Tips to Make Great Office Coffee
PROCAFFEINATING – the tendency to not start anything until you’ve had a cup of coffee.
Okay, let’s admit it, at one point in our working lives, we’ve probably felt this way. We either make sure we’ve had coffee with our breakfast to help us feel energized and ready for work. Or, for those who skip breakfast at home, they would just go to work and enjoy a great cup of coffee there before doing anything else.
Either way, there’s no denying that a lot of us rely on coffee to give us that much-needed boost to function in our office. But, one thing that we also have to admit is the fact that sometimes, one cup of coffee is not enough to help us get through the day. Since after all there are several potential situations at work that could really be draining. So, sometimes we have to have 2, 3, 4, or sometimes even more cups of coffee a day at work just to get by. But is that really a great idea? Is there really such a thing as bad and great office coffee?
Here are tips you may want to consider to make sure that you not only enjoy your coffee at your office but also make sure that it’s great for you.
Listen to Your Heart
Yes, it’s a cliche. But I don’t mean this in a love story, cheesy kind of way. While it’s true that coffee has a lot of great health benefits, we all know that too much of anything is bad. Although you are allowed your delicious cup of coffee, it’s still important that you consider its negative effects on your heart if you have too much of it. Coffee, having stimulants, may not directly make your heart palpitate according to research, but it does make it race. And let’s face it, if you’re already stressed out in your office, more often than not, your heart is already like a raging bull. With this in mind, make sure that you take your coffee in moderation.
Hot or Cold?
Aside from your health, another important thing to think about before drinking your coffee is what you prefer it to be. Do you enjoy drinking a steamy, hot cup of coffee to make you feel all warm inside? Or do you prefer it to be ice-cold to cool and refresh your already heated day? Knowing exactly which one you want and drinking it in the office will greatly help stimulate you more and keep you on the go for your tasks.
Is it Time?
Feeling sleepy now? Have some coffee. Don’t want to feel sleepy? Have another cup of coffee. Most people drink coffee this way, not knowing that they still have to consider timing. Yup, just like everything else in life, drinking coffee should also be done at the right time, especially when you’re in the office. What do I mean by that?
Well, according to research, there are certain times throughout the day when our body releases a hormone called Cortisol, which is responsible for a lot of things. One of the things it’s responsible for is acting as the natural caffeine of your body. Basically, having it present helps keep you awake, while not having it makes you feel sleepy. Which means that if you really want to make sure that your cup of coffee in the office will work best for you, you should consider drinking it when your cortisol levels are low.
Here’s a simple guide that you can keep in mind:
Cortisol levels peak at: 8 to 9 A.M., noon to 1 P.M., and 5:30 to 6:30 P.M.
So, if you’re an early bird, or you get up before 4 A.M., just adjust to 3 hours back. If you wake up past 10 A.M., then go 3 hours forward.
You’re Too Sweet
Again, too much of anything is bad. And I’m not just referring to the caffeine in your coffee now, but also the amount of sugar you put in it. Depending on your health condition, there is a certain amount of allowable sugar intake.
So, simply put, if you want more sugar in your coffee and you don’t have any health conditions that disallows you from having too much of it, then by all means. But if you know it’s not good for you, then you may want to cut back on the sugar and consider creamer instead. Remember one of the reasons you’re drinking coffee in your office is to help keep you productive, and not so you would end up with complications.
I See Your True Colors
If you still want to keep your coffee drinking in the office even more interesting, why not try to add a little bit more color to it? And when I say color, I mean flavor. And the great thing is that you don’t have to pay a hefty price for it. You can have it black, nothing but good old coffee with a couple of lumps of sugar. Or you can have it brown with creamer, milk or even chocolate. And to make it even greater, you can try spicing it up a little bit– literally.
Actual spices that some people enjoy in their cup of joe are cinnamon, apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, clove, cardamom, black pepper, and ginger. You can prepare your coffee at home with these extra flavors before going to work. Or you could even put some in your little pouch to bring to work with you, pour in your coffee once you’re in the office, maybe even share with your officemates, drink and enjoy!
Final Thoughts
Coffee has truly helped a lot, if not all, of us in getting through stress-filled and hectic days at work. Regardless of how you like your coffee, hot or cold, with full flavors or not, surely we can all agree that it’s energy-giving, mind-stimulating, and not to mention, delicious nature, will surely help make it stay as a staple in just about any workplace. So, go ahead and have a sip of it. Just don’t forget to consider having the right amount, drinking it at the right time, and of course, having the right flavors you want, for you to truly have a great office-coffee experience.
References:
https://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-ok-for-those-with-heart-arrhythmias
https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/scientists-just-discovered-best-time-of-day-to-drink-your-first-cup-of-coffee.html