The best drink dispenser for your office depends on your objectives: do you want to provide only water, indulge your employees with different soft drinks, or do you go all out for a healthy and sustainable solution? In the latter case, a smart refill solution such as Dripl offers the most benefit in terms of cost, ease of use and ecological impact.

With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right vending machine for your office. In this guide, we compare classic vending machines, water dispensers and smart refill solutions so you can make the best choice for your office.

What does your team need?

Before making a choice, it is important to understand what your colleagues need. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Sustainability: Is environmental friendliness a priority for your company?
• Costs: What do you want to spend on purchase, maintenance, and operational costs?
• Health: Do your employees want healthy options like sugar-free drinks?
• Ease of use: How easy should the system be to maintain and use?

With these questions in mind, you can begin to compare the different types of beverage dispensers.

What types of beverage vending machines are there?

1. Dripl Refill Point -. The smartest beverage dispenser for offices

An all-in-one water and soft drink dispenser that locally filters and adjusts water to your taste (still, sparkling, intensity, etc.).

Advantages:

• No single-use packaging.
• Healthy options without sugar.
• Fully customizable: 6 flavors, 36 variations.
• Energy efficient: up to 4 times less energy needed than a beverage dispenser!
• Sparkling water or fizzy soft drinks are also available.

Disadvantages:

• Requires initial installation, such as a water supply connection.

Best for: Companies that want to combine sustainability, health and variety.

Want to know more about Dripl Refill Points? Discover the possibilities here.

2. Classic water dispenser

You can immediately recognize the classic water dispenser by the large plastic water bottle on top of the unit. These models are not connected to the water supply and require regular manual replacement of the water bottle.

Advantages:

• No water line connection required (useful for temporary locations or events).
• Relatively low purchase price.

Disadvantages:

• Heavy and inconvenient: water bottles weigh up to 20 kg and must be replaced manually.
• Not environmentally friendly: plastic water bottles and carbon emissions from transportation.
• Limited supply: when the water bottle is empty, you're out of water.
• Additional storage space needed for full and empty water bottles.

Best for:

Situations where there is no access to tap water, but usually not a sustainable choice for offices that value efficiency and ecology.

3. Modern water dispenser

A modern water dispenser connects directly to the water supply and delivers filtered flat water. No water bottles or refills needed, just a constant, reliable source of fresh drinking water.

Advantages:

• No lugging water bottles or manual refills.
• Always access to fresh tap water.
• Low operating costs.
• More environmentally friendly than water bottle models: no transportation, no plastic waste.
• Ideal for businesses with a focus on sustainability and convenience.

Disadvantages:

• Flat water only, no fizz or flavor options.
• Less attractive for those seeking variety.

Best for:

Companies seeking a simple, durable and low-maintenance solution for basic hydration.

4. Standard beverage dispenser

A classic beverage dispenser offering a mix of soft drinks, water, juices and sometimes flavored water.

Advantages:

• Offers a wide range of beverages.
• Suitable for offices with various preferences.
• Maintenance and management of the machine often lies with the rental company.

Disadvantages:

• Limited personalization options.
• Often expensive due to energy costs and maintenance.
• Lots of plastic waste due to single-use packaging.
• Ordering drinks is through a separate vendor, which requires additional coordination.
• Most vending machines work with bancontact or coins, which is less user-friendly. Smarter systems that eliminate payments are out there, but not yet standard everywhere.

Best for: Offices that want variety but do not have a focus on sustainability or health.

Which beverage dispenser is the best solution for your office?

For basic hydration:

Choose a traditional water dispenser.

Simple, inexpensive, and perfect for offices where only water is needed.

For general beverage options:

Choose a vending machine.

If your employees mainly want a mix of well-known soft drink brands, a vending machine is a logical choice.

For personalization and durability:

Choose a Dripl Refill Point.

If you want an eco-friendly system that offers healthy, customizable beverages, Dripl is the best choice.

Why Dripl makes a difference

✅ No waste thanks to refill options.
✅ Healthy drinks with no added sugars.
✅ Up to 70% cheaper than traditional soft drinks.
✅ Employees can choose: sparkling or flat, smooth or intense.

Make the best choice for your office

Whether you're considering a water dispenser, vending machine or Dripl Refill Point - make sure you choose a system that fits your employees as well as your sustainability goals.

Wondering how Dripl can help your office? Request a quote here!