Is coffee the best drink for workplace success?

There are now over 12,229 branded coffee shop outlets in the UK as of early 2026, contributing to a total market value of over £6.1 billion. While the total number of hospitality venues has fluctuated, the prediction that coffee shops will outnumber pubs by 2030 remains on track; while 21-25 pubs close every week, the coffee sector continues to grow at a rate of 2.4% annually, driven by a surge in premium artisan chains and 'drive-thru' locations.

With these startling figures 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, research highlighted by Nespresso Professional in 2025 found that coffee breaks are essential for workplace bonds, with 81% of employees stating that these breaks are their primary way to nurture interpersonal connections. Modern neuroscientific studies also show that caffeine increases 'brain entropy,' a state associated with higher information processing and the complex problem-solving required in today’s high-pressure work environments.

Coffee breaks boost overall productivity at work

With hybrid working now firmly established in 2026—with 74% of UK organisations using some form of flexible model—the role of the 'office coffee' has changed. Instead of fueling a long daily commute, high-quality coffee has become a 'cultural anchor' that encourages employees back into the office for collaboration. For the 50% of Brits now working from home at least part-time, the coffee break serves as a vital mental boundary, helping to separate 'home' and 'work' mindsets in a way that traditional commuting once did.

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

In fact, we Brits now drink an estimated 98 million cups of coffee every single day! This surge in consumption means that coffee has officially overtaken tea as the UK’s most popular beverage, with 63% of the population identifying as regular coffee drinkers.

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.