What Size Office Coffee Machine Do I Need? 20, 50, 100 & 200+ Staff
Choose by drinks per day and the busiest half-hour, then check milk, water and location. For an office making fewer than 50 coffees a day, a JURA W4 or W8 can be a sensible starting point. Around 50–100 coffees points towards the X4, X10 or Gaggia G100; higher demand brings the GIGA X3, GIGA X8, G300 or G700 into consideration. More than one drinks point may be the better answer.
A coffee machine for 20 people can need more capacity than one serving a 100-person hybrid company. The headcount bands below are starting scenarios, not promises that one model suits every workplace of that size.
The quick sizing rule Calculate a normal busy day, check the peak period, and leave room for visitors and growth. Choose the smallest setup that comfortably handles that brief—not a machine operating at its headline limit every day.
Why employee headcount can mislead
Imagine a company with 100 employees but only 40 in the office on its busy day. At two machine-made coffees per attendee plus ten visitor drinks, that is 90 coffees. A 50-person office with everyone present, three coffees each and ten visitor drinks needs 160. These are illustrative assumptions, not survey averages.
Use the busiest recurring attendance day, not a weekly attendance average. Account separately for training days, client events, shift changes and the demand at each floor or tea point. People who drink tea or bring coffee from outside do not necessarily use the machine.
Calculate your office’s drinks per day
Your working formula People physically present × machine-made coffees per person + visitor coffees = estimated daily coffee demand.
Start with the machine’s preparation counter or a week of observations if you already have one. Record attendance alongside usage. With no history, test one, two and three coffees per attendee rather than assuming everybody drinks the same amount.
Scenario | Calculation | Coffees/day |
|---|---|---|
20 attendees | 20 × 2 + 5 visitors | 45 |
50 attendees | 50 × 2 + 10 visitors | 110 |
100 employees; 40 attend | 40 × 2 + 10 visitors | 90 |
200 employees; 120 attend | 120 × 2 + 20 visitors | 260 |
The examples count coffees. If the same machine also serves hot chocolate or substantial hot-water demand, record those separately: they add preparation time, water use and replenishment. Do not treat a manufacturer’s coffee output figure as a guarantee for an arbitrary mixed drinks menu.
Check the busiest 15–30 minutes
A machine can make enough coffee across a day and still create a morning queue. If 25 people want a drink between 08:45 and 09:15, the average requirement is 50 drinks an hour during that window; if they all arrive at 08:45, the queue is much sharper.
Check the actual recipes, cup sizes, milk-drink mix and user handling time. Manufacturer hourly test figures use defined conditions; they are not a prediction of your office queue. Ask for a demonstration using your proposed drinks menu when peak performance is decisive.
Office coffee machines for 10–25 people
Illustrative demand: about 20–55 coffees/day at two per attendee plus up to five visitor drinks. A 20-person professional office making 45 coffees fits the 50-cup class more naturally than a 25-person office making 55.
For black coffee, consider the JURA W4; for cappuccino, flat white and latte drinks, consider the JURA W8. Both use a 3-litre water tank. The W8 also needs chilled milk, space for a suitable milk cooler and someone responsible for the daily milk-system clean.
Step up if recurring usage exceeds 50, meetings create sharp peaks, or manual refills interrupt work. A small team wanting integrated hot chocolate may need a suitable G100 granulated-milk configuration rather than a compact fresh-milk JURA.
Office coffee machines for 25–50 people
Illustrative demand: 55–110 coffees/day with full attendance, two each and five to ten visitor coffees. Hybrid attendance can bring this down; a coffee-heavy culture can push it considerably higher.
The X4 is a straightforward black-coffee candidate. For fresh milk, the JURA X10 / X10c adds capacity over the W8: X10 is tank-fed and X10c has a permanent water connection. The Gaggia G100 offers fresh- or powdered-milk variants; quote the required milk and chocolate configuration explicitly.
Already deciding between the two fresh-milk JURA classes? Our JURA W8 vs X10 office coffee machine comparison explains when the W8 is the smarter buy, when the X10 step up is justified, and how X10c changes the water setup.
At 110 coffees every busy day, a 100-cup-class machine is already too small on paper. Consider a GIGA X3 or G300, or split demand between two appropriate machines. For tank-fed setups, agree who refills water and empties waste during the day.
Office coffee machines for 50–100 people
Illustrative demand: 110–220 coffees/day if everyone attends and takes two, with ten to twenty visitor coffees. This bracket spans several machine classes; it cannot sensibly have one universal recommendation.
A 75–100-person hybrid workplace making 90 coffees might still suit an X10/X10c after its peak is checked. For roughly 120 coffees with fresh milk, the GIGA X3 / X3c is a candidate. For powdered milk and hot chocolate, compare the Gaggia G300. Both have a manufacturer daily figure of 150 coffees.
The GIGA X8 / X8c moves to 200 coffees and two grinders, useful where regular and decaf beans both need easy access. At 220 daily coffees, move beyond a single X8. Plumbing can reduce water refills, but it does not increase a machine’s recommended daily output.
If the daily figure leaves you weighing JURA fresh milk against a Gaggia milk or chocolate setup, compare JURA and Gaggia office coffee machines before settling on one large unit or several smaller points.
Office coffee machines for 100–150 people
Illustrative full-attendance demand: 220–320 coffees/day at two per person plus twenty visitor coffees. Lower hybrid occupancy may need much less. For coffee plus hot chocolate, include both in the peak calculation before selecting.
A G300 can suit a drinks point making 120 coffees plus a checked chocolate requirement; it is not automatically enough for 150 staff taking two coffees each. A Gaggia G700 becomes relevant for greater demand, fresh milk and suitable soluble-ingredient recipes.
Check the exact G700 version, milk cooler, canister allocation, water supply and electrical requirements. Do not pay for this class simply because the company has 100 staff: a lighter-use site may be better served by a GIGA or smaller distributed machines.
Office coffee machines for 150–200+ people
Illustrative full-attendance demand: 320–420 coffees/day at two per person plus twenty visitors; 200+ workplaces can exceed this. A single 200-cup GIGA X8 or 300-cup G700 does not cover 400 coffees/day.
Treat this as a tea-point plan. Map attendance, coffee demand and meetings by floor. Compare two or more appropriately sized machines with a larger central drinks point, allowing for how staff actually move around the building.
At 260 coffees/day, a G700 may be on the shortlist after peak and recipe checks. At 400, assess a multi-machine solution. Two machines provide useful continuity during a clean or fault, but the remaining machine may not handle the entire building’s normal load.
Machine capacity comparison
These figures are JURA’s recommended maximum daily output and Gaggia’s suggested output, checked against current official product information. They describe demand classes, not guaranteed queue-free service. Confirm the model generation and UK configuration on the quotation.
On a phone, swipe the comparison table sideways to see every column.
Machine | Daily cups | Milk | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
JURA W4 | 50 | None; black coffee | 3L tank |
JURA W8 | 50 | Fresh | 3L tank |
JURA X4 | 100 | None; black coffee | 5L tank |
JURA X10 / X10c | 100 | Fresh | X10 tank / X10c mains |
GIGA X3 / X3c | 150 | Fresh | X3 tank / X3c mains |
GIGA X8 / X8c | 200 | Fresh | X8 tank / X8c mains |
Gaggia G100 | 100 | Powdered or fresh variant | Confirm quoted setup |
Gaggia G300 | 150 | Powdered | Mains; confirm installation |
Gaggia G700 | 300 | Fresh on one-step versions | Mains; confirm installation |
What makes each class worth considering?
W4 / W8: compact lower-demand coffee; move up for recurring demand above 50 or difficult peaks. Milk choice separates them.
X4 / X10: a higher daily class for black coffee or fresh milk respectively; choose another setup for powdered milk, integrated chocolate or demand above 100.
GIGA X3: one main bean choice and fresh milk at higher volume; consider X8 for two bean choices or more daily capacity.
GIGA X8: two grinders and the 200-coffee class; consider multiple machines above that level or across several floors.
G100: configuration flexibility at the 100-coffee class; confirm powdered versus fresh milk and chocolate canisters rather than assuming every variant has every feature.
G300: powdered milk and suitable chocolate recipes at higher demand; choose another machine if fresh milk is essential or 150 coffees is insufficient.
G700: higher daily demand, suitable fresh-milk and chocolate configurations, and optional DualMilk; assess space, power and operational need before stepping up.
None of the featured JURA machines has an integrated chocolate-powder system. G100 powdered-milk and G300 configurations can provide hot chocolate with the appropriate canister and recipe. For OBS’s fresh-milk-plus-chocolate shortlist, assess the appropriate G700 configuration; do not assume a fresh-milk G100 package includes chocolate.
Fresh milk or powdered milk changes the sizing decision
Fresh milk brings refrigeration, milk replenishment and daily milk-path cleaning. The coffee machine and milk cooler need to be sized together: a machine with sufficient daily capacity can still stop regularly if the milk supply is too small for the menu.
Powdered or granulated milk avoids a refrigerated fresh-milk circuit, but the machine still needs cleaning, mixer care, ingredient refilling and waste emptying. Check allergens and the actual powder: “non-dairy” wording is not sufficient to establish suitability for every user.
Read our fresh milk vs powdered milk guide for the operating trade-offs. If dairy and oat drinks are a firm requirement, the dual-milk office coffee guide explains the configuration and cleaning questions.
Tank-fed or plumbed-in?
Tank-fed makes sense where demand is modest, the machine may move, or fixed changes are restricted. Larger tanks help, but drink size and rinsing affect refill frequency. Plumbed-in is worth considering where frequent filling disrupts a busy tea point and an approved cold-water route is available.
G100 water options depend on the specified UK setup: OBS offers plumbed and tank-fed arrangements, but confirm the tank or pump kit and footprint in writing. Do not assume it is a built-in tank like a JURA W8.
Check counter depth, overhead refill clearance, waste removal, milk-fridge space, electrical supply, filtration and any drain requirement for the exact configuration. A coffee machine does not automatically replace a separate tea hot-water source.
Use the 2-minute coffee machine installation site check before finalising the tea point. If you are refurbishing, our office fit-out coffee specification guide helps bring the requirement into the design early.
One large machine or two smaller machines?
Two machines can split simultaneous queues and put coffee near the people using it. That can be more valuable than spare daily capacity on a single machine several floors away. Each location still needs enough capacity for its own peak.
Consider | One central machine | Two drinks points |
|---|---|---|
Queues | All users share one point | Can split simultaneous demand |
Floors | Staff travel to coffee | Coffee nearer each team |
Availability | One fault stops that point | Another point may remain usable |
Daily care | One machine to clean | Two cleaning and refill routines |
Cost & space | One setup and service scope | Additional equipment and locations |
Two W8s make sense only if each point’s demand and peak fit the 50-coffee class. Adding daily ratings together does not guarantee suitable peak service or full backup capacity. Balance equipment, installation and care costs against staff time and convenience.
For a managed workspace or shared office, assess tenant occupancy, meeting-room bookings, event peaks and floor access. Do not invent a headcount-to-machine ratio across several independently busy tea points.
Six practical workplace scenarios
20–25-person professional office: 20 attendees × 2 + 5 visitors = 45 coffees. W8 for fresh milk; W4 for black coffee. At 55–70 regular coffees, step up rather than stretch the W8.
40–60-person office: 40 attendees × 2 + 10 = 90. X10/X10c or an appropriate G100 can be candidates. At 60 attendees on the same assumptions, 130 points towards a higher class.
75–100-person hybrid workplace: 40 attendees × 2 + 10 = 90. Attendance can justify an X10 even though company headcount is much larger; concentrated meeting breaks may justify a second point.
100–150-person coffee-and-chocolate workplace: 60 daily coffee users × 2 = 120 coffees, plus separately measured chocolate demand. Consider G300 if powdered milk suits; check the total menu peak. For fresh milk plus chocolate, assess G700 configuration and proportionate cost.
150–200+ HQ: 200 attendees × 2 + 20 = 420 coffees. Plan multiple machines; one GIGA X8 or G700 is below this daily coffee demand.
Managed workspace: three floors making 45, 85 and 120 coffees/day need different classes. A W8, X10c and GIGA X3c could form a fresh-milk starting plan, subject to each floor’s peak and installation. This is an example, not a client case study.
When to size up—or add another machine
Recurring busy-day demand is near or above the manufacturer figure.
Queues persist at arrival, meeting breaks or shift change.
Water, beans or milk need repeated attention during the busiest period.
Client meetings or planned growth materially change attendance.
One central tea point serves several floors poorly.
The drink mix changes: more milk drinks, larger recipes or chocolate.
Coffee is operationally important and a single unavailable machine would cause disruption.
Do not assume every queue needs a bigger machine. Moving cups, improving menu clarity, reallocating a meeting-room point or providing tea water separately can help. Use observations to identify the actual bottleneck.
Budget for the complete setup
Compare the machine, milk cooler, water filtration, installation and daily care together. Warranty, extended warranty and service/maintenance are separate scopes; only the written quotation establishes what is included.
Use the office coffee cost-per-cup calculator to test running costs, and the office coffee machine leasing guide when comparing purchase with finance. A higher-capacity machine is good value only when it solves the workplace’s demand or operating problem.
Frequently asked questions
What size coffee machine do I need for 50 employees?
Estimate physical attendance and actual machine-made coffees first. Fifty attendees taking two coffees each plus ten visitors need 110 coffees/day, which exceeds a 100-coffee-class machine. Lower attendance or fewer drinks may make an X4, X10 or G100 appropriate; assess peaks and milk requirements before choosing.
How many coffees can an office coffee machine make per day?
The featured manufacturer figures range from 50 for W4/W8 to 300 for G700. X4/X10 and G100 sit at 100, GIGA X3 and G300 at 150, and GIGA X8 at 200. These are recommended or suggested daily coffee figures, not guaranteed mixed-menu throughput.
Is one coffee machine enough for 100 employees?
It can be if attendance, daily usage, location and peaks suit it. A hybrid company making 90 coffees has a different brief from 100 attendees making 220. Multiple floors or simultaneous meeting breaks can justify two drinks points even when one machine has enough daily capacity.
Should an office coffee machine be plumbed in?
Consider plumbing when manual refills become disruptive and the site has an approved water route. A tank-fed machine can suit smaller or restricted locations. Plumbing reduces water filling; it does not raise the machine’s daily output rating.
Are two smaller machines better than one large machine?
Sometimes. They can split queues, serve different floors and keep another drinks point available during cleaning or a fault. They also require two cleaning routines and setups. Check each location’s demand and whether the remaining machine can manage essential demand during downtime.
What machine is suitable for a 200-person office?
Use actual attendance and daily coffees rather than the number 200. At 120 attendees taking two coffees plus twenty visitors, demand is 260: a G700 may be a candidate after peak checks. At 200 attendees on the same basis, demand is 420 and a multi-machine plan is needed.
How many coffees per employee should I allow for?
There is no universal figure. Use existing counters and attendance records where possible. With no data, test one, two and three machine-made coffees per attendee, then add visitors. Treat these as planning scenarios and validate them with the team.
Build a package around your actual workplace
Note your busy-day attendance, estimated coffees/day, busiest half-hour, milk and chocolate preferences, water setup and number of tea points. Then use the OBS Quote Builder to compare a suitable machine package, accessories, support options and purchase or lease routes.
The builder does not import this article’s calculations. Keep your demand figures to hand and include them in your enquiry so OBS can check the shortlist before you commit. You can also browse the full office coffee machine range.
Manufacturer sources and sizing notes
Specifications checked 7 October 2026. All calculations and workplace examples are illustrative OBS planning scenarios. Daily output is not a universal staff capacity or service guarantee.
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