Office Coffee Brewers in Gaithersburg, MD

Discovering Office Coffee Brewers in Gaithersburg, MD

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Office Coffee Brewers in Gaithersburg, MD

There are a lot of office coffee service industry terms. Understanding what they mean and how the various services differ is important to developing a successful program. Today, we’re going to look at the different types of brewers that are out there.

But, before we dive into everything, there is one important thing to understand. One type of equipment or brewer isn’t better than the other. Each option is a better fit for different uses. The key is to understand your Gaithersburg, MD business and determine how it will use the service.

The two main types of office coffee brewers that we’re going to look at today are traditional brewers and single or bean-to-cup brewers.

Classic Office Coffee Brewers

When most people think of coffee and the break room, they think of the glass carafe. While that style of carafe still exists, today’s commercial grade equipment offers so much more.

Traditional brewer options vary from single-burner to three-burner brewers. The size and layout of multiple-burner brewers varies from all three burners on a single level to a thinner or inline machine with two levels. There are also brewers that don’t use burners. These machines brew the coffee directly into an insulated and portable carafe.

Office Coffee Brewers in Gaithersburg, MD

Coffee pots can be glass or made of thermal materials. Airpots, which hold 15 cups, are a well known type of thermal carafe. Regardless of the size of the brewer or the type of carafe, traditional brewers serve large numbers of people quickly, day after day.

Single-Cup and Bean-to-Cup Brewers

Just like the name says, these brewers create single hot beverages. Depending on the type of coffee grounds or beans on the menu, employees can brew black coffee or espresso-based beverages from a single machine. 

The key difference between single-cup brewers and bean-to-cup brewers is the form of the coffee. Most Gaithersburg, MD employees associate a single-cup brewer with prepackaged grounds or pods. The bean-to-cup brewer grinds whole beans right before the beverage is brewed, resulting in the sights and smells of a coffee shop.

Because of the single-cup focus of these brewers, they work best when there aren’t large numbers of employees who need coffee quickly. It’s easy to imagine how long it would take for 50 employees to grab a hot beverage when it takes a minute or so to brew each cup.

Whether your Gaithersburg, MD break room needs several traditional brewers or one single-cup brewer, SunDun Office Refreshments can help. We’ll design the perfect solution with a variety of brands and roasts for your location. And don’t forget to include several tea options. Even coffee drinkers enjoy a green or herbal tea later in the day.

For more information about our office coffee service or other vending services, please contact us at 800.466.2731.

Baltimore, MD Break Room Additions

Baltimore, MD Break Room Additions

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Baltimore, MD Break Room Additions

Great-tasting food, cold drinks, and coffee are a must in any break room. But, did you know that there are several other things that every Baltimore, MD break room should have?

Adding some or all of the following categories can turn a bare-bones space into a break room that your employees will want to visit daily. 

The Not-so-Extra Extras

Paper Products

Basic supplies such as napkins, paper towels, eating utensils, and plates, bowls, and cups should be offered and easy to find. After visiting the vending machine for an afternoon snack, employees shouldn’t have to go on a hunt to find a fork or knife or a napkin.

More Break Room Flavor

Almost everyone adds some type of additional seasoning to their food. For snacks or meals, that often means salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, mayo, or hot sauce. The key is to offer the condiments that go best with your break room’s menu.

Coffee Station

Unless your Baltimore, MD employees only drink their coffee black, a variety of coffee additions should be available. Common options include sugar, artificial sweeteners, alternative sweeteners like honey, creamer and non-dairy creamer options, and flavorings. Paper products such as stir sticks, cups, lids, and coffee sleeves will make sure everyone has what they need.

Baltimore, MD Break Room Additions

The Break Room Space

A break room should not only be a separate space from the rest of the workplace, but it should also feel different. Let’s look at two important components.

Seating

Offer multiple types of seating that encourage conversation, a coffee or meal break, or a few minutes of relaxation. That might include different areas with sofas, tables and chairs, booths or even a rocking chair or two. And don’t forget to offer easily accessible outlets or charging stations.

Break Room Décor

Lack of color or bland colors have been shown to make people feel sad or gloomy, and that is especially true at work where access to the outdoors can be limited. Yellows evoke friendliness and cheer while blues and greens create a sense of peace and tranquility. One word of caution; before running to the paint store, remember that colors affect people differently.

To make your break room more appealing and relaxing, add natural lighting and décor such as plants, wood, or water. Plants are especially functional as they help clean the office air too.

Small additions or changes in your Baltimore, MD break room can make a big difference. But you don’t have to do it alone. We can help. For more information about our vending services or to update your current space or menu, please call SunDun Office Refreshments at 800.466.2731.

Vending Machines in Fairfax, VA

Vending Machines and Questions in Fairfax, VA

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Vending Machines in Fairfax, VA

Have you been thinking about offering your employees drinks and snacks on-site but aren’t sure how? Adding one or more vending machines is a smart solution. Unlike vending machines of 20 years ago, today’s machines are high-tech machines that can be filled with various sought-after snacks and beverages.

While a vending provider should be there to answer your questions, it’s helpful to think about several things beforehand.

Where should you put the vending machines?

The first thing you should consider is where the high-traffic areas are in your Fairfax, VA office or facility. To improve employee access to the vending machines, each machine should be placed in an area where employees often go. That space might be a break room, locker room, or specific entrance or hallway.

There is, however, one caveat.

Even in often used areas, try to avoid spaces that will disrupt the flow of movement if blocked. For example, your break room might be a large welcoming space that is busy during breaks and lunch. But placing the vending machine next to the main entrance of the room can cause a backup at the door and block employees from entering or leaving.

Placement and Permits

In addition to traffic flow, it is important to consider if the necessary outlets and other utilities are where you want to put the vending machine and whether the machine’s measurements match the space available. Realizing that your new vending machine is half an inch too wide at the install is incredibly stressful.

Vending Machines in Fairfax, VA

You’ll also want to check with the building owner or manager about potential permit requirements. In some locations, placing a vending machine that your company receives a profit from may require added permits to make everything legal. Researching it upfront will save time and stress down the line.

Which products should you offer?

The answer to this question can be as unique as the people who will visit your Fairfax, VA vending machines. Students who need a healthy snack on their way to class may be looking for something different than an employee who needs to grab a quick lunch before their next meeting. Or maybe your geographical area prefers one brand of soda over another.

Discovering the types of snacks and beverages your employees want to see has another benefit. Employees are more likely to stay on-site during the workday instead of leaving to grab that bite to eat. Staying on-site has less visible but significant benefits, such as spontaneous conversations that lead to creative problem solving and increased productivity.

Now that you know a bit more about adding snack, beverage, and vending machines to your Fairfax, VA location, let us help you take the next step. For more information, please call SunDun Office Refreshments at 800.466.2731. We look forward to hearing from you!

Office Coffee Service in Alexandria, VA

Coffee Is A High-Value Benefit in Alexandria, VA

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Office Coffee Service in Alexandria, VA

Did you know that coffee is liquid gold? Well, not actual gold, but it’s certainly worth its weight in gold. And our office coffee service can help you find more gold. You might not believe that right now but hear me out.

Let’s start by looking at what happens without office coffee service in your break room.

  1. When coffee isn’t available or tastes bad, employees must find it elsewhere.
  2. Coffee has caffeine, and we all know caffeine is a popular energy booster.
  3. A great break room with a variety of delicious hot drinks is a highly valued employee benefit.

Now, let’s consider the impact that it can have.

Company Morale

Offering our service in your Alexandria, VA break room can affect your employees. Start by asking your employees about the types of beverages they would like to see. Options might include traditional coffee, espresso-based beverages, single-cup options, or hot tea. Their preferences might surprise you.

Knowing that their employer listened, employees are more likely to feel valued, creating a positive workplace culture. The break room will also become a central meeting and relationship building location. Both planned and unplanned conversations lead to increased creativity, problem-solving, and a better overall team spirit.

Staying On-Site

This question might sound over-simplified, but where do your employees go if they can’t get a good coffee at work? The answer is off-site. While that should only require a short break, the reality is often quite different. A short break turns into a longer break, which means less time working and lower productivity.

Office Coffee Service in Alexandria, VA

But, if you offer our service in your Alexandria, VA break room, that doesn’t have to happen. Our menu includes everyone’s favorite hot beverages. Employees need only make a trip to the break room for a great-tasting cup of Joe and an impromptu conversation.

Coffee and Energy Levels

Employees in Alexandria, VA are tired, so it shouldn’t be surprising that almost two-thirds of adults drink coffee every day. What can you do to help them with their lack of energy and need for caffeine? The answer is coffee. Not only does the caffeine supply an energy boost, but it can also improve one’s mood. And the high levels of antioxidants and other nutrients offer added health benefits.

Combine the three reasons above, and you can see why your break room needs our office coffee service. Your unique solution will include the perfect combination of brewers and brands to create the experience your employees deserve. From single-cup or bean-to-cup brewers to traditional brewing equipment, there is a solution for everyone.

For more information about upgrading your current coffee service or about our vending services, please call SunDun Office Refreshments at 800.466.2731.

Coffee Service in Arlington, VA

Coffee Service and the Arlington, VA Break Room

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Coffee Service in Arlington, VA

Office coffee service (OCS) is often considered a separate service when it comes to the break room. But it doesn’t have to be. For a moment, ponder what it would be like to mesh coffee service with vending machines. On their own, each offers distinct benefits. But when they are blended together in your Arlington, VA office break room, they create a unique employee perk.

Employees now have a relaxed on-site spot to grab a gourmet coffee and a snack or meal. This is now even more important. Research has also found the best time to enjoy a cup of coffee is mid-morning or early afternoon, not right after waking up.

To effectively blend coffee service and vending machines, there are two things to consider. The first is the different aspects of coffee service. And the second is how each aspect helps integrate coffee with vending machines.

Coffee Brewers

  • choose a brewer that makes gourmet beverages; bean-to-cup and single-cup brewers are the current favorites
  • with the concerns around COVID-19, consider a touchless brewer
  • discover which brands are most sought after in your area—yes, brands matter even with brewers
Coffee Service in Arlington, VA

Coffee Beans

  • offer a range of local and national brands
  • discover which coffee brands are well known and liked by your Arlington, VA employees
  • make sure that the perception of the coffee brands matches the perception of the break room—both should be high-end

Other Coffee Service Factors  

  • place the coffee service near food and snacks that go well with coffee. Arlington, VA employees are more likely to purchase a breakfast item or an afternoon treat if it’s nearby.
  • create a supply station with a variety of creamers, flavorings, and sweeteners.
  • employees are consumers. Brand recognition of brewers and coffee brands plays a role in purchase decisions.

To make the melding process easier, SunDun Office Refreshments can help. We will guide you through the steps of integrating your OCS into an existing break room. For more information about coffee service and other vending solutions, please contact us at 800.466.2731.

Break Room Visits in McLean, VA

Break Room Visits Help McLean, VA Employees

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Break Room Visits in McLean, VA

Your McLean, VA break room has potential. It doesn’t have to be a place that employees avoid or use sporadically. Instead, employees should be able to find a relaxing space with vending machines that offers delicious lunch options.

While breakfast is referred to as the most important meal of the day, lunch plays a crucial role in making the afternoon a success. Unfortunately, the lunch break is disappearing.

But isn’t this dedication to one’s career or job good for business? No. In fact, the opposite may be true. Rather than focusing on eating, many employees feel they need to do something more meaningful. They also feel guilty for not always being available.

Even employees who are working from home because of COVID-19 need a break too. Spending too much time at a desk without taking a break can decrease productivity and hurt the bottom line.

Creativity and Community

Everyone, including McLean, VA employees, needs a change of scenery every now and then. Creative thinking and new ideas are more likely to occur after taking a break or moving to a new workspace. Going outside for a walk or sitting in the sun help solutions to form.

Break Room Visits in McLean, VA

Studies also suggest that taking time off in the middle of the day, whether to eat, walk or take a coffee break with coworkers, creates a community culture within the workplace and happier, more productive employees.

Rejuvenate your Break Room

Although a walk outside can be beneficial, too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing, especially when a short break becomes an extended time away from the office. To create a sense of community and a pleasant place to go when getting away from the office isn’t ideal, create a better break space.

  • Offer quality coffee service (a high-value benefit at a lower cost) and healthy snacks and beverages. For a bonus, consider offering vending options for free or at a reduced cost.
  • If possible, bring some of the outdoors inside with potted plants, oversized windows, or natural scenery wall murals.

Regardless of how you encourage your employees to get away from their desks, it’s essential that you do it. Whether it’s lunch out, a walk around the block, or a foosball tournament in your break room, your McLean, VA employees will appreciate it.

To learn more about updating your break room or adding office coffee service or vending machines, contact SunDun Office Refreshments at 800.466.2731. We look forward to hearing from you.

Coffee Breaks in Washington D.C.

Coffee Breaks in Washington D.C. Offer More

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Coffee Breaks in Washington D.C.

When is a coffee break more than just drinking a cup of coffee? The answer is when it happens during a work break. Even though many businesses are short-staffed or overwhelmed because of COVID-19, Washington D.C. employers realize that encouraging their employees to take breaks is necessary.

15 minutes of employee downtime to enjoy a hot cup of coffee or healthy snack from a vending machine results in other benefits. As a result, many employers go out of their way to encourage employees to take a coffee break.

Health Benefits

Coffee contains caffeine. The main reason most people drink coffee is the caffeine, but it can also improve one’s mood and cognitive performance. Moderate coffee intake is also shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, brain cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. A bonus when an energy boost is an employee’s primary goal.

A break room also encourages Washington D.C. employees to move around. Sitting for long periods can cause joint stiffness and fatigue. Eye strain and headaches can happen after staring at a computer screen for too long without a break. Therefore, everyone finds multiple benefits when employees take breaks.

Breaks help employees work better, and employers see an increase in morale and output.

Coffee Breaks in Washington D.C.

Coffee Gets Everyone Talking

According to Entrepreneur.com, stress levels are at an all-time high. Too much stress causes a loss of productivity and morale, and an increase in health costs, errors, and interpersonal conflicts. Today, almost everyone suffers from some degree of stress.

Encouraging coffee breaks is one way to help your Washington D.C. area employees combat stress. Just as stepping away from one’s desk for 15 minutes helps decrease stiffness and increases circulation, walking and taking a break helps the brain relax.

Another benefit of the coffee break is an increase in communication among employees. Breaks encourage everyone to share concerns, which helps reduce stress. The break room is also a great place to relax and engage in informative conversations. These gatherings often stimulate creative ideas, improve employee camaraderie, and build workplace morale.

The Drink Menu

Coffee isn’t the only beverage that offers benefits. Many employees do not like the taste of coffee or consume limited amounts of caffeine. If an employee falls into either category, there are many other delicious and healthy options. Hot or iced tea, bottled water, and energy drinks are just a few. The goal is to create a time and place for employees to recharge so they can go back to work more focused.

For more information about our hot and cold beverage menus or to add additional vending services, please contact SunDun Office Refreshments at 800.466.2731. We look forward to hearing from you.

Green Tea in Rockville, MD

Green Tea Versus Coffee in Rockville, MD

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Green Tea in Rockville, MD

Which is better—coffee or green tea? While everyone has an opinion, there is no right or wrong answer. Both beverages are part of any office coffee service and offer a multitude of varieties and flavors and health benefits for Rockville, MD employees. A popular benefit of both drinks is the energy boost that comes from caffeine. Traditionally brewed coffee has about 96 mg of caffeine in one 8-oz cup, while green tea has between 20 mg to 45 mg per 8-oz cup.

It’s Good for Your Health

Benefits of ingesting caffeine, whether in coffee or tea, include an increase in energy levels and a decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. While coffee offers almost double the amount of caffeine, green tea offers other significant benefits from higher levels of flavanols, an important micronutrient, catechins, a natural antioxidant, and L-theanine, an amino acid.

For example, the combination of caffeine and L-theanine in green tea results in improved brain function, or stronger working memory, better attention levels, and less anxiety. Other benefits of drinking green tea include an increase in bone strength and health, improved condition of one’s skin from improved moisture retention to anti-aging, and a reduction in heart disease risk factors, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

It’s Time to Enjoy

With the ongoing stress of 2020, enjoying a beverage that offers all those health benefits is a good idea. Let’s look at four things that can help Rockville, MD employees create a delicious mug of green tea in the break room.

Green Tea in Rockville, MD

Know Your Tea

As with almost everything, it’s hard to create a great result if you don’t know your ingredients. Most green tea originates in China and Japan. The Chinese variety usually has a smokier flavor because the tea leaves are roasted, while the Japanese variety has a sweeter taste because the leaves are steamed.

Making the Tea

Green tea leaves are sensitive to heat. When prepared with water that is too hot, the leaves can burn. If the leaves are steeped for too long, the leaves can burn. Both scenarios result in a bitter flavor. To prevent burning, steep the leaves for no more than two minutes and don’t use water that is too hot.

Add Flavors

Whether the goal is to mellow the natural flavor or create a new flavor combination, many options are available. Some popular additions include lemon slices, honey, fresh ginger (use sparingly—ginger can overwhelm quickly), peppermint leaves, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg, and citrus peels.

Infuse with Fruit

Fresh and dried fruit can also be added to provide additional flavor and sweetness. Fresh apples or berries are a great option as they are readily available and are also high in flavanols. Dried fruit such as mango, pineapple, peach, and papaya are also good as they mellow out the bitterness.

As the number of tea options available grows, it is essential to modify your Rockville, MD break room refreshment menu to meet the demand. Not only will your employees enjoy the benefits of drinking a delicious beverage, but they will also be more likely to visit the break room when they want a snack. For more information about improving your refreshment services, including office coffee service or vending machines, call SunDun Office Refreshments today at 800.466.2731.

Ready-to-Drink Beverages in Columbia, MD

Discover Ready-to-Drink Beverages in Columbia, MD

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Ready-to-Drink Beverages in Columbia, MD

What are ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages? It’s any type of prepared beverage that is packaged and sold, usually in a single-use container. Bottled iced tea is a popular example. The tea has already been brewed, and sugar and other flavors have been added. Available for purchase in a bottle or can, the tea can be consumed by Columbia, MD employees immediately after opening.

RTD beverages are not new; they have been available for many years. But their popularity has recently skyrocketed in the U.S. and abroad, especially among mainstream consumers. A 2020 report from Fortune Business Insights estimated that the value of the global RTD market is likely to grow from $919.13 billion in 2019 to $1,257.77 billion by 2027. That’s an increase of $338.64 billion in just eight years.

Growing Demand

For an RTD product to appeal to Columbia, MD employees it has to offer two things: convenience and options. The new RTD beverage market offers both. 

  • RTD beverages are convenient. They come in both shelf-stable and perishable formats; are served in cans and bottles; include chilled and on-the-go options; and can be purchased in break room vending machines.
  • RTD beverages offer variety. Options can be any combination of flat or carbonated and clear or colorful. Ingredients can vary from traditional to functional or both (ex. caffeine = energy boost and antioxidants = health benefits).

Whether an individual is looking for a traditional beverage or a better-for-you option, there is an RTD option for everyone.

Ready-to-Drink Beverages in Columbia, MD

A Popular Segment: Coffee-Related RTD Beverages

An excellent source of instant energy, ready-to-drink coffee is popular among individuals of all ages. Not only are coffee-related RTD beverages a safe on-the-go option, but consuming them provides many health benefits including a reduced risk of death, type-2 diabetes, heart disease, and different types of cancer as well as improved memory, a short-term mental boost, better group performance, and feeling happier. Coffee, in reasonable amounts, is beneficial for the body and the mind.

For those Columbia, MD employees looking for an alternative to traditional coffee, cold brew and nitro cold brew coffees are great options. Cold brew is less acidic than traditionally brewed coffee, but it still contains the caffeine everyone wants. Nitro cold brew combines traditional cold brew with nitrogen creating a beverage with a rich and creamy mouthfeel. New specialty RTD coffee trends offer more variety and include carbonated coffee, functional coffee, single-origin brews, coffee cola, and additives including coconut milk, MCT oil, and plant-based beverages (includes plant-based protein blends (ex. brown rice, pea and chickpea)).

Whether a beverage is caffeinated or not, employers should offer a wide selection of RTD beverages in their Columbia, MD break room, especially during the time of COVID-19. With fewer surfaces to touch when locating and picking up a beverage, employees can have a safer break room experience. Serving individually packaged snacks in the break room also helps employees remain on-site during the workday, further lessening the chance of exposure.

For more information about how SunDun Office Refreshments can help create a safer break room experience and about all our break room services, please contact us at 800.466.2731.

Vending Shopping Habits in Gaithersburg, MD

Shifting Vending Machine Shopping Habits in Gaithersburg, MD

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Vending Shopping Habits in Gaithersburg, MD

What was the last pre-COVID item you purchased from a vending machine? Would your choice change if you were to purchase something today? If it would, you aren’t alone. A recent survey performed by Shorr Packaging revealed insights about how U.S. consumers’ purchasing behavior has shifted since the onset of the pandemic.

In addition to traditional food shopping locations, Gaithersburg, MD employers should also be aware of these shifts as they can also impact how and what employees purchase from break rooms. Even though employers don’t have control over how companies package or label their products, they do have control over which products are offered in break room vending machines. Regularly analyzing purchasing patterns and comparing them to the current break room refreshment menu provides exact data that can be used to create an inviting and engaging break room and keep employees on-site when they need something to eat or drink.

Let’s look at two areas of the survey that are relevant to the break room — COVID related changes and food labels and packaging.

COVID-19 Related Changes

For good or for bad, the pandemic has changed the way Gaithersburg, MD consumers shop. During the three months prior to the survey being completed, 61 percent of participants agreed that pandemic-related purchasing shifts will change how they shop in the future with 66 percent of those individuals saying they would pay more attention to product labels and packaging. 

Survey participants aren’t only paying more attention to packaging and labels; they are changing the products that they buy. For example, over three quarters of those who purchased brands they were unfamiliar with said they would purchase that brand/item again.

Food Labels and Packaging

Vending Shopping Habits in Gaithersburg, MD

So, what do consumers look for when choosing a product? Of the different parts on packaging, the ingredient list is considered the most trustworthy followed by the brand or logo, the price, and popular phrases such as fresh, no sugar added, all-natural, whole grain/multigrain, organic, and good source of fiber.

While almost two-thirds of participants were willing to pay more for a snack or beverage with popular labeling phrases, the remaining one-third consciously chose not to purchase items with the same phrases. The key takeaway is to make sure that any vending machine refreshment menu includes options that appeal to everyone.

SunDun Office Refreshments offers Gaithersburg, MD businesses the opportunity to do just that. We offer a variety of traditional and healthy snacks, cold beverages, and can customize a vending refreshment menu to fit both your and your employees’ needs. For more information about all our break room services including office coffee service, please give us a call at 800.466.2731.