The time of plain coffee, tea and hot cocoa in the break room is long gone. Today, workers want to awaken their taste buds with interesting coffee flavors, personalize their creamers, and choose unique sweeteners to make every cup a special experience. The key here is variety, stocking up on multiple add-ins that let workers create a new drink for every coffee break. Here are a few coffee and tea add-ins that can liven up your break room and provide flavored fuel for the whole office.
Shots & Syrups for a Gourmet Twist
Workers don't need to make a run to the coffee shop if you turn your break room kitchen into one. Consider investing in a few cafe-style flavor shots to give everyone the chance to make their own lattes and flavored coffees. You can start with a few popular flavors such as French vanilla, and try not to forget to choose some sugar-free coffee syrups for workers watching their calorie intake.
For even more exciting flavor combinations that are sure to get the breakroom buzzing, you can find syrups that sweeten with a burst of flavor. Chocolate syrup creates a richer, darker hot cocoa or you can turn your average coffee into a tempting mocha. If you're looking for fun sweeteners for tea, maple syrup adds a premium touch with complex flavor. Honey is another solid option that can bring even the plainest cup of green tea to life. Just try to be sure to store it outside the fridge so it doesn't crystallize.
Rethink Your Coffee Creamers
You can say "goodbye" to that plain bottle of generic creamer and "hello" to flavored coffee creamers. Many come in pump bottles that are handy and cost-friendly. However, to broaden your flavor possibilities, consider building a tower of individual creamer singles, consider choosing fun flavors such as Italian sweet cream, hazelnut, vanilla caramel, cinnamon and Irish cream to give workers a fresh experience with every cup.
Creamer isn't for everyone, so try to be sure to include a few alternatives to keep options open. Consider stocking individual shots of half and half for tired workers looking for a hearty boost of creamy flavor, and remember to include butter, the key ingredient in energy-boosting bulletproof coffee. Try not to forget about non-dairy soy creamer and coconut milk to ensure every one of your workers can enjoy a creamy java experience.
Infuse Your Drinks With the Flavors of Nature
If workers are craving more natural add-ins, consider stocking up on spices, fresh fruits and natural sweeteners to bring your break room game to the next level. Consider getting a shaker of cinnamon that you can sprinkle into coffee, tea or hot cocoa for a spicy touch. For employees who are feeling adventurous, nutmeg, ground cloves and cayenne pepper can also add a pop of flavor to piping hot drinks. Ground cardamom even mimics the flavor of chai tea. Before the work week starts, you can fill a bowl on the break room table with lemons, limes and oranges that workers can slice or squeeze into their tea, or even coffee, for a boost of citrus flavor.
White sugar and traditional sweeteners can get old when they show up in your coffee day in and day out. Trade out some of those standard sugar packets for organic raw cane sugar, and give your taste buds a vacation. You can also try a natural sugar substitute such as stevia, which some workers may prefer to traditional options such as aspartame.
Variety can help break up the monotony in the break room routine, but try to keep in mind that quality is just as the number of add-ins you choose. You can go for gourmet products from premium brands to show workers that you value their coffee-drinking experience. After all, everyone deserves a little office indulgence.