re not just serving hot coffee you’re building a more productive, satisfied workplace. Start brewing success today with a machine that keeps your team fuelled and happy.
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