Q.   All coffee vending machines are basically the same right, only the prices vary? And some are even free so they must provide the best option?

A.   Not exactly all the same - if you are trying to determine the best machine for your needs you must compare apples with apples (and avoid the lemons).

'Free' or 'Subsidised' machines are usually 'bundled' with a deal that ties you into a contract where you are required to buy an agreed level of consumable product per month from the machine/product supplier, otherwise the machine may be charged for to make up the difference. Also the machine supplied may be an inferior make or model.

With 'bundled offers' you lose the flexibility to choose the product supplier of your choice, your local coffee roaster for example, who may sell a blend and other consumables (chocolate or milk powder) that you really like and are prepared to pay for. The extra cost per cup if any, would be a matter of a few cents.

Some machines currently on the NZ market offer flavoured hot beverages that are often high in sugar and also saturated fats (read their website information very closely and ask the operators).

Some of these flavours look quite exotic and appear to be quite cheap, but as with everything else, you only get what you pay for. These are NOT REAL COFFEE machines although some may try to give that impression.

Genuine coffee vending machines themselves come in a number of variations. The main distinction is whether or not the machine is a:

• Super-automatic Bean to Cup Espresso or Cappuccino - coffee beans freshly ground in the machine and brewed on demand in genuine espresso style, with high quality lo-fat skim milk powder added for the cappuccino or caffe latte style beverages. These may also be fresh milk machines as increasingly found in small cafes, offices and up market car dealerships, etc; these are becoming very popular although they do require more care when cleaning due to the use of fresh milk.
• Automatic filter machines - where pre-ground coffee is dosed onto a continuous filter paper roll or fine mesh filter with hot water forced through to make a filter coffee. This is NOT 'Espresso' however. As with bean-to-cup machines, milk powder is added for the 'milky' coffees. As the pre-ground coffee will oxidize more quickly than whole beans the quantity of coffee in the hopper should be kept to a minimum.
• All soluble machines - where instant coffee is used, either high quality freeze dried coffee or granulated coffee mixed with hot water and dispensed with milk and/or other soluble products. These are a good alternative where the freshly ground bean option may not be justified on cost.
• 'Pod' machines - a recent development has seen the introduction of these to the NZ market. They are compact and quick to use and the coffee 'pods' or capsules have pre-ground coffee sealed inside, so retain their freshness somewhat longer. The downside is that they can only prepare one beverage at a time and 'pod's' for one machine are often not able to be used in others, so a reliable supply of pods for your machine is a must.