Tom’s TOp Coffee Vending Machines
I have spent years exploring every corner of the coffee world. From writing The Home Barista to curating speciality beans for Batch Coffee Club I’ve witnessed the remarkable transformation of every coffee including… Coffee vending machines.
Gone are the days when vending machine coffee was synonymous with disappointment, I still remember the ‘coffee vender’ in my sixth-form common room and the poor excuse for coffee that it used to dispense.
Today’s best coffee vending machines rival traditional espresso setups whilst offering unmatched convenience and consistency.
I spoke to some coffee vending experts about, well… coffee vending to get their thoughts on the landscape of ready to go coffee.
Overview
- Best Overall: Coffetek Machines
- Best Entry-Level: DR Coffee Machines
- Best Mid-Range: HLF 2700/3700
- Best All-Rounder: Cimbali S30
- Best Value Compact Solution: S-Lite
- Best High-End: Eversys
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Let us know what coffee vending you need and we’ll get back to you.
AUTHOR: TOM SAXON
Why trust me
I’m Tom and I have been working in the coffee industry for over 10 years, starting my journey as a barista in Australia, working on coffee farms in South America and roasting coffee in The UK.
Today I review and write about speciality coffee. I am the founder of Batch Coffee Club, which showcases the very best coffee from around the world.
I am also the cofounder of Swoop Vending which supports sporting venues throughout Europe.
The Coffee Vending Landscape
The coffee vending industry has evolved dramatically, with suppliers now offering carefully curated ranges rather than overwhelming choice. As Kanye from Complete Café Services explains: “Unlike many suppliers who try to be ‘everything to everyone,’ we take a tiered approach: Entry level – up to 30 cups per day, Mid-tier – up to 100 cups per day, High volume – 100+ cups per day.”
This strategic approach benefits businesses by ensuring proper equipment matching and reliable after-sales support a crucial factor often overlooked when selecting coffee vending machines.
Best Coffee Vending Machines by Category
Best Overall
Coffetek Coffee Machines
Control ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10
Ease Of Use ★★★★★★★★☆ ☆ 8/10
Value ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
We spoke to James Tuck at Admiral Vending who explains their selection criteria: “At the moment we focus on the Coffetek range of bean to cup machines because they have proven to be reliable, consistent and easy to work with.”
The quality comes from authentic espresso brewing. As James notes: “The bean to cup machines we supply use a true nine bar espresso system, which is the same pressure you would find in a traditional coffee machine in a café.
Best Entry-Level:
DR Coffee Machines
Control ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
Ease Of Use ★★★★★★★★☆ ☆ 8/10
Value ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
Complete Café Services rates DR Coffee machines as their top entry-level choice: “Affordable, Chinese-made machines with a 2–3 year lifespan. Easy to clean, simple to use, and capable of making good coffee, milk drinks, and hot chocolate. Perfect for offices.”
Why they’re excellent value: Parts are inexpensive, repairs are straightforward, and performance remains consistent throughout their operational life. For businesses wanting quality coffee without significant investment, DR Coffee machines represent outstanding value.
Best Mid-Range:
HLF 2700/3700
Control ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
Ease Of Use ★★★★★★★★☆ ☆ 8/10
Value ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
Often called “the BMW of the industry” by Complete Café Services, HLF machines use “a metal brewing mechanism that extracts coffee oils at temperatures close to traditional espresso machines.
Why they’re excellent value: With mostly metal components, they are built to last, even if their appearance is more functional than flashy.”
This mid-range category bridges the gap between basic functionality and premium features, offering genuine espresso-quality extraction in a robust package.
Best All-Rounder:
Cimbali S30
Control ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
Ease Of Use ★★★★★★★★☆ ☆ 8/10
Value ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
Millie from Nu Vending champions the Cimbali S30: “The Cimbali S30 coffee machine is a fantastic all-rounder. It delivers the full coffee shop menu with dual bean hoppers, powdered chocolate, dual fresh milk, and even cold milk foam for iced drinks. The large 10-inch screen also offers great customisation and ease of use.”
The S30’s versatility makes it suitable for locations requiring both traditional and contemporary drink options, from flat whites to iced beverages.
Best Value Compact Solution:
S-Lite
Control ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
Ease Of Use ★★★★★★★★☆ ☆ 8/10
Value ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
For businesses seeking maximum impact without significant space requirements, Millie recommends: “The S-Lite stands out for value.
It’s compact and flexible, with the option to be plumbed in or tank-fed yet still delivers a high-quality barista-style menu. It’s an ideal choice for workplaces looking for maximum impact and contemporary design at a competitive price.”
Best High-End:
Eversys
Control ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
Ease Of Use ★★★★★★★★☆ ☆ 8/10
Value ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
Complete Café Services describes Eversys as “The Rolls Royce of super automatics. These machines allow fine adjustments for pressure, temperature, pre-brewing, and tamping — delivering an espresso that rivals (and often surpasses) traditional machines. They are the go-to for serious operators who demand the best.”
For locations where coffee quality cannot be compromised, Eversys machines represent the pinnacle of vending machine technology.
Expert Q&A
To provide additional insight into the coffee vending industry, we spoke with James Tuck from Admiral Vending.
Which coffee vending machine brands do you supply, and how do you decide which ones to work with?
At the moment we focus on the Coffetek range of bean to cup machines because they have proven to be reliable, consistent and easy to work with. We look at brands based on three main factors. The first is drink quality, as there is no point in installing a machine that cannot deliver a genuine coffee shop standard drink. The second is reliability and availability of parts because our clients want peace of mind that their machine will keep working day after day. Finally, we look at service support and how well the manufacturer works with us as a partner. Coffetek ticks all of those boxes which is why we currently supply them.
What’s your go-to recommendation for small offices versus large corporate installations?
The interesting thing is that the range of machines is actually very similar whether you are a small office or a large corporate. The difference is not in the user experience but in the way the machine is built to cope with demand. The higher the number of cups a day, the more robust the machine needs to be. That means a larger boiler, stronger internal components and bigger ingredient canisters. For example, a company could easily have a small compact machine in a boardroom and a machine capable of 250 drinks a day in the staffroom, and the way people use them would feel almost identical.
Which bean to cup machines replicate the traditional machine’s drink quality and how?
The bean to cup machines we supply use a true nine bar espresso system, which is the same pressure you would find in a traditional coffee machine in a café. This means the extraction process is almost identical, giving you a proper crema and a much fuller flavour.
What’s driving businesses to choose bean to cup coffee machines over traditional coffee services?
One of the biggest factors is the cost and difficulty of running a traditional service. Businesses do not want to deal with the ongoing expense of staff training and the high turnover of employees that often comes with running a café style operation. A bean to cup machine solves that problem. It gives consistent drinks at the press of a button without the need for constant supervision or skill. It is quicker, cleaner and far more cost effective, and for many businesses it has become the obvious choice.
Can you walk me through how you assess what a client actually needs versus what they think they want?
We use an automatic AI quoting system that makes the process simple and transparent. A client can click get a quote on the website, answer if the machine is to sell coffee or for staff use, answer some questions and a few seconds later the system will email a quote that will recommend the right machine for their usage. This takes into account the number of staff, or how many drinks they expect to serve each day and a few other factors. Many clients start out with an idea of what they think they need but once they see the quote they realise the system has identified a machine that is a much better fit for their office. From there we can have a proper conversation and make sure the installation is tailored to them.
Matching Machines to Environments
Office Environments
The key considerations vary significantly based on location and user expectations. As Millie from Nu Vending explains: “In central London, fresh milk is a must, often with dual hoppers for decaf or a dual milk fridge for plant-based options. But in industrial settings, powdered milk is often preferred as it keeps things practical and low maintenance.”
High-Volume Applications
For businesses serving 100+ cups daily, capacity becomes crucial. Complete Café Services notes: “The main differences between models come down to capacity, features, and convenience: Capacity – hopper sizes for beans, chocolate, and water vary, reducing the need for constant refilling.”
Cost Analysis: The Financial Benefits
Per-Cup Economics
Both suppliers emphasise significant cost savings compared to traditional coffee services:
Nu Vending: “On average, the cost works out at around 25–30p per drink. That’s a fraction of the price of a coffee shop, while still offering a consistently high-quality cup.”
Complete Café Services: Customers typically see “30–40% cost savings compared to manual espresso preparation” through reduced waste, lower staffing requirements, and faster service.
Real-World ROI
Complete Café Services shared a compelling case study: “A large roastery café in a rural area faced major staffing issues — especially in peak holiday periods when demand reached 1,500 cups per day. Recruiting and retaining skilled baristas was nearly impossible.” Their super automatic solution removed dependency on skilled baristas whilst maintaining consistency and meeting demand.
Technology and User Experience
Accessibility Features
Modern vending machines prioritise user-friendly design. Nu Vending partners with manufacturers offering “touchless operation via foot-activated sensors, making them simple and hygienic to operate. In addition, both Borg & Overström and Cimbali machines can be operated through a mobile app.”
Quality Consistency
Complete Café Services emphasises their Australian market focus: “We work closely with our manufacturers to adapt machines for the Australian coffee market, which has some of the highest consumer expectations in the world. Customers demand barista-level quality.”
The Commercial Coffee Strategy
Balancing Efficiency and Experience
For café environments, Complete Café Services suggests a hybrid approach: positioning super automatics “slightly out of sight, while showcasing a single-group Slayer, La Marzocco, or Kees Van Der Westen Speedster at the front for manual espresso. This struck the perfect balance between efficiency and theatre — customers still saw the ‘art of coffee’ while enjoying the consistency and speed of automation.”
Scalable Solutions
Both suppliers emphasise flexibility. Nu Vending works “with organisations of all sizes. From a single water cooler for a small office, to a large multi-floor corporate head office” with approaches ranging from full management to hands-off operation.
Making the Right Choice
When selecting the best coffee vending machine for your needs, consider:
Volume Requirements: Match daily cup capacity to actual usage patterns
Environment: Factor in space constraints, aesthetic requirements, and user expectations
Milk Systems: Choose between fresh milk (premium locations) and powdered alternatives (industrial settings)
Budget: Balance initial investment against long-term operational costs and reliabilit
It’s Now Up To You
The best coffee vending machines have evolved far beyond their utilitarian origins. Whether you choose the reliability of DR Coffee for small offices, the engineering excellence of HLF for medium-volume applications, the versatility of Cimbali S30 for diverse environments, or the precision of Eversys for premium locations, today’s options deliver genuine quality.
The key lies not just in the machine itself, but in working with suppliers who understand your specific requirements and provide ongoing support. As these industry experts demonstrate, the best coffee vending machine is ultimately the one that matches your unique combination of volume, environment, and quality expectations.
