Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
I’m Just Researching
Get straight answers on costs, support, supplies, warranties and everything you need to decide if OBC is right for your team—no fluff, no hard sell
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Can we just try it without meetings and sales calls?
Yes. Send a few photos of the spot you have in mind, and we’ll install a 7-day trial so your team can decide in real life—no pressure, no fuss. Book your free trial here
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A quick guide to team size, milk options, and plumbed vs tanked New
We group machines by team size to keep choices simple:
- Small Teams of up to 15 people.
- Medium (Teams of up to 35 people.
- Large Teams of over 35 people.
Pick the milk style you prefer
- Fresh milk for coffee shop-style lattes/flat whites
- MooFresh Gold (100% milk) soluble for super-easy upkeep with great consistency.
Then choose water supply:
- Plumbed-in if you can (no refilling, ideal for steady volume)
- Tanked if plumbing isn’t practical (just top up the tank during the day).
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Do you offer a free trial?
The 7-day free trial (book trial here) beats a quick taste test because your team can use the machine in real life, try the drinks, and see how it fits your workflow—without a salesperson hovering.
Our installers sets everything up, shows you the basics, and leaves you with ingredients for the week. After 7 days, you can keep the machine, swap to a different model, or we’ll collect it—no pressure.
We started this during lockdown and kept it because it works: it’s like a car test-drive, but for office coffee. If there are any costs or deposits for your site, we’ll confirm them up front.
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How do we figure out which machine is right for our team? Popular
Start with team size
- Small (up to 15 people),
- Medium (15–35)
- Large (35+).
Next, think about location (counter space, power, and whether plumbed-in or tanked makes sense).
Shortlist the drinks you need
- Decaf
- Multiple bean options
- Hot chocolate
- Milk type (fresh or 100% natural soluble)
- Hot water for speciality teas
Finally, decide who’ll “own” the machine day-to-day—topping up beans, milk and water is a bit like looking after a photocopier.
We’ll recommend a shortlist—and your 7-day trial confirms the choice in the real world.
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Plumbed-in vs tanked: which do you recommend, and when?
Simple rule: if you can plumb it in, do—no refilling and best for steady or higher volumes. If plumbing isn’t practical, a tanked machine works brilliantly; you’ll just top up the water tank during the day. Taste and reliability are excellent on both when paired with the right filtration. As a guide, plumbed-in suits busy kitchens and 30+ cups/day; tanked is great for smaller teams, meeting rooms, or hot-desking spaces. Not sure? We’ll set up your 7-day trial and you’ll know within a week.
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Why have you chosen these machines for office use?
We pick models that are workhorses: reliable in busy office settings, easy to use, simple to clean, and with parts/servicing readily available in the UK. They produce coffeeshop quality drinks consistently and have sensible running costs. In short—suitable for offices, not catering businesses.
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Do you price match?
Yes. If you have a like-for-like quote from an official UK supplier (same machine, configuration and service/warranty terms), we’ll match it—and explain any differences so you can choose with confidence.
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Lease-hire or buy—what’s best?
Lease-hire keeps cash flow predictable and typically bundles the top support tier; buying is a one-off outlay. If you’re unsure, we’ll quote both so finance can compare apples with apples.
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Are these machines noisy?
They grind beans, so you’ll hear a short burst during drinks and cleaning cycles. Most teams place them in the kitchen or a social space; if yours is a quiet zone, we’ll suggest the best models/placement to keep things comfortable.
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Is fresh milk better than soluble milk?
Both have their place. Fresh milk is the classic latte/flat-white experience; our MooFresh Gold (100% milk) soluble option is fuss-free, consistent and brilliant for busy teams who want speed and simplicity. We can demo both in your trial.
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Plumbed-in or tanked—will we regret the choice later?
No. If you can plumb in, do—it removes refilling. If you start tanked, you can still plumb later; we’ll advise on a spot that keeps both options open.
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Do you cover the whole UK?
We serve UK offices and can support multi-site rollouts. Tell us your locations and we’ll confirm coverage and logistics.
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What warranty tiers do you offer (names, duration, what’s included)?We keep it simple with three tiers: Popular
* Standard – 12 months: phone/WhatsApp support, parts and labour for faults, engineer visits as needed.
* Priority Care – 24 months: everything in Standard, plus faster engineer scheduling and proactive health checks.
* Total Care+ – 36 months: all-inclusive cover—priority phone/video support, parts, labour and engineer callouts included—with the quickest response times.
All tiers require in-date water filtration and basic cleaning. Consumables (beans, milk, chocolate, filters) and accidental damage aren’t included. If you lease-hire with us, we’ll normally bundle Total Care+ for the term so budgeting stays neat.
Choosing a Machine (and Free Trial)
See which models fit your team size, drinks and space. Learn how our 7-day trial works so you can test it properly in your office, pressure-free.
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Do you offer a free trial?
Yes—our 7-day free trial beats a quick taste test because your team can use the machine in real life, try the drinks, and see how it fits your workflow—without a salesperson hovering. Our installer sets everything up, shows you the basics, and leaves you with ingredients for the week. After 7 days, you can keep the same machine, swap to a different model, or we’ll collect it—no pressure. We started this during lockdown and kept it because it works: it’s like a car test-drive, but for office coffee. If there are any costs or deposits for your site, we’ll confirm them up front.
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How do we figure out which machine is right for our team? Popular
Start with team size—Small (up to ~15 people), Medium (15–35), and Large (35+). Next, think about location (counter space, power, and whether plumbed-in or tanked makes sense). Shortlist the drinks you need: decaf, multiple bean options, hot chocolate, milk type (fresh or 100% natural soluble), and hot water for speciality teas. Finally, decide who’ll “own” the machine day-to-day—topping up beans, milk and water is a bit like looking after a photocopier. We’ll recommend a shortlist—and your 7-day trial confirms the choice in the real world.
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What’s the point of a 7-day trial vs a tasting session? Popular
Real life beats showroom sips: your team uses the machine for a week at your cups, cups sizes, and rush hours—no salespeople, no pressure. You’ll know if it fits before you commit.
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What exactly happens on trial day? Popular
We install, calibrate drinks, show you the basics, and leave ingredients for the week. You make coffee as normal—then decide to keep, swap or return.
Installation & Site Prep
Power, space and water—what’s needed, what’s optional, and how we keep disruption to a minimum. Photos we’ll ask for, timelines, and what happens on the day.
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What’s the typical installation timeline from order to first cup? New
We keep disruption to an absolute minimum. On the day, installation usually takes under an hour: we position the machine, connect power (and water if plumbed), run the setup and calibration, and load ingredients. We’ll give a quick handover so your team knows the basics, then pour the first drinks before we leave. If anything needs tweaking (drink size, strength, milk), we dial it in there and then.
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Do you help with a site survey or pre-install check? New
Yes—we keep it simple to minimise disruption. Instead of a full site survey, we ask for a few clear photos (the intended location, nearby power socket, any water feed if plumbed-in, and a quick shot of access like stairs/lifts/parking). From that, we confirm suitability, listen to what you need, and then drop off a machine for a 7-day trial. If anything looks borderline (space, electrics, plumbing), we’ll flag it and suggest easy fixes before delivery.
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What are the power and space requirements?
Most machines need a standard UK 230–240V, 13A socket. Allow a typical footprint of around 30–60cm wide, 45–70cm deep, and 45–80cm high, with a little clearance at the back/sides for ventilation and cleaning (weights range roughly 15–60kg depending on model). At most, we’ll need two sockets—one for the machine and one for a milk fridge if you choose fresh milk. If you’re going plumbed, we’ll need access to a nearby cold-water feed (usually under a sink), but we can normally route from elsewhere if needed. We’ll confirm final dimensions when we recommend your shortlist.
Water, Filters & Limescale
Great coffee starts with great water. Filters improve taste and prevent limescale—the top cause of avoidable breakdowns.
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Do we need a water filter? How often is it changed and who does it? Popular
Yes—always. A filter improves taste and protects the boiler and pipework from limescale (which isn’t covered by manufacturer warranties). In hard-water areas we change filters every 6 months; in softer water it’s typically every 12 months. We size the filter to your usage, set the schedule, and send reminders. Our engineer supplies and fits the filter at install and at each change—either included in your support plan or as a simple fixed-price visit.
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Is limescale damage covered under warranty?
Yes—provided you stick to the filter-change schedule we agree at install. Limescale is the enemy of coffee machines; without proper filtration you will get scale, and that type of damage isn’t covered. Keep filters up to date (6 months in hard-water areas, 12 months in softer areas) and we’ll stand behind you with full cover.
Daily Use & Cleaning (The Easy Bits)
Quick, practical routines for fresh milk vs MooFresh Gold, weekly cleans, and “what to do if…” tips. Short videos and one-page checklists included.
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What daily/weekly cleaning is required?
Fresh-milk machines need a quick daily milk-line clean (about 5 minutes). If you use our MooFresh Gold (100% milk) soluble milk, the milk clean is even easier—twice a week is fine. Either way, it’s simple—just don’t let fresh milk sit; leave it too long and it’ll turn to cheese! Do a weekly machine clean in-office (we’ll show you how), and we can train a colleague, your cleaner or FM team. We’re also happy to jump on WhatsApp video for on-the-spot help any time.
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Do you provide the cleaning consumables and a simple schedule/checklist?
Yes—we’ll train you on exactly what to do and what to watch out for. During the free trial you’ll see how quick it is, and we’ll leave you with a simple one-page routine (daily/weekly) so anyone can follow it. We’ll also show you which cleaning consumables you need and how to re-order from us in seconds. It’s genuinely easy once you’ve seen it done.
Warranty, Care Plans & Response Times
What’s covered at each tier, how fast we attend, and how filter changes keep your cover valid. Simple, honest terms in plain English.
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How fast is support/engineer response on each tier?
You’ll get rapid phone/WhatsApp help on all tiers—most issues are fixed remotely within the call. If we need to attend, Total Care+ targets same-day or next business day on-site. Priority Care is typically within 1–2 working days, and Standard within 2–3 working days. We keep parts in stock for next-day dispatch, and we’ll always give you a clear ETA.
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How fast is support/engineer response on each tier?
You’ll get rapid phone/WhatsApp help on all tiers—most issues are fixed remotely within the call. If we need to attend, Total Care+ targets same-day or next business day on-site. Priority Care is typically within 1–2 working days, and Standard within 2–3 working days. We keep parts in stock for next-day dispatch, and we’ll always give you a clear ETA.
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Why have you chosen these machines for office use?
We pick models that are workhorses: reliable in busy kitchens, easy to use, simple to clean, and with parts/servicing readily available in the UK. They produce café-quality drinks consistently and have sensible running costs. In short—built for offices, not just showrooms.
Ingredients, Ordering & Deliveries
Beans, milk and hot chocolate choices, how to re-order in seconds, delivery times, and how to keep your team’s favourites in stock.
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What ingredients do you supply?
Freshly roasted coffee (whole beans for bean-to-cup), MooFresh Gold (100% milk) soluble milk, and Cocoa Luxe premium hot chocolate. Decaf options available too.
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Which coffee do most offices pick to start with?
Our “Double A” house coffee is the safe, crowd-pleasing choice—smooth, consistent, and works brilliantly on milk drinks and americanos.
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Is there a shelf life on ingredients?
With a minimum 6-month shelf life, you can order in bulk to spread delivery costs and reduce environmental impact.
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How do we re-order quickly?
Use our online store—two minutes and done. If you’re on account, just log in and check out; card checkout is available too. Need help? Call or WhatsApp and we’ll place it for you.
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Is there a shelf life on ingredients?
With a minimum 6-month shelf life, you can order in bulk to spread delivery costs and reduce environmental impact.
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Do you offer decaf or non-dairy options?
Yes. We stock decaf coffee and can provide guidance on non-dairy milks for compatible machines (or how to serve them neatly alongside).
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What’s the usual delivery time?
Next working day to most UK addresses with tracked DPD. You’ll get live tracking and a delivery window on the day.
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Can we set up regular deliveries so we don’t run out?
Absolutely—tell us your average weekly cups and we’ll suggest a simple repeat schedule (monthly or bi-weekly). You can pause or tweak any time. And soon you will be able to just set up a subscription (we are working on this now)
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What happens if something arrives damaged or short?
Snap a quick photo of the parcel and label, message us, and we’ll sort a replacement straight away—no fuss.
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Do you ship outside the UK?
Day-to-day we serve UK offices. If you’ve got multiple sites (including ROI/EU), tell us the locations and we’ll advise what’s possible.
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Can our cleaner/FM team handle re-ordering?
Sure—give us a name and email, and we’ll set them up with the right access and a one-page “how much, how often” guide.
Getting Help & Troubleshooting
All the ways to get support—phone, WhatsApp video, email—plus quick fixes, part replacements and when we’ll roll an engineer.
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How fast is support/engineer response on each tier?
You’ll get rapid phone/WhatsApp help on all tiers—most issues are fixed remotely within the call. If we need to attend, Total Care+ targets same-day or next business day on-site. Priority Care is typically within 1–2 working days, and Standard within 2–3 working days. We keep parts in stock for next-day dispatch, and we’ll always give you a clear ETA.