Coffee2Go buying guide
Choosing a self-serve coffee machine for your business
What is a coffee-to-go station?
A coffee-to-go station is a self-service coffee point where guests, customers or staff can prepare a takeaway drink without a staffed café. Beanology Coffee2Go offers illy On The Go, L'OR To Go and a customisable Beanology concept for UK business sites.
Consider whether coffee will be sold to visitors, offered to staff, or used for both. This affects the menu, payment arrangement and commercial proposal.
Compare illy, L'OR and Beanology →
Is your site suitable for Coffee2Go?
People & demand
Estimate likely daily drink purchases, not just total footfall. Note busy periods, opening hours and any existing coffee provision.
Space & access
Measure the proposed location and consider queues, accessibility and restocking access. Confirm power, water and drainage with the supplier.
Operations & costs
Agree who cleans and refills the station, how faults are reported, what support includes and which running costs your site pays.
Coffee machine costs, requirements and support
What should I compare before choosing a machine?
Compare expected cups per day, peak-hour demand, drinks menu, available space, payment requirements and total running costs. The right commercial coffee machine must suit the people using it and the practical requirements of your site.
Is a self-serve coffee station the same as a bean-to-cup machine?
Self-serve describes how customers use the station; bean-to-cup describes how coffee is prepared. A bean-to-cup machine grinds beans for each drink. Confirm the brewing system, drinks menu and payment setup of the proposed Coffee2Go station rather than assuming every concept is identical.
Does a self-serve machine need staff?
Customers prepare their own drinks without a barista, but a site still needs a plan for cleaning, restocking and reporting faults. Ask who performs each task and what is included in the servicing agreement.
How much space, power and water will I need?
Beanology describes a compact 800mm footprint. That is not a full installation specification: confirm the selected unit's width, depth, height, access clearance, electrical supply, water supply and drainage before agreeing its location.
How much does a coffee-to-go machine cost?
Costs depend on the concept, site and agreement. Ask for a written proposal separating equipment or lease payments, installation, servicing, ingredients, cups, cleaning supplies and payment fees. Confirm any minimum term and volume requirements.
Can I lease a machine or use profit-share?
Beanology presents an illy lease example and flexible profit-share options for L'OR To Go. Availability and terms must be confirmed for your site. Compare the full agreement and who pays operating costs, not only the upfront price.
How should I assess potential coffee profit?
Start with expected cups sold × selling price × trading days, then subtract all costs. Revenue is not profit. Ingredient costs, equipment payments, servicing, payment charges, staffing tasks and tax treatment can change the result.
Beanology's published illy example estimates £19,606 annual net profit at 30 cups a day, £3.75 per cup and 365 trading days, after lease, maintenance, coffee and consumables. This is an illustrative scenario, not a guaranteed return; request the full assumptions and a proposal for your actual site.
Discuss your site's demand and costs →Discuss the right coffee-to-go setup for your site
Tell us your location, available space and expected demand so we can discuss the most suitable Coffee2Go concept.