27 Sep Finding Coffee in Houston
Enjoying coffee continues to be a daily experience for 64 percent of Americans. That number is important because it means that, according to research performed by the National Coffee Association (NCA), 5 percent more Americans are drinking it daily than there were in 2016. Unfortunately, not all of the results in the study were positive as out-of-home coffee consumption decreased from 40 percent in 2017 to 36 percent in 2018, and those who claimed to have a workplace coffee area decreased by 3 percent.
While these new findings might sound negative, they create an opportunity for Houston employers to offer a sought after benefit, keep employees onsite, and increase productivity during the workday. The first step in developing a great office coffee service is to understand which types of beverages are preferred.
Espresso
24 percent of NCA study participants preferred espresso-based beverages. Espresso or a black coffee beverage is made by forcing water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans and is the base for a number of other beverages.
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- caffe macchiato = 100 percent espresso + dash of steamed-milk foam
- caffe Americano = 1/2 espresso + 1/2 water
- latte = 1/3 espresso + 1/3 steamed milk + a thin layer of steamed-milk foam
- cappuccino = 1/3 espresso + 1/3 steamed milk + a thick layer of steamed-milk foam
- latte macchiato = 1/3 espresso + 2/3 steamed milk + dash of steamed-milk foam
Gourmet versus Traditional Beans
Coffee made from gourmet beans was preferred by just 16 percent of the participants. Arabica beans are considered to be gourmet beans. They are more expensive to grow because they need very specific growing conditions, must be carefully handled and roasted to perfection. All of this combined creates a gourmet cup of java.
Traditional coffee is made with beans that are not considered gourmet and was preferred by 31 percent of the participants. This type of brew is usually made from Robusta beans or a mix of Robusta and Arabica beans. Robusta beans are cheaper to grow and easier to handle, but have an inferior taste.
While it appears that the study participants preferred traditional beans over gourmet ones, it is important to compare the demographics of the study to the demographics of your Houston employees before making a decision. For example, only 19 percent of the 18 to 24 year-olds in the study drank traditional coffee while over 30 percent of the same cohort preferred the gourmet version. In older demographics, the traditional variety does better, but gourmet beans still draws in more than 30 percent of that age group.
At Home or At Work
The second step is to understand where employees are getting their caffeine fix. For the majority, coffee-based beverages are still consumed at breakfast in Houston homes, but there has also been an increase in enjoying coffee between breakfast and lunch or when employees are at work. This second block of time is when an office coffee service can have an impact.
Rather than having to go offsite to find either an espresso-based beverage or a cup of coffee, employees can find what they are looking for in an onsite break room with a cafe-style service. It’s a benefit with a highly perceived value that outweighs the actual cost. Increasing the perceived value is easily accomplished by offering snacks via a micro-market or vending machine. A healthy mid-morning snack with a cup of Joe is a great way to boost your employees’ energy levels.
For more information about adding office coffee service or another vending service option to your Houston break room, contact Barrett Vending at (713) 680-8636. We look forward to hearing from you.