The Most Common Problem with the Four Most Common Coffee Machine Systems

Ask a coffee sales guy what the problem or downside of a particular coffee machine is and you are likely to get one of two answers. Either you will hear “Funny enough, our coffee machine really has no flaws or no negative parts to it”, OR you will hear the classic interview adapted answer of “The problem with our coffee machine is that it really is somewhat of a perfectionist and ONLY makes good coffee”.

We are here to tell you that unfortunately every coffee machine has some downside to it and selecting the best coffee machine for your office, is really about seeing which coffee machine has pros that outweigh its cons. Without further ado, we reveal the problem with every coffee machine!

Filter Coffee Machine Problems or Downsides

Filter coffee machines are as close as you get to a “flawless” working coffee machine. There is no other machine type out there that requires as little maintenance or servicing as a filter machine. There are however some obvious shortcomings which have actually relegated filter coffee machines to the least popular coffee machine these days.

• Filter Coffee Machines are Rather Boring – Filter coffee machines make, as the name suggests, only filter coffee. Because filter coffee makers are gravity fed rather than pump driven it is just not possible to make espressos, cappuccinos, lattes or hot chocolates from a filter coffee machine.
• Filter Jugs do Not Bounce – Every month, some of our customers are replacing the jugs on their filter coffee machines. The new filter machine jugs are made from hardened pyrex instead of glass but even the hardest pyrex isn’t strong enough to withstand being dropped with a full pot of coffee.
• Filter Coffee Machines Need to Be Filled Constantly – Unlike coffee vending machines, which can hold a capacity of over 100 cups between fills, a filter machine only can hold whatever is brewed in its pot. A double pot filter unit can hold approximately 25 cups in 2 jugs between fills.
• Filter Coffee Can Not Stand For Long – Filter coffee can last about 1 hour before it needs to be replaced on a domestic machine as it gets cold and bitter quickly. On an industrial machine, with heat adjusting hot plates, one can keep a filter jug for about 5 hours but after that it needs to be tossed.

Capsule Coffee Machine Problems or Downsides

Capsule coffee machines revolutionised the home coffee market by enabling home coffee drinkers to own a coffee machine which didn’t cost them an arm and a leg. Capsule coffee machines are by far the cheapest machine type out there for anyone that wants to be able to drink a cappuccino at the touch of a button. They too however are not without their problems:

• Capsules are Expensive! – Regardless of what brand you choose, capsules cost at least 3x more per cup than any other coffee. If your usage is low, like in the case of a home, then coffee capsules can be a good fit but if your usage exceeds 5 cups of coffee per day then they can start to become rather pricey!
• Capsules need to be loaded one at a time – The biggest complaint we get from offices with capsule coffee machines, is that if people are in a hurry, they can be quite a drag. Unlike an automatic or vending machine, capsule machines need to be loaded in between each drink
• Capsule Machines are Not Built For Volume – Capsule coffee machines are intended really for home use more than anything else and might not function optimally in large environments
• Milk – Almost all capsule machines froth their milk by using a standalone frother. These frothers make some of the best and thickest froth around but aren’t suitable for making more than 3 froths at a time.

Automatic Bean to Cup Problems or Downsides

Automatic coffee machines are the second most popular coffee machine used in offices. There is probably not a machine out there which makes better coffee. Great coffee, does however come at a cost. They are:

• Expect a High Milk Bill – One of the best parts about automatic coffee machines is their ability to make fresh milk cappuccinos. Fresh milk cappuccino however uses a lot of milk. We have seen many companies double their milk bill when installing an auto machine.
• Managing the Milk – Automatic milk frothers can get clogged up without continuous cleaning, so unless you are prepared to be diligent when you clean your machine, a vending machine might be a better bet for you.
• They are not as user friendly as Coffee Vending Machines – Automatic coffee machines are a sinch once you get used to them but this means they are not an ideal fit if you want your customers to use the machine themselves. We have installed many automatic machines into car dealerships with varying levels of success.

Coffee Vending Machine Problems or Downsides

Coffee vending machines are the most popular office machine because they have the widest variety or beverages and have by far the most features. This too comes with a number of challenges:

• Powder Milk Can Clog – Powder milk has the tendency to clog when the machine is not thoroughly cleaned. This can cause quite a lot of frustration for offices without a full time cleaning person
• Powder Milk Taste – Although pure powder milk has come a long way, the extra lactose means the concoction is almost always sweeter than ordinary milk.
• Control means everyone doesn’t get what they want – Coffee vending machines control how much product people can dispense from them which often contributes to their cost saving effect. Control on the flipside can lead to unhappy staff members who can’t use as much milk and sugar as they want once a vending machine has been installed.

Liquid Coffee Machine Problems or Downsides

Liquid coffee machines are designed with speed in mind. There still isn’t a quick machine under the sun than liquid coffee however it like all others is not without its problems

• Some Models only Dispense Black and Water – There are some models which have cappuccino and latte functions but most of the models only dispense black coffee and hot water making them not very different in their product offering compared to an ordinary filter machine.
• Liquid Coffee Taste – Liquid coffee lacks the freshness when it comes to taste when compared with either capsules or beans.
• Liquid Coffee Storage – Beans, Capsules, Filter and Instant can all be kept in a cupboard where as liquid coffee actually needs to be refrigerated which makes storage space a little tricky
• Price – Liquid coffee is one of the most expensive offerings and is in most cases double the price of filter or beans (depending on brand of course) making it a very expensive solution if you are doing large volumes of coffee.

Overview

Unfortunately every coffee machine out there has some flaw or downside to it. Choosing the right machine for your home or office is a lot about separating the good from the bad and going into the process with the knowledge that although the machine you choose might tick a lot of the right boxes there is unfortunately no machine which can get everything right!