Whether you’re a coffee, tea or hot chocolate drinker, the milk you use in your drink is important for creating a beverage that is exactly to your taste requirements.
We have an array of different bean-to-cup commercial coffee machines available at Liquidline, with both fresh and powdered milk options. But what is the difference between fresh and powdered milk? Let us break it down for you…
Powdered milk is made from pasteurised milk which has been dehydrated, giving it a powdered consistency and helping to preserve the product. The benefits of powdered milk include having a longer shelf life, as unlike fresh milk, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Powdered milk provides the same nutritional value as fresh milk, and includes nutrients such as calcium, proteins, and vitamins A and D.
If you’re looking to save a little bit of money, powdered milk tends to be the cheaper option. Some downsides include fewer dietary options than fresh milk – there are very few lactose-free options with powdered milk, though options are coming to market all the time The taste quality is good but doesn’t quite compare to the taste of fresh, liquid milk.
Powdered milk is very easy to store and thanks to its longer shelf life, is a great option if you want to buy your milk in bulk and have a regular supply without worrying about it going bad. It’s ideal for mixing with beverages such as smoothies, teas and coffee, however, it’s not compatible with espresso machines. If you have an instant coffee machine, powdered milk is often the best option.
With fresh milk, there are more options available for both dietary requirements and taste preferences – there are many fresh milk options from classic cow’s milk, to lactose-free, to oat and almond milk. Fresh milk has a superior taste to powdered milk and contains more vitamins such as B12 and B5, which benefit your body greatly.
Fresh milk is the best option for use with espresso machines, which is why it is preferred by baristas. It’s better for frothing and creating latte art, and whole milk creates a richer texture for delicious beverages. Although it is known to have a better flavour, consistency and nutritional benefits, fresh milk does need to be refrigerated and has a shorter shelf life. Because of this, it’s difficult to buy in bulk without running the risk of the product going out of date before use.
Having a selection of milk and other consumables available in your workspace helps to ensure that employees feel valued. A great supply of quality refreshments shows your team that you care about their needs, instead of just putting out a kettle in the kitchen and calling it a day. We have both fresh and powdered milk available to purchase for our customers to keep your refreshment solution fully stocked, whatever your preference. To place an order, get in touch at [email protected] or call 01 963 0314
At Liquidline Ireland we’re passionate about coffee. We supply the very best commercial coffee machines to businesses throughout Ireland, and our very own Café Bonté range of coffees was designed to provide exceptional everyday coffee experiences. Great coffee is at the core of our business, and we’ve learnt a few things along the way, so we thought we’d share a few of our favourite facts and stats about Irish coffee culture.
The coffee market has grown substantially over the past few years, with many tea drinkers replacing their caffeine hit with coffee. Over half of Irish adults now consume coffee every day, with one third consuming several cups per day.
Irish coffee drinkers prefer a stronger cup of coffee than their British neighbours. An iReach Consumer Omnibus Survey conducted in 2020 found that the Americano was Ireland’s favourite speciality coffee with a whopping 32% of votes. This was followed closely by the cappuccino with 24% and latte with 21%.
Whilst only one-third of coffee drinkers have experimented with plant-based alternatives to milk, those that have most prefer almond milk (36%), followed by soya milk (24%) and oat milk (21%). Dairy alternatives are most popular amongst the younger generations, with two-thirds of Gen Z and half of Millenials trying plant-based milk.
Despite the pandemic, the Irish coffee shop market actually grew in 2020 by 1.9% with 7% market growth predicted over the next 5 years.
Over three-quarters of coffee drinkers in Ireland say that taste is the most important factor when choosing coffee over other beverages. Nearly half (42%) of coffee drinkers use it to wake them up in the morning, whilst 37% say it fuels their concentration.
Three-quarters of Irish coffee consumers want their coffee to be sustainable. 65% own a reusable cup, with 23% saying they will sacrifice a caffeine hit if they have forgotten their reusable cup.
Enjoyed widely across the world, this classic mix of coffee and Irish whiskey wasn’t invented until the early 1940s. The story goes that Joe Sheridan, chef at Foynes Port near Limerick, an airbase for transatlantic flights, added Irish whiskey to coffee to warm cold and weary passengers who had their flight delayed due to poor weather conditions. Irish coffee became a popular speciality at the airport and in the 1950s it became a huge hit in the United States.
Costa Coffee operate 122 coffee outlets in Ireland. Former market leaders Insomnia have 95 outlets, whilst the third-largest chain is Starbucks with 79 outlets.
Over 70% of Irish consumers surveyed by World Coffee Portal have used a self-service coffee vending machine. This comes as no surprise with quality and convenience cited as the two biggest motivations for purchasing coffee.
People in Ireland spend more money per person on Fairtrade goods than any other country on the planet, with coffee making up 60% of Fairtrade sales.
If you’re looking to WOW your team and customers with fantastic coffee, produced using the very latest in coffee machine technology, please speak to our friendly team today. We’ll provide a unique quote based on your exact needs, providing a coffee solution that’s custom-made for your business and ensuring you get the most bang for your buck.
Schaerer is a leading coffee manufacturer and supplier based in Switzerland. The Schaerer brand is renowned for its innovative coffee machine inventions, including the famous Schaerer Soul commercial coffee machine.
With Schaerer, a high level of quality is expected when it comes to coffee, whether Schaerer is selling their products to cafés, chain coffee stores or hotels. Supporting you with a range of Schaerer coffee machines, comprehensive services and consultations to serve your customers is at the heart of what they provide.
Schaerer is now introducing their innovative “Hot & Cold Technology” for the Schaerer Coffee Soul model, so you can prepare chilled coffees and frappuccinos with intense flavours at the touch of a button. There are no limits to what Schaerer can achieve when it comes to its innovative coffee technology solutions.
Schaerer has been in business for over 125 years and was founded in 1892 by Maurice Schaerer with an official opening of a small retail shop. Initially, the company focus was on medical devices, rather than fully automatic coffee machines, with Schaerer developing operating tables, sterilisation and disinfection equipment. It wasn’t until 1924 that Schaerer developed its first high-volume coffee brewer.
Today Schaerer is committed to exploring beyond limits and leaving our mark on the coffee industry. In 1997, their revolutionary automatic cappuccino system took the world by storm, in 2007 the Schaerer Coffee Art Plus opened the door to the Schaerer Milk Universe and in 2013 they created Flavour Art, a variety of flavoured hot and cold coffee-based milk beverages.
Schaerer now has a global presence through subsidiaries in Germany, the USA and Belgium and more than 100 partners in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. It has been part of the WMF Group and is respected by coffee connoisseurs across the globe.
Schaerer’s hot and cold feature on the powerful Schaerer Coffee Soul machine enables you to brew hot and serve cold, with freshly ground coffee, opening a new world of possibilities. The beverage cooling system cools the coffee down to about 30-35 degrees. When ice cubes are added to the pre-cooled coffee, they melt slowly, keeping those aromatic flavours intact. This new feature is ideal for any coffee specialist wanting to experiment with creative new coffee recipes.
The Schaerer Best Foam technology is a fully patented system that can be used to offer custom coffee of the highest barista standard. Best Foam delivers a quality, silky, glossy and stable milk foam that remains consistent from cup to cup. You can even add your own flavour point with up to four different syrup choices for your coffee machine.
Coffee is at the heart of what we do here at Liquidline. Coffee comes to life with Schaerer, hence why our partnership with them has grown stronger over the years. Schaerer is one of the most loved brands in the industry. It has grown at an incredible rate since its first machine was launched in 1924 and has been responsible for numerous industry innovations since. Thanks to the Schaerer range, we can help companies all over the world enjoy quality coffee and service to the fullest.
There are several models of Schaerer coffee machines that exceed all expectations. There is a machine for any type of business or organisation, whether you are based in an office, restaurant, gym or car dealership. From fully automated barista machines to self-service bean-to-cup coffee machines, that can produce up to 350 cups per day.
Schaerer manufactures their coffee machines to make the most of user-interface technology with a vertical swipe function to help create a clear and ready self-service screen for the user. To this day, Schaerer continues to be a successful provider of fully automated coffee machines, helping provide the morning coffee and afternoon pick me up for coffee lovers in hotels, bars, offices and restaurants across the world.
The Schaerer Barista machine offers the ultimate coffee brewing experience, creating up to 300 beverages per day. Grind and prepare fresh Italian espresso coffee of a consistent quality thanks to its automated processes. This machine is easy to operate, clean and is fully automatic, complete with a manual steam wand to froth milk. This machine is for passionate barista, coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants.
The Schaerer Coffee Club machine has a daily output of up to 80 beverages, with a slim build and large capacity, and is fresh milk or milk powder combined, depending on your choice. This machine is ideal for usage in restaurants, hotels, cafes, convenience stores, catering businesses and offices. It has a 4.5 litre drinking water tank with a level sensor, a simple cleaning concept including a CleanIT for the milk system and the opportunity to connect to payment systems via an MDB interface.
The Schaerer Coffee Soul 10 is ideal for any commercial space, with the capacity to produce up to 250 drinks per day. Benefiting from its sleek and modern design, the Coffee Soul features a user-friendly 10.4″ touchscreen display, as well as the choice between three user interface systems to best suit your business needs. Enjoy barista quality drinks cup after cup, thanks to the machine’s Best Foam™ milk technology which can create perfectly textured milk in seconds.
There are a variety of commercial coffee machines to choose from depending on your place of work. Schaerer covers all aspects of the working environment, including fast-paced and high-demand coffee shops, low-key office environments and self-service premises.
The Schaerer coffee range is suited for all operational environments, including restaurants. Schaerer offers sturdy and durable coffee machines with the widest range of beverages and easy operational methods, to help serve your customers the highest-quality coffee. With Schaerer you can provide large amounts of high-quality coffee at peak times.
If you are considering a coffee machine to help create the perfect coffee culture and chilled-out environment for customers, then Schaerer is the brand for you. Schaerer’s impressive range of coffee machines produces high-quality milk beverages, thanks to their innovative Best Foam technology, to create an unmissable coffee experience. The Schaerer range creates commercial coffee machines with sleek, modern-looking designs that are attractive to look at.
Schaerer offers a reliable supply of high-quality coffee at all times with generous connections to conventional payment systems, high volumes of coffee output and a range of different beverages to choose from. The Schaerer range hosts a reliable selection of coffee machines with easy operation thanks to the TouchIT system functionality. They also have lockable storage, bean hoppers and powder containers to ensure protection for your coffee solutions.
There are many coffee solutions for convenience stores within the Schaerer range. Schaerer coffee machines have optimum hourly outputs with minimal space requirements and easy cleaning solutions. They offer a wide range of beverages for all types of flavours with consistency of taste and easy self-service thanks to the TouchIT display system. You can even integrate advertisements via a functional display. They also offer a choice of manual and automatic milk preparation. The quick and easy cleaning and perfect hygiene systems are based on the HACCP concept.
Create the ultimate hospitality experience with Schaerer barista-quality coffee machines in hotels and bars. The Schaerer range is ideal in the breakfast setting, for self-service use during breakfast at hotels, with reliable operation via the TouchIT displace. It is also flexible thanks to its countless configuration points. These machines produce large amounts of high-quality coffee at peak times and can be configured for both professional service or self-service for your customers.
If you’re interested in adding a Schaerer Coffee Machine to your business, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable team today, who will be happy to advise on the best machine for your circumstances.
As we move out of lockdown many businesses are beginning to make plans to get their teams back to the workplace. However, with over a year of homeworking behind us, we’ve established new ways of working from home and as such many employees are a little reluctant to return.
In order to attract employees back to the workplace you need to have a fundamental understanding of what it was that people liked so much about working from home, as well as what they disliked, then fuse these core themes into your workplace. By learning from the lockdown experience you can create a workplace that is mutually beneficial for you and your employees.
Working from home has been a mixed experience depending on your personal circumstances. What has worked for some hasn’t worked well for others. Whilst some individuals were lucky enough to have a home office, others have spent 15-months+ working from their kitchen table. Working parents have also had childcare and homeschooling to deal with whilst in total lockdown.
It’s therefore imperative that business owners consult with their employees to ensure they thoroughly understand each unique experience. Only through listening and building relationships will employees feel properly supported in their return to work.
It’s also important to give your team an element of choice as to when they come back to the office, how often and in what capacity. This demonstrates empathy and creates further respect and trust between employee and employer.
A recent worldwide study found that 8 out of 10 countries ranked not having to commute as the biggest benefit of working from home, as it gave people a better work/life balance with more time to do activities they enjoy.
The research also found that employees consider the ability to concentrate and focus, as well as varying their workspace around the home as significant benefits of being away from the office.
The above factors demonstrate the importance of increased variety and flexibility in the workplace. Hybrid working, where employees spend part of the working week at the office and the rest at home, is expected to be popular post-pandemic. This gives workers the best of both worlds, providing time to focus at home and time to work collaboratively as part of a team in the office.
Hybrid working lends itself to hotdesking, whereby employees aren’t assigned their own desk, but instead use whatever desk is available, whenever it’s required. This also means businesses can reduce their office footprint, saving space and money.
Wellbeing at work has been a hot topic for a number of years now, but with a global pandemic comes further challenges relating to our mental and physical health.
Studies into physical health during the pandemic have given mixed results, with some suggesting we exercised more due to having an abundance of free time, whilst other research suggests we actually moved less as we were at home all day. Research into eating patterns during the pandemic is just as conflicting. With restaurants closed many turned to cooking at home, which is generally healthier. However, there was also a huge jump in snack and takeaway sales during the lockdown, suggesting we weren’t always making good food choices.
There’s also the impact lockdown has had on our mental wellbeing. The Irish Medical Journal suggests that one in five people experienced significantly increased psychological distress at the height of the pandemic.
Most business leaders appreciate that happy and healthy employees work harder and achieve more, and there are many strategies business owner can implement to help boost the mental and physical wellbeing of their team, which will in turn help attract them back to the workplace. Below are a selection of ideas to consider.
Creating a culture where employees feel they can reach out to their colleagues and managers when they’re mentally struggling is extremely important in the modern workplace. Put in place readily available policies so that employees know who to speak to if they’re experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing, and ensure line managers are properly trained and regularly check in on their team.
See Change is an organisation working towards reducing mental health stigma in the workplace. Their website is a fantastic source of information on how to improve mental wellbeing within the workplace. They have lots of free guides and resources to download and even offer specialist online workshops that will help equip your managers with the skills they need to deal with mental health issues.
Promote healthy eating by supplying your team with a complimentary selection of healthy refreshments. A water cooler offering chilled, ambient and sparkling water encourages hydration, which will help team members stay focused and alert.
Encourage your team to move more by offering a bike to work scheme or by organising group activities focused around exercise, such as lunchtime yoga or Friday afternoon rounders. Installing a shower in your office can also help encourage employees to cycle, or even run, to work.
Standing desks also offer several health benefits including improving posture and burning more calories than sitting down.
Creating a pleasant working environment doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming and there are a wide range of minor changes you can make that will benefit your team.
Natural light boosts vitamin D, which in turn improves sleep and helps ward off any seasonal blues. Increasing natural light in the place you spend most of your life can have huge health benefits, so get the blinds open and let the sun shine on your workers.
A recent survey conducted by global recruitment specialists Reed found that 40% of workers regarded great quality free coffee and tea as the perk they most value at work.
Whilst it’s not convenient for all offices to have their own in-house coffee shop, a jar of instant really isn’t enough anymore. With a bean to cup coffee machine, you can offer barista-quality coffee that’s great value, delicious, quick and convenient.
As a business, there are many advantages to having a bean to cup coffee machine. Not only does great coffee improve productivity, creativity and overall mood, the antioxidants in coffee also reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Indoor plants are great for improving the overall aesthetic of a workspace, but they also offer health benefits in terms of improved air quality, reducing stress and improving productivity. They’re also a natural soundproofing tool, reducing noise pollution if you’re office is particularly noisy.
Workplaces are becoming increasingly open to the concept of an office dog. The company of animals is scientifically proven to offer comfort, reduce anxiety and lower stress levels. Having a dog around also encourages healthy behaviours such as going for walks and taking regular breaks.
It’s also great for the dog owner who no longer needs to worry about leaving their pooch at home all day, and it’s great for the dog to experience higher levels of social interaction.
However, not all people are dog lovers and some of your team may even have allergies, so it’s vital you consult your team before allowing anyone to bring their pets to work. Not every dog has the right temperament for an office either – relaxed animals are ideal but if you’ve got a border collie that just wants to run around in circles all day, it’s not going to work for anyone.
Your company culture and brand values should permeate through your working environment. If your company is bright, vibrant and fun then your office design needs to reflect this with bright colours and funky furnishings.
Likewise, if innovation and creativity are important to your business then your office should be designed to encourage this. Having your team sat in silence at their desks does not encourage innovation so open up the space to create comfortable areas where employees can bounce ideas off each other.
Liquidline is proud to supply premium coffee and water solutions to businesses throughout Ireland. Discover more about our professional coffee offering or get in touch with our friendly team to find out how a new water dispenser or coffee machine could help you attract your team back to the workplace.
A bean to cup coffee machine is a fully automated coffee machine that takes whole coffee beans and grinds, presses and brews them into a delicious cup of coffee in a matter of moments.
Bean-to-cup machines grind coffee beans individually for every drink to deliver exceptional coffee in the workplace. The coffee beans are stored in hoppers with a separate storage system for fresh milk. They require careful management to deliver their full potential and need to be cleaned and descaled regularly.
Bean-to-cup machines do not require manual operation from a barista and are self-service operated. They produce coffee on-demand and at the push of a button. By grinding coffee automatically and texturising milk to a level of quality that would have heads turning, they are a great option for delivering fresh quality coffee.
If consistency is your priority, then a bean-to-cup machine is the right investment to make, providing premium espresso and offering the flexibility to serve coffee on tap without the need for specialist training.
Whether you are looking for a budget bean-to-cup machine for espresso and cappuccino or a higher-end model with additional features, you can be sure to find a machine that fits your business requirements at Liquidline.
Many models are designed to be super energy efficient, reliable and produce great-tasting espresso-based drinks. Some, for example, are built with the consumer in mind, especially for businesses that operate only in the day and do not require the machine to be in use overnight. Such machines come with an energy-saving mode – after one hour the machine will automatically enter into standby mode using less than 1W of power or less each hour.
Coffee making is easy with a bean to cup machine, so you’ll no longer need to worry about the flow of customers coming through your door and not having enough time to cater for their needs. With bean to cup machines, you can produce aromatic espresso-based drinks with a single button and customise each drink to your liking.
Is your machine going to be well-equipped for offering fresh coffee? Find a machine with a large bean hopper so you can replace your coffee beans regularly.
Most bean to cup machines make coffee with just a few button presses. Some have more advanced systems where you can choose your drink and have it ready within seconds.
If you love having a variety of flavours to choose from at the touch of a button, then a bean to cup machine is ideal for you
Firstly, you will need to consider how many drinks per day you will average depending on how many customers you get during busy periods. If you’re looking for a low volume machine, the Cafétouch Q1 is compact, affordable and produces up to 50 drinks per day. If however, you’re looking to produce in excess of 250 cups per day, then the Cafétouch Q3 would be more suitable.
Some models of machine offer more drinks variety than others. If you want to have up to 8 drinks selections for example, so you can have a range of espresso-based beverages to choose from, then go for a machine that can offer that to you.
The Schaerer Prime Bean to Cup Coffee Machine offers the ultimate in flexibility with over 40 speciality drinks options. Save time by compiling your favourites in the free to use Schaerer coffeeMYsation smartphone app.
Many new models of bean to cup machine have automatic cleaning cycles that notify you when they need cleaning. These cleaning programs often last up to about 1-hour at a time
The more boiler space you can incorporate, the higher your water capacity and the more beverages you can produce.
Some bean to cup coffee machines have a milk frothing steam pipe so you can produce two espressos at one time.
For those looking for a coffee-shop quality coffee with a luxurious extra fluffy finish, then the Shaerer Soul with Best Foam Technology should be your first port of call.
Most bean-to-cup machines have a removable drip tray so you can clean regularly and thoroughly by soaking in warm water.
If you want to turn on your coffee machine remotely or create new recipes then choose a model of machine with WiFi connectivity.
Many bean to cup machines, unlike instant machines, allow you to customise your own coffee. They provide you with fully functional customisation settings to determine how your coffee tastes. They come well-equipped with various pre-sets to help determine grind coarseness, variety and flavour. Additional features may include brewing temperature, coffee strength, automatic milk frothing, cup size and water amount.
If you’re ready to invest in a bean to cup coffee machine for your business, or if you have any questions or queries, please get in touch with the friendly team at Liquidline now.
Coffee has become an integral part of our livelihoods and with the explosion of independent coffee shop brands on the high-street, our interest in premium quality coffee has grown. Today, the office coffee machine qualifies for increasing staff productivity rates, motivation and happiness levels, while also decreasing workplace stress and is a worthy investment for any small- or large-scale business to make.
Long gone are the days of relying on the office kettle to provide you with a decent brew. New advancements in technology provide businesses that wish to serve better quality coffee at work to their employees with a whole host of choices from bean-to-cup machines to commercial coffee machines. Our step-by-step guide will help you to find the right coffee solutions for your business, from information on the various types of coffee machines available on the market, to tips on how to care for and fund your machine.
We are firm believers that coffee is the driving force behind the success of every office. Coffee helps fuel us and give us the boost we need to meet deadlines, be vocal in team meetings and inspire others in the workplace. At Liquidline, we choose coffee to enhance employee experience and satisfaction rates. There are many different styles and forms of coffee, from lattes, to cappuccinos, mochas and traditional black coffee. A coffee machine can cater for all, no matter your taste preference.
The size of your office will be a determining factor when it comes to your new coffee machine purchase. If you have between 10-50 employees to cater for, then a bean-to-cup or filter coffee machine could be the right purchase for you. If you have over 200 employees, then a bean-to-cup machine should be top of your list. We can help you pick one that can realistically meet your consumption volume needs. We recommend that the higher your consumption and volume of employees to cater for, the more likely you will need a bean-to-cup machine over a filter, capsule or barista machine.
Cost is a key factor when deciding what machine to buy and with cost, comes the quality of machine you decide to invest in. Many professional commercial coffee machines are available on lease which helps to cover overhead costs. The cost and quality of machine varies from brand to brand, so it is important to do your research and ask for expert advice. Our Cafetouch Bean-to-cup machines for example, range from £23 per week with a lease plan or for an outright purchase, a total payment of £4655. We will be covering the costs of all types of machines and purchase options in Chapter’s 1,2, 3 and 4.
Next, you will need to consider choosing a machine that requires minimal effort to clean and maintain, especially during the working day, when your employees will be expecting coffee on tap. Consider factors such as ease and speed of use when choosing a machine. Bean-to-cup machines are self-efficient, providing you with coffee at just the press of a button. You can find bean-to-cup machines that have automatic cleaning cycles notifying you of when it needs some TLC. Barista-style machines are relatively fast but require a professionally trained barista to operate and need to be clean after each use. It all depends on what your business needs are.
It is important to consider how much of an environmental impact your chosen machine will have. Try to remain as eco-conscious as possible and consider which machine will have the most sustainable impact. Compile a list of factors to watch out for, including whether parts of the machine can be recycled or if they end up in landfill, how much water and electricity they require to operate and how much energy they use. Many bean-to-cup machines have smart energy systems and power off during periods of inactivity and on weekends when not in use.
Coffee machines which use capsules are the least sustainable, as the pods are generally non-biodegradable, whereas bean-to-cup machines can be switched off when not in use with parts of the machine recyclable, rather than having to be dumped in landfill. Bean-to-cup and barista-style machines are therefore at the top of the hierarchy when it comes to the most environmentally sustainable coffee machine, having the least environmental impact in comparison to instant, filter and capsule machines.
The most popular demand of coffee machine for the office, is the bean-to-cup machine. A versatile, fast-working machine that can cater for up to sixty employees per day, offering up to 300 beverages and over six options of coffee, depending on the model of machine.
The goal of a bean-to-cup machine is to make fresh espresso beverages in a quick, convenient way. Bean-to-cup machines offer self-service coffee, without the need to be a professionally trained barista. Every machine has a control panel that allows you to adjust the settings and start/stop the coffee making process with an easy-to-navigate menu and touchscreen functionality. You can have one-touch espresso in the office and adjust the temperature, coffee strength and timing within seconds.
Commercial coffee machines, also known as barista-style machines, have the capacity to manage well in fast-paced environments, such as cafes and restaurants, but can be used in the office too. Some employers prefer the option to use a commercial coffee machine, especially if they have someone that has the skills to operate the machine and can train their colleagues on how to use it, without needing to hire a barista. If you like the thought of grinding your coffee beforehand and being hands-on with the steam wand, to froth or steam your own milk, then a commercial coffee machine is top of the list.
Your office could soon be equipped with a brand new, commercial coffee machine that can provide you with the type of specialist beverages sold by cafes, hotels and niche coffee shops. Having a new coffee machine could help secure your businesses long-term reputation and improve productivity levels in the office and encouraging social interaction when it comes to making a speciality beverage. The size, scope and volume of your business is arguably the most important factor to consider, as it will determine the capacity of machine you need in your office. These types of machine are often available with either two, three or four groupheads which can produce up to eight drinks at a time. Machines with up to four groupheads will allow more staff to use the equipment at any given point, for example, if you have an urgent meeting and need a coffee boost or want to have your own barista competition in the office.
A machine with two groupheads can create single or double shots of espresso and can be used to produce up to one beverage at a time, making it ideal for small office facilities, with fifty employees or less. Buyers can usually expect to pay between £1,200 and £1,500 for a high-quality commercial coffee machine with two groupheads. A Zircon 2 Group is a leading espresso machine that has two steam wands, a pre-infusion chamber and an auto back-flush group head. It is a small, compact espresso machine ideal for low volume use.
A machine with three groupheads like a La Spaziale S40 Selectron with a digital pressure sensor and STEM heating system, can produce between 150 and 250 cups each day, for medium to large volume use. Machines with three groupheads further offer additional benefits, while also including the standard features of a two grouphead machine. Additional features range from control and diagnostic features, to additional cleaning accessories, that allow you to fine tune your machine.
A machine with four groupheads offer similar features to a machine with three groupheads. However, machines with four groupheads have an additional drink making capacity, serving up to 250 cups a day in high-volume environments. They are available for around £3,000 and can produce up to eight drinks simultaneously, while also featuring a large-capacity boiler, multiple steam tubes and electronic controls. Many machines with four groupheads, is best suited to an office environment with over 100 employees to serve its full purpose.
Both bean-to-cup and commercial coffee machines can be purchased outright, or alternatively, you can set up your own individual lease plan to suit you and make monthly payments as you go. Opting to have a coffee machine in your workplace is like choosing a car, you can either test drive the coffee machine for a few months before deciding to own it outright, or you can make the purchase there and then. If you are thinking of a low-cost alternative for your business, then a bean-to-cup machine would be a better option in the short-term.
There are additional costs involved with owning or leasing a commercial coffee machine, including buying specialist equipment for it, such as a fully-automated grinder to grind your coffee beans, milk jugs and cleaning products. Commercial coffee grinders can range in price depending on whether you are considering a lease plan or wanting to purchase it outright. When purchasing outright, the cost ranges from £300 to £1500. When leasing, you can spread your payments over 3 to 5 years, paying £7.50 or less a month depending on the type of grinder you choose.
Leasing A Coffee Machine
Making monthly payments over a longer period allows you to budget your funds and is also a very tax efficient way of trying out a new coffee machine. The cost of leasing equipment is deductible from taxable income. A “Lease to Buy” or “Lease Rental” enables you to choose the best equipment for your needs without it affecting cash flow with an opportunity to own it outright at the end of the Lease period. In addition to this, you can also lease any specialist equipment needed and helps preserve your working capital. There are various budget options, with some machines costing less, and some costing more depending on the brand and model of machine, ranging between £2000 and £4000.
Leasing a coffee machine means you will have less capital expenditure which will allow your money to go further and you will be able to spread the cost of your equipment over its useful working life. It gives you the chance, also, to invest in a higher quality coffee machine to handle the output of your business with manageable payments. There are various tax benefits too, with leasing rentals being 100% tax allowable and can be offset against your pre-tax profits during the lease period. If you are a VAT registered company, then you can reclaim the VAT monthly.
Leasing is easy to budget for with each plan being a fixed agreement that will not be affected by changes in interest rate. This allows you to budget accordingly without worrying about cash flow. Our commercial coffee machines come with flexible lease terms and low-cost monthly payments to suit your business needs. You will have a quick payback period and the income generated from the coffee you can make quickly cover the lease amount. Coffee machines can also be rented through short-term agreements perfect for one-off events or conferences when buying equipment would be too expensive. Both renting and leasing can free up cash flow for other investments.
With a leasing plan, you can spread your payments over the course of between 3 to 5 years and at the end of your lease, if you decide you no longer want or need your coffee machine, you can give it back. Leasing plans are ideal for businesses that are financially stable and require a short-term solution to improving productivity in the workplace, without having to invest the total cost of owning the machine outright.
WHAT A LEASE PLAN INCLUDES
Buying A Coffee Machine
There are many different advantages of buying a new coffee machine including that your product will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, you’ll have the feeling of ownership over your brand-new machine and have no monthly fees to pay. The disadvantages incurred with buying a coffee machine is that once the warranty period is over, you will be left liable to pay repair fees and comes with expensive upfront costs. If you want a quick solution and can afford a coffee machine outright, then it makes sense to simply make the purchase there and then.
In the long-term it is cheaper to purchase a coffee machine than it is to rent or lease them. We recommend that you draw up a budget scale beforehand, to ensure you have enough finances in the bank to purchase your chosen machine. If you feel your cash flow could be affected by purchasing outright, then consider setting up a lease plan so you can have your machine working instantly in the office to cater for your employees.
Purchasing a coffee machine is a straightforward sale where your business can claim capital allowances against the purchase you make. The machine becomes yours and the sale is complete.
Purchasing a commercial coffee machine is simple and requires you to pay one lump sum to become the sole owner of the equipment. You will make an instant one-off payment and wait for an install date. With all new purchases you will be given full maintenance and servicing and at least one-year guaranteed warranty. The benefits of buying a coffee machine is that you are in complete control of what machine type and model you want to buy, it is a fast and straightforward process and you will have full ownership of the machine that will become your asset.
WHAT A PURCHASE PLAN INCLUDES
Conclusion
Now you have weighed up all your options and explored the different ways of leasing or buying a commercial coffee machine for your business, it is time to start looking! We hope you have found this guide useful.
