83% say yes: coffee machines for offices boost productivity

If you are looking for a simple, evidence-backed way to improve focus, retention, and team culture in your workplace, the answer may already be sitting in your break room — or rather, missing from it.

Coffee machines for offices are no longer a minor amenity: the data shows they are one of the most powerful tools available to employers seeking to create a more engaged, productive workforce.

Read on to discover what the research says, what employees actually expect, and how to make the right choice for your organisation.

Table of contents

• The business of coffee machines for offices
• Coffee in the UK workplace: a cultural shift
• What employees really want from their workplace coffee
• How quality coffee machines for offices drive productivity
• Coffee as a driver of culture and retention
• The sustainability dimension
• How to choose the right coffee machine
• Elevate your office coffee experience with illy

Coffee machines for offices: the business case you can't ignore

The modern workplace is undergoing a profound transformation. As return-to-office mandates become more common across the UK, employers are asking a critical question: what genuinely motivates people to come back and to stay engaged when they do? The answers emerging from employee surveys are telling, and one stands out above all others: quality coffee.

Not a quirky games room. Not designer lighting. Not plants. According to research conducted in 2024, high-quality coffee is the number one office perk employees are looking for, ranked above break areas, improved lighting, and leisure facilities. And the implications of getting this right go far beyond a good morning cup.

Coffee in the UK workplace: a cultural shift

The UK has always had a deep relationship with hot beverages, but something significant has changed in recent years. According to Statista (2024), 76% of UK adults now drink coffee, with 68% doing so daily.

In a landmark cultural moment, 2023 marked the first year that coffee consumption in the UK overtook tea — a shift that would have seemed unthinkable a generation ago.

The scale of this demand is striking:

• 98 million coffee cups are consumed in the UK every day
• The UK ranks among the top 10 coffee markets globally (British Coffee Association)
• 72% of UK households now brew beans or ground coffee at home and they increasingly expect the same quality when they are out of home

This last point is particularly relevant for employers. Workers who are accustomed to a quality flat white or single-origin espresso at home will not be satisfied with a stale instant coffee at the office

What employees really want from their workplace coffee

The gap between what employees expect and what they actually receive in the workplace is more significant than many employers realise.

Consider these figures from a 2024 employee survey (1,000 respondents, UK):

• 75% of employees say it is important or very important to have quality coffee at work
• 30% are currently unhappy with the quality of coffee available at their workplace
• 2 in 5 employees do not have a coffee offering at work — but would love one
  
  

In other words, a large proportion of the workforce is either underserved or entirely without a coffee solution. This is not a peripheral concern. When asked to rank the perks that would most improve their working environment, employees placed high-quality coffee at the top — ahead of every other option presented:

Source: illy survey, August 2024 (1,000 respondents)

How quality coffee machines for offices drive productivity

The connection between quality coffee and workplace performance is measurable.

In a 2024 study among UK office workers:

• 83% said that high-quality coffee improves their focus and helps them be more productive
• among office workers specifically, the figure who agreed that "coffee improves my mental focus" rose to 83%, compared to 67% of the general UK coffee-drinking population
• a quality coffee offering was found to be a key driver of employees staying in the office up to one hour more per week
  
  

That final point deserves particular attention. At a time when organisations are investing significantly in return-to-office strategies, a quality office coffee machine may achieve what workplace design and policy alone cannot: genuinely making the office a place people want to be.

Beyond focus: coffee as a driver of culture and retention

The impact of coffee in the workplace extends well beyond individual productivity. It is also a powerful signal — one that communicates to employees how much their employer values them.

The data on this is striking:

• 86% of employees feel their employer genuinely cares about them when quality coffee is provided at work
• 82% feel that a quality coffee offering makes them see the company as a good place to work
• 70% say that quality coffee helps foster connection, teamwork, and creativity
  
  

These are not trivial numbers. In the current talent market, where employee engagement and retention are among the most pressing challenges for HR and operations leaders, workplace experience plays a decisive role. The coffee machine in your office is a statement about your culture.

Think of it this way: when a new employee joins and finds a high-quality, well-maintained coffee solution in the kitchen, it sets an expectation of care and professionalism. When they find a limescale-covered machine with out-of-date pods, it sets a different one entirely.

The sustainability dimension

Sustainability is no longer a differentiator in the workplace — it is a baseline expectation. And coffee is no exception.

According to research among UK office workers, 80% say that a sustainable coffee offering is important in their workplace

For employers committed to ESG reporting, carbon reduction targets, and responsible procurement, this matters. The sustainability credentials of your coffee supply chain — from how beans are sourced and traded to how packaging is handled — increasingly come under scrutiny from employees, clients, and investors alike.

When evaluating coffee machines for offices, it is worth considering not just the hardware but the supply chain behind the product:

• Are the beans ethically and sustainably sourced?
• Is the supplier certified by a recognised sustainability body?
• Does the machine support waste reduction (e.g. recyclable or compostable formats)?
• What is the energy consumption profile of the machine?
  

Bean-to-cup machines, in particular, tend to perform well on sustainability metrics — grinding whole beans to order eliminates the need for individual packaging and reduces waste, while delivering a fresher, higher-quality result.

How to choose the right coffee machine for your office

Selecting the right coffee machine for an office environment involves balancing several factors: daily consumption volumes, the quality and variety of beverages expected, ease of maintenance, and the overall footprint of the machine.

The following overview covers the main categories of office coffee solution available in the UK market:

Source: illy UK Office Solutions guide

Key considerations when choosing:

• Volume: underestimating daily consumption leads to queues and frustration. Always plan for peak usage (typically 9–10am and post-lunch).
• Beverage variety: modern offices accommodate a wide range of preferences — from straight espresso to flat whites, hot chocolate, and even hot water for tea. A machine with a broad menu reduces the number of employees who feel excluded from the offering.
• Ease of use: intuitive touchscreen interfaces reduce the need for training and ensure consistent results regardless of who is operating the machine.
• Maintenance requirements: machines with automated cleaning cycles and clear maintenance alerts reduce downtime and the burden on facilities teams.
• Footprint: in open-plan or agile offices where space is at a premium, compact designs that do not compromise on output are increasingly in demand.
  
  

Elevate your office coffee experience with illy

The evidence is clear: coffee machines for offices are a strategic investment in productivity, culture, and employee wellbeing.

illy is Italy's number one premium coffee brand and the first Italian B Corp certified coffee company. With a fully sustainable and traceable supply chain, a 2033 commitment to carbon neutrality, and a portfolio of flexible office solutions designed for every scale of operation, illy brings together unrivalled quality and responsible sourcing in one coherent offering.

From compact bean-to-cup solutions for boutique workplaces to high-volume systems for large corporate environments, illy's UK office range is tailored to meet the demands of modern British organisations — with technical support, training, and a service model built around your needs.

Request a free trial to experience the difference quality coffee makes in your workplace!