American adults drink lots of coffee - more than 50% of us over the age of 18 enjoy at least a cup every day, according to the National Coffee Association. Companies are finding that employees will not have to stop off for coffee on their way to work or leave work for a mid-morning coffee break if the company provides a good cup on site. Giving your employees good, free coffee is a way of instilling good feelings among employees, and keeps them from missing work to go get it.
If your company uses a small, home user model, you may still find employees opting to buy good quality coffee than drink yours.
You might consider, like many new companies, investing in a quality coffee and espresso machines to keep your employees happy and working hard.
Here are some things to look for if you are looking for an office coffee maker:
Capacity: Some machines produce one cup on-demand while others will make a pot at a time. Look at the size of the pot and consider how many employees will be able to drink from one pot. Make sure that you move to a larger model if everyone in the office cannot get some of the first pot.
Manual, Automatic, and Semi-Automatic: A manual machine has a learning curve, but can produce delicious coffee once mastered. An automatic or semi-automatic machine has the advantage of easy use for everyone with push-button operation.
Grinding: You have 3 choices: buying pre-ground coffee, a separate grinder, or a grinder integrated into your coffee machine. Pre-ground coffee is easier and faster, and you don't have the added expense of a stand-alone grinder or a machine with an integrated grinder. Freshly ground beans provide a better flavor, but not everyone is up to the extra step of grinding before brewing.
Cleaning: Determine how much clean up is necessary with each coffee maker and what will be required of employees to clean. If there is tedious disassembling and reassembling involved, it will make it more work than it's worth for most employees, and you'll be frustrated that they aren't using a machine that you've spent money on.
Price: This will be a large part of the decision for many companies. The price includes not only the initial price for the machine itself, but also the cups, filters, beans, creamer, and mixing straws that you will have to stock regularly to keep the machine in use. Although I am sensitive to budgetary considerations, I would recommend going for a nicer machine as it will breed goodwill among employees to see that the company cares enough to provide them with a small gesture for their comfort and convenience.
Size and Placement: Make sure you have a place in your office for the machine (where you won't mind if it smells like coffee all morning). Make sure that you have a table or counter that is large enough for the machine and needed supplies. It also helps if it is a more open area so that employees can pour a cup without being in each others' way. You will also need a plug and a water supply nearby for the coffee itself and for cleaning. Most smaller models must be refilled with water, whereas some larger, restaurant grade machines hook up directly to a water supply.
