Author: elisabeth

Coffee’s reputation has changed.

The Orlando and Central Florida beverage is no longer seen as harmful and damaging to your health. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined, after reviewing 1000 previously completed studies, that coffee cannot be classified as a cause of cancer anymore.

Now, there is one more reason to add to the list of why it is beneficial. Recent research performed by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that “people with colorectal cancer (CRC) who drank at least four cups of coffee per day after their diagnosis had a significantly lower risk of early death – from either their cancer or any cause – than those who didn’t drink coffee.”

Let’s take a look at five other reasons why the hot, caffeinated beverage is more than just an energy boost.

• decreases the likelihood of developing heart disease, lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes, fights depression, decreases the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease, and helps your liver;
• reduces the chance of developing dementia or cognitive impairment in women 65-80 (2 to 3 cups per day);
• can decrease pain sensitivity in those with chronic pain;
• reduces the risk of developing oral, pharynx, liver, prostate, and endometrial cancer, and melanoma;
• increases the chance of living longer when compared to non-coffee drinkers (3 cups per day).
  

Those are some spectacular benefits. Fortunately, there is an easy way to make sure that your Orlando and Central Florida employees have access this great protector while at work—offer coffee service in the office breakroom. When developing specialty coffee service, consider the following:

• brewing systems: single-cup brewer, pour-over brewer, automatic brewer, or bean-to-cup brewer
• beans (source and roasting process): locally roasted, national brands (value & specialty), and espresso
• cream & sugar trends: dairy and non-dairy creamers, and sweeteners
• other beverage options: hot tea, hot chocolate, and water filtration

And don’t forget to offer your Orlando and Central Florida employees healthy snacks and beverages to enjoy with their favorite cup of joe. Whether it’s combining coffee service with pantry service or a micro-market, The Vending Station can help. Contact us at (407) 891.7632 for more information.

It looks like hot tea is at it again! Researchers have discovered another reason why enjoying a hot cup of tea is beneficial for your Orlando and Central Florida employees’ health.

A recent study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology  examined the beverage preferences of 1,600 individuals and their likelihood of developing glaucoma. Researchers found a direct relationship between consuming hot tea daily and a reduced risk of developing glaucoma (compared to those who did not consume hot tea). Drinking at least one cup of hot tea per day decreased the odds of developing glaucoma by 74 percent.

​What is Glaucoma?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, glaucoma is a disease that occurs when unwanted fluid collects in the front part of the eye and damages the optic nerve often causing blindness in those over 60 years of age. Catching it early, however, can reduce its severity.

Researchers know that “tea contains phytochemicals and flavonoids, which have been observed to have anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties” and that those antioxidant properties “may play a protective role in glaucoma.” But glaucoma isn’t the only health problem that can be positively impacted by drinking hot tea regularly. Other benefits of consuming hot tea include:

• Lowered LDL or “bad” cholesterol;
• Reduced risk of stroke, heart disease, and death from cardiovascular disease;
• Decreased risk of certain cancers and neurological decline;
• Improved muscle mass and increased bone mineral density, which helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis; and
• Increased exercise endurance, focus, energy levels, and memory.

Consider the positive impact that these benefits could have on your Orlando and Central Florida employees. In addition to improved focus, mental clarity, concentration, and higher energy levels, healthy employees are likely to have increased morale, productivity, and fewer sick days. There is a definitive connection between employee health and a business’ bottom line. When an organization has healthy employees, that organization is likely to have a financial advantage in its industry.

To make sure Orlando and Central Florida employees have access to hot tea as well as coffee and snack options onsite, consider providing coffee service, bottled water, and healthy snacks in your office breakroom. Whether you prefer to use vending machines, pantry service, or a micro-market, The Vending Station can help develop a customized plan that will meet your needs. Contact us at (407) 891.7632 to learn more.

 

Reference

Wu, C.M., Wu, A.M., Tseng, V.L., Yu, F., & Coleman, A.L. (14 December 2017). Frequency of a diagnosis of glaucoma in individuals who consume coffee, tea and/or soft drinks. British Journal of Ophthalmology. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-310924

It’s only March, and 2018 food trends have made their way into the Orlando and Central Florida’s office coffee service. New flavors, unique plant-based ingredients, and eye-catching colors are creating a healthier, tastier, and more visually intriguing experience.

Color

Just as with food, eye-catching color in coffee is being sourced from natural ingredients. For example, charcoal, the key ingredient in goth food such as pizza and ice cream, can be also be used to create goth coffee. But gray isn’t the only new coffee color you’ll find.

Vegetables such as beets and sweet potatoes provide natural red/purple and orange-ish dyes. In fact, pink, green, and purple gourmet coffee has already been seen. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for latte art. A rainbow of colors is used to create beautiful designs in the latte’s foam. It’s beautiful and tastes great.

Healthier Choices

The move toward including plant-based ingredients, alternative sweeteners, and  antioxidant-rich botanicals in one’s coffee is upping the potential for coffee’s health benefits. Chicory, green coffee extract, or moringa is replacing some of the caffeine in coffee creating a beverage that offers a more moderate energy boost. Other trending botanical ingredients include turmeric (an anti-inflammatory), mushrooms, and hibiscus/floral infusions.

Including better-for-you sweeteners such as maple syrup and raw honey in your coffee service not only offers new flavors but also provides alternative sweeteners that offer a variety of health benefits. Maple syrup provides antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals; is low on the Glycemic index; and has anti-inflammatory properties while honey is a natural energy source, cough syrup, and has beneficial antioxidants.

New Flavors

2018 food trends will see new flavors such as cracked pepper, figs, pistachios, and east meets west flavor combinations. In demand flavors to enjoy with coffee or tea are quite different. Orlando and Central Florida consumers are looking for fresh, less processed techniques and flavors when it comes to their coffee service. In other words, coffee should be more nutritious and have a smoother and less bitter taste.

Better-for-you-fats such as coconut oil or grass-fed butter are believed to provide sought after health benefits such as brain function support when mixed with hot coffee. Fresh and less processed also remain at the forefront of new flavors. Nut and seed milks, raw honey, raw cacao, and other natural flavors combined with coffee or tea create a more natural and nutritious beverage.  

Whether your Orlando and Central Florida employees are looking for 2018’s new flavors in their snacks or in their coffee, consider including a micro-market and coffee service in the office break room. It’s quick, easy, and potentially available to your employees at a zero or reduced cost. To add a variety of snack, food, and beverage flavors to your Orlando and Central Florida office break room, call The Vending Station at (407) 891.7632.

Office coffee service is often considered a separate service when it comes to the office break room, but it doesn’t have to be. For a moment, ponder what it would be like to mesh coffee service with a micro-market. On their own, micro-markets and coffee service offer distinct benefits, but when they are blended together in the Orlando and Central Florida office break room, they create a unique employee perk. Employees now have a relaxed on-site spot to grab a gourmet coffee beverage and a snack or meal.

This is even more important as recent research has found that the best time to enjoy a cup of coffee is either mid-morning or early afternoon, not first thing after waking. A simplified explanation is that the human body produces more cortisol at waking. Coffee, or caffeine, increases those cortisol levels even more. When the caffeine and cortisol wear off, an intense drop in energy occurs. Consuming coffee when cortisol levels are low, mid-morning or early afternoon, creates a bigger energy boost than when they were high. That sounds like a bonus for both Orlando and Central Florida employees and employers.

To effectively blend coffee service and micro-markets together, it is important to consider several aspects of coffee service, and how each aspect can help integrate coffee with the micro-market.

Coffee Brewers

• choose brewers that make freshly made gourmet beverages; bean-to-cup or single-cup brewers are the current favorites
• consider brewers with touchscreens that have the ability to create specialty drinks, including espresso
• discover which coffee brewer brands are most sought after in your area—yes, brands matter even with coffee brewers

Coffee Beans

• offer a wide range of coffee beans; consider a selection of local and national brands
• discover which coffee brands are well known and liked by your Orlando and Central Florida employees
• make sure that the perception of the coffee brands matches the perception of the micro-market—both should be high-end

Other Factors   

• place the coffee service near popular foods and snacks that go well with coffee—whether it is a breakfast item or an afternoon treat, Orlando and Central Florida employees are more likely to make a spur of the moment purchase if the item is nearby
• include a wide variety of creamer, coffee flavoring, and sweetener choices
• recognize that employees are consumers—brand recognition of coffee brewers and coffee beans/roasters plays a role in purchase decisions

To make the melding process easier, The Vending Station can guide you through the process of integrating office coffee service into an existing micro-market or adding both employee benefits at the same time. For more information about micro-markets, coffee service, or other vending solutions, contact us at (407) 891.7632.