The Coffee Maker

I have often wondered why, when making up a list of essential office supplies, that the coffee maker or a supply of coffee is not top of the list.

First one in the office in the morning should, as a matter of course, set things up for the day. Maybe it is a perk from the company, or maybe you all club together to buy, but whatever the set up, there is no more important purchase.

Okay, okay, the pragmatists out there will be shouting paper clips, staples, printing paper and any one of a number of other essential supplies, which if missing, will bring the place grinding to a halt (well, almost).

But an office without a good coffee maker and a ready supply of good Costa Rican or Colombian coffee on tap is like an American Football game without the cheerleaders, a politician without an expenses scandal looming, or England not being knocked out of the World Cup.

Okay, so it could well be claimed that coffee serves no PRACTICAL purpose, it doesn't hold papers together, and coffee is not a good substitute for printer toner, but a cup of coffee, in that compulsory break from the screen every hour, will just help you relax, ready for the next session (or keep you awake, whichever is applicable).

And is there a better place, other than the water cooler, to catch up on all the gossip? Whether it is the office gossip, your local football team, or just generally putting the world to rights, the coffee machine, for me, has to win hands down, if only because it is a great place to skive off work for an extra ten minutes while you get everyone else's coffee.

Perhaps that short break that one has to take from the screen every hour should be used as an opportunity for mini social get together; talking about the kids, shopping or virtually anything.

But talk about anything except work, the best office and work environments are those that heave the boundaries well set out, but allow for social interchange at a less formal level.

The office manager here is top notch. She appreciates that everyone works diligently, and that the work place is a real world, not something used as an escape from home. A happy group of workers is a productive group of workers.

Plus the bonus for us is she loves her regular cup of coffee.