Plumbed-In vs Tanked: Which Office Coffee Setup Is Right?

Should your office coffee machine be plumbed-in or run from a tanked water supply? Here’s a quick, practical guide to help you choose the right setup for your space, usage and maintenance routine.

When plumbed-in makes sense

• High daily volume or busy peaks where refilling a tank would slow service.
• Permanent kitchen/servery with easy access to a water line.
• You want maximum convenience for staff, just clean and go.

Good fits: OBL2, OBL3, OBM4

When tanked is the smarter choice

• Smaller teams, flexible layouts, or spaces where plumbing isn’t practical yet.
• Temporary offices, pop-up locations, or meeting-room coffee points.
• You want a fast install with minimal disruption.

Good fits: OBS3, OBS1, OBM3

Hybrid setups work brilliantly

Many offices run a plumbed-in machine in the main kitchen and a compact tanked unit in meeting rooms or reception. That way, high-traffic areas never run dry, and smaller spaces stay independent.

Quick decision guide

• 40+ people or constant usage: go plumbed-in (OBL2 / OBL3).
• 15–40 people: either works: plumbed-in OBM4 or tanked OBM3.
• 1–15 people or flexible space: tanked OBS3 or OBS1.