Research shows that having coffee in the workplace and keeping employees caffeinated can increase work productivity and creativity. It is also a common comfort in the office, especially first thing in the morning, or during the mid-afternoon slump. But choosing the right coffee machine for the office can prove more difficult than one might think.
Single Serve Coffee Maker
Most offices have employees who have diverse opinions about their coffee preferences. A single-serve coffee maker, like a Keurig machine, is one of the most popular office coffee machines. It can help ensure that everyone is happy throughout the day.
A single-serve coffee maker uses pods or packets to make a single cup of coffee. These can be purchased in a variety of flavors and types of coffee (including decaf) and at a wide variety of prices. Pods also contain hot chocolate, tea, and iced beverage options. Employees can brew individual cups of coffee to their liking, with very little mess, cleanup, or waiting.
Single-serve coffee machines are smaller, so they are better suited to kitchens and small workplaces that don’t require large amounts of coffee. They are also a nice choice for small offices because they do not need as much maintenance as larger units.
Drip Coffee Machines
Larger offices may need more coffee than a single-serve coffee maker will provide. Airport machines and thermal brewers make a large amount of coffee at one time, which is great for a large office or a workplace that often hosts large meetings or events. Once the coffee is brewed, the large thermal pots can keep the coffee hot and fresh for hours at a time.
An airport machine can make up to 80 cups in an hour. A thermal brewer can even brew up to 300 cups per hour. One thing to keep in mind is that these machines must be hooked up directly to a water line.
Instant Coffee Machines
Instant coffee machines are brewing machines, but they use powdered instant coffee instead of ground or whole beans. While you cannot make espressos and lattes, these machines come with multiple hoppers which allow for a variety of powder mixes. This allows for a great variety of drinks in addition to coffee, including hot chocolate powder, non-dairy creamer powder, and even matcha or milk tea powder. The quality of coffee is not as high with this option, but it comes in at a good price point if this is a concern.
Bean-to-Cup Machines
For those offices with employees who consider themselves to be coffee connoisseurs, a bean-to-cup machine might be an incentive to keep them in the office. They can make the perfect cup of specialty coffee right in the break room.
These systems usually hold several types of beans, and allow the consumer to make a cup of coffee just to their liking. They can even prepare lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and chai lattes with this machine. These machines often come in multiple sizes and have touch screen displays for digital age employees.
Usually, there are two types of coffee brewing methods in these machines: espresso and french press. With all of these options, workers can craft the perfect cup of coffee without ever leaving the office.
Coffee in the workplace is as necessary as a stapler and paper. Choose your machine carefully to keep employees happy and productive all day long.
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