Coffee is an important part of life for many of us. It offers so much: a kick-start in the morning, a pick-me-up in the middle of the day, and a refreshing drink during a break. It’s one of the most popular drinks on the planet, with around 2 billion cups being consumed daily according to the British Coffee Association. It’s also a vital part of our social lives, with many of us regularly choosing to meet family and friends at a cafe. But did you know there are also real benefits to encouraging a coffee culture in the workplace too?
Coffee culture in the UK has seen a huge boom in recent years and this growth is expected to continue for years to come. We are used to seeing coffee shops everywhere we go, from the high street to shopping centres and retail parks to airports. Gourmet and speciality coffees have become part of our everyday lives to the point where they are now expected, and there’s no reason why this shouldn’t extend from our social lives into our workplaces.
A Happiness Boost
Workplace coffee has had a bad reputation in the past. A jar of generic and often unpleasant tasting instant coffee just doesn’t cut it for many people. Creating a coffee culture in the office is about more than kick-starting the working day and diving into your tasks fuelled by caffeine. The humble cup of coffee may actually help to contribute to overall happiness in the workplace.
A survey looking at happiness amongst employees found that a good cup of coffee was important to 40% of participants and was, therefore, the second most important factor for good morale in the office. Properly functioning technology was the top factor, with 83% of people considering this vital to their happiness at work.
Employees Feel Valued
Offering small perks within the workplace goes a long way to helping employees feel that they are valued. Good quality coffee is one such perk, since if they want it, people will go looking for gourmet coffee - outside of the office if necessary. In fact, another survey found that 37% of employees would actually prefer free, good quality coffee over an annual office party. That’s how important a decent cup of coffee is to many people.
An Increase In Productivity
With an increased tendency to move towards more relaxed office layouts, access to top notch coffee has also been shown to contribute to the creative process, especially on collaborative projects. A cafe space in the office will also encourage people to move there for a change of scenery during their work day. This is especially true amongst millennials, and a recent survey has found that this generation in particular views a cafe area as somewhere to spend time being productive.
With solutions for offices of all sizes, we can help you if you are considering encouraging a coffee culture in your workplace. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss exactly what we can offer you.
