The Three Main Types of Drinks Machines

Water Towers and Water Coolers

It may not be the most exciting drink on the market but it’s certainly the most essential. When considering buying or renting a drinks machine for your business, don’t forget the basics. Our energy-efficient water towers and water coolers are a great way of ensuring that everyone stays healthy and hydrated throughout the day, whatever they have on their agenda.

Types of Drinks Machines: Hot Drinks Machines

Perhaps the largest and most popular category overall, our hot drinks machines are ideal for all types of industries and businesses of any size. Here are some of the main types.

Instant Coffee Machines

The ability to grab a coffee on the go is vastly appreciated, whether serving employees ahead of a full day’s work or keeping patients happy in a hospital waiting room. Instant coffee machines are a popular choice, particularly as the ingredients used to create these hot beverages tend to last a long time and are relatively affordable when purchased in bulk.

Nowadays, most instant coffee machines are also capable of making other standard hot drinks, such as teas, herbal infusions and sometimes even soups. Those who wish to make their own hot drink should also be able to use the machine to dispense hot water.

When choosing your instant coffee machine, it’s important to keep usability in mind. How visible and eye-catching do you need your machine to be? How likely is it that your target users are carrying coins? It is often the case that contactless payment options are preferred.

Freshly Ground Coffee Machines

For many of us, good coffee is a right rather than a privilege. If you’re looking to go above and beyond with your hot drinks offering, why not try one of our hot drinks vending machines with a built-in coffee bean grinder. Your visitors will be able to enjoy the delicious taste and appealing aroma of freshly ground coffee at the touch of a button.

Traditional Espresso Machines

Of course, you could go one step further and offer a full-on barista experience to your workforce, visitors and customers. Our range of traditional espresso machines are capable of preparing exquisite espressos, marvellous macchiatos and frothy cappuccinos, guaranteed to delight. They come with all the latest features like built-in steamers, a temperature light and a fresh milk facility, and look incredibly elegant with their vintage design, too.

It’s important to note that this kind of hot drinks machine tends to work best in a smaller environment. For areas where large volumes of hot drinks will need to be served, or areas where people are unlikely to have the time and space to prepare something more elaborate, we would recommend opting for one of our freestanding hot drinks vending machines instead.

Tea Machines

Where would we be without a good cup of tea? Nowadays, most hot drinks vending machines are perfectly capable of making a good brew – you’ll simply have to decide between brew-in-the-bag and fresh-leaf tea varieties.

Combination Hot Drinks Vending Machines

As mentioned above, most hot drinks vending machines make a range of different hot drinks – not just coffee. Certain machines will also vend a few different cold drinks options, such as squash and carbonated water.

Cold Drinks Machines

Whether it’s the crisp click of a freshly opened can of Coca-Cola, the cool hiss of a newly opened bottle of pop or the convenience of being able to carry your water or cold beverage with you throughout the day, we can all benefit from cold drinks machines.

At Best Vending, we supply a variety of cold drinks vending machines, capable of dispensing either bottles or cans – or a combination of both. Some of our cold drinks machines can also be filled with confectionary and snacks, even offering compartmentalised temperature options to keep your products in prime condition, regardless of type.

Cold drinks machines work particularly well in hospital waiting areas, car showrooms and other areas where people are likely to spend a lot of time as a family. They prove particularly profitable when placed in high-traffic areas like museums, concert halls and tourist sites, where people are likely to be thirsty and want instant access to refreshments without having to wait to reach the nearest shop.

As with our range of hot drinks machines, it’s important to consider the most convenient payment options for your intended customers. You may even wish to set certain machines to free vend, to allow your employees to access cold drinks at no charge. The choice is entirely up to you.

What Type of Drinks Machine Is Right For My Business?

The type of drinks machine you should choose will ultimately depend on where you want to place your vending machines and who the drinks are for. There are advantages to each kind of machine and, when in doubt, it’s always possible to try it all – particularly when taking advantage of our handy rental options.

If you would like to learn more about a specific kind of machine, simply get in touch. We’re always happy to advise. Alternatively, you might like to check out our detailed guides to discover the key benefits of cold drinks vending machines and hot drinks machines for offices.