What Do Coffee and Cherries Have in Common? Discover the Answer Every Coffee Lover Should Know

No doubt you’re all too familiar with that delectable daily delight that only coffee can deliver. But do you know how your cup of coffee came to be? Here’s its origin story.

It Starts With the Plant

cherries on tree

A coffee bean plant is a tall shrub reminiscent of a berry bush. Like most plants, species abound, with the Arabica and the Robusta plants being the most well-known. Arabicas are the most popular and prolific; varieties grow all over the world in countries near the equator. These plants can take four years to begin to bear fruit.

Arabica vs. Robusta Beans

Most artisan coffees are made with various Arabica beans; they are considered far superior in quality and flavor. Arabica beans tend to be grown at higher elevations, and most growers give the beans longer to grow to enhance their flavor. In contrast, Robusta beans are considered lower quality and are often used for instant coffee. Their varieties are more disease-resistant and produce a higher yield. Robusta beans do, however, contain more caffeine.

“Coffee Cherries”

Coffee beans are actually the seeds that grow on coffee plants. They are called “coffee cherries.” When they turn red, they’re ready to be harvested.

coffee cherries

Most are still picked by hand. Proficient pickers can harvest 100-200 pounds of coffee cherries daily, representing 20-40 pounds of coffee beans.

After harvesting, the coffee cherries are processed to remove the beans from their outer shell.

deshelled coffee cherries

Each berry contains two beans enclosed in parchment. The hulling stage removes the parchment before being graded and sorted.

coffee plant vector

More Coffee Origin Fun Facts

  • Coffee tasters, known as cuppers, test the beans to ensure their quality before roasting.
  • Each cup of coffee is made of roughly 38 coffee cherries or 76 coffee beans.
  • Roasting unlocks the fragrant oils inside the beans, creating the flavor and aroma we love.
  • Although coffee shrubs can grow to 16 feet, most are trimmed to 5-7 feet for easier picking.
  • Coffee cherries start as blooms that flower for a month.
  • Arabica flowers are self-pollinating; Robusta flowers aren’t.

Understanding what it takes to get that perfect brew into your cup makes it taste that much better. Let BostonbeaN handle the last mile of the coffee bean’s journey — getting it into the coffee cups of your team.

coffee bean to coffee

Contact BostonbeaN today to supply your office with hassle-free solutions for your employees, including snacks and grab-and-go fresh food, cold water and beverages, and hot and cold coffee and tea options.

Help Your Office Go Green This Earth Day — and All Year Long — With BostonbeaN

It’s been 52 years since we celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970. This annual event was created so the global community could support the common cause of protecting our planet Earth —  and to address the impact of industry on the environment. The event’s popularity has grown around the world, and this year, more than a billion people in 193 countries will participate on April 22.

people sitting together in an office

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Going green can mean something different to everyone, and everyone can still be correct. You can choose to reduce your use of limited resources like water. You can reuse products that you would normally discard, like drinking from the same coffee mug each day. And you can recycle by making more biodegradable, eco-friendly choices.

Go Green in Every Environment

Both employees and employers can implement green measures at home and in the workplace. Every conscious effort to more mindfully reduce water usage, mitigate trash build-up and conserve energy makes a difference as we work together to protect our planet.

Eco-Friendly for the Win

Did you know that BostonbeaN offers a complete line of eco-friendly supplies for your office? Our line includes:

  • Hot and cold cups
  • Plates
  • Bowls
  • Cutlery
  • Paper Towels
  • Bathroom Supplies
  • Cleaners

Providing Cold Beverage Choices That Eliminate Single-Serve Plastics

Employers can provide employees with options that are earth-friendly. For instance, BostonbeaN offers the touchless ION Bottleless Water Cooler system that eliminates the need for plastic water bottles. The Bevi is a more robust option for employers who want to offer employees a greater breadth of flavored cold-beverage choices.

recycling bin

Some Like It Hot (or Cold)

Employers and employees can even reduce waste for coffee and tea drinkers with The Fresh Cup, which freshly roasts coffee and brews tea in biodegradable pods.

It Starts With Your Culture

As environmental concerns rise in significance, use this Earth Day celebration as an opportunity to create a green culture at your office. Announce a new initiative. Get feedback and suggestions from your team on what they would like to support. Reward success. Educate. Build sustainable programs.

And finally, reach out to BostonbeaN to help implement an environmentally friendly solution in your workplace.

Say Hello to Spring and Goodbye to Seasonal Allergies by Installing an Efficient Air Purifier

New Englanders typically can’t wait for spring to arrive, especially after a long, harsh winter. But then, as the flowers bloom, the weather warms up, and we again enjoy coffee on our patio, the reality of spring hits.

We start to sneeze. Our eyes itch and our nose is stuffy or runny — or both. Allergy season has arrived.

Clear the Air

For some employees, allergies worsen in the workplace. Poorly ventilated systems, for example, can trigger pollen or dust mite allergies, or worse. That’s why BostoncleaN offers two different high-quality air purification systems to protect employees from airborne hazards, no matter the source.

AeraMax Professional Models Protect Larger Areas

These elite technology air purifiers contain HEPA filters with antibacterial treatment and cover 300-1,400 square feet. They constantly monitor the conditions in the room to self-determine how often and how rapidly the room should be purified and freed from seasonal pollen and other hazardous air particles. When the sensors stop detecting activity, they return to standby mode, saving energy.

Celios G200 Advanced Air Purification System

Perfect for smaller offices of 200-450 square feet, the Celios G200 captures and filters air particles like the spring pollen responsible for allergies, to keep offices safe from environmental toxins. These systems bring employees real protection and peace of mind as they cautiously return to offices.

air purifier

Spring Cleaning

One way to rid your office of unwanted dust (and clutter) is to spring clean. In your office environment, that means:

  • getting rid of excess inventory
  • reorganizing cluttered desktops
  • purging digital and physical documents you don’t need
  • cleaning and disinfecting everything from the copiers to the sofas to the breakroom cabinets

Level Up Break Room Safety

From the pandemic to pollen, your break room can either be an epicenter for healthy precautions or a petri dish of toxins. Level up your breakroom protection with BostoncleaN’s whole host of solutions to maintain a safe environment, including PPE, touchless beverage dispensers, and more.

Celebrate National Pastry Day Dec. 9 (and Don’t Forget the Coffee!)

Who doesn’t love pastries? These delectable creations have their own special day, and that is worth celebrating!

Pastries fall into categories like tarts, pies, Danish, turnovers and more. Created with butter, eggs, flour, sugar, milk, shortening, and other ingredients, there’s just something that gets your mouth watering when you think about it, right?

Just in case you thought pastry-making was something new, pastries originated along the Mediterranean in ancient times and expanded to Northern Europe when the crusaders returned from that region. French and Italian chefs baked eclairs and cream puffs during the 17th and 18th centuries, and are credited with the creation of some of the tasty treats we love to this day.

There are many variations of pastries. Some fun facts include:

  • Flaky pastries are simple and expand when baking.
  • Shortcrust pastries are the most common.
  • Sweetcrust pastries are the sweeter version of shortcrust pastries.
  • Puff pastries are layered and puff up when baking.
  • Choux pastries are very light, but so good. They usually have some kind of filling.
  • Phyllo pastries are paper-thin and are used when layering.

One of the best ways to celebrate National Pastry Day is by making some for your coworkers. It’s the perfect way to usher in the holiday season (which always includes eating!). Another great way to celebrate this festive occasion is by inviting others over to join in the fun. What can you create with flour, eggs, and sugar in the mix? This is a great opportunity to try something new!

And don’t forget — one of the best ways to enjoy all those delicious pastries is with a great cup of coffee or tea. Just like pastries have tons of variations, so does the coffee that you can pair them with. There’s iced coffee, cold brew, and hot coffee in different flavors for every taste bud to perfectly complement your pastry choices.

BostonbeaN carries everything you need to perfectly pair your pastries with coffee and tea. Contact us to get your pantry stocked so you’ll always have the perfect drink ready.

Want to Entice Your Employees Back to the Office? Here’s How

As more science becomes available to help battle the Covid-19 pandemic, business owners are now able to open up offices to their staff again. This checklist can help employers get staff who have been working from home back into the office, while also helping those dedicated employees feel safe and excited about returning to in-person work.

Want to Entice Your Employees Back to the Office Here's How 1. Have Safety in Mind

Help staff feel safe by continuing to sanitize and clean high-traffic and high-touch areas. Or better yet, use touchless equipment that minimizes the spread of Covid-19.

2. Continue to Be Flexible

Working from home allowed people to spend more time with loved ones, take more mental health days, and also have a sense of balance in their personal and work life. Offer your employees that same flexibility, from little perks such as extra breaks and time to grab a cold brew coffee, to taking days off to work from home when they feel overwhelmed.

3. Listen to Staff Health Concerns

Listen to employees when they point out health and safety concerns, and fix problems immediately. For instance, aerosol transmission of viruses has become a concern for staff, so investing in air purifiers can help lower the spread of Covid-19 and other seasonal viruses as well.

4. Offer Perks Such as Extra Pay and LunchesWant to Entice Your Employees Back to the Office Here's How

If possible, offering incentives such as extra pay can be enough to help staff feel valued for returning to the office. In addition, offer complementary lunches or individually wrapped snacks in the break room for staff to enjoy any time!

5. Upgrade

No one wants to return to a dull, drab office after working from home. Make some upgrades to your office space that will make employees excited about returning to work, such as new office furniture, upgraded maintenance and equipment. Swap out the old, stained coffee maker for a new Nespresso machine that offers staff the state-of-the-art brewed coffee they deserve.

Whether it’s being flexible, offering perks, or keeping safety in mind, getting staff back into the office is as simple as showing them you care. As a boss, take the first step to keeping your dedicated employees happy, healthy and safe by reaching out to BostonbeaN.

Tips for Boosting Employee Morale in 2021

There’s no denying that putting 2020 in the rearview mirror is something we all are looking forward to! As you take your business into 2021, things will be much different, whether you’re going back onsite or plan to continue online operations.

With morale likely low and employees stressed, it’s more important than ever to reward their continued efforts while placing an emphasis on their health and wellbeing.

Focusing on these goals makes them feel appreciated and uplifts morale during unprecedented times. We have some great tips that will help staff feel valued and that you care about their overall safety and health.

Reward Staff With Greater Flexibility

Allow staff to tend to their needs while staying productive with their work. Allowing for flexible hours or full-time or part-time hybrid hours remotely alleviates some of the stress of juggling everything in accordance with the pandemic changes. Stress is the No. 1 killer in the United States, so any way you can offer employees greater autonomy right now will be appreciated. Be sure to let them have days off when needed in these unpredictable times.

Establish an Online Community for Staff

Even if your team returns to work, the entire company can benefit from having a supportive and informative community. The community can be used as an online update board, as a place for staff to share successes, or as a place to share staff recognitions or achievements in business goals. You can promote a more positive environment by keeping staff in touch with each other. After all, the constraints of social distancing hinder communications, which are pivotal to ensuring greater company stability.

Offer Staff Wellness & Mental Health Programs

Provide an outlet where your team members can get mental health and wellness assistance remotely. In addition to being a supportive manager or owner, giving them a subscription to a popular wellness app is sure to be appreciated in these challenging times. You might find the program successful in boosting morale that will be useful when normal operations resume and your healthy team returns to work.

Recognize Team Members With Swag

Everyone loves free stuff, especially when it’s something they can really use. Show staff you appreciate them with thoughtful gifts that can be personally presented at the office, or deliver swag directly to their homes. Useful gift ideas include:

  • Self-Heating Mugs
  • Headphones or Earbuds
  • Home Office Goodie Boxes
  • Custom Face Masks
  • Gift Certificates
  • Entertainment Subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
  • BostonbeaN Gift Boxes filled with our coffee, tea, mugs, snacks, PPE and more!

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

For staff that have returned to work, make them feel appreciated by stocking up a safe snack zone filled with goodies like individually wrapped treats and healthy snacks, along with superior coffee and tea served with touchless systems. We can help you check all those items off your to-do list with just one call to BostonbeaN Coffee Co.

Employees Returning to the Office? Enhance the Workplace Environment With These Perks

As businesses continue to adapt alongside COVID-19, employers have to consider the best ways to draw people back to the office. Luckily, companies have so many ways they can update their workspace to make it appealing for employees and promote wellness, productivity and morale.

Vary Your Atmosphere

Different work environments suit different employees. Spaces like relaxation and social rooms give employees a choice on where they’d like to do their work. For example, an office library can help those who need a quiet space to focus, while social rooms with games, newspapers, magazines and food allow employees to relax.

Offer Healthy Food

Employers can foster a more comfortable, productive environment by providing delicious, filling food in the office or through delivery. For little pick-me-ups throughout the day, cold brew, nitro coffee and a gorgeous selection of teas hit the spot. Even the simple addition of an upgraded water system such as Bevi has the potential to revolutionize your workplace environment and employees’ attitudes.

Be Flexible

Flexible schedules could make all the difference to your employees. Depending on the business, employees can divide time between home and the office, set their own work hours or make up time if they have family commitments. Employers help their staff by establishing expectations, clearly communicating and acting with empathy.

Consider Financial Incentives

Financial incentives like stipends, reimbursements and paid time off nurture loyalty and appreciation in employees. Some companies reimburse their employees for commuting costs, while others find childcare stipends necessary for returning parents. Offering a bonus to returning employees also helps encourage people back to the workplace.

Focus on the Benefits

A comfortable, welcoming workplace will lead to improved mindsets, more creative ideas and more effective collaboration. Workplace productivity as a whole increases when employees feel valued by their employers and managers. By investing in your employees’ space and wellness, you can rest assured that your business will thrive.

Sustain Employees With BostonbeaN

Ensure you have everything you need for employees’ post-pandemic return to the office with BostonbeaN coffee and breakroom services. We have all the food, beverages and supplies your employees could want, ready for the breakroom or delivered to your workplace. Treat your team to some extra perks by reaching out to BostonbeaN at 1-800-HIT BREW or through our website.

How Can You Increase Productivity In The Workplace?

Achieving overall business goals and tasks timely and efficiently—the dream of most office managers and employees. The definition of “productivity” will likely vary for different types of businesses. Increased productivity could equate to meeting deadlines ahead of schedule, gaining higher patron satisfaction, or seeing increases in bottom-line revenue. With those varying needs in mind, we offer a few ways to boost workplace output.

increase workplace productivityInvest in Employees with Proper Training and Skill Development

Team members who feel confused about what their actual duties are or how to successfully implement them have production levels that suffer. Feeling confused also demoralizes team members, which is the same result of employees feeling stagnant in their position—even if they are high performers.

By providing them with exceptional job training and keeping them inspired for potential growth through skill development opportunities, workers tend to be motivated to do better work. Overall, this is great for both the company and staff, making this approach a wise investment.

Give Workers More Flexibility in The Work Setting

Today’s technology makes working remotely possible for many professions, and in some industries,  telecommuting is becoming the new norm. The 2019 Future Workforce Report estimates that more than 70% of departments will have part- or full-time remote workers by 2028.

Telecommuting has actually shown to increase productivity in most workers (of course, some aren’t cut out for self-time management). However, having the option of skipping commuting to the office saves time, and employees enjoy the freedom that working from home offers. Happy team members tend to be the greatest assets of any company.

Steer Clear of Micromanaging Staffincrease workplace productivity

It could be argued that most individuals prefer not to work with employers that attempt to control the staff, watching their every move just waiting to catch them slacking off. Demonstrations of controlling management makes staff feel untrusted, which is not a good way to approach productivity increases.

Establish a Pleasant Workspace

Traditional office spaces aren’t the most comfortable of exciting places to be, and no one wants to be trapped at their desk all day when not telecommuting. Keep your team engaged and feeling appreciated by creating a pleasant environment with amenities that encourage much-needed breaks.

Tired or uncomfortable team members can’t be top producers, but companies can take action to help ease their daily grind in the office through several effective approaches.

  • Minimize excess noise when possible for less distractions to promote greater concentration.
  • Maintain comfortable office temperatures in the office.
  • Inadequate lighting—or the wrong kind—has been shown to increase mistakes through reduced focus which hampers productivity.
  • Enhance your employees’ break room with snacks and beverage centers.
  • Provide “resting rooms” or a space with recliners for power naps.

While you might need professional contractors to assist with environmental distractions, the experts at BostonbeaN Coffee Company have your snack and drink needs covered!

Explore BostonbeaN Coffee Company’s Catalog of Breakroom Supplies

Here at BostonbeaN Coffee Company, we provide the finest breakroom supplies including healthy snacks, traditional coffee and tea services and even innovative cold press coffee and tea makers like the new Bunn Nitron. Need shelving or displays for your office goodies? We provide those too, along with customized services to help you optimize your budget based on usage and much more. Call 1 800 HIT BREW (800-448-2739) for a consultation with a member of our team.

Our Love for Tea and Why it Stands the Test of Time

different types of teaTea has been around for millennia. No one knows exactly who discovered it, but there are strong indications that drinking tea first became popular in Eastern nations before making its way into Europe and the Americas.

It’s not surprising that Asians were the first to drink tea. Most of the world’s tea crop is still grown in this region. China comes in first place for producing the most tea in the world, followed by India and Kenya. Ironically, none of these countries makes the list of the top five tea-drinking nations in the world today: Turkey, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Iran and Russia.

You can drink tea at any time of the day or night, although some teas are better for certain times. You can add lemon or honey to your brew or enjoy it plain and/or with a small snack on the side. Many drinkers prefer small cups that cool quickly, but you can drink from a large mug if you please.

why drink tea in an office Why Drink Tea?

Many people drink tea for the taste. This isn’t surprising, considering there are many flavors – both caffeinated and decaffeinated – to pick from. At the same time, tea has remained extremely popular for so long because it offers an amazing array of health benefits you won’t want to miss out on.

  • Green tea is a superfood. It can soothe a sore throat, lower the risk of heart disease, regulate blood sugar levels, promote weight loss, alleviate depression, and more.
  • Black tea is rich in antioxidants and good for your heart. It can also lower your blood pressure, improve gut health, and reduce the risk of stroke and cancer.
  • Oolong tea is heart-healthy and lowers your risk of diabetes and cancer. It promotes weight loss, maintains good gut health, and strengthens your bones. It’s also good for your teeth.

Top-Tier Tea at Your Fingertips

Coffee is still king, and Americans drink more of this brew than tea, juice, and soda combined. Even so, tea shouldn’t be forgotten when considering drinks for the workplace.

BostonbeaN offers cutting-edge, touchless coffee machines that make an array of hot and cold brews. At the same time, the company provides tea brewers along with a host of tea flavors. Both are ideal options for any breakroom to ensure your workers have their drink of choice whenever they need it. Contact us to learn more about our coffee and tea brewing options, or to schedule an in-office demo at your convenience.

Tips for Boosting Employee Morale in 2021

There’s no denying that putting 2020 in the rearview mirror is something we all are looking forward to! As you take your business into 2021, things will be much different, whether you’re going back onsite or plan to continue online operations.
With morale likely low and employees stressed, it’s more important than ever to reward their continued efforts while placing an emphasis on their health and wellbeing.
Focusing on these goals makes them feel appreciated and uplifts morale during unprecedented times. We have some great tips that will help staff feel valued and that you care about their overall safety and health.

Reward Staff With Greater Flexibilitytips for boosting employee morale

Allow staff to tend to their needs while staying productive with their work. Allowing for flexible hours or full-time or part-time hybrid hours remotely alleviates some of the stress of juggling everything in accordance with the pandemic changes. Stress is the No. 1 killer in the United States, so any way you can offer employees greater autonomy right now will be appreciated. Be sure to let them have days off when needed in these unpredictable times.

Establish an Online Community for Staff

Even if your team returns to work, the entire company can benefit from having a supportive and informative community. The community can be used as an online update board, as a place for staff to share successes, or as a place to share staff recognitions or achievements in business goals. You can promote a more positive environment by keeping staff in touch with each other. After all, the constraints of social distancing hinder communications, which are pivotal to ensuring greater company stability.

Offer Staff Wellness & Mental Health Programs

Provide an outlet where your team members can get mental health and wellness assistance remotely. In addition to being a supportive manager or owner, giving them a subscription to a popular wellness app is sure to be appreciated in these challenging times. You might find the program successful in boosting morale that will be useful when normal operations resume and your healthy team returns to work.

Recognize Team Members With Swag

Everyone loves free stuff, especially when it’s something they can really use. Show staff you appreciate them with thoughtful gifts that can be personally presented at the office, or deliver swag directly to their homes. Useful gift ideas include:
• Self-Heating Mugs
• Headphones or Earbuds
• Home Office Goodie Boxes
• Custom Face Masks
• Gift Certificates
• Entertainment Subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
• BostonbeaN Gift Boxes filled with our coffee, tea, mugs, snacks, PPE and more!

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

For staff that have returned to work, make them feel appreciated by stocking up a safe snack zone filled with goodies like individually wrapped treats and healthy snacks, along with superior coffee and tea served with touchless systems. We can help you check all those items off your to-do list with just one call to BostonbeaN Coffee Co.