Roast my idea: office coffee machines as a side business

I need honest, brutal feedback before I spend any real money on this.

The idea:
Place automatic coffee machines in small offices (10–30 people). The office pays a flat monthly fee. I restock beans and cups once a week. The machine does the brewing.

Why I think it could work:

  • Small offices usually have terrible coffee (old Keurigs or stale drip)
  • They don't want to spend thousands on commercial equipment
  • A subscription model removes upfront cost for them
  • No employees, no storefront, no rent for me

What worries me:

  • How much can one machine actually make per month?
  • Will offices say yes or just stick with their bad coffee?
  • What if a machine breaks, am I stuck with repair bills?
  • Is weekly restocking actually "passive" or does it become a grind?

The ask:
Has anyone here actually done something like this? Am I missing something obvious? Roast me hard, I'd rather hear it now than after I buy machines.

Posted May 8, 2026, 3:40 PM UTC

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