New office kitchen? Here’s 10 things to avoid

Are you building a new communal area for your office? Here are some common pitfalls to avoid when it comes to designing and allocating space for your commercial coffee machines.

1. Don’t design the space around the wrong machine

• Choose your machine based on your team’s needs and available utilities.
• Consider how many drinks you will be brewing a day, as well as what features your team will need, like dairy free options or decaf beans.
• Avoid setting yourself size constraints before trying out your new coffee set up. You might find that you need a different capacity, or that regular maintenance requires more space.

2. The ‘alcove dilemma’

• Built-in alcoves are a popular trend in interior design at the moment, they look sleek, and compartmentalise your amenities. But, they often cause problems for facilities managers down-the-line.
• In our experience, putting your coffee machine in an alcove can restrict access for servicing and prevent proper ventilation.
• Technicians need space to access internal components.
• Alcoves can also limit future upgrades if the space is too tightly designed.

“We see it all the time where machines installed in alcoves look great but make maintenance a bit of a headache,” says S. Barnes, our Head of Sales.

3. Not close enough to a sink

• Users often want to dump out a half finished drinks before brewing a fresh cup of coffee, or empty out a mispour. Having a sink close by is an often-overlooked part of office kitchen design.
• For plumbed-in models, proximity to water supply and drainage is essential. If you’re near a sink, you will make it much easier for your supplier to install your machine.
• Helps maintain hygiene and reduces mess in shared spaces.

4. No space for accessories

• Don’t forget the extras: milk fridges, bins, cup dispensers, stirrers, sugar, etc.
• Consider the countertop or cabinet space nearby that would be required to keep the area functional and tidy.

5. Ignoring waste management

• Machines with drainage need a waste outlet. Make sure your space can accommodate the extra pipe.
• Others require manual emptying, so make sure there’s a bin nearby and easy access for staff.

6. Inadequate lighting

• Low lighting makes the area harder to use and clean.
• Good lighting improves usability and creates a more inviting space.

7. Noisy placement

• Some machines are loud during operation.
• Avoid placing them near quiet zones, or focus areas.

8. Lack of ventilation

• Enclosed cabinetry can trap heat and moisture.
• This affects machine performance and longevity, and can cause moisture damage to any wood or metal in the build.

9. No room for upgrades

• Machines may need to be upgraded down the line if your team grows or needs change.
• Avoid tight cabinetry or fixed joinery that limits future options.

10. Skipping a site survey

• A site survey helps identify the best location and setup before installation.
• Suppliers like FreshGround can advise on layout, utilities, and servicing needs.
• This proactive step saves time and prevents costly redesigns.

To conclude, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a coffee machine, and you can set yourself up for headaches further down the line if you don’t plan accordingly.
Remember to consider the following:

• Is the area well-ventilated?
• Is there space for a waste water pipe?
• Is there a sink nearby?
• If the machine needs maintenance, will an engineer be able to access every part of the machine easily?
• Is there enough space for the machine, along with any additional features required to cater to your tea? And, have you given yourself the scope to change out the machine to a different model if necessary?