New vending machines for hot and cold drinks and snacks on campus

With the arrival of the new vending machines, the focus will be on three aspects: sustainability, health, and customer satisfaction. In this news message, we explain the changes.

Use your own cup in coffee machines

Since March this year, you have received a 10 cent reduction on coffee from vending machines if you used your own cup. You can also choose a reusable cup here for 1 euro. Disposable cups will be discontinued altogether in the hot drinks machines for staff: we are going to use the reusable cups available in pantries and offices. The secretaries have been informed about this and advised on the size of the cup to ensure the pantries can be prepared accordingly.

Sustainable vending machines

The vending machines, the products themselves, as well as the processes involved will be more sustainable. In the standard hot drinks vending machines, coffee will be made from Puro fairtrade and organic coffee beans. Plant-based milk is now available as a choice in all vending machines for employees and a large number of vending machines for students. The spent grounds will go to mushroom grower Zuiderzwam (Tilburg) and food recycling company De Clique (Utrecht). Students and staff can also collect free coffee grounds to use as compost in their gardens.

The new vending machines have the highest energy label (A++). We also had a critical look at the number of vending machines on the campus: the total number will be reduced. The machines will be maintained by SROI (Social Return on Investment) staff, in collaboration with The Colour Kitchen, among other providers.

Healthier choices

With the coming of the new vending machines, it will be easier for you to make healthier choices. The number of sugary products will be reduced and decaf will be available in all vending machines in public spaces. The number of soft drinks and snacks vending machines will be reduced and 65% of the range in these vending machines will be healthy (Better Choices, according to nutrition guidelines of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre). The same goes for the lunch products in the Taste vending machines.

Satisfied customers

The new vending machines will be an improvement on certain points of range and user friendliness. The most important changes include the following.

• In public spaces, you will have more coffee choices with the addition of decaf and plant-based milk. 
• The milk foam on cappuccino, for instance, will be creamier because of a new frothing technique.
• Earlier this month, students and staff sampled and chose their favorite Puro coffee bean. These tasting sessions will be repeated every two years.
• More payment methods can be used for all vending machines (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, ApplePay, GooglePay). This is especially useful for foreign students who do not yet have a Dutch debit card.

Installation of the new vending machines

The new vending machines are installed over a period starting July 1, 2023. As a result, the vending machine you normally use may not be available for a few hours. Getting the new vending machines ready for use is done in phases so there is always an operational vending machine available close by.