Random Acts of Coffee and Conversation at Work

This article was originally published on Women in Print.

National Coffee Day occurred not too long ago, and if you’re like me, you started that morning with a cup (or three) of java. Once fully caffeinated, I started thinking about “coffee culture” at the office – and how many of my past mornings began with random conversations with colleagues around a communal coffee maker over the years. Even when I worked solo in a co-working office space, I always appreciated sharing an informative or kind word with office mates whose names I may not have even know. During especially stressful days, taking an afternoon walk with a co-worker to the corner coffee shop could often reset my mind and boost my energy for the remainder of the work day.

Now that I work remotely from home, seeing the obligatory social media posts (guilty!) about National Coffee Day got me wondering: what am I missing by not making my daily K-Cup while talking to another human being at the office? And, in workplaces where women are a demographic minority, is making a point to have a “women in print coffee klatsch” an easy, low-cost (or maybe even free?) way to create community with fellow women in print?

After doing a bit of research, it turns out that yes, I am in fact deprived of java-induced work benefits, and from what Scandinavians call Fika – a coffee break elevated to an intentional mental pause. Fortunately, this research also taught me some new tactics for seeking out those benefits both in-person and remotely.

Entrepreneur defines “coffee culture” in the workplace as simply the “social aspects of drinking coffee with your coworkers.” Not rocket science. But there is actual industrial/organizational science related to how the common coffee break can increase teambuilding, DE&I understanding, and even productivity for you and your co-workers.

CNBC reports that University of California-Davis research found that giving study subjects a 12 oz cup of Starbucks to drink prior to a team meeting led to more productive group dynamics, including more alertness, positive discussions, and an increased willingness to work together to seek solutions. (The decaf imbibing control group? Less so.)

If you’re a company owner or HR professional, you may wish to check out this article listing “8 Reasons to Provide Coffee in the Workplace.” (This is also a nice resource for anyone who serves on an internal DE&I or employee morale committee to share with management.) If your company has work-from-home employees, this Coffee Pals article noting the benefits of virtual coffee chats for your remote team is a good read.

Of course, you can always take your own initiative to realize the benefits of coffee and community by inviting a colleague to sit down and chat over a cup in the company break room, before or after a shift, or via Teams or Zoom. Better yet, why not kick start a “Women in Print” coffee break by inviting female colleagues to schedule a 15-minute group break once a week? Making a quick latte run together or pooling your K-Cups in the office will reinvigorate your work day while providing a casual, affordable way to connect.

And what if – even in this day and age – “coffee” is a dirty word in your office because you’re a woman in print who is asked, expected or directed to “get coffee” for your male boss as part of your job responsibilities?

Well, according to women.work, be kind, reasonable, and recognize that occasionally making or serving coffee to superiors or colleagues (of any gender) often means just “being part of the team.” But if it becomes a problem: a) don’t feel pressured to do it if it’s not in your written job description, and b) make a business case against doing so by pointing out that the time spent away from your regular duties grinding coffee beans is not a great use of company funds.

Finally, as you finish your paper cup of coffee, remember to RECYCLE and then give your colleagues a high-five for working in an industry that leads the way for sustainability. Fiber from paper coffee cups is currently recycled at more than 30 mills in the US and is reused to make tissue, paper, containerboard and paperboard, according to American Forest & Paper Association.