A cup of good coffee provides the perfect start to the day, particularly in office settings. But choosing which coffee maker to buy is challenging. Several brands and models are available in the market, and the technology used in these machines is ever-evolving.
There are several key features to keep in mind while making this decision, especially about the quantity of coffee it can produce and the ease of use. With all the salient features in mind, we have compiled a list of the coffee makers that can best serve their purpose in an office. So keep reading to explore with us!
1. Bonavita 8-Cup Connoisseur
Bonavita Connoisseur is an 8-cup drip coffee maker. Forbes declared it the best coffee maker overall in their 2021 ranking. Its simple-to-use interface makes it the best fit for offices, where not all the employees would be familiar with the sophisticated settings of modern coffee makers. In addition, this coffee maker is known for brewing coffee at an optimal temperature, thus promising the best flavor possible.
One of the main features of Bonavita 8-Cup Connoisseur is its capacity. It uses a carafe with a capacity of 40 oz. Thus, it allows the coffee maker to prepare 6 to 8 cups of coffee at a time. Moreover, it has a one-button operation making its interface one of the easiest to use. To prepare your coffee, all you have to do is fill the water reservoir, adjust the carafe and coffee filter, and simply press the button before leaving the rest to the coffee maker.
Bonavita 8-cup also offers a large showerhead, drizzling water evenly to the coffee grounds. This ensures the adequate saturation of coffee grounds for maximum flavor. Plus, you can remove the showerhead to clean it!
Pros
- Simple to use
- Certified by Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA)
- No use of Bisphenol A
- Pre-infusion of coffee grounds
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- The reservoir has a narrow lip
- Can’t keep the coffee hot for long
2. Keurig K-Café Coffee Maker
Keurig
has been in the coffee business for a long time now and understands its customers’ wants and needs. Keurig K-Café proves this understanding with the ability to brew a large variety of coffees ranging from cappuccinos to lattes easily with a single machine. It has some characteristics which make this unique feature possible.
The built-in water reservoir has a capacity of 60-ounce for up to 6 cups of coffee. The water reservoir also has a water level indicator through which one can easily know when the refill is required. Furthermore, it has another remarkable feature of variable brew sizes. It lets you brew your cup in four different sizes 6,8,10, and 12 ounces. Moreover, if you require an even bigger cup of coffee, remove the drip tray and place your cup under the dispenser. It can also prepare a wide range of coffee types. This variety makes it extremely useful in offices as people with different coffee preferences can use it.
A distinguishing feature of this coffee maker would be its frother. Any variety of milk can be frothed in its stainless steel frothing jug followed by a micro-foaming process.
Pros
- Quick brewing
- Variety of coffee drinks possible
- Consistency of foam
- Easy cleaning
Cons
- It takes up a lot of counter space
- A little expensive
- Capsules can get costly and are not recyclable
3. BUNN BT BT Speed Brew 10-Cup Thermal Carafe Home Coffee Brewer
Though it says home coffee brewer in the name, the BUNN Speed Brew coffee maker is perfectly suitable for the office setting because of its high capacity, safety features, and thermal carafe. BUNN has been a reputable name in the coffee machine manufacturers industry for decades, which is why their machines are all-rounders in aesthetics and functionality.
The coffee maker weighs 10 pounds and does not take up much counter space. It can make up to 10 cups of coffee at a time and holds 40 ounces of water. The water in the reservoir is always heated, so it is ready to dispense your brew within three minutes. The stainless steel build and the thermal carafe keep the coffee warm for at least two hours, but it does not come with a warmer plate.
An interesting safety feature is the vacation switch. Since the water needs to be kept warm, most people do not turn off the coffee maker, especially in offices. This is an essential feature of this product, but it turns into a safety hazard if left on for a long time. Once all the water in the reservoir evaporates, the coffee maker could catch fire. The vacation switch is for when the coffee maker will not be used for three days or more. Then, when you need to use it again, it will take around 15 minutes to reheat the water and be ready for brewing.
Pros
- Vacation switch for safety
- Can brew 10 cups at a time
- Sprayhead for even distribution of water
- Short brewing time
Cons
- No warmer plate
- Stainless steel build is not see-through
Buying Guide
There are certain features you need to focus on in buying a coffee maker for your office. Capacity is the most obvious one, but other than that, the coffee maker should be easy to clean, easy to use, and multifunctional. Before choosing which machine to go for, make sure you check the following features in your coffee machine.
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Capacity
It would be much better to go for a coffee machine that can hold a large amount of water. It saves time and is useful for making many cups of coffee at a time. Otherwise, people in your office will have to refill the water reservoir each time one of them needs to make a cup.
If some prefer the same type of brew, they could make it once and drink it. Similarly, if you choose a coffee maker that supports reservoirs of different capacities, everyone could just make coffee according to the demand at that time.
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Maintenance
A coffee machine in the office is going to be used by several people, so it should be of good quality and worth the money you paid. However, for a coffee machine to last long, it needs to be maintained, which requires regular cleaning and descaling. For these purposes, you should go for a machine with an automatic cleaning program or a coffee maker whose parts are easily removable and dishwasher safe.
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Personalization
Depending on the type of office you have, a programmable coffee machine could be better than a basic one. For example, you could program the machine to brew coffee before the office starts so that all your employees can start their day with a dose of delicious coffee. Additionally, it would allow you to set the temperature according to your need and pre-set drink settings like you want.
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Simple Interface
Modern coffee makers are sophisticated, elegant and come with tons of interesting features. When you go into the market to purchase a coffee maker, such features can be attractive, but you have to stop and think if you need a machine like that in your office. Since a coffee maker in the office setting has to be used by multiple people, it needs to have a simple user interface that is easy to understand for everyone.
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Safety
Any electrical appliance in a busy setting can be a safety hazard, and coffee makers are no different. For example, someone could forget to turn off the machine at the end of the day or leave it running at high temperatures. Therefore, the coffee maker you choose should have some in-built safety measures to prevent accidents. A great example would be the auto-shut-off function in many new coffee makers, which automatically turns the machine off after a set time.
Conclusion
Choosing a coffee machine for an office setting is not as easy as choosing one for personal use. Not only do you have to keep in mind the preferences of the people in the office, but numerous other elements are specifically important for office coffee makers.
To make your quest a little easier, we have gone through tons of products and chosen the ones given above that could be suitable for offices. So keep in mind the features we mentioned, and we hope you will be able to make a good decision.