Which Coffee Service is Right for Your Office?

Thinking of bringing coffee services to your workplace? We can tell you what you need to know to get started. The most important first step is learning the different categories of coffee services. The four main types of coffee services are vending machines, electric coffee makers, frac packs, and onsite espresso bars. Each option has its own unique draw, so read on to understand which one is the best fit for you and your office crew.

Not too long ago, a communal coffee maker was the only option available in our offices. Nobody wanted to be the one to get that last lukewarm cup of coffee after a pot had been sitting out for hours, and deciding who would be the one to make the next pot always evolved into a passive aggressive office-wide standoff. In recent years, an innovative solution presented itself: coffee services. Coffee services refer to the services related to the delivery of coffee directly to employees in the workplace. The advent of coffee services has granted consumers the ease of having their morning coffee accessible within the same building where they work without having to forfeit the quality of the coffee. As a result, these services reinforce your appreciation for your staff and their hard work, leading to improved office mood and productivity.

If coffee services sounds like a feature you would like to offer to your employees, this is a great starting point. To begin, you will need to have an idea of what coffee service to bring to your office. Many forms of coffee service have emerged over the last couple years, and it may be confusing to navigate all of these options on your own. After you have made your decision on what brands and types of coffee to provide at your office, your next task is to figure out how you want to dispense this coffee to your employees. Let’s explore the four main types of coffee services available to choose from: vending machines, electric coffee makers, “frac packs”, and onsite espresso bars.

Coffee Vending machines

One type of coffee service you should know about is coffee vending machines. Companies may opt to install a coffee vending machine in the break room for their employees. When using these machines, consumers can choose between various brands and flavors of coffee. Other machines vend a wide selection of coffee pods, which also come in multiple brands and flavors. These pods can then be used in a separate coffee machine to prepare coffee. For our fellow friends and colleagues who are non-coffee drinkers, you should not feel left out. Additional hot beverage options like tea and hot chocolate are often provided as well. Coffee vending machines have been used to supply single servings of coffee for small businesses. They are also capable of suiting larger demands, such as in university and hospital settings, where the vending machines are constantly in use throughout the day.

Electric coffee maker

The next coffee service option is the electric coffee maker. The different types of equipment options are vast the most popular options are the single serve coffee machines, bean-to-cup coffee machines, large format brewer, espresso makers, and cold brew dispensers. All of these machines work via an automatic espresso or drip coffee maker that grinds coffee beans and dispenses coffee into a cup. Offices may choose to purchase one or multiple of these coffee makers for their break rooms. By providing your coffee service company with important details such as the preferences of your company and dimensions of your workplace, you can start giving your employees the coffee they deserve and need.

Frac packs

Providing another attractive option to the avid coffee drinker is the fraction pack, which is a small sealed pouch of pre-ground coffee. It is often referred to as a “frac pack.” Traditionally, consumers needed to measure out exactly how much coffee they need. Otherwise they often ended up with brews that were either too weak or too potent. Frac packs- since they are smaller single brew packets- solve this problem by removing the guesswork from the equation. With each tiny package, you are guaranteed the same pot of coffee each time, regardless of who is making the coffee that day. On top of that, frac packs make coffee maker cleanup a breeze by eliminating the need to clean out old grounds from the machines. In the office setting, this displaces the time employees spend deciding who is going to take care of the coffee that day with more time they can focus on their work instead. Lastly, this option allows for fresher coffee. Compared to large ground containers, fraction packs are smaller and can be opened right before they are used in their entirety. This eliminates the scenario of half-empty containers of coffee grounds left sitting out for weeks and degrading. Consequently, frac packs have become an increasingly popular coffee service option.

Onsite espresso bars

In some companies, coffee needs are satisfied by onsite espresso bars, which are coffee shops set up like bars with a high-yield espresso machine. If you’re in a hurry, this option is perfect for you to either drink your coffee right at the bar or grab it to go. In addition to coffee, they often also sell food like pastries and sandwiches. The most well-known coffee shop based on this espresso bar model is Starbucks Coffee. These coffee bars are built on company premises, where employees can order any espresso drinks they desire from the full menu. Sometimes these drinks may even be company-subsidized or free of charge.

It can be difficult at first to navigate all the coffee services out there these days, but hopefully you now have a better understanding of the four main categories available. From here, you can gear your decision to match your budget, the size of your office, and the preferences of your employees. You are now well on your way to creating a happier, more productive culture in your workplace.