The path to a great coffee experience doesn't end with picking out an office coffee machine. Organising a drink station takes only a little planning to make it a success and we have time tested tips on how to get it just right.
Location
The first step is picking out the right location. If you have a machine that will be plumbed into the water mains you will be limited in choice because you will have to be near a connection. You probably have an office kitchen (lucky you) and a place all picked out which makes things easy.
If you have chosen a jug fill machine you can really put it anywhere safe that has an electrical outlet but there are things to consider. Try to choose somewhere that is out of the way of desks or anywhere people go to seek quiet.
Most office coffee machines have only low level noise pollution but if someone is sitting right next to the machine its a possibility that even the small noise might irritate if someone needs quiet to work. A coffee machine is a popular place in the workplace for people to congregate so you might also find if someone is getting constantly bumped into or crowded they may not find it ideal.
A lot of businesses find it feasible to create a cafe like space around their coffee machines. This is a great idea if you are able as serendipitous interaction between staff could cultivate a culture of creativity with the exchange of ideas between departments.
Many people prefer working in cafes because of their soft ambient noise and relaxing atmosphere. Your cafe area could be where people concentrate best and become more productive.
Storage
The last thing you'll want is a coffee machine surrounded by cups and bags of coffee. We have some impressive storage options such as cabinets and merchandisers so you can keep supplies hidden away and many come with internal bins for refuse.
Even if you don't get a storage cabinet a refuse bin and a recycling bin are must haves so people can easily throw away garbage so the litter doesn't start to pile onto desks and counters.
Cleaning
We talked about keeping refuse bins handy but often there can be mess. Our machines tend to be very tidy and produce very little waste. The Flavia Creation 600's drink sachets just empty into an internal bin & the grounds from bean to cup machines also collect internally. Having said that some people just make a mess so it might be useful to have a designated person to keep the drink station clean or put up a rota so everyone has to take a turn.
We have a range of cleaning supplies and descalers to keep machines in good working order. If you have a bean to cup coffee machine you need to be particularly vigilant with fresh or granulated milk tubes. Always keep to their cleaning schedules.
Supplies
A good selection of cups and ancillaries are the finishing touches to great coffee and we have a great range of 8oz to 12oz paper cups with corresponding lids, white & brown sugar as well as wooden stirrers to mix it all in.
Those are essentials but if you really want to impress then some little luxuries can go a long way. Consider stocking up on cinnamon, cocoa powder & syrups for coffee and lemon and honey for teas.
If you really want to splurge then treating staff to biscuits, cakes or donuts is always appreciated or you could have small bags of dried fruit and nuts on hand for the health conscious.
A water cooler is also a great addition to any drink station and we offer water machines from the stylish Borg & Overstrom. These beautiful machines supply cold, ambient and even sparkling water to help keep everyone refreshed throughout the day.
Curious about where best to place a machine or about which machine would best suit your work environment? Give us a shout to organise a site visit!
