For a great many people, a trip to the salon is something to be enjoyed, and among the perks of being pampered, quality hot drinks are often one of the simplest but most effective offerings. Here at JW Vending, we offer a wide range of commercial coffee machines for salons of all types, whether hair, nail or beauty. Read on to discover just how easy we make it to serve your loyal patrons top-quality beverages, whatever the size and needs of your business.
Why Every Salon Needs a Quality Coffee Machine
It’s lovely to go for a bit of pampering, and whether you’re popping to the hair salon for a quick tidy or are spending the afternoon at a luxury beauty salon, being offered delicious, quality drinks can make a real positive difference to the whole experience. If you’re used to being offered a nice coffee and the question never comes, it can even feel like a disappointment!
- Being able to offer your loyal customers a nice drink has several immediate benefits to your business:
- Salon coffee machines improve the overall customer experience
- They can increase customer dwell time
- They build an element of luxury into the perception of your salon
- They help pass any waiting time and immediately make visitors feel welcome
- They’re a low-cost value add that can go a long way in encouraging repeat visits
- In a competitive space, they can elevate your customer experience above your competitors
It seems like a no-brainer, but finding the best coffee machine for salon use isn’t always obvious. That’s where we can help. With our 25 years of experience in supplying coffee machines for hair salons, nail salons and beauty salons, we’ll partner you with the best machine for your daily needs, available space and usage expectations.
Best Types of Coffee Machines for Salons
Bean-to-Cup Coffee Machines
Bean-to-cup coffee machines quickly deliver a range of barista-quality hot drinks at the push of a button – they really couldn’t be simpler to use. Staff training is virtually non-existent, as most machines are touch-screen operated and show their range of drinks to the user – you may even have used one of these ‘self-service’ style machines in a supermarket or service station.
When it comes to small coffee machines for salons that deliver flavourful beverages quickly and easily, these types of machines are the winner every time. Have a look at our range of bean-to-cup coffee machines to see their drink ranges, ease of use and varying sizes. We’ll help you pick the ideal installation for your salon, too. Just drop us a line.
Pod/Capsule Machines
Pod and capsule coffee machines can work well for very small salons, nail bars or micro-studios where space is tight. They’re compact, tidy and simple to use, but the cost per drink is often noticeably higher (and the drink range more limited) than a bean-to-cup machine. They suit occasional, low-volume usage best, and because of the single-use plastic used to make the pods for some of the brands, they aren’t always the most environmentally friendly either.
Commercial Espresso Machines
This kind of commercial coffee machine for a salon looks fantastic – and incredibly fancy – while offering complete control. They don’t just deliver barista-style drinks – they literally require a barista to operate; it’s the real deal. This does mean staff need to be trained on how to use the machine, which is much more involved than just pressing a button.
This approach is most suitable for large or premium hair salons with reception teams who that can manage steaming, tamping and cleaning between clients. It is akin to opening a small coffee shop in your salon, which could be a new revenue stream too. Results are excellent, although most salons will benefit most from the speed and convenience of automated bean-to-cup systems.
Filter Coffee Machines
Filter coffee machines are a simple and budget-friendly option for salons that want to offer a batch-brewed pot of coffee to their patrons. They’re easy to maintain and low-cost to run – an ideal small coffee machine for salons with limited space. Bear in mind, however, that they only produce basic black coffee and lack the variety of options that clients often expect – no lattes, cappuccinos and mochas. For salons that want this kind of choice for their customers, a bean-to-cup machine is usually the better match.
Choosing the Best Coffee Machine for Your Salon
1. Available Space
When sourcing a salon coffee machine, a big consideration will be the available space you have for its installation and where you want it installed. Bigger salons may have a dedicated kitchen space, while smaller premises like nail bars may need to site it on a reception desk or on valuable counter space. Also, do you want your machine to be plumbed into the mains water, or will you be happy to manually refill a tank? There are countertop and under-counter options available to help with this.
2. Drink Variety
Your clients will appreciate having a choice of tasty drinks to choose from when they visit your salon, whether it’s cappuccinos, mochas and lattes, or decaf options and fresh tea. Consider whether you want your machine to offer a wide range of drinks and consider what this will mean for the size of the machine and where it will need to be situated.
3. Volume and Client Flow
A big consideration will be how many cups your machine needs to produce every day. Smaller salons like nail studios may benefit from a pod machine that can cope with 10 to 20 cups per day, while larger hair salons may benefit from a medium-sized bean-to-cup unit that can comfortably deliver 20 to 50 cups per day.
Large, multi-stylist businesses may even want to consider a commercial coffee machine for their salon, though there are high-capacity, easy-to-use bean-to-cup machines available that can deliver high quantities of delicious drinks at the push of a button, from 50 to 100-plus cups a day.
4. Maintenance Requirements
Another major consideration with coffee machines for salons is how much time you’ll need to spend cleaning, maintaining and refilling them. A commercial machine will need dedicated cleaning and operational training for anyone who uses it, while bean-to-cup machines often come with daily rinse cycles to self-clean, on top of any extra tidying and refilling of consumables. Pod machines need very little maintenance.
5. Buy or Rent?
If you want the best coffee machine for your salon without high upfront costs, renting or leasing is usually the smartest choice. It keeps your monthly spend predictable and includes servicing, maintenance and repairs, so you never need to worry about downtime. Renting also means you can upgrade your machine easily as your salon grows or your needs change. If you’d like to explore how it works in more detail, see our full guide to coffee machine rental.
Best Coffee Machines for Different Salon Types
We’re always here to help when it comes to finding the best small coffee machine for your salon, but here’s some general guidance to help you narrow down your search, sorted by salon type.
Best Coffee Machine for Hair Salons
Coffee machines for hair salons should handle a steady footfall, so a compact bean-to-cup model with fast output and automatic milk frothing is ideal for offering effortless, premium drinks.
Best Coffee Machine for Nail Salons
Coffee machines for nail salons need to be quiet and compact. Pod machines work in tiny spaces, but small bean-to-cup models offer fresher drinks and better long-term value.
Best Coffee Machine for Beauty Salons and Clinics
Coffee machines for beauty salons should be sleek, quiet and hygienic. Modern bean-to-cup machines with touch-free options fit aesthetically while delivering consistent, high-quality drinks
Recent Comments