Coffee Vending Machines

Especially popular in offices and on college campuses, coffee vending machines now offer more than just coffee. Improvements in technology have promoted a rise in the sale of specialty caffeinated (and decaf) beverages from coffee vending machines, including fresh-brewed cappuccinos, espressos and even iced drinks and teas.

Features of a Typical Coffee Vending Machine

Expect to find a variety of shapes and sizes of coffee vending machines, but shop with a compact design in mind. At the large end of commercial coffee vending machine sizes are models that measure as high as 6 feet, with a unit weight of at least a couple of hundred pounds. Larger units require more electricity to operate, so expect to see power costs increase proportionally with the size of your coffee vending machine.

Beyond the variation in size and weight specifications, coffee vending machines are also equipped to offer a variety of products and features designed to enhance convenience and ease of use. One example of an ingenious touch featured on modern coffee vending machines that drums up additional business is the ability to allow customers to fill their own coffee mugs. These machines are ideal for school or work environments, where much of the traffic around the vending machine is there on a daily basis. Many machines also come with a complimentary service option, allowing for versatile use on special occasions when coffee is offered free of charge.

Where Should You Locate a Coffee Vending Machine?

With more than 100,000,000 coffee drinkers in the United States alone, locating a coffee vending machine near people who enjoy a cup of joe isn’t the challenge–it’s choosing a location where large numbers of people in need of a pick-me-up converge. When you consider that the average coffee drinker enjoys an average of more than 3 cups per day, with 18 percent of those people purchasing specialty coffee beverages on a daily basis, it’s easy to see how a versatile coffee vending machine can become profitable very quickly.

Employers who want to generate a little extra revenue might consider adding a coffee vending machine to the company lunchroom and lounge or break areas. If you’re interested in becoming an independent operator of a coffee vending machine business, consider approaching established companies. Ask whether they’re open to an agreement that will allow you access to the company’s employees in exchange for a percentage of the machine’s intake. Well managed, such arrangements can become win-win situations for employers and entrepreneurs alike.

Where else do coffee drinkers mingle with tired, thirsty folks? Lecture halls and school dormitories, bus and train station waiting areas, airports, hotel lobbies and convention centers, exhibition grounds, entertainment venues…in short, just about anywhere you can think of. When considering a location, anticipate its need for a coffee vending machine by observing the flow of pedestrian traffic, areas where people gather or pass through and what’s available nearby in terms of caffeinated beverages. If you find the right place, earning a strong income can become a simple matter of stocking your machines and collecting your money.