Is coffee the best drink for workplace success?

There are now over 24,000 coffee shops in the UK, and it is predicted that by 2030 coffee shops will outnumber the amount of pubs in Britain. With that startling figure even more of a wakeup than our daily cappucino, let's take a look at how coffee can affect our success in the workplace.

Drinking coffee is a team bonding activity

Sure, you can grab a flat white from Starbucks on the way into work, but what about having your morning coffee with your colleagues instead? Not only is it cheaper to make coffee at work, but is also a great way to bond with your team and open up some great dialogue first thing in the morning, or even after lunch.

In addition, a recent study by the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that by drinking coffee at work, this makes employees more alert and focused on the task in hand, thus boosting teamwork performance too. The study also found that teammates who drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages tend to stay on topic better than those who don't.

Coffee breaks boost overall productivity at work

Brits are increasingly working longer hours, and with the rise in property prices this usually is before and after a long commute too. It can be difficult to maintain stamina throughout the day, which is why drinking coffee at work can help boost productivity and overall alertness.

With a long workday, you might be tempted to skip taking breaks and work to get as much done as possible. However, this has actually been shown to be counter productive, as spending too long on one task without a break actually leads to a lack of focus and concentration. Therefore, getting up to make a coffee especially if you involve colleagues can actually help regain focus on the task, boosting overall productivity.

Coffee boosts stamina, and can actually be pretty good for you

Did you know that coffee has a range of health benefits, including lowering the risk of depression, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even some cancers? Coffee also increases your daily fibre intake, with the average cup giving you 2 grams of the recommended 20 to 30 grams we require each day.

Compared with other drinks, coffee is often a much healthier alternative. Depending on if you add milk or other shots to your coffee, it is in fact virtually calorie free. Plus, unlike fizzy drinks it isn't laden with sugar and other harmful additives, which can cause a range of health problems if consumed on a regular basis. That means you can drink coffee on a daily basis, stay alert and refreshed without piling on the weight or putting yourself at risk of other problems associated with unhealthy beverage choices.

Coffee doesn't need to be expensive

With all the benefits coffee provides, it's no surprise that it attracts so many regular drinkers. In fact, we Brits drink 95 million cups of it a day! That can sure add up, especially as the average drinker has around 10-20 cups per week.

Going on the British average of 10 cups per week, it's easy to see how the cost of coffee soon mounts up. In fact, by making your own coffee using Nepresso capsules, your weekly cost is almost the same as just one cup of coffee from a shop. Whilst there's no harm in buying the occasional Starbucks or Costa, you can save money in the long run by installing a coffee machine at work, or bringing in your own supplies which will dramatically reduce the price of each cup you drink.

Everything in moderation

Whilst coffee has some amazing benefits and can help you stay alert and productive at work, you should also take care not to consume excess amounts. This is because too much caffeine can cause physical and mental problems including insomnia and heart arrhythmia. However, consumed in moderation coffee can be an excellent way to boost productivity at work, maximising the success of your team.