Swiss-made coffee machines costing taxpayers more than $63,000 are sprinkled throughout a Federal Government department, causing quite a stir inside the Coalition.
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism has nine top-of-the-line Swiss coffee machines totalling $63,225.
Four smaller machines more with an unreleased price tag were also purchased since 2009.
Read more: Trouble brewing over $63K coffee machine spend
OK, I'm not inviting political comments and refuse to be drawn on the politics behind this article. If it was private enterprise, it wouldn't raise an eyebrow unless it came out not long after a company downsized its staff.
From a coffee perspective, the questions here are:
(a) is it good economy to buy expensive coffee machinery for your staff (productivity, staff morale), and
(b) would it be better to buy a super-auto in an office rather than a manual machine?
I tend to think (a) yes and (b) yes but can see the risks.
A few years ago, a PA bought a Gaggia Superauto for her boss's coffee (and other managers in that area, presumably) and only a few weeks later it broke down. I can't remember ever seeing it in use again.
Discuss.
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism has nine top-of-the-line Swiss coffee machines totalling $63,225.
Four smaller machines more with an unreleased price tag were also purchased since 2009.
Read more: Trouble brewing over $63K coffee machine spend
OK, I'm not inviting political comments and refuse to be drawn on the politics behind this article. If it was private enterprise, it wouldn't raise an eyebrow unless it came out not long after a company downsized its staff.
From a coffee perspective, the questions here are:
(a) is it good economy to buy expensive coffee machinery for your staff (productivity, staff morale), and
(b) would it be better to buy a super-auto in an office rather than a manual machine?
I tend to think (a) yes and (b) yes but can see the risks.
A few years ago, a PA bought a Gaggia Superauto for her boss's coffee (and other managers in that area, presumably) and only a few weeks later it broke down. I can't remember ever seeing it in use again.
Discuss.


Comment