Is instant coffee as healthy as freshly ground coffee?

As an office or facilities manager, ensuring your team’s health and happiness in the workplace will be one of your top priorities. One simple but effective way to help achieve this is by providing high-quality coffee in the workplace.

We’re a nation of coffee lovers, and we consume approximately 95 million cups daily. According to the British Coffee Association, the UK is the 9th largest coffee consumer globally. A survey by YouGov revealed that nearly 65% of UK adults drink coffee daily, and workplace coffee consumption has become a critical aspect of this trend.

Your diverse office team has likely come to expect the same quality and choice of coffee they enjoy from high-street coffee shops. So should you opt for instant coffee, or is freshly ground coffee from a bean to cup machine the better choice?

Let’s delve into the differences and benefits to help you make an informed decision for your office team.

Understanding the difference

Instant coffee is made by dehydrating brewed coffee into a soluble powder or granules. This method involves roasting, grinding, and brewing the beans before they reach your cup. While instant coffee can be a cheap and convenient option, the production process means that many of the coffee’s inherent flavours and aromas diminish.

In contrast, freshly ground coffee using a bean to cup machine is prepared by grinding whole coffee beans and brewing them on demand in seconds, all at the touch of a button. This method ensures that the coffee retains its freshest and most robust flavour profile.

Taste and quality

Many coffee connoisseurs will tell you that freshly ground coffee offers a superior taste experience. The immediate grinding and brewing process preserves the complex flavours and aromatic oils that define a rich cup of coffee.

In contrast, instant coffee often lacks this depth, leading to a more subdued and sometimes diluted taste. A survey revealed that 77% of UK employees believe that serving good quality coffee in the office is essential for clients and visitors, giving you another reason to opt for quality over cost.

Good coffee can even support talent acquisition, with some people reporting that poor coffee in an interview setting may even impact their decision to accept a job offer.

Health benefits

Beyond taste, the health implications of your coffee choice are also worth considering. Freshly ground coffee is a significant source of antioxidants, which help combat free radicals in the body, potentially reducing the risk of certain diseases.

While instant coffee also contains antioxidants, the levels will be lower due to processing methods. Also, instant coffee may contain higher amounts of acrylamide, a chemical formed during the roasting process that, in large quantities, has been linked to health concerns.

Impact on workplace culture

Providing high-quality, freshly ground coffee is proven to positively influence your office environment. Firstly, a study found that 75% of office workers agree that good quality coffee in the office suggests their employer cares about their well-being.

Moreover, 89% of workers credited high-quality coffee for making them more engaged at work. These findings suggest that investing in a barista-style quality coffee experience is likely to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.

Discover More: How does a bean to cup coffee machine work?

Convenience and cost

While instant coffee is undeniably convenient, modern bean to cup machines have streamlined the process of brewing freshly ground coffee. With user-friendly interfaces and a wide choice of coffee drinks, our range of machines allows your employees to select their preferred coffee style at the touch of a button.

Although arguably the cost of a bean to cup machine is naturally going to be higher than the price of an electric kettle, the long-term benefits, including improved employee morale and potential health advantages, easily outweigh the costs.

Plus, it’s important to remember that most of our customers don’t opt to purchase their bean to cup office coffee machine outright. In fact, you can choose to rent, lease or get your machine on a free loan agreement, meaning you only have to pay for an agreed amount of coffee for your office each month.

Renting or leasing your machine can cost as little as £5 per day. And all of our machines come with a comprehensive service plan where you can choose from Essential or Complete Care. This means that if anything ever goes wrong with your machine, you’re covered, and you can be up and running again in no time at all.

And don’t forget it’s not only coffee we offer in our online shop – we also offer a wide range of tea, hot chocolate and all your favourite office snacks, which we can deliver straight to your door on a regular basis.

Making the right choice for your team

Considering the factors of taste, health benefits, and workplace culture, freshly ground coffee from a bean to cup machine easily proves to be a superior option for your office team. The days of the office kettle are numbered and instant coffee at work is an outdated and poor choice in today’s modern and diverse workplace.

To show your team you respect and care for their health, happiness and well-being at work, a bean to cup coffee machine is the best solution.

Contact us

If you’re exploring options to enhance your office coffee experience, we’re here to help. We offer free consultations to help you select the perfect coffee machine tailored to your team’s preferences. You’re also welcome to visit our London showroom for demonstrations and complimentary coffee tastings. Take your office coffee experience to the next level and contact our expert and friendly team today.