Having a great office coffee station can mean the difference between employees marching into a canteen or kitchen area like zombies, or a culture where the space creates an opportunity for people to connect with each other. It goes beyond just placing a coffee machine on a countertop, and adding small personal touches, the space can be instantly transformed. From thinking about the beverage choices on offer and the seating available, all the way through to how easy it is to keep the space clean, considering a few ideas might make a world of difference at the end of the day.
Variety of Choice
Offering a variety of beverages at the coffee station is a great way to entice employees (and guests) to feel more at home in the space. While it matters that there is a wide selection of options, it also matters that you use trusted and reputable brands to achieve this variety. Your team will feel more valued if you don’t simply plonk down a bulk container of the cheapest coffee on the market. Besides, as Aquaspresso’s range of automatic coffee machines suggest, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to more than just the standard black coffee.
Getting Creative With The Furnishings
Once you’ve ticked the boxes in terms of drink variety, it helps to spend some time considering the furnishings in and around the coffee station. Consider that some people will want to pop in and dash back to their desks. Others might want to linger a bit longer, so having seating near the area is a bonus. Hard surface seating is great for quick breakaways, while softer seating invites longer stays. The more adaptable you can go, the better, allowing the space to feel less formal and rigid, as it adapts to the needs of the team.
No Hassle, No Fuss
Any great coffee station will also keep one other important factor in mind: cleanliness. Nobody likes a dirty area, and it should be simple enough to set out a couple of rules around this too. Ensuring there is a wash up area near the station will encourage people to clean their cups after they use them, and having a bin nearby can also be perfect for those extra sachets that might accumulate on kitchen surfaces otherwise. If it’s a high traffic area, you’ll need to take as many precautions as possible to encourage people to keep the space tidy.
Personal Touches
Last but not least, a great coffee station thrives on tiny personal touches. Leaving a small note for the team at the end of a long week alongside a batch of cupcakes to thank them for their hard work turns the space into an inviting area. Asking the team which brands they would prefer you consider buying makes everyone feel like they are considered and heard before a decision is made. Taking the time for these small personal touches not only affects the way people enjoy the station, but has a positive impact on company culture as a whole. Say no to worker zombies in 2021!
