The 15 Best Commercial Coffee Makers to Satisfy Your Caffeine Yearn at Office or Cafes

Separate water reservoirs are available with easy fill water windows that make coffee brewing easy. Furthermore, the machine has simple programmable features like an auto turnoff, timer, etc.

The Essentials to Be Aware of When Purchasing the Best Commercial Coffee Maker

While there are lots of things to think about when choosing a commercial coffee maker, one of the most important is the style. There are so many types of coffee makers on the market today that it can be impossible to keep up with all of them. We're going to go over what some of the most common options are and then delve into some other factors that might matter when you make your final purchase.

Types of Coffee Makers for Businesses

The main types of commercial coffee makers that you are going to run into are the following:

• Decanter Brewers – These are the traditional form of coffee makers and they continue to be popular. Also called a drip brew, they make coffee by spraying hot water over ground coffee before dripping into a metal or glass decanter. These brewers are typically seen in places with a large stream of customers, such as family restaurants and diners with table service. Two types of decanters are standard on the market: the pour-over and automatic. Automatic models connect to your water supply and operate without much help, while pour-overs require someone to fill up the water tank in between batches manually. The coffee stays warm in a decanter through the use of heated plates.
• Airpot Brewers & Thermal Servers – This coffee maker is similar to a decanter except that the coffee goes straight into an airpot or a thermal server. This can be a good choice when the coffee may not be served right after brewing. A thermal server can keep the coffee tasting fresh for two hours or so, where decanter coffee starts to become bitter after around 30 minutes. When you offer self-service coffee, an airpot brewer can be a great choice. This coffee maker is most often seen at continental breakfast stations, in buffet lines, at quick-service restaurants, and in cafes that offer endless cups of coffee.
• Satellite Brewers – This is another option that works like the past two, except the coffee is placed in a large insulated server, which can be carried to another location and set up to dispense into serving vessels or coffee cups. Since this coffee maker is designed for high volumes, they also come in dual-brewer types. This makes it simple to serve coffee in locations with a massive demand like a conference center or large event. It uses insulation to keep the coffee warm, which gives it an edge over decanters, which use added heat that can make the coffee taste a little off after a while.
• Pod Coffee Brewers – Just as the pod coffee maker has become a staple in tons of homes around the world, it's also now being seen in a selection of businesses. This kind of machine makes a single serving of coffee each time from a small pod. The best place for a pod coffee maker is somewhere that serves only a limited amount of coffee each day or those that want specialty options that don't need to be brewed in large amounts. Pod makers can also be used in hospitality-type settings such as hotels where each room can house one of them. This type of coffee maker comes in both pour-over and automatic configurations based on your needs.
• Coffee Concentrate Machine – This kind of coffee maker is reserved for locations that have a need for a truly high volume of coffee, but otherwise can be a bit overkill. They aren't quite the same as a traditional coffee maker since they make coffee by combining concentrated coffee liquid and hot water for a nearly instantaneous beverage that can be made time after time. The machines can be set up for self-service, so they tend to be found in places like convenience stores.

Now that you know what kinds of coffee makers are on the market, we want to look into the most important factors when purchasing one.

Amount of Coffee That Can Be Made

When you're considering the amount of coffee you need from your coffee maker, think about how many people pass through your office or business and desire a cup of coffee regularly. In some situations, a single-serve option will do just fine, while in others, it will mean the coffee maker is being used 24/7. If you have lots of coffee lovers in the building, you might want to consider a drip coffee maker that can offer 10 or more cups each time it is brewed.

Coffee Preferences of Employees and Clients

Now that you know how much coffee you need to make, the next thing that should be on your mind is what kind of coffee is going to be enjoyed the most by everyone using the commercial coffee maker. Everyone is a little different, so it's worth considering which options are the most popular. It's far different to have a coffee machine that makes only traditional black coffee than it is to choose one that makes lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso-based drinks.

You can save money if one type of coffee is all that is needed, but you also want to make sure you cover all your bases. Make sure the coffee maker offers what everyone likes to ensure everyone is happy with it.

Auto shut off feature

Usually, coffee is consumed while you are running for work. You might not always remember to turn off the coffee maker. Whether for office or home, keeping the machine on all the time is just a waste of energy. The coffee machines we mentioned in our article have an auto shut-off feature. If you own a cafe, you might think the auto turn-off feature is not necessary but your cafe is not always crowded with customers. So, we think it is ideal to buy a coffee machine with this feature.

Flexibility in controlling temperature

Temperature is important in brewing a perfect cup of coffee. The more the temperature, the more extraction from the coffee grounds. Not everyone likes the same strength and consistency of the coffee. For that, a coffee machine with an adjustable temperature option is necessary to serve the exact coffee the customer has requested from you.

Travel mug fits on the maker

We want to protect our nature from plastic and for that many people have switched to reusable travel mugs for coffee. The coffee shops are also trying to reduce the use of plastic by providing coffee on their travel mug. During the morning, the corporate people have coffee before entering the office. At home or cafes, the coffee maker should be able to fit the travel mugs so that you can directly pour the coffee on the mugs.

Cleaning accessories

The coffee machine stays busy most of the time whether it is at the office or in cafes. Cleaning of the coffee bean holder and milk holder is necessary. Not all machine parts are suitable to put on the dishwasher. Some brands recommend hand washing the parts. Also, some coffee machines come with cleaning tools to clean the drips, pumps, and pipes. Make sure to check the cleaning accessories before finalizing which machine to buy.

Level of Convenience with Various Coffee Makers

In many cases, the best coffee maker is going to be one that is simple and straightforward to operate so anyone can use it. Some people will find putting in a pod and pressing a button the easiest method for making coffee, while others are going to be well-versed with making drip coffee. Consider what level of convenience is needed by those in your office or business and decide on the coffee maker accordingly.

You should also take time to consider whether you want a coffee maker that automatically fills a pot throughout the day or one that requires manual input. In most cases, the former is better for those who sell or hand out a large amount of coffee, while manual input is excellent if less coffee is being consumed daily. Remember that the automatic models do tend to be slightly more expensive.

Space Available to Accommodate the Coffee Machine

You might have a ton of space for your new commercial coffee maker or you might be working within the constraints of a tiny area, so it’s important to take this into account when making your decision. Some coffee machines are much larger, while others are more reasonably sized and will fit a smaller space. Make sure to take a look at the dimension of any coffee maker you are considering so you know whether it will fit where you want it to go.

If space is at a premium and the coffee maker is often placed in a cabinet after use, this often leads to it being used less as time goes on. This is one of the reasons it's crucial to see whether you have the right amount of space available before you make a purchase. If you aren't sure whether your space is large enough, look into return processes in case your first choice doesn't quite work out.

FAQ

Is it necessary to use filters in coffee machines?

Filters separate the liquid coffee from the ground parts. The use of filters gives the perfect extraction of the coffee. However, you can make coffee without a filter but it might not be perfect liquid coffee. 

How do the coffee grounds vary in the aroma of the coffee?

If the coffee beans are over ground, the coffee will taste bitter. Under grounded beans will not be flavorful. It actually depends on individual preferences how they want the flavor in their coffee.

Are the carafes safe to put in the oven?

The brands did not mention if the carafes are oven proof. Some carafe is made of thermal material to keep the coffee warm for longer. Whereas, some coffee makers have a warm plate at the base of the carafe to keep the coffee hot. We recommend not to put the carafes in the oven without ensuring they are oven-proof.

How often should I change the filters?

If the filters are reusable, you do not need to change the filter. If they are not reusable, we advise you to change them once or twice a month. It depends on how frequently you use your machine.

Conclusion

Whether you and your customers appreciate simple black coffee or espresso drinks, there is a great commercial coffee maker out there waiting for you. Even those who are looking at high-end models will find that you can save money if your coffee budget for the year falls through buying or upgrading your machine.