Coffee break in Trinidad Wiseman, how did we choose coffee machines for our offices
Many exciting and not-so-interesting technical details need to be analyzed and considered when planning a new office. The choice of new coffee machines was one of them. It was a pleasant task to have a little fun between other jobs.
Surely this cannot be difficult: a bit of Googleing, scrolling, comparing parameters, taking some offers, scrolling some more, and finally decide :) However, it soon became apparent that choosing a coffee machine would not be easy.
"The choice of coffee machine cannot be made purely on emotion, because one of the most pleasant places in the office is the kitchen."
It isn't easy to overemphasize good coffee and a well-functioning machine! Coffee is one of the most exciting worlds to dive into.
As in our daily work, we first had to start by mapping the situation:
- 110+ people to attract to the office
- 2 offices - Tallinn and Rakvere
- 2 existing coffee machines Jura X10 and Jura WE8 with small refrigerators. WE8 works well, but the X10 is quite hostile with its poor touch screen.
It became interesting when we received statistics from office managers on monthly milk consumption patterns:
- 30 liters of regular milk (although highly pasteurized for convenience)
- 17 liters of oat milk
- 8 liters of lactose-free milk
- 6 liters of almond milk
- 1 liter of soy milk
To the surprise of many, the importance of vegetable milk was significant. Oat milk is the most suitable; in second place, almond milk with a bit of marzipan flavor and soy milk is considered the most unfamiliar in terms of taste. The word 'milk' is no longer used in herbal drinks but is officially an oat drink, an almond drink, and a soy drink.
"We consume about 20 kilos of different coffee beans in one month."
We spend about 9,000 € + km renting and maintaining two machines a year, 220 kilos of coffee and 756 liters of milk.
Requirements for our new coffee machines:
- delicious coffee is a priority
- reliable
- fast
- so-called "extra dense" foam
- possibility of making cocoa
- optional choice of several kinds of milk (regular, vegetable)
The taste of coffee is not only affected by the coffee beans we use. The quality of the machine and the design of the coffee system, as well as the level of detail to which the machine can be set, also play an important role. Is it possible to adjust the temperature, pressure, water, and the degree of crushing of the coffee according to the coffee beverage.
"We needed a coffee machine capable of withstanding the "morning rush hour."
The immediate plan was to take one large machine N Franke A600 / 800 or Melitta XT7 to the large kitchen of the Tallinn office. At the other end of the office - in the smaller kitchen - we were planning a smaller hot machine to enjoy our coffee.
For example, we dreamed of a classic manual Italian espresso machine with all our screens and whistles. However, we quickly returned to earth because not everyone could use it. As a result, we would need another office manager to sit next to this machine.
The next idea was the Jura Z10, but it was dropped because it is more of a home machine. Jura x8 was offered instead. As there was a definite desire to get cocoa from the machine in the Rakvere office, this smaller machine was not suitable there either.
"Before deciding, it is also necessary to talk about the purchase of cocoa in coffee machines."
In addition to regular milk cocoa, there is also a selection of cocoa coffee, Irish cappuccino, nut cocoa, and peppermint cocoa. Unfortunately, the last three require an extra powder container and do not fit in one machine.
I was a little skeptical about cocoa at first. Still, the staff's opinion is worth listening to, and the popularity of various cocoa drinks is not to be underestimated. The powder is used most on cocoa coffee and mint cocoa.
We spent time between different machines and companies. However, we received a good quote that helped us decide, and large, comfortable, high-quality Franke A600 models were available throughout our offices.
In Tallinn, we planned ordinary milk and nut cocoa in one machine, vegetable milk and mint cocoa in another. The same opportunities will come to the Rakvere office.
In hindsight, we also point out one nuance we could not think could be a challenge.
"We did not think to ask; the salesmen and the internet couldn't warn us that oatmeal wasn't compatible with most machines."
Oat milk is a mixture of oats, water, oil, and oatmeal and, as stated on the packaging, must be shaken before use to prevent sediment.
There is no possibility of shaking the milk in the integrated milk refrigerator. There is a sieve at the end of the milk hose in the refrigerator, and when you choose a drink with milk, the sieve becomes clogged and oily water cannot pass through it.
In addition, there is a risk that the oil and oat mixture will clog the machine's milk system. Cleaning / replacing the milk and filter system is quite expensive and tedious. Soy and almond milk do not form sediment in this form. In addition, there is a problem with temperature: what works for one milk does not work for another.
We tested different almond milk with herbal milk lovers, suitable for use in large machines. However, it soon became clear that the taste (and the foam's texture) was changing and did not suit us.
Further research, we received information from the factory that no Franke machine can guarantee drinks with perfect taste when using herbal milk. They are working on it. Plant milk producers are also being developed to ensure that their products can be used in the machinery without worries.
In the meantime, we offer regular and lactose-free milk in one machine in our office. If people want the right composition and a delicious coffee drink with vegetable oat milk, it has to be made with a separate frother, as baristas do.
In addition to the problem of oat milk, it is gratifying to note that one of our fears did not materialize: there is more planning, setup, and learning for office managers for larger coffee machines, but later maintenance has been easier.
This is facilitated by the connection of filtered clean water and sewage, the large rubbish bin hidden in the cabinet under the machine, and the appliance's automation.
In conclusion, are we satisfied with the machines we have chosen? This is best answered in numerical language, as our weekly coffee deliveries have grown by over 50%! :)
Fun Fact! We learned that a standard 220V plug might not be enough for fast operation for larger coffee machines, but 400V industrial power is recommended. At the same time, the milk is frothed, the coffee is crushed, and the water is heated simultaneously, all with a slightly faster industrial flow. Luckily we got the button from the builder at the last minute, and a new cable was brought to the kitchen to make our coffee even more convenient :)
