A good cup of coffee or tea is one of the small pleasures that makes a real difference in a care home. It's part of the daily routine, it brings people together, and it matters. But care homes have different needs from cafes or offices safety, ease of use, and variety all come into play.
Here's what we'd suggest based on years of supplying care homes across the UK.
Keep it simple and safe
The most important thing is that making and serving drinks is easy and safe for your staff and where possible, for residents too.
A commercial filter machine is usually the best starting point. It makes a full pot quickly, the coffee stays warm, and operating it is straightforward. There's no pressurised steam, no frothing, just hot coffee, ready to pour.
For a bit more variety, a bean-to-cup machine in a communal area gives residents and staff the option of different drinks at the touch of a button. Look for machines with clear, simple controls and auto-cleaning features. Some modern models have large touchscreens with pictures of each drink, which helps.
Either way, think about where the machine goes. Somewhere accessible but supervised if needed, on a stable surface, with enough clearance for pouring safely.
Think beyond coffee
Not everyone in a care home is a coffee drinker, and plenty of residents prefer tea, hot chocolate, or something else entirely. A good hot drinks setup covers all of these:
Tea. A proper selection, not just standard black tea but decaffeinated tea, herbal options, and maybe Earl Grey. Residents appreciate having a choice, and it's a small thing that makes the day feel a bit more personal.
Hot chocolate. Popular with residents, especially in the afternoon or evening. A proper hot chocolate powder that you make with milk is streets ahead of those thin, sachet ones. We supply drinking chocolate that works well made in bulk.
Decaf coffee. Essential, not optional. Many residents will be on medication or have conditions that mean caffeine isn't a good idea. Having a good decaf available means they can still enjoy a cup of coffee without the worry. Our Colombian Decaf tastes like proper coffee, not the watery, vaguely brown drink that decaf used to be.
Practical considerations
Volume. A care home with 40 residents might get through 80–120 hot drinks a day when you include staff and visitors. Factor this in when choosing equipment and ordering stock.
Cleaning and hygiene. Equipment needs to be cleaned daily, with proper cleaning products. Milk systems especially, any machine that uses fresh milk needs the lines flushed at the end of each day. We supply all the cleaning products you need and can advise on a simple routine.
Ordering and stock. Running out of coffee or tea in a care home isn't just inconvenient it disrupts people's routines. We're happy to set up a regular delivery schedule so you always have enough. Tell us your rough usage and we'll work out the right frequency.
Cost. Budgets in care homes are tight, and we understand that. Filter coffee and sachets are the most cost-effective option and still deliver a genuinely good cup. We'll work with your budget to find the right balance between quality and cost.
Making it personal
Small touches go a long way. Knowing that Mrs. Jenkins likes her coffee milky with one sugar, or that Mr. Patel prefers Earl Grey, that's what makes a care home feel like home. Good hot drinks equipment and a decent range of products give your staff the tools to do this well.
If you're using a bean-to-cup machine, some models let you save favourite drink settings. For filter coffee and tea, it's more about your team knowing the residents, which, in a good care home, they already do.
We supply a number of care homes across the UK and we understand the specific needs. Give David a call, he'll talk through your setup, your budget, and what would work best for your residents. No pressure, just helpful advice.