Coffee Machine Hire: Bean to Cup, Percolators and Which to Choose

Once upon a time, coffee machine hire meant a water urn or a pot of instant. That has changed considerably as coffee culture has grown, and demand now exists for proper coffee machines at conferences, exhibitions and events. Not everyone has room for a full coffee bar with a trained barista, which is where we come in.

This guide explains the different types of coffee machine hire available so you can make an informed decision.

Bean to Cup Coffee Machine Hire

The top end of our coffee machine range is our Siemens Bean to Cup machines. These accept roasted coffee beans or ground coffee and make drinks to order via a touchscreen on the front. An integral milk holder enables the machine to produce cappuccinos, lattes and other milk-based drinks at the press of a button.

Bean to cup machines deliver a fresh espresso-based drink every time. Because the beans are ground on demand, each cup has noticeably better flavour than a machine that uses pre-ground coffee or pods. The machine does not require filter paper, which means it can be left for guests to use unattended. Load the beans and the milk choice and the machine handles the rest.

These machines work well in professional settings such as trade stands and conferences. For a stand where you want to offer a genuine coffee experience without staffing a full barista setup, a bean to cup machine is the practical answer.

How Many Coffee Machines Do You Need?

The number of machines required depends on the number of guests and how you serve coffee.

• For a conference or exhibition stand with up to 50 delegates, one bean to cup machine handles the load if coffee is available throughout the day.
• For a sit-down meal where coffee is served at the end, a single bean to cup machine serves around 30 guests before the queue becomes impractical. For larger numbers, add a percolator to handle demand alongside the bean to cup machine.
• For a buffet or informal event where guests help themselves, plan one machine per 40 to 50 guests.
• For very large events, over 200 guests requiring coffee at the same time, a large-capacity percolator or multiple machines is the correct solution.

Coffee Percolators

We offer two types of coffee percolator, each suited to different situations.

Our 1.8 litre commercial percolator is a filter coffee machine that brews and keeps a pot of coffee hot. Unlike the bean to cup machine, it works only with ground coffee and requires filter papers. This machine suits situations where coffee is needed over a longer period without going through the brewing process each time. It produces around 12 cups per brew and takes approximately 10 minutes to cycle, making it well-suited to a small conference or meeting room.

Our 15 litre coffee percolator is for situations where large amounts of coffee need to be accessible at once. It keeps a large volume of water at high temperature with a tap for pouring, and has an inbuilt filter basket for ground coffee, unlike a plain water urn. This machine suits post-dinner service at large banquets, breakfast buffets, or any event where a high volume of coffee needs to be available in a short window.

Choosing the Right Machine for Your Event

To match the machine to the event, start with three questions:

1. How many people need coffee, and at what point? A conference break where 80 delegates want coffee in 15 minutes needs different provision to a dinner where guests self-serve over an hour.
2. Do you have mains electricity available? All our machines run on standard 13A sockets. The bean to cup machine draws around 1,500W. The 15 litre percolator draws around 3,000W. If you are running from a generator, confirm output capacity before hiring.
3. Who is operating the machine? The bean to cup machine can run unattended after setup. The 1.8 litre percolator needs someone to load filter papers and coffee and restart it after each brew cycle. The 15 litre model needs filling and monitoring during service.

Concerned About Using a Coffee Machine?

If you have never used a coffee machine before, it is natural to be concerned about getting it right. We provide manuals for all coffee machines, either as a download from the product page or via our live chat facility where a team member can email one across.

Whatever type of coffee machine hire you need, all availability and pricing is shown online. You may also want to pair your coffee machine with other beverage equipment for events requiring a broader drinks offering.