When businesses start looking for a new workplace coffee machine, they often ask questions like:
- Which machine makes the best coffee?
- Should we choose bean-to-cup or pod?
- How much does it cost?
They’re all good questions.
But there’s one question that’s even more important:
How many drinks will your workplace make each day?
Understanding your daily drinks volume is one of the easiest ways to choose the right workplace coffee machine—and avoid paying for features you don’t need or buying a machine that can’t keep up.
What Is Drinks Volume?
Drinks volume simply means the number of hot drinks your workplace is likely to make each day.
That includes:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Hot chocolate
- Specialty drinks
Knowing this figure helps suppliers recommend equipment that’s designed for your level of demand.
Why Does Drinks Volume Matter?
Commercial coffee machines are designed for different workloads.
Some are perfect for smaller offices making 20 drinks a day.
Others are built to serve hundreds of drinks across busy workplaces, warehouses or manufacturing facilities.
Choosing the wrong machine can lead to:
- Longer waiting times
- More frequent maintenance
- Increased wear and tear
- Higher running costs
- A disappointing experience for employees
Matching the machine to your drinks volume helps ensure consistent performance throughout the working day.
Low Drinks Volume
Smaller workplaces often prioritise simplicity and drink variety.
If your team only prepares a relatively small number of drinks each day, a compact machine may be the ideal solution.
These workplaces often benefit from:
- Easy operation
- Low maintenance
- Premium coffee
- Tea and speciality drink options
Medium Drinks Volume
As workplaces grow, demand increases.
A machine serving 60–100 drinks every day needs greater capacity, faster preparation times and easier refilling.
At this stage, reliability becomes just as important as drink quality.
High Drinks Volume
Busy workplaces require equipment that’s built for continuous use.
Warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centres and larger offices often need machines capable of serving hundreds of drinks every day without compromising performance.
Choosing a machine designed for high-volume environments helps reduce downtime and keeps employees refreshed during busy periods.
It’s Not Just About Employee Numbers
A common misconception is that the number of employees determines the machine you need.
In reality, what matters is how many drinks are made.
For example:
- A team of 20 dedicated coffee drinkers may need a larger machine than an office of 40 where many employees rarely drink hot beverages.
- Visitor numbers, shift patterns and meeting facilities can also increase demand.
That’s why drinks volume is such an important part of the conversation.
We’ll Help You Find the Right Fit
At Office Barista, one of the first things we’ll ask is how many drinks your workplace expects to make each day.
From there, we can recommend the solution that’s right for your business.
Whether that’s:
- A bean-to-cup coffee machine for freshly ground coffee
- A FLAVIA drinks system offering Lavazza coffee and Twinings tea
- A KLIX hot drinks machine for busy industrial environments
Our recommendation is based on your workplace—not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is drinks volume important when choosing a coffee machine?
Drinks volume helps determine the size, capacity and type of machine that will perform reliably in your workplace.
How do I estimate workplace drinks volume?
Count the approximate number of coffees, teas and other hot drinks your team, visitors and customers are likely to consume during a typical working day.
Can a coffee machine be too large for a workplace?
Yes. An oversized machine may cost more to purchase and operate than necessary. Choosing equipment that matches your actual demand usually provides the best value.
Does drinks volume affect running costs?
Yes. Selecting a machine designed for your expected usage helps improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary servicing and deliver a better cost per cup.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a workplace hot drinks machine, don’t start with the machine.
Start with the drinks.
Understanding how many hot drinks your workplace serves each day is the simplest way to choose equipment that delivers reliable performance, great coffee and long-term value.
Get the drinks volume right, and choosing the right machine becomes much easier.
