4 Reasons your break room needs a Hot drinks machine

Coffee has become a staple of many people’s lives, and as many as 95 million cups are consumed each and every day. Whether it is part of an essential morning routine or get through the afternoon when it starts to drag, it is now seen as an indispensable tool at work.

For this reason, a kettle and cup of freeze-dried instant just doesn’t seem enough anymore, and so more and more businesses are adding hot drinks machines to their break spaces.

To explain further, Jamie-Leigh James, Marketing Executive at Cema Vending, shares her insight into the many benefits of upgrading your workplace break area.

1. The coffee break

We all know that caffeine can give us a boost of energy, so having a fresh supply of coffee in the workplace can give employees the get up and go that they need.

As a stimulant it can give the brain a boost, but so can the social aspect of taking coffee breaks at work. A stronger social bond allows staff to re-charge the batteries together more effectively and come back to work with a boost of productivity.

Did you know that coffee can also make the brain sharper too? It is thought to improve memory, which means recall of details and instructions is better and helps with problem solving aspects of a role.

The alertness of the brain can also stimulate more creative thinking, and increased focus makes people less prone to making mistakes in their job.

2. Health

We all know that too much caffeine is not good for us, but as with anything in life, it is all about moderation. For example, it is believed that a cup of coffee at breakfast can stimulate the metabolic rate and lead to increased fat loss.

The anti-inflammatory compounds that it contains can help to prevent inflammation which, in turn, protects the brain from stress-inducing hormones, whilst coffee’s antioxidants are thought to help guard against diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes.

3. Manageability

A hot drinks machine can produce more than just a cup of coffee. It can offer a variety of coffees to meet everyone’s taste, as well as that all important cup of tea or hot chocolate.

Having a single machine that can do all of this makes the life of an employer much easier. They make ordering replacement stock much more straight-forward, reduce the need for multiple stations and have contactless payment options that mean there is no more counting up change at the end of the day.

They can also be tied into staff loyalty schemes and can work through pre-paid card systems if you prefer for your employees not to carry money.

These machines can keep working 24 hours a day, so there is no need to worry about manning canteens or cafes throughout every shift. As a hot drinks machine can take care of itself, employees can grab what they need, when they need, saving on staff costs and disruption.

4. Employee value

By offering your employees a little more than the standard stuff that they are used to can play a huge part in improving loyalty and retention. A hot drinks machine that offers choice and good quality helps to show employees that they are cared about and is just one of the little perks that staff value in coming to work.

A hot drinks machine might seem insignificant, but it can play a huge part in helping a team to stay focused, creative, productive and happy in the workplace.

It is about more than offering a choice between a latter and a cappuccino; instead it gives employees choice, flexibility and a sense of value, whilst also helping them to concentrate, forge links and think big. It is never JUST a cup of coffee.