Automatic Iced Coffee Vending Machine in the Office Building

Project Background
In August 2024, the property management of a 20-story office building in Shanghai installed a JK86 commercial iced coffee vending machine in the lobby to enhance the building's supporting facilities.

Equipment Configuration
The machine is equipped with an independent ice-making system and offers a variety of hot and iced beverages, including Americano, latte, and mocha, with a standard cup size of 14oz. The payment system supports WeChat Pay, Alipay QR code scanning, and coin payment. The machine features real-time ingredient monitoring, automatically updating inventory data after each beverage is dispensed.

Operational Management
The device is maintained directly by the property engineering department, with restocking and cleaning performed once daily at 7:30 AM. The ice-making system can produce approximately 80 kg of edible ice per day, sufficient to meet demand during hot summer periods. The machine is connected to the building's IoT platform, and when coffee beans, milk, or other ingredients fall below 15%, the system automatically sends a restocking reminder to the warehouse.

Usage Statistics
Operational data shows that the machine sells an average of 30–50 cups per day. Three distinct peak periods are observed on weekdays: 8:00–9:00 AM (accounting for 35% of daily sales), 2:00–3:00 PM (30%), and 6:00–7:00 PM (20%). Iced latte is the best-selling item (approximately 45%), followed by iced Americano (about 35%). On days with high temperatures (above 30°C), daily sales can exceed 60 cups.

User Feedback
Anonymous feedback collected through the building service app shows a satisfaction rating of 4.5 out of 5 for the device. Building employees frequently mention that "it’s convenient to grab a drink before afternoon meetings" and "it’s great to get iced coffee without leaving the building."

Management Evaluation
In its quarterly service report, the property management department noted that the device has effectively alleviated queue pressure at nearby coffee shops during peak morning and evening hours, while also providing convenience for employees working late in the building. The machine recouped its initial investment costs in the fourth month of operation. The property management is now considering installing a second unit of the same model in the B1 staff cafeteria area and plans to collaborate with tenant companies to launch an employee monthly coffee card service.

Extended Data
Based on energy consumption monitoring, the device uses an average of about 100 kWh of electricity per month, which is lower than the energy consumption of traditional coffee shops with similar sales volumes. The number of plastic cups in trash bins near the machine has decreased by approximately 30% compared to before its installation, likely due to employees reducing their frequency of purchasing drinks outside the building. The property management plans to install a small-scale waste sorting and recycling station next to the machine before next summer to further enhance environmental sustainability measures.