Coffee, and even espresso specifically, is a must in any office setting.
However, not every machine can do the job. If you’re looking for something that can turn out espresso and froth milk, then there are some important factors to consider before making your purchase.
First, you’ll want something easy to clean, low maintenance, efficient, and (last but not least) good at brewing espresso. You’re not going to want a machine that is difficult for everyone in the office to use and no-one is going to want to be in charge of messy clean-up.
The Final Shot: The Nespresso Evoluo gets the top spot in this range. This machine is different from other pod brewers because it will brew both espresso and coffee. The centrifugal force brewing technique is Nespresso’s newest feature and highly rated for a better tasting pull of espresso.
Fortunately, there are plenty of machines that meet these needs, which I have narrowed down to three for your browsing convenience.
I’m especially impressed with the Nespresso VertuoLine, but I’m including a couple of other great machines to suit all manner of office settings, whether it’s for a small group of coffee lovers or a high volume staff kitchen.
Contents
The Nespresso VertuoLine Evoluo is as tidy, convenient, and straightforward as an espresso maker can get. It tops my list because it’s cost effective, orderly, and has an insane amount of positive reviews: 4.5 stars according to Amazon.
The VertuoLine comes with specialized Nespresso capsules that pop in the top to either brew larger cups of coffee or 1.35 ounces of espresso. When you’re finished, you simply take out the capsule and discard. The capsules are great because they’re easy to stock and produce consistently good coffee for when you’re needing that afternoon burst.
Unlike a semi-automatic machine, there’s no fussing around with beans or grind settings to get a healthy layer of crema—the machine is fine tuned to do that for you. This unit also comes with the Aeroccino Plus milk frother, which quickly heats milk for a creamy drink, or adds froth to an iced coffee. I find the separate frother to be a nice touch since it can be stored in the refrigerator and easily cleaned for a fast turnaround.
The users of this machine have little to complain about, but there is something to bear in mind with these Nespresso products: you’re limited to their coffee capsules exclusively, so if you don’t like the taste you’re out of luck. Also hand crafted presentation isn’t a part of the Nespresso’s programming; although, you’re meant to be working, not taking pictures of your coffee, so I doubt that’ll matter in this context.
No matter the day of the week, this smooth operator is an excellent balance between functionality and quality.
This endearingly compact model is fantastic for offices on a strict fiscal and spatial budget. It’s under a hundred dollars for the initial purchase and it’s small enough to carry between meeting rooms and staff kitchens—heck, you could even keep it on your desk if coffee is that important to you!
Like the VertuoLine, the Inissia uses specialized capsule technology that can only be purchased online through Nespresso. This model also fantastic ratings with Amazon, at a triumphant 4.4 with over 600 reviewers. It also comes in several different colors, because every office could do with a little pop color every now and then.
I find the Inissia to be especially handy for small office settings. The removable water reservoir in the back of the machine holds around 24 ounces of water, which can get you by for about 9 cycles before having to refill. The Inissia’s start up is also incredibly fast, reaching its perfect extraction temperature within 25 seconds, perfect if you’re looking to cut down on gossip time.
A natural concern for any office is the budget, which brings me to the cost of the capsules. If you were buying for one, the capsules can get pricey: about 70 cents each, on top of shipping. However, if you were to buy in bulk, the cost per unit decreases and shipping is free.
Unlike the VertuoLine, this model doesn’t include the Aeroccino for milk frothing and heating. If you wanted to branch out from an Americano or espresso, the Aeroccino is a separate investment, albeit a good one.
The Gaggia model is a super-automatic machine perfect for spacious communal kitchens that require a machine with a greater functional variety and a capacity to serve the cappuccino drinking masses. It is a far more expensive undertaking, but remains the prime option for large offices seeking to impress clients with tasty drinks and snappy service.
The model weighs in at a whopping 45 pounds, so it’ll likely be taking up permanent residence on the counter. Unlike, the Nespresso machines, you get your pick of beans to make anything from an espresso to a latte. It is important to stay away from oily beans, as they can break down the internal grinder.
I find this super-automatic to be especially equipped for the office because it has a large bean hopper to keep bulk beans fresh, as well as a removable milk component that can be refrigerated, making for easy cleaning.
When the machine is not being used, the Gaggia goes through a cleaning cycle, which brings overall upkeep to a minimal. That said, this machine does has a 3.8 rating on Amazon because this very cycle caused users to have to empty out an internal drip tray almost daily. If the machine is being used frequently, this is something that will have to be monitored.
If your office has the means, the Gaggia Accademia is excellent for accommodating a wider range of preferences. It’s fully automated settings make for an easy push-of-a-button experience, while also allowing more room for customization.
While each individual office runs on its own set of rules, there’s nothing like a little bit of java to boost general morale and productivity. No matter the need, each of these products offers ease, quality, and a return on your investment.
That concludes my list of espresso machine for the office. Thank you for reading and I hope it will prove helpful to you in your search.
Chatting about coffee is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better.
Week 1 - Home Espresso Machines
Week 2 - Coffee Beans
Week 3 - Types of Drinks
Week 4 - Advanced Brewing
Join Mike (me) and learn all the basics of making great tasting espresso!
Week 1 - Home Espresso Machines
Week 2 - Coffee Beans
Week 3 - Types of Drinks
Week 4 - Advanced Brewing
Join Mike (me) and learn all the basics of making great tasting espresso!
I am a die-hard espresso fan. I love every form of the drink from straight espresso shots to lattes and cappuccinos. I currently use a Breville BES870XL Barista, it is an awesome machine. BUT, my dream machine is definitely an Italian Quickmill Andreja. Those bad boys make badass espresso. I love answering your questions, leave a comment or question below!