Office Coffee Station Ideas and Tips [with Examples]

How do you set up a coffee station at work?

Listen, setting up a coffee station doesn’t take much—it’s about knowing what your team needs. You simply need a good coffee maker, coffee, and some fixings for added customization. Knowing your team and what kind of coffee they really want is key, because people can be pretty particular about their coffee. 😱

Here’s your step-by-step guide:

1. What kind of coffee drinkers are in your office? Are they drip coffee realists or espresso fanatics?
2. How many people on your team prefer each? For example, if only a few people love cold brew, maybe don’t invest in a full keg. Ready-to-drink options might work better.
3. Match your equipment to your team’s preferences If most people love drip coffee, focus your budget on 1-2 drip machines.
4. Align your coffee selection to your equipment. No need to buy coffee pods for a bean-to-cup machine—it’s just not going to work.
5. Add extras for customization! We’ll get to that in a minute.

What are the common mistakes when designing a coffee station? 

You want your coffee station to flow like the perfect cold brew keg. So, here are a few mistakes to avoid:

• Not leaving enough prep space. Coffee stations are social hubs. Don’t let one person prepping their coffee hold up the whole show. Include prep space in your design!
• Choosing the wrong machine. Not every coffee machine can keep up with a busy office. Don’t pick a machine because it’s sleek—pick one that can handle the foot traffic.

How to choose an office coffee machine?

When choosing the right coffee machine for your office, it’s important to understand the options available. Here’s a breakdown to help you select the best one for your team’s needs:

• Drip Coffee Maker

• Pros: Brews large quantities at once, ideal for larger teams, and budget-friendly.
• Cons: Limited to traditional coffee and doesn’t support specialty drinks.
• Considerations: Best for offices where regular drip coffee is the go-to, and quantity is more important than variety.

• Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machine

• Pros: Grinds fresh beans for each cup, providing premium quality and espresso-based drinks. Some even have powered or fresh milk mix-ins. 
• Cons: Higher upfront cost and maintenance, and can be slow for high-volume use.
• Considerations: Great for offices with coffee aficionados who appreciate freshly brewed, high-quality coffee and are willing to invest in a top-tier machine.

• Pod Coffee Machine

• Pros: Extremely easy to use and quick, with no cleanup required.
• Cons: Single-use pod costs can add up over time and are not as sustainable. 
• Considerations: Great for offices that want a little variety but also want something easier to upkeep. 

• Kegerator

• Pros: Keeps cold brew fresh and flowing, perfect for high-volume cold brew drinkers.
• Cons: Limited to cold brew only—no variety in drink options.
• Considerations: Perfect for teams that value sustainability. 

• Hot Water Dispenser

• Pros: Great for tea drinkers or anyone who needs hot water for instant coffee, cocoa packets, or even ramen. 
• Cons: Might be overkill in an office that doesn’t drink much tea or instant coffee.
• Considerations: Some water machines and coffee makers have a hot water function so you may not need it. 

• Ice Machine

• Pros: Ensures a steady supply of ice for iced coffee or cold brew.
• Cons: Requires additional space and maintenance.
• Considerations: Some fridges have ice makers so it may not be necessary. However, if you're going to do it, the nugget ice makers are AMAZING!

What are the products you should offer in a coffee station at work? 

We’ve crunched the numbers to see where workplaces are putting their coffee budgets, and spoiler alert: it’s more than just the coffee beans. From tea to sweeteners to that unexpected but essential kombucha, here's a breakdown of where the money's going when it comes to office coffee offerings:

42% Coffee
🥇 Cold Brew
🥈 Beans
🥉 Pods

34% Tea
🥇 Green Tea
🥈 Black
🥉 Herbal

18% Sweeteners
🥇 Half & Half
🥈 Cream
🥉 Sugar

5% Kombucha

1% Cocoa

Three coffee station design ideas!

Need some coffee station inspiration? We've got you covered with three real-life examples that make the most of any office space. Whether you're all about sleek minimalism, want to create a cozy coffee corner or dream of a full-blown coffee bar experience, these setups will give you the perfect blend of style and functionality. Let’s get brewing with these creative ideas!

What works: 

• Mini coffee stations: Three different coffee machines are spaced out to avoid traffic pile-ups.
• Cups at the space entrance: The cups are located at the entrance of the U-shaped coffee bar to make it easy to grab your cup and go to the preferred station. 
• Clear prep area at the back: The back wall has an open prep area making it easy to grab your cup from any of the stations and move out of the way.
• Coffee shop vibes: Seating around the coffee bar creates a casual hangout spot for teams to connect and recharge.

Read the Ferrara Client Spotlight > 

What works: 

• Separate coffee and tea area: Creating a little space between the coffee and tea area helps ensure not one space is too overcrowded. 
• Tea preparation area: Tea is located next to the water dispenser for easy prep. Nothing is worse than filling up a mug of hot water just to have it spill all over you. 
• Trash under the counter: This is pretty genius! Help employees clean up after themselves by putting the trash cans within arm's reach. In this case, right under the counter. 
• Plants for the win: Not every aspect of your coffee station has to be filled with coffee things. Sometimes a great plant wall (even if it's fake plants) completes the vibe!   

What works: 

• Create a flow: This coffee station has a clear flow from grabbing your coffee or hot water, prepping with your sweeteners, cleaning up, and moving on. It's efficient. 
• Give options: The beauty of a drip coffee machine is that you can still offer multiple types of coffee (light, dark, decaf) with only a single machine. 
• Easy composting: They make composting coffee grounds or compostable supplies easy with the option directly under the counter.
• Tea stack: The tea is clearly labeled so it's easy to browse quickly and grab what you need.

Conclusion

Coffee isn’t just fueling your office; it’s shaping the culture. Your office coffee station is where ideas are born, conversations spark, and teams recharge transforming a caffeine break into a moment of real connection.

Whether you’re going sleek and minimal, cozy, or full-blown café, designing a coffee station is about more than just picking the right machine or the best coffee beans. It’s about creating a space that makes your team feel valued—and coming back for another cup…or four…or eight…OK, even we think that's too much.