The Benefits of Coffee in the Workplace
With the rising cost of living in London and the weakening of the pound, it is hardly surprising that UK workers are now spending less on their morning or lunchtime caffeine fix, with many shunning their local Starbucks in favour of their office.
Despite the age-old stereotype of Brits loving tea, it is estimated that around 70 million cups of coffee are consumed per day by the UK population, showing that our love of caffeine is also pretty strong. So, what are the benefits of providing coffee in the workplace?
Cost
It’s a no-brainer really; by making your own coffee at work you will save yourself a lot of hard-earned cash. Why pay £2.30 for a small latte when you can easily make your own for free? You may think that you cannot get the same standard of artisan cappuccino in your office as you do from your favourite café, but many contemporary office coffee machines offer the same quality hot beverage as you have come to expect from your morning run.
Productivity
We all know that caffeine acts as a great pick-me-up when one is feeling sluggish, so having easily accessible options for staff to refresh themselves can help boost their productivity. If you are a business owner, you will certainly want your staff to work as efficiently as possible and this is why more and more employers are starting to act on our love of coffee by providing free, accessible hot beverages as a perk of the job.
Convenience
The handiness of having an office coffee machine means that you can make a hot beverage whenever you feel like it, without even having to step out of the workplace. The time you spend in walking to the coffee shop, queuing up and then heading back to the office can be spent on something more valuable. Forget running outside for a latte on your lunch break when it’s pouring down with rain, make the office your new favourite coffee shop!
Health
A recent report by the British Medical Journal found that moderate coffee drinking is safe and that drinking 3-4 cups per day could actually have some health benefits, including a lower risk of liver disease and certain types of cancer. Now, we’re not suggesting you start drinking your weight in coffee all in the name of health, but there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be included in a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Social aspect
The rising popularity of free office beverages means that many modern workspaces have become social hubs, where employees can hang out together in breakout areas over a hot drink while relaxing, collaborating and sharing new ideas. Internal coffee breaks allow employees to grab a little ‘downtime’, reducing stress levels, while helping to create a happier, more productive workforce and therefore a thriving business.
