Automatic Merchandiser - 6

EDITOR'S NOTE

Why OCS Is So Important

Abby White,
Editor
abby.white@
vendingmarket.com

I appreciated
that I didn't
have to stop
for coffee on
the way to
work.

Editorial
Advisory
Board

What may seem like a small part of your
daily routine is actually a big deal

Joe Hessling

I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE "BARISTA OF THE

Josh
Rosenberg

future." Sci-fi geeks, take note, because it allegedly involves a "robot barista"
capable of mixing an infinite combination of beverages at an insanely fast
pace. Sounds cool, but for those of us who are still waiting for our hoverboards (thanks, Back To the Future Part II), it's hard to imagine a modernday Johnny 5 (thanks, Short Circuit) serving us coffee in our offices every
morning, but perhaps it's not that far off?
Now that you know what my favorite movies are, I'd like to weigh in on
why I think office coffee service is so important. As you know, I'm still newish to the industry, but I fondly recall the offices I worked at where I had
access to fresh, thoughtfully selected coffee products. I can't tell you how
much it improved my mornings, knowing that a delicious cup of hot coffee prepared exactly the way I wanted it - the darkest roast possible with
almond milk and just a touch of raw sugar - would help kick-start my day.
I felt that my employer valued me and my contribution to the company. I
appreciated that I didn't have to stop for coffee on the way to work or leave
the office building to get my caffeine fix during the mid-morning slump.
As OCS providers, you have the opportunity to make your customers
feel that way every day, and that's a powerful thing. Unemployment is low,
and companies are focused on attracting and retaining qualified employees.
That good cup of coffee feels like the most valuable thing in the world most
mornings. I can't remember the last time I didn't start my day with a cup
of coffee, and according to the National Coffee Association, 63 percent of
Americans feel the same way, consuming coffee on a daily basis.
In our annual State of the Office Coffee Service Industry report, we'll
share the latest statistics and trends affecting OCS, informed by operators
like you. We also dug a little deeper on what flavors and creamers are popular in OCS right now, and it appears that variety is not only the spice of life,
but essential in coffee service.
Lastly, I'd like to share an anecdote to reinforce why office coffee service
is essential. I've been working from Berlin for the past month, and my
temporary office is a charming co-working space in Kreuzberg. On my first
day, I discovered that I'd have to make the coffee myself, using an elaborate
espresso machine that almost looked too pretty to touch. But I was jetlagged and needed coffee, so I attempted it.
Instead of getting a picture-perfect cup of espresso, I watched in horror
as muddy liquid spouted all over the counter. I tried to stop the espresso
fire hose with one hand (note: it's very hot) and attempted to turn off the
machine (where is the "off " button, anyway?) with the other.
I subsequently received a full espresso-making tutorial and am happy to
report that there have been no incidents since. On a related note, I'm now
looking forward to meeting that robot barista.

Automatic Merchandiser * September 2019

365 Retail
Markets

Accent Food
Services

John Reilly
Avanti Markets

Anant Agrawal
Cantaloupe
Systems
USA Technologies

Elyssa Steiner
Cantaloupe
Systems
USA Technologies

Carl Moser
Canteen
Corporate

Chuck Reed
Crane Payment
Innovations (CPI)

Jeff Whitacre
Food Express

Michael Miller
Mondelēz
International

Paresh Patel
PayRange

Jeff Deitchler
Prairie Fire
Coffee

Jim Carbone
Tradecraft

Sandy
Thornton
VendEdge

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Automatic Merchandiser

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