No matter what sort of business you run, having the best commercial coffee maker for your customers can make a huge difference. The ability to provide hot, fresh, and consistently brewed coffee to your customers or clients offers comfort and convenience to them and can make your office more appealing. However, with hundreds of coffee makers on the market, choosing the right one for your needs can sometimes be a bit tricky.
Today, we'll be looking at the top 10 commercial coffee makers on the market and what makes them stand out from the competition. You'll get an idea of what options are available, and from there, you can determine which one is right for your business and make an order that is sure to establish your business as savvy about coffee.Best Pick
The Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker is an excellent commercial coffee maker since it can brew coffee in less than a minute and makes life easier through an intuitive and colorful touchscreen display.
Budget Pick
The Hamilton Beach 45 Cup Coffee Urn and Hot Beverage Dispenser offers great value and works excellently at single-cup coffee-making or can continuously make coffee for a larger crowd.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Commercial Coffee Makers
1. Keurig K155 Office Pro Commercial Coffee Maker
This Keurig coffee maker has a great style that will look terrific anywhere and includes auto on and off settings for ease of use. The device has a pour-over water reservoir that can hold 90 ounces of liquid, so you can make 18 cups of coffee before you will need to refill it. It also offers the option to quickly drain out the water and remove it from the internal hot water tank, so it can be transported in just a few minutes from one location to another.
Since this is a Keurig brand commercial coffee maker, it's compatible with over 500 types of coffee, tea, iced beverages, and specialty drinks from many different brands. It comes with a 12 count box with a variety of coffee types.Highlighted Features
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Offers a selection of four brew sizes ranging from four ounces to six ounces, eight ounces, and 10 ounces
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The high-speed coffee maker can brew up a pot of coffee in no more than sixty seconds
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Features a color touchscreen interface with adjustable brew temperature and auto on and off settings
Made to handle a large group, this Hamilton Beach coffee maker offers up dozens of cups of coffee without a refill, which makes it ideal for buffet-style meals and other social gatherings. It brews around one cup a minute and has an indicator light that will let you know when the coffee is hot and ready, as well as a brew basket and a lid. This coffee maker has a touch screen interface that lets you choose the perfect brewing temperature and offers auto on and off settings.
In addition to its exceptional functionality, this is an aesthetically pleasing model that comes in stainless steel and black, which looks great in any environment. It also offers an additional layer of safety through a locking lid that prevents accidental spills.Highlighted Features
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Available in single or dual spout models with enough liquid to make 15 to 45 cups between refills
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Includes a two-way dispenser for single cup filling or continuous filling depending on need
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Easy to fill with water level markings on the interior to make creating a new batch of coffee straightforward
3. Hamilton Beach Commercial Stainless Steel Coffee Urn
The Hamilton Beach coffee urn offers a 60-cup capacity that is more than enough coffee for almost any commercial location, whether at an office, a convenience store, or a cafe. It has a polished stainless steel exterior and a heater to ensure the optimal temperature is maintained. It has a water and coffee window so you can look inside to see when you’re running low on coffee, as well as ready and power on lights to make serving coffee even more convenient and straightforward.
The coffee in this urn can be produced in a minute or less, so there's no waiting around when you get those caffeine cravings. The inside of the coffee maker is also made of smooth stainless steel to resist buildup and stains so you can easily clean it.Highlighted Features
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The one-hand dispensing model allows you to fill cups much more quickly using a single hand
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Features a "keep warm" heater that holds the urn at the optimal temperature for the best tasting coffee
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Includes power on and ready lights to let you know when the device is on and when coffee is ready
4. West Bend 33600 Aluminum Commercial Coffee Urn
If you need a commercial coffee maker that can hold up to 100 cups of joe, this model from West Bend offers that in a one cup a minute brewing speed. It lights up to let you know when the coffee is done brewing, and the interior water level markings allow you to easily see when it needs a top up. It also has a two-way dripless faucet for single-cup or continuous brewing options and comes with a brush and cleaning tool for even more convenience.
There are many safety features included with this commercial coffee maker, including cool-touch handles, a heat resistant base, and a twisting lid to secure the top of the device. It also comes with a special aluminum coffee basket that removes the need to use endless paper filters.Highlighted Features
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This large-capacity coffee maker is ideal for nearly any commercial institution that uses lots of coffee
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Features automatic temperature control to ensure the coffee is the ideal temperature at all times
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Offers an indicator light so you can keep an eye on the brewing throughout the process
5. Bunn 33200.0015 VPR-2GD 12-Cup Pour-Over Commercial Coffee Brewer
This commercial coffee brewer by Bunn comes with two glass decanters and features two warmers with one on the top and the other on the bottom. You don’t need to connect it to the plumbing, making it highly portable. It brews immediately and can make nearly four gallons of coffee an hour, which goes into the 12-cup decanters for convenience.
This Bunn coffee maker has a traditional look similar to a home brewer and makes for an effortless option for pour-over coffee production. The two warmers can be turned on or off separately for situations where only one of them needs to be kept hot at a time.Highlighted Features
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This coffee brewer includes a splash guard funnel that moves hot liquids away from your hands
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Includes a durable construction with internal components made from stainless steel
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Easy to use by pouring cold water into the top
6. Bunn 04275.0031 VPS 12-Cup Pour-Over Commercial Coffee Brewer
If you want a coffee maker you can take on the go, this Bunn model is ideal because it doesn't need to be connected to your plumbing to operate. This coffee maker starts up the brewing process automatically when you pour water into the top, so there's no need to spend ages to make a pot. While it offers many of the top features expected from a top of the line commercial coffee maker, it doesn't come with any included decanters, so you’ll need to buy those separately.
This unit is recommended for use in places like hotels, meeting rooms, break rooms, and convenience stores. It's fairly compact with a size of 8 x 23 x 19.2 inches, which will allow it to fit into most locations.Highlighted Features
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Includes a pour-over brewer that can brew up to 3.9 gallons every hour and splash guard funnel for safety
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Includes two to three separately controlled warmers so you can vary how much coffee is kept
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Features immediate brewing that starts automatically when water is added to the coffee maker
7. Breville BES990BSSUSC Fully Automatic Espresso Machine
This Breville espresso maker comes with a touch screen feature which allows you to simply swipe the drink you want for the machine to start making it. It also offers automatic grinding, dosing, and tamping so anyone can use it.
This commercial coffee maker also comes with a steam wand, so you can use hot or cold milk to create a microfoam for your favorite beverages. The only real issue with the machine is that it might be challenging to find replacement parts if something malfunctions.Highlighted Features
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Fully automated espresso machine can make long blacks, lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, and more
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Includes a conical burr grinder to dose, grind, and tamp down coffee just like any coffee house
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Offers a triple heat system with a steam boiler, espresso boiler, and a heated group head for the perfect temperature
8. Bunn 13300.003 VP17-3SS3L Pour-Over Commercial Coffee Brewer
This Bunn Pour-Over Commercial Coffee Brewer is one of the best of its kind and offers a convenient option for diners, family restaurants, cafes, and more. Using the coffee brewer is a cinch since all you need to do is pour in water and the coffee will start brewing immediately; it can even be directed straight into large decanters for guests. It comes equipped with a funnel splash guard, so you won't accidentally get doused in hot liquid or make a mess.
Unfortunately, this model doesn't come with decanters, so you'll need to buy those separately if you don’t already have them. Otherwise, this is a great value and easy-to-use option for anyone familiar with traditional coffee makers.Highlighted Features
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This coffee brewer is made of stainless steel and comes with three warmers for large amounts of coffee
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Can be used anywhere with an electrical outlet since it does not need to be connected to your plumbing
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Brews up to four gallons an hour and can be directed into traditional 64-ounce decanters
9. Bunn VPR-2EP 12-Cup Pour-Over Commercial Coffee Brewer
Another of the best commercial coffee makers on the market is this 12-cup model from Bunn. Unlike some of the other units on the list, it comes with dual carafes. However, they are made out of plastic, so that they may need to be replaced later down the line.
The Bunn Pour-Over is easy to use: all you need to do is add cold water and let the machine get to work brewing your hot coffee. It's recommended for offices but can also be used in other commercial situations without a need for continuous coffee brewing capabilities.Highlighted Features
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Includes stainless steel internal components to offer the best durability possible
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Offers multiple warming stations to keep a large quantity of coffee warm at all times
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Comes with a splash guard funnel to prevent accidents and two carafes to store coffee
10. Keurig K150P Commercial Brewer
This brewer from Keurig is different from most of the above because it inserts into your office or business water source to offer a large amount of coffee for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a touch screen interface with programmable on and off settings, adjustable temperature, and brewing instructions in several languages. It also comes with a 90-ounce water reservoir that can last through several pots.
As a Keurig brewer, any K-Cup can be used in the machine, which means there are hundreds of options to choose from. It works well in a space where tastes vary, especially when some people prefer coffee while others prefer hot cocoa or other hot beveragesHighlighted Features
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Designed for small- to medium-sized businesses to perform throughout the day every day
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Offers a plumbing kit and filter kit to hook the brewer up to your office or businesses water source
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Ability to choose from five brew sizes including four ounces, six ounces, eight ounces, 10 ounces, or 12 ounces
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.
Cost and Value of a Commercial Coffee Maker
It's always a good idea to take a long hard look at your budget before you decide on any commercial coffee machine. When you look for the models within your budget, you can be sure they are affordable and, in most cases, you'll only miss a feature or two.
Regardless of which coffee maker you decide on, think about the initial costs as well as the costs that will accumulate over time. Sometimes spending a bit more upfront can end up saving you money over the course of the year, which can make it a smart decision. The most important thing, however, is that you choose the coffee maker that is really wanted at your establishment, or it may not be worth the investment at all.
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.
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.
The best commercial coffee maker is one that fits your level of business and how much coffee is used on a daily basis. It also should be convenient and easy to use, so it doesn't have to be staffed by someone around the clock. Any of the options above will fit many businesses' needs and offer all the features you could want in a coffee maker.