Office coffee machine or barista service in Dubai: which fits?
An office coffee machine suits daily, self-serve coffee for a team, while a barista suits occasions where guests expect freshly made drinks. Most Dubai offices end up with both: a machine for every working day and a barista for the town hall, client day or launch. ROAST publishes a bean-to-cup machine from AED 199 a month and a barista cart from AED 3,000 an event, both before 5% VAT.
Prices as published on this site on 10 October 2026, ex 5% VAT.
The short version
- Daily coffee for a team: a bean-to-cup machine, AED 199 a month on its own or free on loan with a six-month bean plan, or a managed pantry from AED 599 a month.
- One occasion for about 100 guests: a barista cart from AED 3,000 for a half day.
- A meeting with no kit to manage: a per-head meeting package from AED 45 a head, minimum 8 people.
- Both: keep the machine for weekdays and book the barista per occasion.
Machine or barista: the comparison
The first column is a general description of capsule machines, with no brand or price. The other two are ROAST’s published offers.
| Capsule machine (general) | Bean-to-cup machine (ROAST office plans) | Barista cart (ROAST events) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Usually low; the machine is bought or rented separately. | None on free loan with a six-month bean plan, or AED 199 a month with no lock-in. | No equipment to buy. Delivery, setup and teardown in Dubai are included. |
| Ongoing cost | Capsules bought per cup; you are limited to the capsules that fit the machine. | Managed pantry from AED 599 a month for about 15 people; beans are priced to your set-up on the loan route. | Per occasion: from AED 3,000 half day, AED 4,500 full day. |
| Maintenance | Light, but someone on your team owns it. | Servicing and restocking are part of the managed pantry. | None for you; the crew sets up and packs down. |
| Cup quality | Consistent, within what the capsule offers. | ROAST specialty beans, ground for each cup. | Espresso menu made to order, all milks. |
| Who makes it | Anyone, at the touch of a button. | Your team, self-serve. | A ROAST barista: one for the half day, two for the full day. |
| Best occasions | A small team or a reception area. | Every working day. | Launches, town halls and client days for about 100 or 200 guests. |
Choose the machine if… or the barista if…
Choose a machine if
- your team wants coffee every working day, not only on event days;
- you want one monthly invoice and the beans restocked for you;
- headcount is steady, from about 15 people (Desk tier) to 50 (Floor tier).
Choose a barista if
- guests, clients or the whole company are in the room and the drink is part of the welcome;
- you want lattes, flat whites and milk alternatives made to order rather than self-poured;
- the headcount is near 100 (half day) or 200 (full day).
A capsule machine can suit a very small team; ROAST does not supply one, so it is not priced here. For the ROAST routes, see the office coffee machine page and the pantry plans.
Worked example: a 30-person office
A 30-person office with a quarterly town hall of about 100 guests. The Floor pantry tier covers roughly 15 to 50 people. All figures are published “from” prices, before 5% VAT.
| Item | Sum | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Floor pantry for a year | 1,150 x 12 | AED 13,800 |
| Four half-day barista carts | 3,000 x 4 | AED 12,000 |
| Both together, per year | 13,800 + 12,000 | AED 25,800 |
One half-day cart (AED 3,000) costs about the same as two and a half months of the Floor pantry (3,000 ÷ 1,150 = 2.6). If the event is a smaller meeting, a Coffee Break package for 30 people is 45 x 30 = AED 1,350. See meeting packages and the cost-per-head guide.
Add 5% VAT. Beans on the loan route are priced to your set-up, so ask for the rate card. For karak alongside either option, flasks start at AED 40; see the menu and the corporate hub.
Common questions
Is a bean-to-cup machine better than a capsule machine for an office?
For a team that drinks coffee all day, a bean-to-cup machine grinds fresh beans for each cup and does not depend on a capsule range, which is why ROAST places that type. A capsule machine can suit a very small team that wants the simplest set-up.
See the comparisonHow much does an office coffee machine cost with ROAST?
A bean-to-cup machine is free on loan with a six-month bean commitment and no deposit, or AED 199 a month with no lock-in. Both are before 5% VAT.
Office coffee machine optionsHow much does a barista for an office event cost?
A half-day cart with one barista, up to 4 hours and about 100 guests, is from AED 3,000. A full day with two baristas, up to 8 hours and about 200 guests, is from AED 4,500.
Coffee cart and barista hireCan I have a barista in the office every day?
The published barista packages are per occasion. For every working day we publish the machine and pantry plans. If you want a regular barista, tell us the days and hours and we will say what is possible.
Ask about your set-upCan I use a machine and a barista together?
Yes, and it is the usual pattern: a pantry or machine for the working week and a cart for launches and town halls. The worked example above prices that for 30 people.
See the exampleDo these prices include VAT?
No. Every price on this page is before 5% VAT, and your invoice adds it with our TRN.
Cost-per-head guideKeep planning
Sources on this site: Office coffee machine · Office pantry · Coffee cart hire · Meeting packages.
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