How your office coffee & water helps you get a WELL Certification

If you’re working towards WELL Building Standard certification, you might not be aware that your office coffee and water can count towards it. When designed with care, your refreshment setup can support employee health, foster community, and benefit the environment.

1. A quick look at WELL certification

The WELL Building Standard, developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), assesses how the building and premises influences occupant health and wellbeing. It evaluates over 100 performance metrics across ten key categories, air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community. As part of a business’s application you can also submit evidence of Innovation, to gain additional points.

2. Coffee and the nourishment category

Your coffee programme can support WELL’s Nourishment principles by:

Offering healthier beverage options such as low-sugar choices and plant-based milks.
Providing clear sourcing and nutrition information so employees can make informed decisions.
Encouraging hydration through easy access to fresh, filtered water and well-balanced beverage stations.

3. Energy

Selecting energy-efficient coffee machines with automatic shut-off functions supports WELL’s Energy concept by:

Reducing unnecessary energy use.
Minimising heat output and indoor emissions.

4. Mental wellbeing and community

Coffee corners are more than a source of caffeine; they are spaces for connection. A thoughtfully designed area can:

Encourage natural breaks that reduce stress and boost creativity.
Create opportunities for inclusion and collaboration, strengthening workplace culture.
Consider it your office’s informal wellbeing hub.

5. Water quality management

WELL also emphasises the quality, distribution and control of water within a building. Investing in a premium water dispenser from a trusted supplier will get you:

Testing and calibrating for all water dispensers before delivery to ensure safe, high-quality water.
Using advanced filtration down to 5 microns to remove particulates, chemicals and heavy metals and prevent turbidity.

These are some of the things we do at FreshGround, so while we assume that other suppliers do the same, make sure you check.

6. Eco-friendly practices that reflect WELL values

You can take these extra steps to improve sustainability, and bolster your application:

Using bean-to-cup machines in place of coffee pod machines to reduce waste
Promoting reusable mugs and utensils
Partnering with ethical coffee suppliers that support small farms and fair wages

To summarise

A sustainable coffee setup is about more than great coffee. It demonstrates a commitment to wellbeing and the environment. Aligning your coffee service with WELL principles transforms a daily ritual into a clear statement of care for your people and the planet.