The cost of a commercial coffee machine depends on the type of machine, how many drinks you serve, the brand, and whether you buy, lease or rent. There is no single price that fits a café, a restaurant and an office, which is why a quote based on your drinks and your space is more useful than a headline figure.
This guide explains what drives the cost, how the payment options compare, and how Cool Beans Coffee can help you choose a commercial coffee machine for your business. For the machines themselves, see our commercial coffee machines page.
What affects the cost of a commercial coffee machine?
Machine type. A traditional La Marzocco espresso machine, used with a barista and a grinder, is a different investment from a bean-to-cup coffee machine that makes a drink at the touch of a button. The right choice depends on who is making the coffee and how many drinks you need at your busiest time. We have a separate guide on bean to cup versus traditional espresso.
Capacity. A quiet office and a busy high-street café do not need the same output. More group heads, a larger boiler and a faster bean-to-cup cycle usually cost more, but a machine that cannot keep up at peak times costs you more in lost sales and long queues.
Brand and build. A well-built commercial machine is designed for daily use, holds its value and can be serviced for years. That is why many cafés choose established commercial brands rather than a cheaper machine that is not built for the volume.
Installation, training and support. The amount on the invoice is only part of what you pay. Installation, barista or staff training, a grinder, water filtration and aftercare all sit around the machine. When we quote, we will tell you what is included in your package.
Coffee beans and running costs. Over the life of the machine, coffee beans, milk, cleaning products, servicing and energy often add up to more than the machine itself. A machine that is set up for your beans, and a regular bean supply that matches it, will do more for the cost of each cup than shaving a little off the machine price. Cool Beans Coffee supplies freshly roasted Happy Donkey coffee alongside the machine, so the two can be set up to work together.
Buying, leasing or renting
Most of our commercial coffee machines can be bought outright, or leased or rented through our panel of finance providers. The right option depends on how you want to use your cash.
Buying means you own the machine from the start. It suits businesses that want to pay once and have no finance payments to budget for. The trade-off is a larger payment at the beginning, at a time when a new café or restaurant may also need to pay for fit-out, stock and staff.
Leasing spreads the cost over a fixed term, which can make a higher-spec machine more affordable month to month and leaves cash in the business. You are committed for that term. Read more on our commercial coffee machine leasing, hire and rental page, and in our guide to leasing versus buying.
Rental is often the most flexible of the three, and can suit a new business, a seasonal site or a short-term need. You do not build up ownership of the machine in the same way as a purchase.
Cool Beans Coffee UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 913930). We act as a credit broker, not a lender. Finance is subject to status. We may receive a commission for introducing you to a finance provider.
Office, café and restaurant machines are priced differently
An office coffee machine is usually a bean-to-cup model that staff can use without barista training. The cost is driven by how many drinks your team makes each day and whether you want a regular bean delivery with the machine.
A café or coffee shop that wants traditional espresso will often spend more on the machine, the grinder and the training, because a barista-made menu is the product they sell. A restaurant, hotel or leisure venue may want a mix: a traditional machine at the bar and a bean-to-cup machine for breakfast or self-service.
How to get a useful figure
The most accurate way to understand the cost is to tell us how many drinks you serve, what you want on the menu, and whether you would rather buy, lease or rent. We can then recommend a commercial coffee machine, talk through the coffee supply, and work out how the cost looks per cup for your business.
Call 0800 107 6341, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or email [email protected]. We are Cool Beans Coffee UK, based at Clifton Trade Park, Unit 10A Brinwell Road, Blackpool, FY4 4QU, and we supply commercial coffee machines to businesses across the UK.
FAQs
How much does a commercial coffee machine cost in the UK?
It depends on the type of machine, its capacity, the brand, and whether you buy, lease or rent. A bean-to-cup machine for an office and a traditional espresso machine for a busy café are different investments. The best way to get a figure for your business is to get a quote.
Is it cheaper to lease a commercial coffee machine than to buy one?
Leasing usually means a lower payment at the start and a regular payment over a fixed term. Buying means a larger payment at the beginning and no finance payments afterwards. Which is cheaper overall depends on the machine, the term and how long you plan to use it. We will talk you through both.
Does the price include installation and coffee beans?
What is included depends on the package we put together for you. When we quote, we will set out the machine, any extras such as a grinder, installation and training, and how the coffee bean supply works.
Can I get a commercial coffee machine for an office?
Yes. Bean-to-cup machines are a popular choice for offices because staff can make a drink without barista training. See our office coffee machines page, or call us to talk through your team size and how you want the coffee to work.
Contact Cool Beans Coffee for help choosing your machine.