Coffee Beans vs Capsules for the Office: What Costs Less?
Capsules win on convenience, beans win on cost at volume. The break-even point for most offices sits somewhere between 25 and 40 cups a day.
Capsules win on convenience, beans win on cost at volume. The break-even point for most offices sits somewhere between 25 and 40 cups a day.
Cost per cup
Capsules typically land two to three times higher per cup than whole beans. At ten cups a day the difference is minor; at sixty cups a day it becomes a meaningful annual number.
Consistency and speed
Capsules deliver identical results every time with no training. Bean-to-cup machines deliver better coffee but need correct grind settings and regular cleaning to stay consistent.
Maintenance and waste
Beans generate compostable grounds; capsules generate packaging that most offices simply bin. Bean machines need daily rinse cycles and periodic descaling — which is exactly the kind of task a managed service should absorb.
