Need help on how to choose a coffee machine for school? Find out if a commercial or domestic coffee machine is best for teachers with this guide.
Outside the classroom, the staff communal area serves a much greater purpose than simply being a quiet oasis in a busy school environment. It is the place for informal socialising, impromptu meetings, a place to exchange ideas, and where bonds between colleagues are forged. And yes, it is also the destination to refresh yourself with a coffee between classes or enjoy a bit of peace and quiet while eating lunch.
It has become increasingly apparent that having a great communal staff space is a clear demonstration to teachers that they are valued and appreciated. When done right, these spaces can play a big role in greater job satisfaction, teacher retention, and wellbeing.
At the heart of the teacher's "social" area in the school is one essential component – the coffee machine. But with so many options out there, deciding which machine is right for your school can be a challenge. Should you consider a professional high-volume coffee machine or opt for a smaller footprint machine?
Commercial machines designed for high volume and businesses
Let’s look first at commercial coffee machines. The first question to ask about whether a commercial machine is suitable for your space is how many people will be using it and how many coffees roughly will be consumed each day. If your answer is over 20 coffees per day, then a commercial coffee machine could be worth exploring further.
A key benefit of a commercial machine is its high-volume capacity — the ability to produce exceptional coffee, consistently at high volumes. You only need to think about those peak coffee times in the staffroom (and the small time window between classes) to realise that speed and efficiency are paramount.
Most Australians enjoy coffee with milk, meaning it may be worth considering a machine that has an integrated milk fridge that can offer a host of recipes, including flat white, lattes, cappuccinos, and even cold foam at the touch of a button. This creates a cleaner, more aesthetic coffee solution as the milk is kept neatly refrigerated as part of the machine.
Commercial machines such as Nespresso Professional's are also user-friendly and easy to operate with coffee at the touch of a button, especially with repeated use in a staffroom. However, unlike domestic machines, commercial machines can also offer additional features such as touchless coffee extraction modes and can be pre-programmed for a variety of coffee drinks and sizes to suit your staff.
Additionally, the flat, disc-shaped capsules of a Nespresso Professional commercial coffee machine also make for better storage and are less likely to be taken home by employees because they are made specifically for commercial environments. Commercial customers also receive free bulk recycling pick-up services, meaning all aluminium capsules can go onto a second life.
With a commercial machine comes additional considerations such as space needed for their size and whether the machine needs to be plumbed in. In addition, setting up a consistent cleaning and coffee ordering system enables an optimum coffee experience. Commercial machines are generally more expensive upfront as well. However, with Nespresso Professional, you receive a dedicated account manager to talk through these considerations, payment options, and support in choosing a suitable solution for your space.
Lower consumption could mean a domestic machine is more suitable
Alternatively, if you have a small space such as a principal's office, meeting area, or don't have the space for a large commercial machine, a domestic machine could be a viable option to consider and still ensure a quality cup of coffee. When using the term "domestic machine," we're referring to machines designed for home use. Because they are designed for home use, domestic models usually have a small benchtop footprint which, if you're tight on space, can be an advantage.
Domestic machines are also very simple to use but generally can only brew black coffee. This can be a limitation as, unlike commercial machines with the integrated milk fridge, having accompanying milk steamers in a staff room where teachers are wanting to make coffees with milk can get unclean quickly. This can lead to more time being spent on cleaning the milk steamer and emptying the capsule container more frequently in a high-volume environment. Additionally, choosing a domestic machine for your workplace may mean employees start to take the capsules home for their own machines, leading to higher coffee costs. However, in the right space, a domestic machine can be more cost-effective and easier to maintain.
Ultimately, when you're looking to purchase a coffee machine for your school, it's important to consider the estimated usage, space available, and resources required. If you'd like to find out whether a Nespresso Professional machine is right for you, please get in touch via our Contact Us page. If we can meet your needs, a dedicated account manager will reach out to discuss creating a bespoke coffee experience for your space.
