What to Look For in an Office Coffee Machine
When it comes to working in an office, no matter how big or small, one of the most important things that you can do in order to improve the productivity of your workers, is to give them a good quality coffee machine in the break room.
There are so many different coffee machines available to choose from today and here I am going to give you a few of the most important things you are going to want to look for when it comes to choosing the right office coffee machine.
Uniqueness
When buying a coffee machine, you want to make sure it stands out and makes a good impression, which can impress not only your workers, but also current and potential clients you have in for meetings.
Reliability
A lot of the cheaper and less quality coffee machines have a tendency to break down from time to time, which means having to go without a coffee machine while it gets fixed.
So make sure that the coffee machine you get for your office is reliable.
Office Size
If you only have a small break room in your office, then you are going to want to go for a smaller coffee machine and there are some great ones out there.
However, if you have a big break room, then you might even want to consider getting more than one.
Water Supply
There are two main different water supply options you can get with coffee machines these days, by either having the machine plumbed in or by having a machine with a water reservoir.
So make sure you know which coffee machine is going to be the most practical one for your office break room.
Warranty
We already mentioned that you are going to want to get a coffee machine that is very reliable but everything has a chance of breaking down at some point, so make sure that you get the best warranty possible for the machine you go with.
Cleanability
Cleanliness in the workplace is of huge importance to any business of any size and the break room is no exception.
With that in mind, you really need to go for a coffee machine that is going to be easy to clean.
Low Maintenance
With a busy office and work environment, comes a busy break room and you do not want people having to queue up to use the coffee machine.
It is therefore a good idea to find one which will continue to work with minimal fuss.
Hard Working
As well as having to be low maintenance and needing to work with minimal fuss, your office coffee machine is also going to need to be hard working, as it is highly likely that it is going to have to make dozens of cups of coffee every day.
Quality
If you want to keep your employees happy and motivated and working to a high standard, then you will be amazed what a difference a quality coffee machine can do. With quality coffee available, you will see productivity increasing dramatically.
Not Only Coffee
While it is fair to say that the majority of office workers do prefer to enjoy a nice cup of coffee, you do also need to make sure that you cater to everyone’s needs.
Not everyone is a coffee drinker, so make sure that you get a machine that can also do tea and hot chocolate.
Easy to Use
Those of us who love a quality cup of coffee most likely have a coffee machine at home and have used many over time, so we know how they work.
However, if you have employees who are not used to coffee machines, then try to find one which is very easy to use.
Style
A coffee machine needs to be so much more than just a coffee machine, so make sure that you go for one which is really going to stand out and look good.
After all, nobody wants a cup of Joe from a drab looking machine.
So there you have it. If you are an office manager or a business owner; If you are looking to reward your staff and keep them highly motivated, or you just want to impress your current and potential clients, then make sure that you get the best possible coffee machine you can, taking on board the points I have made here. After all, nobody wants to see an old fashioned coffee machine that has a carafe full of coffee sitting on a hot plate, or an urn dispensing huge amounts of drab coffee. So make sure you think carefully when buying that new office coffee machine, as it could really make a huge difference to your business.
The Joy of Coffee
When it comes to the everyday morning routine, there are hundreds of millions of people all over the world who have to have their morning cup of coffee in order to get them out of that zombie feeling and ready for whatever the day has to bring. While that first cup of coffee before you leave for work is the best cup of the day, there is no denying that we all start to crave more coffee as the day goes by, but some workplaces and offices actually do not have a coffee machine in their break room. This seems absolutely crazy to me and I am going to give you a few little reasons as to why every workplace should have a coffee machine for their coffee lovers.
Variety of Coffee
When you have an office or a workplace which has even just a handful of employees there, you can pretty much guarantee that each and every one of them is going to have their own individual tastes and want something different. Heck, there are even times when I like to mix it up a bit myself and go crazy by having a cappuccino instead of latte. By having a coffee machine, you can offer your employees, and even your current and potential clients, a nice variety of coffee, so that there is a little something for everyone, keeping that workplace morale high and boosting the performance of your staff, even after their break.
Productivity Improvements
We have all been there at some point and a lot of people find that they experience it every day, due to not getting more coffee inside them as the day goes on, and that is mental fatigue and a lack in productivity as the hours pass by. Why do your employees always arrive at work with a spring in their step but then begin to fade in the afternoon? Well, it all comes down to the mental stimulation that we get from a simple cup of coffee. Just by having that coffee machine in your break room, you will see a drastic improvement in productivity from your workers, and also from yourself too.
Improved Networking
There was once a time in the working world, where people would go and have a chat by the water cooler, and while these meetings do still occur in some offices and workplaces, it is now fair to say that people much more prefer to do it with a cup of coffee. There are some bosses who feel that staff chatting over a cup of coffee is simply timewasting and needless gossip but it is actually a great way of networking and team building. Having your team members talking to one another not only encourages and improves their relationships as work colleagues but it also enables them to discuss things about ongoing projects, keeping everyone in the loop. And what better way to do that than over a cup of coffee.
Why a Coffee Machine?
By now I am assuming that you are asking yourself why you would need a coffee machine, when you have a kettle in the breakroom already, and people can help themselves to instant coffee. Well it is quite simple really. The better the cup of coffee, the happier the employee. With a good quality coffee machine and a nice selection of different coffees, you are going to see a much happier and proactive workplace. So go and get that new coffee machine that has just hit the market, you know it makes sense.
The Best Keurig for an Office
In the following section I have reviewed six different Keurig coffee makers, all of which are ideal in office environments.
The first three machines I have reviewed are the K150, K150P and the K155.
And I was surprised by how much confusion there is about these machines.
The trouble is that they are nearly identical, which is troublesome because many reviewers just dismiss them as being the same machine in terms of looks and functions.
But there are subtle differences between them which you need to know about because it will help you choose exactly the right machine for your office.
Firstly, let’s have a look at the K150.
Keurig K150
- K- Cup compatible
- Touchscreen interface
- Extra Large 90oz. Water Reservoir
- Five Different Brew Sizes (4 oz. | 6 oz. | 8 oz. | 10 oz. | 12 oz.)
- Adjustable brew temperatures
- Removable Drip Tray
- NSF Certified
- Auto On/Off
- Multi Language
- Quick Speed Brew
And now the K150P.
Keurig K150P
I won’t display a list of features because the K150 and K150P are almost identical.
In fact, look-wise they are identical as they have the same coloring and they are identical in terms of their dimensions.
The one difference between them is related to water.
Both models have a huge 90 oz. water reservoir but the K150P comes with a pre- assembled plumbing kit that can connect it directly to a water supply.
This means that the K150P never needs to have its reservoir filled again, as the water will be “on tap.”
And so, if you are stuck between the K150 and the K150P then perhaps the deciding question is, how much coffee will be consumed in your office?
The water reservoir in the K150 holds enough for about 18 servings.
If the amount of coffee that is drunk far exceeds that amount, you might want to buy the K150P.
And then, phone a plumber to install it for you!
The K150 can also be connected to a water supply but in order to do this you will need to buy the plumbing kit separately.
One last thing to add to the confusion is that the Keurig K150 is identical to the B150!
And now, let’s find out about the K155.
Keurig K155 Office Pro
Details
Features
There is no need to write a bullet point list of features for the K155 because it is almost identical to the K150 and the K150P.
But there are three differences.
- An obvious physical difference is that the K155 has a silver colored “brewhead” whereas the K150 and the K150P have a black brewhead.
All three models have exactly the same dimensions- 13.9″ (H) x 14.0″ (D) x 10.4″ (W).
2. The K155 has a 90 oz. water reservoir and it cannot be connected directly to a water pipe.
As we found out earlier, the K150P and the K150 can be.
3. The K155 can brew 4 different sizes of cup (4oz. | 6 oz. | 8 oz. | 10 oz.) whereas the K150 and K150P can brew five sizes of cup (4oz. | 6 oz. | 8 oz. | 10 oz. | 12 oz.)
Keurig K140
If you are running a small office of around 15 people or less, then the Keurig K140 would be ideal for you.
The machine gives you the option of thee different cup sizes ( 6oz., 8oz., and 10oz.) while it also comes with a faily impressive 48oz. water reservoir, which means less need to refill so often.
I found that the Ekobrew reusable filter works perfectly for this model too, giving it an even better tasting cup of Joe.
And the fact that it brews in less than a minute means no waiting around.
Oh, and I have to give a big shout out to the easy draining tank, which drains at just the touch of a button. How cool is that?
Features:
- Three Different Cup Sizes
- 48oz. Reservoir Tank
- Reusable Filter Compatible
- Removable Drip Tray
- Quick Brew
- Auto On and Off Mode
- Easy Drainage
Keurig K575
If you are after a rich, smooth and delicious cup of coffee which delivers every single time, then I would have to recommend the Keurig K575.
As well as offering the user a choice of multiple different cup sizes, for K-Cup, K-Mug, and K-Carafe, you are also in control of the temperature.
Meanwhile the machine also offers a strength control option, allowing you to go for that strong cup of Joe.
The large touchscreen makes for use and the 80oz. water reservoir means less time wasted refilling.
You can also use a variety of top brand coffee pods, while it also caters for tea, hot chocolate and much more.
As you can tell, I absolutely love the K575 and would recommend it to absolutely anyone.
Features:
- K- Cup Sizes: 4oz., 6oz., 8oz., 10oz., 12oz.
- K- Mug Sizes: 12oz., 14oz., 16oz., 18oz.
- Carafe Sizes: 22oz., 24oz., 30oz.
- Large Touchscreen Display
- Easy Customizing
- Easy Programming
- Favourite Setting Save Function
- 80oz. Water Reservoir
- Temperature Adjustment
- Strength Adjustment
- Hot Water on Demand
Keurig K 3000 SE
And lastly, we have the K3000 SE.
This is the King of Office Coffee Machines and it is designed to be used in large offices.
This is a large and powerful machine and its dimensions are;
17.4″ (H) x 18.0″ (D) x 12.0″ (W)
It is designed to make coffee on a continual basis and to help with this, it has;
- Direct water line plumbing
- Automatic K- Cup pod ejection with built- in disposal bin
- Back to back brewing in less than 1 minute.
Other key features include;
- 4 brewing sizes ( 4 oz | 6 oz | 8 oz | 10 oz)
- LCD interface
- Adjustable temperature
- Separate hot water spigot
