It’s no secret that coffee is one of the most loved drinks in the world. People across the globe cherish their coffee, whether it’s a steaming mug or loaded with ice. An early morning wake-up tool or afternoon pick-me-up, coffee drinks are a staple in the lives of many.
But beyond its delicious taste and energy boost, coffee has other benefits — especially in the workplace. Coffee and work go hand-in-hand, but the drink does more than just give employees that morning jolt for the office. It also has a positive effect on productivity, memory and creativity.
People Love Coffee
For the majority of the world, coffee is a necessity. Some people adore it for the taste alone. Others rely on its energy-boosting qualities. Whatever the reason, coffee is one of the most popular beverages out there.
From 2020 to 2021 alone, people consumed about 167 million bags of coffee worldwide. The drink is accessible and affordable in most parts of the globe and easily integrated into routines. It’s also a source of comfort. Everyone has their personalized coffee order, from pure black or cold brew to flavored syrups and add-ins. And each day, drinking your favorite coffee beverage brings a sense of familiarity. It’s no wonder coffee has become a signature moment for many daily routines.
Here are a few more surprising coffee statistics:
- About 62% of Americans report drinking at least one cup a day, but the average American drinks three or more cups.
- 75% of Americans reported drinking coffee in the last year.
- In 2020 alone, Americans made their way through 26.7 million bags of coffee.
- But even with those high numbers, America ranks 25th in global coffee consumption.
- Finland is the country with the highest amount of coffee drank per capita.
- In 2020, the global coffee market had a value of around $102 billion.
People around the world continue to adore coffee, and the industry isn’t slowing any time soon. While preferred styles of the drink still change with time, coffee consumption grows steadily popular each year. For instance, people ordered cold brew and delivered coffee in 2020 much more than in previous years. Coffee drinkers often find new ways to customize their caffeine without dropping usage rates.
Beyond its comfort and great taste, coffee affects workplace activities. Employees show much higher alertness and productivity levels after a cup of the popular drink.
The Science Behind the Beans
One of coffee’s best attributes is its energy jolt. After a morning cup, people feel energized enough to face the day. The boost is mainly due to the caffeine levels in coffee. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it heightens brain activity. It also increases adrenaline and cortisol levels in the body, which shows in sudden energy boosts and improved mental awareness. Here are some ways caffeine affects neurological systems in the body:
- It blocks adenosine: Adenosine is a brain chemical that makes people sleepy. When the body absorbs caffeine, the drug blocks adenosine production. Instead, it makes the body feel more energetic and alert.
- It increases dopamine: Dopamine is another brain chemical that gives feelings of happiness. Caffeine is a natural dopamine booster, so you tend to feel more positive when you ingest coffee.
- It releases adrenaline: Caffeine causes the body to release adrenaline, giving high energy levels. Adrenaline also causes increased heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain.
- It creates brain entropy: Entropy in the brain signals high functioning and processing capabilities. Recent studies show that caffeine increases entropy levels, meaning caffeine consumption causes increased brain processing.
With all this in mind, it’s important to limit caffeine consumption after certain amounts and times in the day. Caffeine also stimulates the body’s natural waking and resting cycles, or circadian rhythms. If someone drinks too much coffee in the evening or at night, it might reduce sleep quality. Without proper rest, the body can’t heal from stress. It’s best to balance caffeine intake to maintain correct sleeping patterns.
How Does Coffee Increase Productivity in the Office?
Coffee is an essential part of the day for people who work in the office. Whether they grab a cup before heading in or during their lunch break, the drink breaks up the day and gives a much-needed boost. Coffee also positively impacts work performance. Caffeine’s impact on the body translates to work productivity. From increased energy levels to heightened creativity, coffee often benefits workplace activity.
Here are five ways that coffee improves productivity in the office:
1. Keeps Employees Alert
Caffeine blocks adenosine in the brain, increasing alertness. In the workplace, this might give an employee the ability to shake off the last dregs of tiredness as they clock in for the day. After a midafternoon slump, a burst of caffeine might be just what someone needs to finish out the workday. These energy boosts allow employees to maintain or even increase productivity rates.
Since caffeine affects everyone at different levels, it’s best to find the amount that provides the most benefits. For some, energy levels remain the same after one cup. But for others, one cup gives a substantial boost that lasts hours. It all depends on the body’s tolerance for caffeine. Low doses are often enough to maximize performance, so starting small is good practice.
Overall, a cup of coffee heightens mental awareness and keeps workers alert during morning meetings and afternoon projects. It’s a great way to increase energy levels at pivotal points in the workday.
2. Improves Memory
Recent studies showed that caffeine consumption enhances memory performance. In particular, it makes memories sharper and easier to recall the next day. In turn, people become less likely to forget important details and facts from previous days. Caffeine enhances working memory, which serves both long-term and short-term benefits.
Memory skills are crucial for most office jobs, and memory enhancement helps with wider job goals. As employees grow further in their careers, they constantly pick up new skills and facts. It’s always important to keep learning about your field, whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned manager. Improved memory allows workers to retain new skills and information quickly, strengthening marketable job skills.
Better memory also helps with everyday workplace needs. That cup of coffee could make it easier to recall yesterday’s meeting or a specific note someone wanted to give to their coworker. The accentuated cognitive performance lets employees focus on their jobs fully and do their best work.
3. Gives Employees a Break
Many people also use coffee to socialize at work. From quick coffee trips at local shops to greetings by the office’s coffee pot, the drink brings people together during the workday. And connecting with coworkers at the office is a definite perk of any position. When employees build connections at work, they’re more likely to enjoy coming in and completing assignments. Having important bonds with coworkers is another way to improve positivity and productivity in your workspace.
Coffee breaks also benefit work. When employees allow their brains to rest during a brief break, they come back to assignments with a clear head and more energy. Dividing the workday with breaks makes the day pass faster and improves efficiency.
Don’t hesitate to let employees take that quick jaunt to the coffee shop around the corner. It might revitalize brain activity and give them the boost they need to finish the workday strong.
4. Encourages Faster Learning
Caffeine’s impact on the brain also extends to learning. Everyone takes in new information while at work, whether for a new project or advancement in the field. Because caffeine heightens brain activity, the brain becomes primed to absorb new data. The drug sharpens new words and information, so the brain identifies them more quickly.
Caffeine can also improve focus levels. Focus is crucial at office jobs, helping staff stay on task and maintain deadlines. Ongoing attention requires energy, and caffeine boosts brain activity so employees can remain in the zone. However, encourage employees to regulate cups of coffee. While one or two cups can benefit learning levels, too much of the beverage might overwhelm people’s brains. Promote a balanced intake to optimize workplace activity.
Altogether, keeping coffee in the workplace gives workers another way to power through those longer assignments.
5. Increases Creativity
Coffee gives many opportunities to increase creativity at work. Innovation is highly prized at most workplaces, and great workers think originally about improving projects and workflow. The ability to creatively solve a problem could result in your team’s success. Caffeine helps with all these processes. Its ability to stimulate the brain might jolt creativity into action. With a clearer head, many people’s thoughts become innovative.
Socializing with coffee is another great way to brainstorm creative solutions. When colleagues share a cup of coffee together, they’re more likely to talk freely with coworkers. In turn, they could bounce around ideas that might not normally appear. Coffee could create that new idea that takes your department to the next level.
How to Drink Coffee
Despite all the productivity benefits of coffee, the ultimate effects vary based on the person. Everyone has different caffeine limits, so it’s important to find the amount that works best. While the correct dosage might give an employee a great boost, too much could interfere with sleeping patterns or even induce anxiety.
You should also consider the body’s tolerance. If someone is a consistent coffee consumer, they might find one cup isn’t the best boost. If it’s a person’s first cup of coffee, they might feel the effects for hours. It all depends on how the body processes caffeine and its tolerance levels.
It’s important to use caffeine in a way that provides maximum benefits. Here are some tips for optimal coffee drinking:
- Take it slow: If you’re unsure about how caffeine’s effects, start small. Try one cup of coffee and monitor how it affects focus, attention and productivity at work. If you don’t notice a difference, maybe advise your workers to try a second cup. If it affects employees too much, reduce your intake to half a cup.
- Drink water, too: Stay hydrated with water when drinking coffee and remind your department to do the same. Water maintains your body’s health and hydration, and coffee doesn’t have these same effects. A good rule to try is for every cup of coffee you drink, drink one cup of water to optimize your team’s productivity and maintain hydration levels.
- Limit add-ins: Many people like adding creamer, sugar or milk to their coffee, but too much might decrease performance in the long run. If you intend your coffee to optimize productivity, be sure to limit the toppings. If there’s too much sugar, it could lead to a crash in energy levels later. You don’t have to get rid of add-ins entirely, but ensure it’s not too much.
Because caffeine affects everyone differently, it’s often tricky to find the optimal balance for you and your staff. Try experimenting with your coffee to discover the right amount for improved productivity.
Managing Your Caffeine Intake
Caffeine has many benefits, but it detracts from the positives when someone consumes too much. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Overconsumption can lead to negative physical reactions, such as:
- Insomnia.
- Anxiety.
- Increased heart rate.
- Headache.
- Nausea.
If someone drinks too much coffee, these adverse symptoms could reduce productivity. Instead of maximizing production levels, it might hinder the ability to perform well. If you or an employee experience these symptoms after drinking coffee, you should probably lower your caffeine intake. Cut back slowly by a few milligrams per day because an abrupt change in caffeine levels might lead to withdrawal.
Reactions to caffeine ultimately depend on tolerance levels and other sensitivities. For example, people with heart conditions or those taking certain medications might be more susceptible to negative reactions. Find the amount of coffee that allows for the best performance and try not to consume any more than that.
When managed correctly, coffee is a great boost for any workplace.
Provide a Coffee Boost to Your Office
At American Food & Vending, we understand the importance coffee has on your team’s day. It heightens productivity in the morning and afternoon. A great way to increase coffee accessibility in your workspace is implementing a coffee bar.
We designed our specialized coffee station to optimize coffee’s benefits in the office. Our high-quality range of refreshments will enthuse employees and heighten their at-work enjoyment. We offer a wide range of top-tier beverage brands and state-of-the-art equipment, so your coffee bar lacks nothing. With the variety of options, you’re sure to find something for every member of your team.
Contact American Food & Vending today for a personalized consultation. We look forward to hearing from you and finding the best coffee station for you and your team.
