why coffee is life

If we were stranded on a desert island, we know we’d survive as long as we had coffee. Sure, a tent and some water filtration would be helpful, but coffee is a must.

And we know we’re not alone. With exception of chocolate and wine, there’s nothing that inspires our creative juices and makes it worth getting out of bed like hot, delicious coffee.

Whether we’re sipping a fresh cup in the office to get our brains working or enjoying it with a slice of cheesecake as the day winds down, coffee is an integral part of our day.

 

caffeine javaIt’s obvious that something is going on when we ingest coffee. Our insides seem to speed up. Our outsides struggle to catch up. Caffeine mingles with various parts of our nervous system, granting us a focus, mood elevation, and aversion to fatigue. But how does it do this? Is caffeine really so strong as to alter our brain chemicals? And if so, how does it even breach the neurological gates? Surely one of our trusty neurotransmitters would sense deviation and battle the intruder.

business coffee

In the 1800s, many Americans worked seventy hours or more per week. Even into the early 1900’s, specifically around the Great Depression, many would work 40 hours and then clock out and work another 4-5 hours for free just to keep their job. Thankfully, those tough times are in the rear view mirror, but still the number of hours Americans workers put in, on average, is just shy of 50 hours a week.

That is a lot of hours. Surprisingly, just because we work more hours does not make us more productive according to a Gallup survey. So, how do we get our edge back?

 

tea questionMost coffee stations offer, well – coffee. And while caffeine certainly does a number on an office full of people, many of them are also going to crave the warm simplicity of tea. Coffee may dominate as the morning drink of choice, but tea is quickly catching up in popularity. As more people take a greater interest in their health, even avid, life-long coffee aficionados are coming around to the softer, “second best” hot beverage.

 

happy employeeIt’s easy to overlook “kitchen issues” at the office. The mugs are piling up in the sink. There are stains all over the counter. Employees roll their eyes at the k-cup selection; “oh. Breakfast Blend. Again.” And the creamer? Half and half – on a good day. But it’s hard to overlook these “minor” issues when they snowball into their potential… Your kitchen starts to smell like rotting coffee grounds. Your employees grow irritated, day after day, at the lack of variety staring back at them. They begin to lose motivation, re-enforcing to each other, in hushed whispers of resentment, this idea that you don’t care about their well-being.

 

office coffee serviceWhile your office coffee service doesn’t exactly determine business profitability, it plays a big role in overall environment. Don’t you want a work atmosphere filled with positive, upbeat energy? Currently, you’re probably stopping by a highly trafficked coffee house, complete with a wild assortment of gourmet coffee, but your favorite java pit stop currently houses a nasty barista, complete with zero knowledge of gourmet coffee and a bad eye-rolling habit.