Choosing a commercial coffee machine is not simply about finding the lowest purchase price. For businesses, the true cost can include the machine itself, coffee, milk, servicing, maintenance and unexpected breakdowns.
So, is it cheaper to rent, lease or buy a coffee machine? The answer depends on how much coffee you serve and how much responsibility you want to take on.
What does it cost to buy a commercial coffee machine?
Buying means paying the machine’s full capital cost upfront. You then take responsibility for consumables, servicing and repairs, unless these are covered separately.
For a simple example, imagine:
- Machine purchase: £6,000
- Expected working life: 5 years
- Coffee and other consumables: £0.25 per cup
- Servicing and maintenance: £600 per year
- 50 cups per day, 260 days per year
Over five years, the machine costs £6,000 + £3,000 servicing = £9,000.
At 65,000 cups over that period, the machine and servicing cost approximately 14p per cup, before consumables.
Add £0.25 consumables and the total becomes approximately 39p per cup.
Buying can therefore work well for lower volume businesses that have the capital available and are comfortable managing maintenance themselves.
What does it cost to lease a commercial coffee machine?
Leasing spreads the cost of a commercial coffee machine through regular monthly payments. Depending on the package, servicing, maintenance and breakdown support can also be included.
For example:
- Lease and service package: £150 per month
- Coffee and consumables: £0.25 per cup
- 50 cups per day, 260 days per year
Annual machine and service cost = £1,800.
That works out at around 14p per cup, before consumables, giving an estimated total of 39p per cup.
The key difference is that the business avoids the £6,000 upfront capital cost and may have greater protection against unexpected repair bills.
Is renting a coffee machine worth it?
Rental can be particularly useful for businesses that want flexibility without owning the equipment. A rental agreement may include servicing and support, depending on the package.
The calculation is straightforward:
Cost per cup = (machine or monthly cost + servicing + expected maintenance + consumables) ÷ total cups served
The cheapest option on paper is not always the cheapest in practice. Rental and leasing can reduce financial risk, while buying can win for low volume sites with suitable in-house maintenance.
Which commercial coffee machine option is right for your business?
There is no single answer for every business. Hotels, offices, care settings and other busy sites have different coffee volumes and requirements.
Coffee Time Scotland can help you compare commercial coffee solutions based on your usage, budget and requirements.
Explore our commercial coffee solutions or contact Coffee Time Scotland to discuss the right option for your business.