Coffee Machine Rental: How To Choose A Coffee Machine Supplier

As if choosing a coffee machine wasn’t a hard enough choice, choosing the company that will be providing you with that machine and the perfunctory after-sales service is just as, if not more, important than the coffee machine rental itself. We’re here to help you choose your coffee machine supplier and answer some questions you may even have thought to ask!

Who Rents Coffee Machines In Johannesburg?

Well, this is going to need to be tailored to you. I have chosen Jo’burg, well, because that’s where I am. But regardless of where you are located, there are some considerations to take.

Firstly, look for brand name reputation and long-standing. The reason I mention both is that you should look out for both, but in an instance where the company is not already established or long-standing, look for the reputation they have already built for themselves. Search sites like their Facebook or Twitter accounts, and see how they handle customer complaints and / or issues. This is a great indication of how you may potentially be handled as a customer.

Next to consider is the proximity to you, and the type of service you’re after. If the company has great customer care facilities and a great reputation, but are based 150km from you, your after sales service will likely be compromised, purely because of the distance. This is especially important if you are renting a coffee machine from them, because then services and repairs form part of your agreement (we’ll look into this in depth, soon).

What Do You Need From Your Coffee Machine?

Maybe I should have started with this. There are a few main categories this could fall into:

Where will your coffee machine be? You will have vastly different requirements for your coffee machine if you choose to use it in your home, your office or your restaurant.

What do you need from your coffee machine? Is it to cater to a large amount of people, to impress prospective clients, to save money or to simply enjoy as and when you or you family want it? Each need will have a different type of coffee machine that is best suited.

Rental term flexibility. This is, by far, the most important consideration to make when renting your coffee machine – moreover if you area first-time renter. The last thing you would want is for (hypothetically speaking) your start-up business to get locked into a three year coffee machine rental contract when you have major uncertainty on the stability of your business. See, in three years’ time, you might have doubled your staff complement, or it may be halved, but you are still bound by a costly contract that is almost always impossible to get yourself out of. Look for variable rental terms, shorter rental terms – or at the very least – an option to exchange or swap-out your machine if it is not meeting your requirements.

After-sales service. This is so commonly overlooked in the excitement of the moment, and can sometimes be what makes or breaks your experience in renting your coffee machine. This aspect will include things like coffee machine repairs, maintenance, swap-outs, servicing and troubleshooting. Look through the contract for your coffee machine with a fine-toothed comb and raise your concerns before you commit. Some coffee companies allow for a limited amount of call-outs per rental term (for example, three free repairs for your three year contract), which should raise a red flag for you. In the long run, that option could be costly and time-consuming.

However, if you are renting a filter coffee machine, the chances are there will be no call-outs necessary, because the nature of the machine is exceptionally reliable and easy-to-use. On the other hand, renting an automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine without the promise and guarantee of after-sales service is vital, because the machine is complicated and not easy to fix for someone with insufficient product knowledge or training. Get yourself a few quotes and read through the “T’s & C’s” carefully, and find the best choice for your requirements.

What Should I Look For When Renting or Buying A Coffee Machine?

A few topics to cover in this category.

For used coffee machines, have a look through this comprehensive guide. How will you know if you are getting a second hand or used coffee machine? If you are renting – you are highly likely to receive a refurbished coffee machine.

If you are buying your machine, it becomes a little trickier. I would suggest that if your machine doesn’t come ion a sealed box, do a little inspecting. Look for used coffee grounds (or whatever type of coffee your machine takes), and residue or signs of usage.

If you have been promised a brand new machine and find signs of usage before you, take it up with the supplier, because the machine may now allow for problems to arise which are associated with used coffee machines.

Brands. If you are focussed on brand name quality, look out for unauthorised resellers or stockists, because if you are sourcing a Jura or Saeco from an unknown retailer, chances are they do not have the necessary expertise to assist you in a situation where you need help.

If you’re still stuck in deciding what type of machine to rent or buy, have a look at this. We devised the Ultimate Buyers Guide for Coffee Machines in All Spaces. A worthwhile read for any prospective renter or buyer.

Let us know and share your thoughts on the process you followed to find your perfect coffee machine fit.

If you need any help in deciding on your best coffee machine options, or even just want some more info on coffee machines, leave a comment below and we will get back to you sooner than your instant coffee kicks in 🙂