There has been a trend towards a simpler way to get things. This has come into coffee too. The coffee vending machines were invented to fulfill a need of having a fresh cup of coffee without a person having to be present.
Water is heated in a pipe on a need to serve basis. Coffee is put in separately and it gets brewed while it pours out. Coffee vending machines provide a need but do not provide gourmet coffee. They are there when you need a hot cup but don’t expect a coffee house cup of coffee.
You can find coffee machines at ballparks, stations or airports. Wherever there is a need it is taken care of by this machine. It is a coin operated machine which eliminates the need of having a person there all the time. Someone would have to come in once in a while to load the supplies that are depleted.