Pre-Covid, the office was regarded as solely a place of business.

But more than a year of work-from-home arrangements later and as companies slowly ease back into a hybrid way of working, many are starting to see their workplaces in a new light: a place to have in-person social interaction and collaboration that has been sorely lacking.

The office pantry in particular, once just a place for a perfunctory afternoon break, will be more important than ever as employees will get to connect, bond and brainstorm with co-workers over a cup of coffee upon returning to the office.

Boost productivity by taking a coffee break

If you have been feeling a dip in motivation from the lack of social interaction in the workplace, you are not alone.

According to the Nespresso Professional Study, which included an in-depth quantitative survey of 1,000 respondents in Singapore last year, 61 per cent reported feeling less connected to colleagues despite technology enabling us to virtually collaborate anywhere, anytime. This is hardly surprising as four out of five respondents said the office helps foster a sense of purpose and belonging, with 33 per cent saying they are motivated when surrounded by and collaborating with colleagues.

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55 per cent of respondents indicated that their productivity is driven by access to the right tools. In particular, having access to coffee is integral to a good pantry and consequently, employee productivity and motivation. Sixty-six per cent feel that physical coffee breaks are key to building workplace communities, while 20 per cent take coffee breaks to cope with stress. After all, when you step away from your workstation, you are making a conscious decision to decelerate and make a connection with something other than your laptop.

"Being [at home for extended periods] has changed the way people think about work and rest. Because there is no division between work and life anymore, people need to set their own guidelines," said Anna Haotanto, partner and COO of ABZD Capital.

Creating a social space in the office pantry

However, with increasing workloads and stress, encouraging employees to take coffee breaks may be ineffective when they are not given the right motivations. The key to discouraging employees from bringing their cups of coffee back to their laptops is to make the pantry a social space - somewhere they want to be.

There are a few ways companies and leaders can do it. If your work, and safety-distancing measures allow for it, create a "'coffee o' clock" - akin to a "happy hour" - to encourage teams to take a collective break. Pick a day to trial a "meeting-free" afternoon so employees can take coffee breaks with one another instead.

This could also be something as simple as installing a coffee machine so employees can enjoy a quality cup of coffee that's subsidised, or even free.

A coffee machine system for your business needs

The Nespresso Momento, is an ideal machine system for sprucing up the office pantry. With its intuitive design, it lets you create the perfect cup of cafe-style coffee (think Ristretto, Americano, Macchiato and Latte) every single time as it guides you step by step. It is also the quietest in its range, so your focus can be on conversations, not the noisy whir of the machine.

Amidst heightened hygiene concerns in shared spaces, Nespresso Momento's touchless technology is key: it allows users to scan a QR code with their mobile phones to make their preferred cuppa with ease of mind.

Simply pop in a favourite capsule, follow the instructions to obtain the recommended optimal coffee extraction length, wait and then enjoy. The Nespresso Momento Coffee & Milk 120 machine offers 12 milk-based recipes and five black coffee sizes with varying levels of intensity and aromatic coffee notes cater to every palate and mood. Those who enjoy their coffee with milk will especially love the Bianco Delicato and Bianco Intenso, two new blends specially crafted to be enjoyed in cappuccinos or lattes.

The Momento All-in-One Solution with four versatile payment configurations can also be added, which offers complimentary or paid options using cashless payment or employee badge cards.

Of course, at the heart of the Nespresso Momento is the high-quality Nespresso Professional coffee blends. Made from Arabica and Robusta beans sourced from around the world, each capsule is hermetically-sealed to preserve the freshness of the java. In fact, the consistent quality of Nespresso's coffees is why they are currently being offered at more than three out of ten Michelin-starred restaurants and in more than 70 per cent of 4- and 5-star hotels here in Singapore.

Eco-conscious companies and employees would also be glad to know that all of Nespresso's aluminium capsules can be recycled. In Singapore, the used coffee grounds from the recycled capsules are sent to local farm, Sky Greens, to become nutrient-rich compost to grow fresh produce, while the aluminium is melted and reused in everyday objects such as pens and bicycle frames. Nespresso works closely with hotels, restaurants and office partners such as Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, Labyrinth, Corner House and Julius Baer, to collect their used capsules through recycling bins placed at their workplaces.

Adding the final touch

Once you have the pantry all set up, it's time to bring in the most important element: the human element.

As you take your coffee breaks, take the opportunity to catch up with employees or subordinates on both work and personal matters, so as to boost productivity, build closer interactions and forge deeper connections. Ultimately, it will create an environment of trust where people can feel energised and motivated.

Over time, this also becomes a way to build resilience and cultivate empathy in the workplace, as people come to associate taking coffee breaks with a mental reprieve from the stresses of work and life, and return to work feeling re-energised and motivated.

Like how Ong Choon Fah, former chief executive officer of Edmund Tie & Company, summarises: "Coffee is no longer a beverage. It's a culture, an experience, it's something that binds and breaks down barriers. It has that magic effect where you feel a little bit more relaxed when you talk. It connects people in a different way."

Let your pantry be that catalyst for this human connection.