How to Improve the Breakroom Coffee Situation
Breakroom coffee has a bit of a reputation. It gets the job done, but it's either cold, not made yet, or barely there. How can you improve it?
Time and time again, coffee proves to be the lifeblood of everyday America. Studies routinely show that a morning cup of coffee makes workers happier by reducing stress levels and increasing our awareness.
So, why not reward your employees with a mutually beneficial gift? Let's talk about the importance of breakroom coffee and how to make your office the best coffee shop in town!
Why Should You Improve Your Breakroom Coffee?
Before we discuss the "how," let's talk about the "why." To start, three-quarters of American adults drink coffee regularly, which means a significant portion of your workforce almost certainly does.
On top of that, with the so-called "Great Resignation" still making waves through our economy two years later, it's important to boost morale within your enterprise. Giving your employees something they love while at work is a great way to do that! It will also serve as a great perk for recruiting talented staff.
Moreover, increasing breaks for employees has proven to be a key to increasing productivity in the workplace. Encouraging your staff to take breaks, refuel, and avoid burnout will pay dividends for your business in no time.
Remember, just because employees are at their workstations doesn't mean they are engaged. This lost time can add up to days of lost wages every week, draining your company's finances. Keeping employees engaged can reverse that trend.
Finally, it will keep them at work. How many employees leave during the day to grab a cup of coffee in your workplace? Offering what they need on-site will keep them at work and actually limit their break time if anything!
How to Improve Your Breakroom Coffee Situation
Clearly, office coffee can have a big impact on your workplace. Here's how you can step up your coffee game at work!
Offer a Selection
One of the most important aspects of a coffee bar is the selection you offer, including:
- Coffees
- Other hot beverages (teas, hot chocolates, etc.)
- Coffee makers
- Espresso, instant, lattes, etc.)
- Coffee temperature (hot, iced, cold brew, etc.)
- Brew strength options
- Sweeteners
- Creamers
- Non-dairy options
- Toppings
The list goes on. The more options you can offer your team, the fewer excuses anyone will have to leave! You'll have the best coffee in town because it's exactly what they want.
Depending on the size of your company, you may not need a diverse array of all of these. However, with a lot of employees, there tend to be many differences in the way people take their java.
Most importantly, you'll want to offer a variety of hot beverages. This is easy if you have single-serving machines like Keurigs.
Ciders, hot chocolates, teas, and more will draw in a bigger crowd to boost morale and keep employees happy at work! Check out our coffee products to see what you can include!
Ask Employees for Feedback
If this coffee bar is for employees, why not include them? Ask them for their preferences to narrow your search and get the right ingredients and materials for their needs. This will help save you money, increase employee engagement, and deliver a better end result!
Also, ask about possible allergies or sensitivities. You never know if somebody is lactose intolerant or allergic to certain foods or beverages until you ask.
Keep It Cool
It's important to have a refrigerator and/or freezer available. This way, you can keep creamers chilled for as long as possible. This will also encourage staff to bring their own if they choose.
Choose the Right Water
A cup of black coffee is at least 98% water. Therefore, the water you use makes a world of difference. Adding a comprehensive water filtration system will improve the taste and health of your coffee, giving employees no reason to leave work for Starbucks!
Get a Great Coffee Machine
The better your coffee machine, the better your brew. You don't need to spend $10,000 on a commercial espresso bar, but having options available makes a world of difference!
We recommend a generic drip pot, a Keurig (or similar machine), and an espresso machine. This will give your employees options based on their preferences, for a small initial investment.
On top of that, there are plenty of other materials to choose from, especially if you have a wide variety of coffees available. This includes coffee grinders and other means of making a single cup.
For example, an Aeropress, French press, or a reusable K-Cup could be a great way to allow employees to try a new type of coffee. That could give them something to get excited about each day!
Moreover, a coffee grinder could also signal that employees are welcome to bring their own craft coffees in to try at work if they choose. This could potentially facilitate a new workplace tradition.
Regardless, it really comes down to your equipment, as this is a coffee bar's biggest limitation. The time and effort it takes to make each cup or for employees to use it how they want are quite important.
Start Brewing Today
Now that you know how to step up your breakroom coffee game, you can put these tips to use right away. The sooner you do, the sooner you can improve the work life of your enterprise!
Stay up to date with our latest coffee tips, and check out our workplace coffee delivery services to learn more. Call us toll-free at (800) 967-2600 or request a quote online to improve your breakroom coffee today.
