Coffee and productivity go hand in hand

Keeping the workday at the office running smoothly can be a challenge; for many people, the ins and outs of running a business can take its toll on the morale and productivity of employees. However, there is a surprisingly easy way to help things along when you hit that mid-week slump. Recent research indicates that supplying employees with a free coffee service can help to improve the overall productivity of the office, as well as employee satisfaction.

Today, many businesses are cutting back on excess expenses and things like the provision of coffee and tea are often the first things to go. They may be seen as unnecessary or even time-wasting. But the reality is that an inexpensive coffee and tea service has plenty of benefits, as shown in recent studies by Flavia. Two thirds of employees who took part in this study stated that the provision of free hot drinks at work made them feel that their employers cared about their well-being, whilst 43% of those surveyed believed that coffee helped to increase their productivity. Drinks with caffeine, such as tea and coffee, can help to improve concentration and increase energy levels, when consumed in moderate, healthy amounts.

Some business owners may worry that providing free tea and coffee services may cause a decrease in efficiency, when in fact the opposite is the case. It was found that when coffee is not provided for employees in the workplace, a fifth of those working there will leave the office to purchase their coffee elsewhere, for a total of 15-20 minutes. These kinds of breaks add up to quite a pretty penny in term of loss of productivity and are far longer in duration than a break taken at the office for a quick cup of coffee. Short breaks, of about 5 minutes, can give employees that refreshment they need to work at their best.

So it seems clear that giving employees their daily caffeine boost is a win-win situation; it increases efficiency and ensures that employees know that the business owners care about their staff. Providing quality mugs is a standard part of a coffee service, and a far more eco-friendly (and budget friendly!) way to serve hot drinks than in disposable cups. Take this idea a step further by adding your company name to these mugs, so that employees can help to promote business, even when they’re taking a well deserved break.

Star-buck up your ideas when throwing away cups

Coffee shops up and down the country have been urged to take action when it comes to their takeaway coffee cups.

According to a Which? study, consumers are confused when facing the difficult task of disposing their takeaway cup efficiently. The issue is resulting in an estimated 2.5 billion cups being thrown away every year.

So what’s the problem? Most of the takeaway cups offered by Coffee shops are only 95% paper. The other 5% is made of polyethylene, a thin layer of plastic surrounding the inside of the cup keeping it free from sogginess and well insulated.

Because of the two polar materials at work, customers are finding it a brain tease when faced with the question, ‘which bin do I put it in?’ The answer being they throw the cup in an ordinary bin and it’s off to the landfill site instead.

As harrowing as this fact might be, the truth is it would be difficult to recycle these cups. Most paper mills in the UK struggle to process paper mixed with other materials in this way. The investigation wouldn’t take this for an excuse and claims more action is required on the part of the coffee retailers to either provide more clarity as to how the cup should be recycled or make the cup so it can be recycled together with cartons for the sake of the environment.

Although Starbucks didn’t say how many takeaway cups they sold each year, they are charging 25p less if the customer brings their own mug. As the old saying goes, in the face of adversity lies opportunity and at Mugstore, you have the opportunity to **warning, another quote** have your cake and eat it too. The Americano take out Mug is a polypropylene mug in a classic take away shape. The mug is microwave and dishwasher safe, making it the perfect printed mug for your daily coffee shop trips.

Perfect Cuppa

One of life’s greatest challenges is making the perfect cup of tea. Scientists have now revealed the mathematical formula for producing a spot on perfect cuppa.

Researchers found the optimum brewing time is two minutes and the ideal amount of milk is 10ml. The perfect dring temperstaure of 60C (140F) is achieved six minutes later, but after 17 minutes and 30 seconds the tea will be past its best as it falls below 45C (113F).

The formula, created by scientist at University of Northumbria is: TB + (H2O at 100C) 2mins BT + M (10ml) +6 mins BT +PC (at OT 60C).
TB = Tea Bag; BT = Brewing Time; M = Milk; PC = Perfect Cuppa; OT = Optimum Temperature.

The team, sponsored by Cravendale Milk, spent 180 hours of testing with a panel of volunteers who consumed 285 cups of tea in the laboratory.

Posh Coffee on the up!

It would seem that people’s opinion of coffee choice is most certainly increasing.

Recent research has shown that 38% of 3000 respondents to a survey carried out by coffee roaster Matthew Algie, listed quality as their most important criterion when choosing a shop, with nearly half preferring fairtrade, organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee.

According to the survey, 27% of coffee drinkers prefer Latte, now Britain’s preferred closely followed by Cappuccino at 22%.

Not being a big coffee drinker myself, it would seem that there are some picky people out there when it comes to coffee! A big change from a good old Nescafe a few years ago, with the thousands of shops that have sprung into life!

If you own or work in a coffee shop, mugstore offers a range of all kinds of bespoke mugs and cups. Custom biscuits can complet and meet your every need when it comes to serving your perfect cuppa to your customers.

Sociable Tea Drinkers

Recent research found from the BBC site, shows British workers lose an average twenty four minutes a day getting tea and coffee, but should we really stop putting the kettle on for the sake of British business? Bill Gorman, chairman of the UK Tea Council thinks not,  “Tea drinkers are very sociable. It’s a caring thing to know how your colleagues take their tea. What are the pollsters saying? That we should just keep working at our desks with a glass of water beside us?”

Occupational psychologist Cary Cooper agrees, saying breaks are an essential part of coping with sedentary office life. “Nowadays we sit in front of screens not communicating, eyeball to eyeball and even email people in the same building,” says the professor of organisational psychology at Lancaster University Management School. “We need to make people more active and see other people. The coffee break is one way of doing this.”

Companies should organise morning breaks twice a week, where people are encouraged to leave their desks to chat over free hot drinks, suggests Prof Cooper. Not everyone likes tea or coffee of course. People who don’t drink caffeine should have other options like apples or herbal infusions, so as not to feel “alienated”, he adds.

But caffeine is the drug of choice for most, with Brits getting through about 235 million cups of tea and coffee a day – many of which are made using our quality promotional mugs.

Barista Championships 2011

When you receive your promotional Cambridge mug from The Mugstore, do you start juggling it around the room, rather than simply putting a tea bag in? If so, then you may be interested to know that the organisers of the UK Barista Championships have announced that entries are now open for the 2011 competition.

The championships aim to find the nation’s top barista, with regional heats held throughout the country in January and February and the final held at the UK’s largest food and drink trade event, IFE11, at London’s ExCel centre on 15 and 16^th of March. The top scoring barista will be crowned with the coveted title of UK Barista Champion.

To be in with a good chance, you’ll need to be as good as John Gordon of Gorilla Tampers and London-based Square Mile Coffee. He was crowned UK Barista Champion in 2010 with 687 points (whatever that means); the clever chap won prizes for best espresso, best cappuccino and best signature drink in the competition.

For baristas interested in taking part in the UK Barista Championships 2011, visit www.scaeuk.com for more information and to download an entry form (the deadline for entries is 31^st December 2010).

Tea Ceremonies

When you’re filling your promotional Sparta or Cambridge mug with tea, remember us Brits aren’t the only ones who take are seriously. Tea is Russia’s second favourite drink (behind you know what), and traditionally served in teapots or samovars – a Russian tea kettle.

In some areas they use three teapots that sit on top of each other to keep the tea warm. Often they are decorated with pictures from Russian folk stories and sometimes, they are made in the shape of something so that when they fit together they look like a person or an animal.

The middle pot usually holds strong black tea, the smallest pot on the top holds herbal or mint tea, and the large pot on the bottom holds hot water. The teas can be mixed with each other and diluted with hot water as you pour out each cup.

Some samovars are small and only hold about three litres of water but some can hold up to 30 litres! Before you ask, as of yet promotional Samovars are not available in the UK market I’m afraid…

Brand Your Royal Mug

Since the arrival of television, Royal weddings have attracted enormous public attention, with millions of people all over the world watching in addition to the invited guests.

In contrast, the marriage of the future King George V to Princess May of Teck (later Queen Mary) in 1893 in the Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace, was a quiet affair: the chapel seats only 100. Since then everyone wants to know about royal weddings; why not promote your organisation with a royal branded mug.

The Mugstore is the number one supplier of promotional mugs and ceramics in Europe; which has now made available a tasteful design, especially to commemorate the royal wedding.

If you’re looking to promote your school, council or university department and remember this historic occasion at the same time; why not invest in some royal commemorative mugs, branded with your logo or contact details on?

There are various branding options available; talk to their friendly sales team for more information today – they areally are experts when it comes to promotional ceramics.

By the Dram

Bruichladdich Octomore 02.2 Orpheus

The first nosing of this promising dram, was met with a reflex reaction similar to whiplash, as the first notes were reminiscent of being hit in the face by a fruit tart, drenched in Swan lighter fluid.

After picking myself up from the floor, I donned a pair of safety goggles and bravely dived in. Scents of burning peat bogs and industrial wastelands filled my nostrils, as the deep amber liquid reached my lips.

Smokey, meaty, red wine type flavours followed with surprising depths, once my senses remembered who they were. Described as the world’s peatiest whisky, there’s no missing its peaty nature, but there’s a lot more to this slightly sweet and very spicy dram.

This big hitting whiskey has extremely pleasant long plumy notes; overall this is certain to divide malt aficionados. Proceed with caution.

7/10

Arran 12 Year Old – Single Cask (Master of Malt)

On the nose, you’re met with a refreshing sea breeze which rather than sending a shiver, gentle warms the cockles. Complex notes of vanilla and fragrant spices run throughout, giving a delicious overall flavour.

The more one drinks, the more flavours one discovers. Sweet fruits like peach and pear follow; which are matched with citrusy hay with a slight peaty kick.

This still puts up a fight, but the finish is short, light and fragrant. This is an incredibly complex but gentle dram, which I’m sure any whisky lover will enjoy.

9/10

To order these whiskies, visit our friends at Master of Malt.

Remember, branded shot glasses and snifters can be ordered through The Mugstore – speak to their friendly team today for more information.

Fizzy Drinks Blasted

A staggering proportion of consumers associate fizzy drinks with severe health problems such as obesity, a new report have revealed.

Some one in four adults in the UK believe that carbonated drinks are one of the main causes of obesity while nearly three-quarters claim that they are bad for your teeth, according to the YouGov Sixth Sense study. Commenting on the findings, research director for YouGov Sixth Sense James McCoy said: “The perceived health risks related to soft drinks are, for the most part, the same ones that have been around for years.