Commercial coffee machine buying guide

There are many things to consider before investing in a workplace coffee machine. Get tips for picking the right machine for your staff and clients.

Along with open-plan spaces, hot-desks, co-working areas and sustainable architecture, another element has become an essential component in the workplace – the coffee machine.

No longer seen by employees as solely functional, commercial coffee machines are now places to convene and bond, not to mention as the source of a meaningful part of the workday – the cuppa.

But how to decide which machine is right for your business?

In this guide we’ll explore the main considerations when buying a commercial coffee machine, from the machines that might suit your company to how much foot traffic the machine is likely to receive.

We’ll also outline the functional factors you’ll likely ponder, such as coffee type, the machine settings that will benefit your staff, energy concerns, and the cost of maintaining and servicing a machine.

Commercial coffee machines generally include a host of common features, from a degree of automatic functionality to the way coffee is extracted. We look at why these are an important element in your choice.

And finally, we delve into the coffee machines available in the Nespresso Professional range. So, grab a coffee and let’s get started.

What to consider when buying a commercial coffee machine

Are you buying a commercial coffee machine for a busy office environment? A hotel or conference venue? A retailer or leisure centre? Or perhaps you have a showroom where you would like to treat your customers?

The Australian coffee market is among the largest in the world, and increasingly businesses of all stripes are seeing the value in installing a machine in-house.

So, before you buy, the first questions to ask should be how will a commercial coffee machine suit your venue? Where will it be installed? Will it be used by staff, clients or customers, and what will the volume of usage be like on any given day?

Asking questions like this should help you narrow your search to a suitable machine for your business.

Is the coffee machine easy to operate?

It should also open up another consideration around how user-friendly the machine is. After all, if you’re thinking of purchasing a commercial coffee machine for a busy workspace or venue, it’s best to opt for one that’s simple to use and can handle heavy traffic – while still producing a gold-standard cup of coffee.

How frequently will the coffee machine be used?

​​Frequency of use is an essential factor to consider when deciding what type of commercial coffee machine is right for you. To inspire your decision, ask yourself these questions:

1. Where will the coffee machine live? Example: In a boardroom, reception area, kitchen staff lounge, or perhaps a showroom.
2. What will the coffee machine primarily be used for? Staff coffees or client meetings? Or do you want customers helping themselves to coffee in your showroom as an added service?
3. How regularly will the coffee machine need to be emptied or refilled? Who will be responsible for this? Is it more practical to get a machine with higher capacity so fewer top-ups are required?

Corporate offices and businesses with more than 50 employees or guests might need a machine with a higher capacity to account for the high foot traffic. High volume coffee machines will require fewer repeat visits.

A great solution for larger business sizes is the Nespresso Aguila 220; it has an inbuilt milk refrigerator which holds up to 5 litres of milk and employs two extraction heads which work simultaneously to deliver up to 200 coffees per hour. It even features a cup warmer for a café-style feel.

For medium to large sized offices the Nespresso Momento Coffee & Milk machine offers your favourite milk coffees at the touch of a button; luscious lattes or perhaps a memorable macchiato. The capsule recognition takes the guesswork out of deciding which coffee is best with each blend. Whilst the machine’s connectivity means that you can learn which coffees are more popular or when your peak-hours are so that the coffee can be replenished at the right time; predicting your team’s needs before they even know it!

On the other hand, small offices or workplaces with around 20 people or less should consider Nespresso’s Zenius coffee machine. This machine is ideal for board rooms, reception areas and smaller office spaces. It has a similar design to a in-home Nespresso machine, but is designed for higher volume use; perfect for the (repeat) coffee lovers in your business.

Quality of coffee and range of flavours

How the coffee will taste is, of course, another key factor when choosing a machine – perhaps even the most important. While the quality of the coffee itself is the most important ingredient in producing perfect cups, you should also consider the consistency of the pour that each machine offers.

Cost of coffee machine maintenance

No matter the nature of your business, cost will always be a crucial factor. Consider the initial outlay of the machine itself, the coffee capsules or beans, additional equipment such as grinters and tampers if required, and the cost of servicing or repairing any parts. Importantly don’t forget the time your staff may currently spend going out for a coffee or spend using the machine itself; the downtime when using a complex machine can cost your business.

Coffee machine design and size

Lastly, bear in mind aesthetics. If your venue is sleek, sharp and customer-facing, an ill-designed coffee machine taking up space in the middle of it could prove to be a hefty eyesore.

What are the common features of commercial machines?

High volume capacity

​One of the key similarities of commercial coffee machines is their ability to produce exceptional coffee at high volumes and cater to high footfall traffic. It might be peak coffee hour at the office when staff indulge in their favourite morning ritual, or it could be that a new party of clients are visiting the office and you require a fast, efficient and delicious internal coffee run to welcome them instantly.

No matter the type of foot traffic, coffee capsules, in particular, are a wonderful solution for businesses. Commercial coffee machine ranges, such as the Nespresso Momento range for example, include capsule recognition technology and touchless coffee extraction modes to deliver the best-tasting coffee experience every time for a range of office sizes and workplaces. And of course, let's not forget that Nespresso capsules are recyclable.

Pre-programmed for a wide variety of coffee drinks and sizes

With commercial automatic coffee machines, for example, some models include a pre-programmed button that measures out exact amounts of water and pours the shot automatically, making for a consistent cuppa each time.

Some commercial coffee machines feature an extraction head, or a number of heads, for pouring the shot that requires tamping ground coffee. For a busy business, this can make for a time-consuming cup of coffee – not to mention a frustratingly messy one, too.

Milk coffee drink options

Most Aussie enjoy coffee with milk, so if you truly want to reward your staff and guest, it’s an important consideration. Many commercial machines feature a steam wand. A steam wand can help you produce foamy milk as light and smooth as velvet, but if the wand is not controlled, it can often result in burnt milk. Consider machines that offer a flat white or a cappuccino at the touch of a button.

The Nespresso Professional range

A number of factors set Nespresso’s Professional range out from the crowd, not least in giving your business access to over 16 diverse and delicious, high-quality blends in a range of cup sizes, including ristretto (25mL), short black/espresso (40mL), long black/lungo (110mL) and Americano (150mL).

Each machine in the range has its own unique characteristics and qualities, ensuring that there is a machine for every setting and circumstance.

Here, a closer look at the machines themselves.

Aguila Coffee Machine range

The powerhouses of the Nespresso Professional range, the incredible Aguila 220 and Aguila 440 coffee machines are able to deliver hundreds of coffees per hour at the touch of a button, while ensuring peerless coffee quality and consistency.

The Aguila 220 employs two extraction heads which work simultaneously, giving the potential to deliver 200 coffees in an hour. The Aguila 440 doubles that, with four extraction heads that can work simultaneously and can produce 400 cups of coffee in an hour.

Both contain integrated milk fridges, so you have all you need to produce velvet-smooth lattes, flat whites and cappuccinos.

Both the Aguila 220 and Aguila 440 are the perfect commercial coffee machines for busy open-plan offices, lounge areas, bars or restaurants. Want to wow that prospect or client? The Aguila range makes a statement in a business environment with their stylish design and features. What’s more, for machines of their size, automatic cleaning functions make them relatively simple to maintain, too.

Aguila 220 quick facts:

• Able to pour nine different coffee preparations, from a latte to an refreshing summer cold coffee.
• Weight: 75kg
• Size: 651cm (w) x 620cm (d) x 640cm (h)

Aguila 440 quick facts:

• Four extraction heads
• Weight: 100kg
• Size: 1000cm (h) x 620cm (d) x 640cm (h)

Nespresso Momento Coffee Machine range

Stunning to look at and smart to use, the Nespresso Momento Coffee machine and the Nespresso Momento Coffee & Milk offer cutting-edge touchless technology and connectivity that enables reporting and remove troubleshooting.

Because of its ease of use, the Nespresso Momento Coffee Machine is best suited to small- and medium-sized offices and workplaces, kitchen areas and open-plan working spaces, and customer-facing environments such as client lounges. With such a beautiful design, you might want to place it in a reception area or waiting room to earn admiring glances. Pair with a milk frother to really make the most of this intuitive machine.

The Nespresso Momento Coffee & Milk, on the other hand, is more suited to medium and large workplaces due to its greater capacity. With a built-in milk component, you’ll be able to pour beautifully consistent lattes and flat whites every time.

Nespresso Momento Coffee quick facts:

• Choose from four cup sizes: Ristretto (25mL), short black/espresso (40mL), long black/lungo (110mL) and Americano (150mL)
• Combines perfectly with a Nespresso milk frother (sold separately)
• Touch screen technology
• Touchless coffee extraction modes
• Intuitive touch screen interface
• High speed water heating
• Custom energy saving modes
• Stores up to 50 used Nespresso capsules
• (WxDxH): 26.4 cm x 41.4 cm x 45.7 cm weighing just 16kg

Nespresso Momento Coffee & Milk quick facts:

• Choose from four cup sizes: Ristretto (25mL), short black/espresso (40mL), long black/lungo (110mL) and Americano (150mL)
• Makes up to 12 different milk recipes
• Capsule recognition technology
• Stores up to 50 used Nespresso capsules
• Weight: 39kg
• Size: 66cm (w) x 55cm (d) x 47 (h)

Zenius Coffee Machine

So much bang for such a reasonable buck, the Zenius combines compact design with prodigious performance. Although it may look and function in a similar way to a Nespresso machine that you use at home, the Zenius is specifically designed for commercial environments. Ideally suited to board rooms, reception areas and smaller offices, this is a machine that will best serve up to around 20 people.

What it lacks in size, it makes up for in efficiency, providing black coffee recipes and hot water at the touch of a button. It can also be paired perfectly with a milk frother to produce silky smooth lattes and cappuccinos.

Zenius quick facts:

• Simple and easy manual coffee capsule insertion and ejection
• Choose from three programmable cup sizes: Ristretto (25mL), Espresso (40mL) and Lungo (110mL)
• Weight: 7kg
• Size: 26.4 cm(w) x 41.4 cm(d) x 45.7 cm(h)

FAQs

How do I become a business customer and order machines, capsules and accessories for my company?

If you would like to become a Nespresso Professional customer, please complete the enquiry form. We will get in contact with you as soon as possible.

There are a lot of varieties of coffee, how can I find the one I prefer?

When choosing the right coffee there are a few considerations to take into account. How strong do you like your coffee? What taste profile would you like? Do you have your coffee with or without milk?

The wide variety of Nespresso coffee gives you a range of exceptional and sustainable coffee blends. We have an intensity scale system to help you navigate how intense or mild a coffee’s flavour profile can be.

Nespresso coffees that range in scale from 4-7 are mild to medium intensity that usually have floral, fruity or cereal flavours. Any coffees from 8-12 in intensity will have richer and pronounced flavours of cocoa, spice and wood.

All of our Nespresso coffees pair perfectly with milk, the more milk you add to coffee the more you can subdue the intensity. If you need help deciding contact us on 1800 182 206 (toll free), and one of our coffee experts will guide you through a selection.