All around the world, coffee is working its java magic – revitalising, maintaining and indulging caffeinatics every day, everywhere. Sure, at the heart of it, coffee is a beverage and therefore ultimately a thirst-quencher. But beyond that, this liquid energy is a legitimate business tool and even a culture of its own. But what exactly is coffee culture, and why do we care?
When organising a social gathering, it’s sometimes difficult to find a place everyone is comfortable with. Whether the diets of the group restrict your choice of venue or it’s just too early for the pub to be a socially acceptable option, the bottom line is that you can’t go wrong with a coffee house. Even if coffee isn’t your thing, there is enough variety to find something for everyone. Coffee shops have spent almost as much time and effort on shop ambience as they have on the product, allowing satisfied consumers to enjoy both great coffee and great conversation. With some cafés looking more like large living rooms with a selection of comfortable chairs and small coffee tables, it’s the ideal setting for informal meetings, post-work chill outs or socialising for socialising’s sake.
Internet cafés offer the same informal setting as your standard coffee shop, but with added work benefits – and they absolutely have productivity on their side. Perhaps you need to Skype a colleague while on an out-of-office meeting? Your nearest internet café has you covered – here you’ll find not only computer accessibility, allowing you to stay productive while indulging in your barista’s light roasted delights. Even if all you need is somewhere to work alone and undistracted but still contactable and work-orientated, these 21st century cafés are a simple and elegant solution.
Still in its infancy, the coffee break was only introduced to working culture in the last century. As a welcome supplement to the office water cooler, the coffee pot has been proven not only to increase social interaction between workers, but to optimise productivity as a direct result. Coffee breaks allow co-workers to talk on a professional and personal basis, helping to increase office morale through workforce synergy and improve overall performance, compared with employees who don’t drink coffee. Studies show that these short but frequent interactions create happier and more positive employees generally, which is subsequently reflected in their work. If you’re working late – as so many of us do – a simple cup of coffee can reduce the stress associated with sleep deprivation. No matter the cause, a simple cup of coffee can obliterate stress and stimulate the brain to optimise your work rate. As an added bonus, caffeine is credited with increasing metabolic activity – meaning that, while you’re partaking in a private caffeine-filled moment at your desk, your body is actually burning fat at a higher rate. Science! Coffee poses numerous direct and indirect benefits, but most significant of all is its ability to unite people in the work place. Conduct your next meeting with a good supply of coffee and observe your employees’ alertness and productivity increase, putting them in the optimal mind set for the working day. Improved productivity due to coffee is based on short and frequent coffee breaks. This regular social interaction offers a brief and welcome distraction from the daily agenda without employee output suffering – and with so many lovely blends on the market today, investing in an office coffee machine could be the key to true efficiency the tasty way.
