September 15, 2026 · Maya Lindgren

Office coffee people actually drink

We set up our first office account in October 2025, a 14-person design studio two blocks from the roastery. A year later we roast for 23 offices. Here's what we've learned, most of it the hard way.

1. People drink more than you think, then less than you fear

When an office switches from pods or a warehouse-club can to fresh coffee, consumption jumps for the first month, often by a third, then settles about 10 to 15% above where it started. Plan the first order generously and adjust after four weeks. Our calculator uses 7 in 10 people drinking coffee, at 9 g per 6 oz cup, which has been within 15% for every office we've measured.

2. Hybrid schedules change everything

A 60-person office that's in Tuesday to Thursday drinks about the same as a 35-person office that's in every day. Order by office days, not headcount, and schedule deliveries for Monday so the coffee is fresh for the busy days.

3. The brewer matters more than the beans

The most common problem we find is a batch brewer that has never been descaled, brewing at 180°F. We clean and calibrate every brewer before the first delivery, and every quarter on Office Plus. A clean brewer at the right temperature makes a mid-priced blend taste better than a great coffee in a dirty machine.

4. Keep one great default and one decaf

Offices that rotate coffees weekly get complaints; offices with a reliable default (usually Hearthstone) and a good decaf get thank-you notes. Add a single origin on Fridays if you like variety.

5. Pods are expensive

A typical pod costs 55 to 75 cents for about 10 g of coffee, which works out to $25 to $34 a pound. Fresh 5 lb bags on an office plan cost about half that, before counting the plastic.

If you manage an office, tell us about it and we'll send a free tasting box.