A well-designed workplace drinks station does more than provide coffee and tea.
It helps employees take meaningful breaks, creates a positive impression for visitors and keeps busy workplaces running smoothly.
But without a little organisation, even the best coffee machine can end up surrounded by empty cups, overflowing bins and missing supplies.
Whether you manage an office, warehouse, factory or commercial workplace, this guide will help you create a tidy, efficient and professional drinks station that people actually enjoy using.
At A Glance:
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Best for |
Office managers, facilities teams and workplace managers |
|
Focus |
Keeping workplace refreshment areas clean, stocked and organised |
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Suitable for |
Offices, warehouses, factories and commercial workplaces |
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Key areas |
Coffee, tea, water, storage, waste and cleaning |
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Main benefit |
A cleaner, easier-to-manage drinks station that employees and visitors enjoy using |
Why a Tidy Drinks Station Matters
The office kitchen is one of the busiest shared spaces in any workplace.
Employees use it throughout the day for:
- Coffee breaks
- Tea breaks
- Filling water bottles
- Informal meetings
- Catching up with colleagues
A cluttered drinks station doesn’t just look untidy—it can also:
- Slow people down
- Create hygiene issues
- Increase cleaning requirements
- Make coffee machines harder to maintain
- Leave a poor impression on visitors
A clean, organised refreshment area helps improve both efficiency and the overall workplace experience.
1. Create Dedicated Zones
One of the easiest ways to reduce clutter is to organise your drinks station into clear areas.
For example:
Coffee Zone
- Coffee machine
- Coffee beans or pods
- Sugar and sweeteners
- Stirrers
Tea Zone
- Tea bags
- Herbal teas
- Hot water
- Spoons
Hydration Zone
- Water cooler
- Glasses
- Reusable bottles
Waste Zone
- General waste
- Recycling
- Used coffee grounds (where applicable)
When everything has its own place, people are more likely to leave the area tidy.
2. Keep Everyday Items Within Easy Reach
Employees shouldn’t have to search for essentials.
Store frequently used items together, including:
- Cups
- Lids
- Napkins
- Stirrers
- Sweeteners
- Milk portions
This reduces unnecessary movement and helps prevent worktops becoming cluttered.
3. Choose the Right Cups
The type of cup you provide can make a significant difference.
Many workplaces choose:
- Reusable mugs for staff kitchens
- Paper cups for visitors
- Takeaway cups for meetings
Providing the right cups for different situations helps improve convenience while keeping the drinks station organised.
4. Provide Enough Storage
Running out of supplies often leads to clutter.
Keep nearby storage for:
- Coffee beans
- Freshpacks
- KLIX cups
- Tea
- Sugar
- Hot chocolate
- Cleaning products
Well-organised storage makes restocking quicker and helps avoid supplies being left on worktops.
5. Empty Waste Bins Regularly
Coffee stations generate waste throughout the day.
This includes:
- Used cups
- Stirrers
- Coffee grounds
- Milk cartons
Bins should be emptied regularly to prevent overflowing and maintain a pleasant environment.
Providing clearly labelled recycling bins also encourages better waste management.
6. Clean Coffee Machines Every Day
A tidy drinks station starts with a clean machine.
Daily maintenance should include:
- Emptying drip trays
- Removing used coffee grounds
- Wiping external surfaces
- Cleaning milk systems
- Refilling water where required
Regular cleaning not only improves hygiene but also helps extend the life of your commercial coffee machine.
7. Assign Responsibility
One of the biggest reasons workplace kitchens become untidy is simple:
Everyone assumes someone else will sort it out.
Assigning responsibility for the drinks station helps ensure:
- Supplies stay stocked
- Machines stay clean
- Waste is emptied
- Maintenance issues are reported quickly
Many businesses include drinks station checks as part of their daily facilities routine.
8. Think Beyond Coffee
A modern workplace refreshment area should cater for everyone.
Consider offering:
- Premium coffee
- Twinings tea
- Herbal teas
- Hot chocolate
- Filtered chilled water
- Sparkling water
Providing a wider range of drinks helps improve employee satisfaction while creating a more welcoming space.
9. Use the Right Equipment
The best drinks stations combine practical equipment with thoughtful organisation.
Popular workplace refreshment solutions include:
Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machines
Bean to cup coffee machines are ideal for freshly ground coffee and speciality drinks.
FLAVIA Drinks Systems
The Flavia hot drinks machine is perfect for workplaces needing a mix of coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
KLIX Drinks Machines
Suitable for high-demand environments such as warehouses and factories.
Borg & Overström Water Coolers
Providing chilled, filtered and sparkling water while reducing reliance on bottled water.
Choosing equipment that suits your workplace makes day-to-day management much easier.
10. Review Your Drinks Station Regularly
As workplaces change, refreshment areas should evolve too.
Ask yourself:
- Is there enough storage?
- Are supplies easy to find?
- Is the layout working?
- Are queues forming?
- Are employees using the facilities as expected?
Small improvements made regularly often have the biggest long-term impact.
Daily Workplace Drinks Station Checklist
- Wipe down worktops and machine surfaces
- Empty and clean drip trays
- Empty coffee grounds or used Freshpacks where applicable
- Check and clean milk systems where required
- Empty waste and recycling bins
- Refill coffee, tea and hot chocolate
- Check milk and dairy-free alternatives
- Restock cups, lids, stirrers and napkins
- Check the water supply or water cooler
- Make sure the area is clean and ready for the next day
Always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions for your particular machine. Cleaning requirements vary between bean-to-cup, fresh milk, FLAVIA and other commercial drinks systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you organise an office drinks station?
The best approach is to create separate zones for coffee, tea, water and waste while keeping frequently used supplies easily accessible.
How often should a workplace coffee station be cleaned?
Coffee machines should be cleaned daily, with worktops wiped regularly and waste emptied before bins become full.
What should every workplace drinks station include?
A well-equipped drinks station typically includes a coffee machine, tea options, filtered water, cups, stirrers, sweeteners, milk, waste bins and organised storage for supplies. Read here about Daily Drinks Volume to determine how much you will need.
How can businesses reduce clutter around coffee machines?
Providing enough storage, assigning responsibility and creating clearly defined refreshment zones are some of the most effective ways to keep workplace drinks stations tidy.
Why is a tidy office kitchen important?
A clean and organised workplace kitchen improves hygiene, supports employee wellbeing, creates a positive impression for visitors and makes shared spaces easier to use.
Who should be responsible for maintaining a workplace drinks station?
Responsibility will depend on the size and structure of your workplace. In smaller offices, a nominated member of the team may check supplies and cleaning each day, while larger organisations often include drinks station checks within their facilities or cleaning routines. What's most important is that responsibility is clearly assigned rather than assuming someone else will take care of it.
Final Thoughts
A workplace drinks station isn’t just somewhere to grab a coffee.
It’s one of the most frequently used shared spaces in your business.
By keeping it clean, organised and well stocked, you’ll create a better experience for employees, visitors and facilities teams alike.
Sometimes it’s the smallest improvements—like clearer storage, cleaner worktops and better organisation—that make the biggest difference to the working day.
Planning a new drinks station?
Learn how to choose a coffee machine that suits your workplace, drink requirements and daily usage.
→ Read: The Ultimate Office Coffee Machine Buying Guide
Want a tidier all-in-one coffee station?
Discover how Lavazza Coffee Towers combine a commercial coffee machine with convenient storage and professional presentation.
→ Read: Lavazza Branded Coffee Towers: Create a Premium Self-Service Coffee Station for Your Business
Not sure how much capacity you need?
Learn why the number of drinks you make each day should be one of the first things you consider.
→ Read: Why Daily Drinks Volume Is the Most Important Factor When Choosing a Workplace Hot Drinks Machine
Need help designing your workplace drinks solution?
Our team can help you choose the right machine and setup for your space, workforce and requirements.
→ Contact the Office Barista team.
