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8 Best Coffee Makers for Business USA 2022 (Caffeinated Workers Are Happy Workers)

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Scott

October 10, 2023

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There are so many options out there when it comes to choosing the perfect coffee machine to keep your colleagues satisfied. It can be a bit overwhelming to know where to begin.

To help you narrow down your options I’ve put together this review article that has 8 fantastic coffee makers to suit any business. Whether it’s just one or two people who like their morning cup of joe or many more, rest assured there’s a machine here to suit.

Alongside the product reviews, I’ve added a handy buyers guide to give you some pointers and ideas of what to look out for. I’ve also included some F.A.Q.s and a couple of reviews on extra equipment that you may need alongside your coffee machine.

So grab a freshly brewed cup of java, sit back and relax as I take you on a journey to the best coffee maker for your business, starting off with our top choice.

Top 5 Best Coffee Makers for Businesses

• Top Choice – BUNN VPR-2EP 12-Cup Pourover Commercial Coffee Brewer
• Runner Up – De’Longhi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine TrueBrew
• Best For Drink Variety – Hamilton Beach Programmable Coffee Maker & Hot Water Dispenser
• Best Single Serve – Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker
• Best Automatic Coffee Machine – Cuisinart DCC-T20 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

1. Top Choice – BUNN VPR-2EP 12-Cup Pourover Commercial Coffee Brewer

For our top choice today we have this commercial, 12 cup coffee maker by Bunn. It’s a generously sized drip machine that has an added extra. It comes with two carafes and it has two warming plates so you can brew a lot of cups of coffee in one go. This is perfect for a busy office breakroom or for a coffee shop.

No plumbing is required as you just top up the water reservoir. This allows easy setup and it can go anywhere you need it. The internal components are all stainless steel and this is a very durable and hard-wearing machine.

The carafes are made of plastic which is good as it won’t break if dropped but doesn’t give as fresh a cup as a glass carafe would. It has a splash guard built into the funnel to protect you from hot water splashes so this is great if there are lots of people using this machine daily.

The coffee brews instantly once water is poured in and can make an impressive 3.8 gallons per hour. It’s a really easy to use, large capacity workhorse that makes office coffee an effortless affair.

2. Runner Up – De’Longhi Dinamica Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine TrueBrew

If you work in an environment that houses folk who require a bit more than a simple drip coffee then this coffee machine by De’Longhi is perfect. With simple, one-touch drinks you’ll get barista-quality coffee in an instant.

It’s an espresso maker but can also froth milk, grind your coffee beans, brew coffee at 5 different strengths, and even has a cold brew option. The machine only takes 40 seconds to heat up and it’s a simple push-button operation so no one can use it as an excuse to take an extra-long break.

It’s super simple to dismantle for cleaning but this machine can be a little tricky to set up. Luckily, you only have to do this once and then everyone can have any type of coffee they desire. It is a single-serve coffee maker so better for a small business or one where you don’t require huge volumes in one go.

This machine makes delicious espresso with a thick crema and can also make high-quality cappuccino and other specialty coffees. It’s a well designed, all-in-one machine that will save you plenty of time and money. Just add your coffee beans, top up the water and you’re good to go!

3. Best For Drink Variety – Hamilton Beach Programmable Coffee Maker & Hot Water Dispenser

If you work in an office that hosts a mix of both tea and coffee lovers then you need a machine that can do both. This 12 cup, drip coffee machine by Hamilton beach does just that. Alongside the coffee pot, it has a hot water dispenser as well.

This machine is fully automatic so you can set it to brew whenever suits you. The coffee brewer and hot water function both have separate, easy to use programs. You can even use both these functions at the same time.

It’s sure to deliver a delicious cup of joe every time thanks to the cone-shaped filters. This helps to funnel the water through the ground coffee evenly, avoiding dry spots, and leading to a perfect extraction.

There’s no risk of this machine burning out if it’s accidentally left on overnight as it has an automatic shut-off function which is perfect for a busy workplace.

The only downside with this model is that the water tank can be a bit tricky to re-fill. It has quite a narrow inlet so requires a bit of patience to get the water level replenished. Apart from this, it’s otherwise a very good coffee brewer.

4. Best Single Serve – Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker

For a single-cup coffee machine, this Keurig is perfect. It gives you fresh coffee at the touch of a button and it only takes 1 minute to brew. It is really easy to use thanks to its advanced, full-color, LCD touchscreen and it has programmable auto on/off settings.

There are 4 different brew size options to suit everyone and this influences the strength of the brewed coffee.

It has an internal hot water tank that has the option of simple removal and drainage so it can easily be moved around when required and stored away when not in use.

Thanks to the K-cup pods you can choose between 500 types of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other specialty drinks. It even has the option for iced drinks, perfect for a hot summer’s day.

It’s quiet, attractive, and a versatile option, perfect for a busy office. It keeps break times short and satisfying but the downside is that the pods are more expensive per cup compared to ground coffee. This is worth considering when choosing a coffee machine for the office.

5. Best Automatic Coffee Machine – Cuisinart DCC-T20 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker

For automated drip coffee, this Cuisinart model is ideal. It has an enormous water reservoir that can hold 112 ounces and is not plummed so you can place this coffee maker anywhere. It has loads of really useful settings including brew pause, self-clean, brew-strength control, auto on/off, and optional ready-alert.

You can easily set the brew size using the simple touchscreen controls. It doesn’t have any annoying knobs or switches jutting out so works well in a busy environment. It makes really good coffee and the warming plate keeps it piping hot for you.

It has a charcoal water filter which helps remove impurities from the water resulting in a clean and delicious cup of java. The glass carafe also helps ensure a delicious taste, even when left warming for ages.

It comes with a reusable coffee filter which helps limit waste but it can be tricky to get clean and you may find you need to use paper filters as well to limit sediment.

Overall this machine has loads of great features and settings that make it really user friendly and it can make large volumes of coffee without a fuss.

Commercial Coffee Machine Buyers Guide

Capacity

The first thing to consider when buying a coffee maker for the workplace is how many employees do you have? It may be worth gathering a list of how many coffee lovers you work with to ensure you get a machine that can cope.

Make sure you consider the size of the carafe when choosing a drip machine to ensure that there is plenty of coffee to go round. It’s also worth considering the water tank size for single-serve machines as you don’t want to be endlessly topping it up.

Length Of Time To Brew

The time taken to get from bean to cup is important. Some employees can make a real song and dance out of the coffee break time and you really want this machine to help boost productivity not inhibit it.

Look for a machine that is straightforward to use and has a quick brew time to ensure that gossiping in the break room is kept to a minimum.

Type

The type of machine you get really depends on a few factors. If you have a large number of workers that love simple, fresh coffee then it has to be a drip machine. If you have a few fussy folk who prefer specialty drinks then a pod machine can be ideal. If people love their coffee extra dark then a percolator or french press is ideal. If you have an office of coffee connoisseurs then consider a pour-over set-up or an espresso machine.

Plumbed/Non-Plumbed

For caffeinating large crowds, a plumbed in machine can be a good shout. It keeps itself topped up and can keep the coffee on tap. The issue with these machines is that they are expensive, difficult to set up and placement of them is limited.

A non-plumbed machine is easier to set up and can go pretty much anywhere. They are perfect for small to medium-sized offices or you can even get several of them to strategically place around a very large area.

Extra Equipment

Extra equipment is required with some of these set-ups so is worth taking into account before you buy your new coffee machine. Basic items like filter papers and coffee pods need to be added to the shopping list alongside fresh coffee. If you’re using whole beans you will need a grinder as well. If the machine doesn’t have a heating element you will need to purchase a separate kettle as well.

A coffee urn can be a perfect accompaniment to any large coffee machine as it keeps the beverage hot and allows you to serve large volumes of coffee in an instant. These are great for meetings and conferences as they let you prepare the coffee in advance.

F.A.Q.s

Which commercial coffee machine is the best?

Based on this review, Bunn has come in on top with their 12 cup pour-over commercial coffee maker. It’s a spacious machine that can brew large volumes with ease and has the added bonus of two carafes and two hotplates to keep the coffee piping hot.

How long does a commercial coffee machine last?

Depending on the brand you go for generally you’d expect a commercial coffee maker to last anywhere between 1 and 15 years. Keeping it clean, descaled and well looked after can extend the life of your machine considerably.

What coffee machine does Starbucks use?

Starbucks uses a custom brand of coffee machine called Mastrena. They have built-in grinders to speed up espresso making.

What’s the difference between a coffee machine and an espresso machine?

An espresso machine uses high pressure and temperature to extract a low volume, concentrated coffee that’s extremely rich and dark in flavor.

A drip coffee machine gently trickles water over the ground coffee so that the flavor gradually seeps into it. The filter removes any sediment and you’re left with a larger volume with a lighter flavor.

How do coffee machines heat water so fast?

The coffee machine pumps water up past a heating element so it doesn’t heat the whole lot in one go. As the water passes through it heats up to the desired temperature and this gives complete control over the temperature and amount of water used.

More Coffee Makers Reviewed

Best Percolator – Presto 02811 12-Cup Stainless Steel Coffee Maker

A percolator is a thermal coffeemaker that always reminds me of hotel stays. It brings a touch of class to coffee brewing and that fresh aroma is hard to beat. It works by bubbling water up through a filter paper containing coffee in the top portion and results in delicious fresh coffee in the lower portion.

This compact and attractive little jug can produce 12 cups of coffee at a cup-a-minute rate and the thermal carafe keeps the coffee very hot right up to serving.

The whole pot is made out of durable stainless steel both inside and out so will last a long time.

The downside with percolators is that if they are left running for a while they can result in a bitter-tasting cup of coffee. This is due to the high water temperature and is a common problem with these types of coffee brewers. This is a good option for making large volumes of coffee easily but if you have any baristas in the office, best stick to a pour-over!

It has a detachable power cord so you can easily move it around to serve coffee or store it away when not in use.

This is a budget-friendly coffee maker and makes great tasting coffee, effortlessly.

Best French Press – Frieling USA Double-Walled Stainless-Steel French Press Coffee Maker

A French Press is a sophisticated and very popular coffee brewing method. For the office or any workplace, this model by Freling is ideal as it has a large capacity and it is insulated thanks to the double-wall so will keep the coffee warm. There are a few different size options available on Amazon so you can choose the one to best suit your workplace.

It has a dual-screen (two-stage) filter which prevents gritty particles from ending up in the coffee and the stainless steel design gives a fresh, clean cup every time. It’s also shatterproof (unlike the standard glass design) so safer to have in a busy workspace.

The spout is designed to avoid drips so this pot won’t make a mess in the lunchroom. When using this French Press it’s important to give the coffee a good 4 minutes to brew to ensure a good extraction of flavors.

A downside with this coffee brewer is that you do also need a kettle or some other way of heating the water as it doesn’t have a heating element built-in.

It’s perfect for a small office or workspace where there are a handful of coffee lovers. It’s pretty indestructible and will last many years even despite heavy use.

Best Pour Over – CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker

If you work in an office that’s full of coffee snobs, hipsters, or coffee connoisseurs then there’s only one choice for an office coffee pot. The Chemex is a piece of art as well as an effective brewing method.

It is made of glass and uses specially designed filters to ensure the perfect balance of flavors. This helps remove bitter notes leaving a lovely rich and sweet brew.

The Chemex is made of high-quality, non-porous borosilicate glass that doesn’t hold onto odors or chemical residue. It’s a flawless design and will elevate any work coffee station to professional, barista quality.

The Chemex is delicate and not ideal for a chaotic workspace. It also ideally needs a gooseneck kettle to ensure an even pour when using it. This coffee maker is a bit more involved than some of the others but for the real coffee lovers out there it will make the workday an awful lot sweeter.

Best Coffee Dispenser – Airpot Coffee Dispenser with Pump

It’s not a coffee brewer, but if you have a crowd needing caffeinating then you may want to consider a coffee urn. This thermos by Vondior will keep up to 102 ounces of coffee warm for up to 20 hours.

It’s an easy-to-clean, stainless steel design with a wide mouth top so is easy to fill. It comes with a pump-action dispenser so you can pour the coffee with ease. It also comes with a handy cleaning brush included.

This product does require you to brew the coffee in a separate airpot coffee brewer so isn’t a complete brewing solution. It is perfect for long meetings and very busy offices that need a good supply of coffee to hand.

Best Coffee Grinder – OXO BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder with Integrated Scale

With any coffee machine that takes fresh coffee, you can’t forget the grinder! Fresh ground coffee is hard to beat and will turn an average cup of joe into a delicious taste explosion. When you grind coffee beans the particle size needs to be even to ensure you get an even extraction no matter which brewing method you use.

To do this you need a burr grinder just like this one by Oxo. This model may be a little pricey but you do get a lot of bang for your buck. The high torque motor won’t heat up so this doesn’t affect the flavor of your beans and avoids burnout.

It can hold an impressive 16 oz of coffee beans which can make around 12 cups of coffee depending on strength. It has a no-bean detector so won’t grind on empty. Integrated scales are a nice feature and make this grinder a really versatile and useful addition to any work coffee station.

Final Thoughts

There are loads of great options when it comes to the best coffee maker for the workplace. Whether you work in a small office of two or a huge workshop of 50 or more there is a coffee machine out there that will satisfy your needs.

I hope this article has helped give you some food for thought and some inspiration for choosing the best coffee maker for your workplace. I firmly believe that a well-caffeinated worker is a happy, productive worker and all you need to do is provide the perfect brewing vessel.

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