When you're choosing a coffee machine for your office, most people focus on the obvious things - what drinks it makes, how fast it works, whether it does fresh milk. But there's one practical question that often gets asked after everything else is sorted: does it need to connect to a water supply, or does it have a tank you fill yourself?
It sounds like a small detail. It isn't. The answer affects where the machine can go, how much maintenance your team has to do, and in some cases, which machines are even available to you. Here's everything you need to know.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
A plumbed-in machine connects directly to your building's water supply - usually via a small connection under the bench. Once it's installed, water flows automatically. Nobody needs to think about it.
A water tank machine has an internal reservoir that someone needs to refill manually. Depending on the size of the tank and how much coffee your team drinks, that might mean refilling once a day, a few times a week, or less.
WHICH MACHINES OFFER WHICH OPTION?
In our range, the water supply setup varies by machine:
The Kalerm K-Series runs on a 6L water tank only - no plumbing option. It's our most compact machine and the tank size suits small teams well.
The Kalerm O-Series and Kalerm Y-Series both offer a 4L internal water tank or a plumbed-in connection - whichever suits your setup.
The Bianchi Gaia Style, Bianchi Talia, Necta Krea Prime, and Carimali Cento are all plumbed-in only. These are higher-volume machines designed for busier offices where constant refilling isn't practical.
WHEN DOES PLUMBED-IN MAKE SENSE?
For most offices, plumbed-in is the better option - and it's what we'd recommend as a default for teams of 20 or more. Here's why:
No one has to think about water. In a busy office, the coffee machine runs constantly. A water tank that needs refilling becomes a minor but persistent task - and when no one owns it, it tends not to get done until someone gets a dry-run error mid-morning.
It suits higher-volume use. The more coffee your team drinks, the more often a tank needs refilling. For larger teams a 4-6L tank can empty quickly. Plumbed-in removes that constraint entirely.
It's what most of our machines are designed for. Our higher-end machines - the ones built for quality, volume, and longevity - are all plumbed-in. If you want access to our full range, plumbing is usually part of the picture.
WHAT DOES INSTALLATION INVOLVE?
We handle the full installation ourselves - you don't need to organise a plumber separately. In most cases, installation involves drilling a small hole through the bench to connect the machine to the water supply underneath. It's straightforward and typically done in under an hour.
One thing worth knowing: we can't drill through marble or stainless steel benchtops. If your kitchen has either of those, we'd need to find an alternative route for the connection - something we'd assess during site visit before installation.
WHEN DOES A WATER TANK MAKE SENSE?
Water tank machines have genuine advantages in the right situations:
Small teams. For offices of fewer than 20 people, a water tank machine is often perfectly adequate. Coffee consumption is lower, the tank lasts longer between refills, and the simplicity works in your favour.
Locations without easy access to plumbing. Not every office kitchen has a water supply conveniently positioned. If yours doesn't, a water tank machine means no building works required.
Flexibility on placement. A water tank machine can sit anywhere there's a power outlet. That gives you more options for where the machine goes - a breakout area, a meeting room, a floor without a kitchen.
WHAT IF YOUR OFFICE IS HIGH VOLUME BUT CAN'T BE PLUMBED IN?
This comes up more than you'd think - a larger team, but no plumbing available where the machine needs to go. In those situations, we have a solution: a 20L water tank cabinet with a built-in pump that connects to the machine.
The cabinet sits neatly underneath or beside the machine. It holds significantly more water than any internal tank, meaning far less frequent refilling - even for busy offices. And because it's part of our setup, there's no extra cost to you. We supply and own the cabinet as part of your machine arrangement.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
A few quick questions usually give us the answer:
How many people are in your office? If it's under 20, a water tank machine is likely fine. Above that, plumbed-in is usually the better call.
Is there a water supply where the machine will go? If yes, plumbed-in is straightforward. If not, we'll look at the water tank cabinet option.
What's your benchtop made of? Marble or stainless steel means we'll need to plan the installation differently - but it doesn't rule out a plumbed-in machine.
Not sure where you land? Our Machine Quiz will help narrow it down - or if you'd rather talk it through, we're happy to do a quick call and give you a straight recommendation based on your setup.
You might also find it useful to read about free on loan vs rental and commercial vs home coffee machines - both are worth a read if you're still working through your options.
