Coffee and tea are classic break room staples, but they're not always the best choice. Whether it's a hot summer day or an employee just wants a more refreshing pick-me-up, having iced drinks available is generally appreciated. Fortunately, making that transition from a steaming mug to a cool cup is often as simple as adding some ice cubes. You can elevate your iced drink game to the next level with these fun and easy ideas.
Stay Cool With Iced Coffee
Setting up an iced coffee station is easy, and it can really add a special touch to the break room. When it comes to making an iced coffee bar, variety is essential. After all, everyone likes their iced coffee their own special way. Try to be sure to include milk, cream and half-and-half, as well as various sugars and sweeteners. You may also want to include milk substitutes such as soy or almond milk in case any employees don't consume dairy. Once you have all those ingredients, all you need is your coffee and a whole lot of ice. Depending on the size of your team, you may want to use an ice maker to save room in the freezer. Pro tip: you can also fill some ice cube trays with coffee so you can cool your coffee without watering it down.
Enjoy Fresh-Brewed Iced Tea
Iced tea is always a treat. Learning how to make iced tea is easy (especially with an iced tea maker), and you can choose to make caffeinated or caffeine-free tea (or both). There are also so many different flavors out there, so employees can have something new to look forward to every morning. You can brew iced tea in large batches, and then serve it from iced tea dispensers, giving the break room a feeling of camaraderie as everyone enjoys the latest brew together. Black tea and green tea are good energy-boosters for getting over midday slumps, and herbal iced teas are wonderfully healthy and refreshing beverages that can keep the team hydrated. Pro tip: if you don't have a stove available to boil water, you can use your coffee pot to prepare water for tea -- just don't add any coffee.
Stock the Fridge With Bottled Drinks
While freshly made iced coffee and iced tea are wonderful options, sometimes employees just want to grab a drink from the fridge and pour it over a cup filled with ice. Bottled or canned coffees or tea are ideal for this. They're already flavored and sweetened, so busy employees can enjoy a quick drink without any fuss. In addition to pre-made canned or bottled coffee and tea beverages, you may also want to have a variety of juices energy drinks, sports drinks and bottled waters available.
Provide a Variety of Cups
If you're going to have iced drinks, don't forget to provide the right cups to match each drink. After all, sipping iced tea out of a coffee mug just doesn't feel right. While traditional glassware can be a nice treat from time to time, using plastic cups is much more practical. Buying different shapes, sizes and colors can add that special touch that employees are sure to appreciate. You may also want to provide cups with lids and straws so that employees can bring their beverages with them outside of the break room without worrying about spillage. Plastic cups can also be washed and reused, so encourage sippers to use the same cup when they go back for seconds.
In a work environment, it's often the little details that make the day a little sunnier. Chilled drinks like iced coffee and iced tea are so refreshing, and they can really provide that extra boost needed to get through a long day. A well-stocked and maintained break room also shows employees that they're appreciated. It's a low-cost investment that can drastically elevate a work space, so why not stock up on drinks and accessories? It's a delicious way to make the whole team happy.
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