Office Coffee Bars: Pacific Coffee’s New Business Model

When most coffee chains race to open more storefronts for walk-in customers, one major player in China is looking elsewhere: inside office buildings. Instead of competing for foot traffic on busy streets, Pacific Coffee has shifted focus to serving employees without them ever leaving work.

Pacific Coffee has partnered with Regus to install fully operational coffee services inside serviced offices, providing everything from beans and equipment to café design and staff training — all without the need for a traditional retail space.

What Is Pacific Coffee Doing Differently?

Rather than opening more standalone cafés, Pacific Coffee is bringing the café experience directly to employees inside Regus workplaces. The company offers a complete package: coffee beans, brewing equipment, interior design consulting, and even marketing campaigns tailored for office environments. This “business + coffee” service targets companies leasing space at Regus work centres, aiming to embed coffee culture into the daily work routine.

Why Target the Office Market?

Pacific Coffee, which launched its corporate coffee service back in 1995, already serves over 300 enterprise clients including major firms like China Resources Land, Greenland Group, and Hang Seng Bank. By moving into workplaces, the brand hopes to broaden its market reach, enhance its premium image, and promote coffee culture beyond casual consumers. The Chinese coffee market is still developing, especially in professional settings, and Pacific Coffee sees real growth potential in B2B services.

How Does the Regus Partnership Work?

Regus, an international provider of flexible workspace solutions, offers serviced offices, meeting rooms, and business lounges. In this collaboration, Pacific Coffee supplies the coffee equipment, beans, and expertise, while Regus provides access to its network of office locations. Employees at participating Regus centres can enjoy professionally brewed coffee without leaving their building. Both companies have also launched joint promotional activities to attract interest from existing tenants.

Is This the Future of Coffee Shops?

Industry analysts suggest this model isn’t about to replace traditional cafés. While there is demand, especially in larger or international business hubs, challenges remain. Factors such as the number of coffee drinkers in a given office, matching consumer preferences, and overall demand for premium coffee all affect feasibility. Wang Aihua, Senior Director of Leasing Services at RET Real Estate Intelligence Solutions, notes that while viable in specific cases, office coffee services are niche and unlikely to become mainstream soon. The primary battlefield for most coffee brands will continue to be consumer-facing retail.

What Are the Benefits for Businesses and Employees?

For companies, an in-office coffee solution means convenience, enhanced employee experience, and a professional yet relaxed environment. For employees, it provides easy access to quality coffee without the need to visit external cafés. For Pacific Coffee and Regus, it extends their brand presence into new spaces and creates a new revenue channel outside conventional retail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pacific Coffee’s office coffee service?

Pacific Coffee’s office coffee service supplies coffee beans, equipment, café design, and staff training to businesses, particularly those in Regus serviced offices. It aims to integrate café-style coffee experiences directly into workplace environments without requiring a standalone café.

Who is Regus and what role do they play?

Regus is an international provider of flexible office solutions, offering serviced offices, meeting rooms, and business lounges. In partnership with Pacific Coffee, Regus supplies the physical office locations where in-house coffee services are installed and accessed by tenants.

How many corporate clients does Pacific Coffee currently serve?

Pacific Coffee has worked with over 300 corporate clients since launching its business coffee service in 1995. Notable clients include China Resources Land, Greenland Group, and Hang Seng Bank.

What are the advantages of having coffee in the office?

Office coffee services improve employee convenience and satisfaction, create a more professional and relaxing work atmosphere, and allow businesses to offer quality coffee without sending employees to external cafés.

Is this model going to replace regular coffee shops?

No. Industry experts believe office coffee is a niche solution suited to specific business environments. While it offers growth potential, traditional retail coffee shops remain the main focus for most coffee brands in terms of expansion and competition.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Office Coffee

For office setups, FrontStreet Coffee recommends its Classic Blend as the top pick — it’s crafted for espresso and moka pots, produces rich crema, and suits milk-based drinks effortlessly. The Black Cocoa Blend is a cost-effective, all-Arabica option with strong flavour, ideal for high-volume brewing without sacrificing quality. The Strawberry Candy Espresso brings fruity sweetness and works well in both filter and espresso formats. These blends are tailored for consistency and ease of use in workplace environments. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.