11 categories · September 2026
All vending machines at a glance.
From bean-to-cup coffee machines to parcel lockers, find the right category for your site. Reviewed with data and operator context.
Categories
Choose your machine category
11 categories — from coffee machines to reverse vending.
24 reviews
Hot Drink Machines
Bean-to-cup, capsule and instant machines for offices, hospitality and food service.
3 reviews
Cold Drink Machines
Bottle, can and juice vending machines with cooling for high-throughput locations.
2 reviews
Snack & Combo Machines
Spiral snack and combo machines for snacks, bars and chilled drinks.
0 reviews
Fresh Food & Smart Fridges
Sensor- and camera-based fridges and smart kiosks with self-checkout for fresh food and drinks.
0 reviews
Frozen & Ice Machines
Frozen-food and ice-cream vending machines for frozen products and impulse sales.
0 reviews
Preparation Machines
Pizza, burger and pasta machines that prepare meals on site for food-service locations.
1 review
Water Dispensers
Point-of-use water dispensers and sparkling-water systems with mains connection.
1 review
Parcel & Locker Systems
Parcel lockers and modular locker systems for collection, handover and unattended access.
0 reviews
Medical & Industrial
Dispensing and stock-management systems for medical, PPE and industrial environments.
0 reviews
Specialty & Niche Machines
Cosmetics, electronics and other specialist vending solutions for unusual assortments and sites.
1 review
Reverse Vending Machines
Single-use and multi-material reverse vending machines for bottle and can collection.
Category comparison
What does each machine type cost?
The price range covers the middle 80% of recorded models in each category. The highest and lowest tenth are excluded so unusual systems do not distort the range. Net prices, installation excluded.
| Category | Net price range | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
Hot Drink Machines | 1.500–12.763 € | 43 |
Cold Drink Machines | 3.200–6.500 € | 9 |
Snack & Combo Machines | 3.200–7.500 € | 7 |
Fresh Food & Smart Fridges | 5.800–18.000 € | 4 |
Frozen & Ice Machines | 6.490–18.000 € | 2 |
Preparation Machines | 2.000–30.000 € | 1 |
Water Dispensers | 800–4.500 € | 3 |
Parcel & Locker Systems | 10.000–18.500 € | 4 |
Medical & Industrial | 5.000–80.000 € | 2 |
Specialty & Niche Machines | 2.500–13.000 € | 1 |
Reverse Vending Machines | 8.500–8.900 € | 5 |
Source: our collected price data by category · Updated September 2026
Market 2026
Where is the market growing — and where is it not?
Category sales compared with the previous year (DACH).
Source: BDV statistics 2026, operator survey February 2026.
Knowledge & tools
Calculate and look things up yourself
Cost calculator
Use your own figures for purchase, maintenance, energy and consumables over the planned term — including cost per cup. This is the total cost of ownership (TCO).
Enter your figures →Glossary
Short explanations of procurement and operations terms — from bean-to-cup and MDB to telemetry and water hardness.
Look up terms →Frequently asked questions
Answers about vending machine categories
Hot drink machines are the first choice for offices and hotels. Combo machines suit sites with mixed demand, such as coffee plus snacks. Smart fridges work well for fresh, premium snacks in modern coworking spaces and offices.
Hot drink machines prepare coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Food preparation machines make complete meals such as pizza, pasta, salads and hot dishes. They are technically more complex and usually more expensive to operate.
No. Smart fridges require more from cooling, fresh-food logistics and replenishment, and only pay off at the right level of demand. Classic combo machines are easier to maintain and remain the more economical choice for many sites.
Smart fridges grew by 38%, food preparation machines by 22% and reverse vending by 18%. The figures are market context, not an editorial score for individual models.
Depending on the category, operators need to consider food hygiene and HACCP, electrical safety inspections, cash-register requirements, deposit obligations and GDPR-compliant telemetry.
Below €3,000, consider a simple cold-drink or water machine. Around €3,000–8,000, a full hot-drink or combo machine may fit. Above €8,000, bean-to-cup with fresh milk and telemetry, smart fridges or food preparation machines enter the shortlist.
Comparison
Compare up to 3 machines side by side .
Technical data, prices, running costs, telemetry and payment systems — spot the differences immediately.
- 1Choose a category and filter by price, manufacturer or capacity.
- 2Add up to 3 models to the comparison bar.
- 3See the data side by side, including an Excel export.