Hey coffee lovers, are you tired of stale, burnt office coffee and want something better without having to run to the local café?
Fortunately, brewing an incredible cup at work isn’t a mystery. It's just a matter of simple choices, habits, and matching your brew system to your workspace.
In this guide, we’ll cover the essential ingredients for workplace coffee success, from ratios to freshness. Then we’ll dive into six different brew methods, including desk-friendly setups and ways to improve your breakroom equipment, so you can have café-quality java right in your favorite work mug.
What Does It Take To Make Great Coffee at Work?
Making great coffee is about being consistent with a few core variables.
Quality Coffee
First, starting with high-quality certified organic, Fair Trade coffees sourced through long-term cooperative partnerships with farmers makes all the difference.
All of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee is certified organic, shade grown, and Fair Trade. We roast our coffees right here in Orange, Massachusetts. As a Certified B Corporation and Fair Trade Federation member, we've built long-term, mutual partnerships with the farmer cooperatives we work with, and our commitment to quality starts at the source.
Fresh Beans
If your work buys in bulk to fill the storeroom shelf, it’s likely stale when it hits your mug because the vibrant flavors and aromas naturally degrade over time.
Freshly roasted coffees typically taste best within 3 weeks of roasting when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Unopened nitrogen-sealed bags stay fresh for at least 3 months if stored at stable temperatures.
Freshly Ground
Whole-bean coffees always taste better longer than pre-ground. Why? The second you grind a bean, you dramatically increase the surface area, which accelerates oxidation and causes those delicate flavors and aromas to fade. Keeping it whole until just before brewing produces the most flavorful and aromatic cup.
Weigh Your Beans
If you can add this step, investing in an inexpensive kitchen scale and weighing your coffee gives more consistent results. Different origins and roasts have different densities, so when you switch coffees, that same old scoop may not produce the results you want. People usually start with a coffee-to-water ratio of 16:1 (that’s 16g of water for every 1g of coffee) and then adjust from there based on personal preferences.
Good Water
Since coffee is mostly water, good-tasting water, free from off-tastes like chlorine, iron, and hardness, is crucial. You don’t have to buy bottled water, but if your tap water has unpleasant tastes, a simple filter can make a big difference.
Clean Equipment
Over time, the natural oils in coffee build up on equipment, producing rancid odors and flavors. Giving your equipment a wash in hot soapy water followed by a good rinse (according to the manufacturer’s directions, of course) keeps every brew tasting fresh.
6 Easy Ways To Make Great Coffee at Work
Let’s discuss some common methods since brewing great coffee also depends on what kind of equipment you have.
Drip Coffee
At work, the classic drip machine is pretty standard, and it's ideal for sharing with coworkers. Follow the same rules for clean equipment, good coffee, and filtered water and choose smooth medium roasts that satisfy a crowd.
However, don’t let anyone sneak a cup before it's finished brewing, or theirs will be strong and the rest too weak. We also don’t recommend leaving coffee on a burner for more than an hour to avoid that burnt taste. It's okay to brew a half pot and make more later.
French Press
The French Press is a compact, classic choice for robust, full-bodied coffees with rich notes of dark chocolate and baking spices that shine in dark roasts or medium-dark blends when brewed this way. Add coarsely ground coffee to the clean equipment, and pour in hot filtered water. This method typically makes enough coffee for 2 to 4 people.
Pour Over
The pour-over is incredibly popular for small workplaces and those without kitchens since it sits right on top of your mug and you simply pour hot water over ground beans in a mesh or paper filter.
This method is also common with coffee connoisseurs who enjoy experimenting with precision details like blooming and timing. This versatility makes it perfect for anyone and any roast, including highlighting the nuances of single-origin or light roasts whose subtle flavors are best extracted with precision methods.
AeroPress
The AeroPress is another very popular, compact desk-friendly setup for small or mobile workplaces. You can even brew outdoors if you bring hot water in a thermos.
Because it’s single-serve, it’s also versatile. You and a coworker can use the same tools to brew entirely different coffees because this method also works for any roast or origin.
Coffee Pod Machines
Now, we know that many workplaces use coffee pod machines. But did you know that the, “global footprint of annual coffee capsule waste is about 576,000 metric tons — the combined weight of about 4,400 school buses?” Even more, those pods are filled with ground coffees that sit in warehouses far too long and never taste as fresh as you’d like.
Your office team can enjoy delicious coffee and help save the environment! If your workplace isn’t looking to replace their machine, you can still make a better brew by investing in highly affordable reusable metal pods.
Fill them with any freshly ground coffee you want, including your own custom blends. When done, empty the contents into a compost bin, wash, and repeat. This way, your team will save money, have fresher coffee, and not add more single-use plastic cups to the world’s landfills!
Espresso Machines
Some workplaces offer espresso machines, which are best for dark roasted coffees and espresso-style drinks, but you can also experiment with medium and light roasts. These machines vary enormously, so just make sure you clean them according to the manufacturer’s directions.
8 Tips for Brewing Quality Coffee at Work
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Purchase fresh whole beans regularly instead of stockpiling.
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Store beans in a cool, dry place, but not in the refrigerator, where they absorb odors and moisture.
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Use filtered water if your tap water tastes off.
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Use a 16:1 coffee-to-water weight ratio to take the guessing game out of scooping.
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Grind right before brewing to lock in the flavor and aroma.
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Rinse paper filters in hot water to remove the papery taste and help it stay in place.
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Clean your equipment regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Make Better Coffee in the Office?
Making better coffee at work is about choosing fresh organic beans, grinding right before brewing, weighing out your coffee, using clean equipment, and using good-tasting filtered water.
What Equipment Do You Need for Workplace Coffee?
If you have multiple coworkers in a shared kitchen, a drip machine or French Press are perfect for sharing. For mobile workplaces or those without kitchens, desk-friendly options like the V-60 pour-over method or the AeroPress let you brew anywhere with access to hot water.
Go Forth and Brew Your Best Workday Cup
While the brewing variables matter, better coffee always starts with choosing freshly roasted organic, Fair Trade beans. Then, grinding fresh, weighing your coffee and water. Using good water and clean equipment also play a big role. Then, your morning ritual is about taking good care of the breakroom equipment or setting up a personal pour-over or AeroPress at your desk or mobile office.
If you’re ready to banish that stale office coffee, start by exploring our certified organic, Fair Trade coffees sourced through long-term partnerships with farming cooperatives. Then, try our helpful tips, and you’ll be making café-quality coffee at work in no time!
