Debunking five common workplace coffee myths
There's no denying coffee is a workplace staple, however its popularity is surrounded with debate around health and environmental impacts, or how an instant coffee made in the office stacks up against a coffee shop drink. Find out whether we can settle some of the arguments standing between you and a great cup of coffee.
Despite variations between age groups, most adults still love a cuppa in the workplace. According to recent YouGov research, 40% of adults in the UK drink coffee at least twice a day, at home or in the office, while 41% choose tea. That being said, we’re not here to ascertain whether Britain is still a tea-drinking nation or has embraced coffee culture, but rather to address some much debated issues around coffee, in the workplace in particular.
Coffee, or caffeine, is unhealthy.
Although this may come as a surprise, coffee features on the NHS list of suggested drinks as part of a healthy diet. So it’s all about moderation, and understanding what drinks or foods contain caffeine, and how it affects your body. A healthy adult should aim for no more than 400mg of caffeine per day, which roughly equates to four mugs of instant coffee. This should be cut to 200mg during pregnancy.
Now for more good news, the right amount of coffee actually offers a number of health benefits. We all know coffee can help you stay alert and boost brain activity. However, coffee presents many lesser-known advantages, including protection against some chronic illnesses such as heart or liver failure, as well as improved digestive health and immunity thanks to its high fibre and antioxidant content. And if you’re still mindful of your caffeine intake, Nescafé decaffeinated coffees combine the best of both worlds: all the goodness of coffee without the caffeine!
Coffee can't be consumed cold.
You’d be forgiven for assuming that coffee, especially the instant coffee we’re all accustomed to in the workplace, can only be drunk hot. After all, most of us associate coffee (or tea!) with that steaming mug of our favourite comforting brew you start the day with. But what if it’s a warm day and you still fancy your coffee fix, or simply aren’t that keen on hot drinks?
The online world is packed with cooling recipes that require minimal ingredients, so you can prepare an iced coffee in the office with very little fuss and effort. For instance, Nescafé’s Azera microground instant coffee works equally as well in cold recipes as it does as a hot drink, so you and your work colleagues can share the same coffee however you like it.
You can't get coffee shop quality at work.
Coffee tastes have significantly evolved and gained in refinement with the rise of the coffee shop on our high streets, however picking up your favourite creamy, frothy or flavoured coffee from your local chain or independent shop on the way to work comes at a price.
Did you know you could be your own workplace barista? As a result of constant innovation and progress in the manufacturing of instant coffee, there’s now a vast array of speciality blends, latte and cappuccino recipes available in convenient sachet or tin format so all you have to do is pop the kettle on to enjoy the taste and texture of a barista-style coffee – crafted by you and at a fraction of the cost.
Alternatively, you could take that coffee shop experience to the next level with a coffee pod machine that will allow you to master a whole range of recipes like a true professional at the touch of a button.
Growing coffee harms the environment.
Historically, traditional, intensive coffee growing practices have had a negative impact on the environment due to many factors: deforestation, water use, chemical pollution … not to mention the overall effects of transportation and processing, with the coffee we drink here in the UK originating from the “coffee belt” of Central and South America, Central Africa, India and South East Asia.
From global brand Nescafé to feel-good coffee champions TrueStart, our workplace coffee brands are driving change and better outcomes for people and planet, pioneering responsible sourcing, community projects and regenerative agriculture – a sustainable approach to farming with soil health and fertility, coffee plant rejuvenation and biodiversity at its core.
Coffee packaging produces too much waste.
More and more of us are now conscious of problematic or unnecessary packaging when choosing products for home or work. When it comes to coffee, manufacturers’ commitment to more sustainable, optimised packaging solutions combined with the recent introduction of the Simpler Recycling Legislation have allowed significant steps to be made in the right direction. With most tins made from aluminium, they can easily be popped in your mixed recycling once empty (and cleaned!), ready for another life as new tins and cans, or components for the automotive, space or construction industry. You could also consider switching to refill pouches, the convenient way to reuse your durable metal tins over and over.
Looking ahead, flexible plastic packaging like your frothy coffee sachets or refill pouches will be covered by the next phase of Simpler Recycling from 31st March 2027.
So now you know you can enjoy guilt-free coffee in the office, with flavours and formats to suit every taste!
