Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coffee. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The 5 Reasons Every Office Needs a Coffee Bar


Here at Think Big Partners, we'll admit it: we're pretty spoiled.  We have fantastic, collaborative coworkers, a modern coworking space and a whole lot of freedom.  But we became the most spoiled of all when we installed our very own gourmet coffee bar.

Our coffee bar is top-of-the-line complete with an espresso machine, a top-notch bean grinder, flavor pumps, percolators and some of the best beans and teas in the world (courtesy of Kansas City's The Roasterie).  Our office coffee bar is pretty extraordinary.  And we know that a lot of other offices and coworking spaces in the area don't provide the amazing coffee that we do.  But an office doesn't have to have all the fancy equipment to provide coworkers and employees with a great cup of coffee.  All you really need is a high quality coffee grinder, a brewer and some coffee beans.  

So why don't most office provide these three coffee essentials?  We're not sure.  Not only is it super easy to set up (and not that expensive), but having an office coffee bar reaps many more benefits.  And here, for your coffee-drinking pleasure, are some of the biggest benefits we've noticed by having a coffee bar in our coworking space: 

1.  Saves us a &*@!load of time 

I performed a little test.  While my coworker walked to our coffee bar and made herself a vanilla cappuccino, I headed down the street (about 1 block) and ordered a vanilla cappuccino from a local cafe.  It took my coworkers approximately 3 minutes and 21 seconds to prepare her own vanilla cappuccino and sit back down at her desk.  It took me, on the other hand, 17 minutes and 41 seconds to get my coffee at the cafe and sit down at my desk.  My coworker gave herself an extra 14 minutes and 20 seconds to accomplish the work she needed to that day.  I lost 14 minutes and 20 seconds.  In other words, having a coffee bar in the office could save the average coworker approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes every week.  Ever wish you could stop work at 4:00 on Fridays?  Now, you can.  Just install a brewer, a grinder and voila! More time with the kids on Friday night.  

2.  Encourages people to come see us  

Ever wish clients would come to you for a change?  With a coffee bar, they might!  Instead of meeting in the local coffee shop, offer for your clients or other meetings to come to your office for coffee.  When you have a coffee bar, almost everyone will say yes.  Once you get them in the building, they're in your territory and you can be in control of the conversation.  Thank you coffee! 

3.  Spread the love 

Having a coffee bar isn't just great for new meetings, it also works in favor of your coworkers!  If you're the head of the office, install a coffee bar in the office and you'll be everybody's favorite boss.  This seemingly "small" employee perk could change the mood and atmosphere of the entire office.  

4.  Control your order

Ever think that maybe, just maybe, that coffee barista "decaffeinated" you?  He probably didn't...but you never know.  Having a coffee bar in the office allows you to control your order 100% of the time.  People can get pretty particular about their coffee orders.  But having a coffee bar in the office allows you to put just the right amount of coffee, milk, sugar, creamer and whatever else (we even provide chocolate syrup!) into your Cup of Joe. 

5.  Saves money
Every time you run into the coffee shop, a standard order will cost you at least $4.00 (that doesn't include that delicious-looking berry-filled croissant).  But installing a coffee bar in your office doesn't cost a whole lot.  Depending on how much you provide, a coffee bar can run relatively cheap.  All you need is a coffee grinder, a coffee brewer, a few bags of coffee beans and installation (which The Roasterie offers for about $150).  After that, it's just a matter of buying coffee beans (which you can buy at a wholesale price when you buy in bulk!) and any other flavorings, cups and stirrers.  A cup of coffee from your very own coffee bar will only cost you about $.15.  Worth it!

We love our coffee bar.  And we want to share the caffeinated love with you!  Check out a few pictures of our coffee bar (yeah, we kicked it up a few notches...we have more than just a grinder and a brewer!): 

At our coworking space, bizperc, we have always have a Drink of the Day!

We brew up The Roasterie's air roasted coffee every morning and afternoon for our members.

All of the essentials!  Mugs, creamer and to-go cups. 

For the non-coffee drinkers, we add a little "varie-tea"! 
We amped up of coffee bar with flavorings, toppings and more.
What'll it be today?
The coffee bar is a great place to gather for impromptu meetings and lunch breaks.
Learn more about setting up your own office coffee bar by contacting The Roasterie.  

Follow our coworking space! @bizperc 
Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving! What We're Thankful For (As Entrepreneurs)

Happy Thanksgiving from Think Big Partners! 
Sometimes, we move so fast that we don't take the time to sit down and realize everything that we have to appreciate in life.  Lucky for us, Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and is the perfect time for us to say "thanks" to those who have helped us grow, succeed and have fun throughout our very own startup journey.

As a way to say "thanks", we will be making daily shoutouts to some of our biggest supports on Facebook for 40 days straight starting on November 22, 2012.  Although it's not much, it's our way of sending appreciation from our crazy world to yours.

What are some of the things we're thankful for this year?  We're so glad you asked...

  • We're thankful for our entrepreneurs.  The people who show up to bizperc, call us for advice, meet with us for coffee and partner with us on projects.  If it weren't for these passionate, driven and sometimes crazy people, we would not be in business.
  • We're thankful for bizperc, our coworking space.  With its incredible view of downtown Kansas City, killer coworking amenities and super fun (and frequent) parties, we are truly spoiled with an amazing workspace. But most importantly, we're thankful for the different people we meet in bizperc every day.
  • We're thankful for coffee.  If it weren't for coffee, we would not have productive days, checked-off to-do lists and 2:00am conversations that often make or break our next idea.
  • We're thankful for partners who have always believed in us and supported us throughout our startup journey.  If it weren't for our incredible support system, we would not be where we are today.
  • We're thankful for our gadgets.  From our iPhones to our laptops, from our Windows Surface tablets to our electronic whiteboard, these gadgets make our chaotic days a bit more organized.
  • We're thankful for humor--it's what gets us through our not-so 9-5 days.  From office pranks, team bets, wearing prom dresses to work, and caricatures drawings on our windows, we're thankful that we can build something incredible and have fun while doing it.
  • We're thankful for our team.  Although we've been referred to as "an Island of Misfit Toys" or a "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" company, we are the glue that holds Think Big together--and even though we may be a bit nuts, we believe that we are doing big things that wouldn't be possible without every single team member's involvement.
A BIG thank you to you all.  And happy Thanksgiving.

- The team at Think Big Partners 

(Ahhh..that's more like it.)

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

024 Think Big Radio: The Top 13 Things Entrepreneurs Cannot Live Without


At Think Big Partners, we try to accommodate to entrepreneurs as best we can.  So we asked people on Twitter and Facebook what they cannot live without as entrepreneurs to gain a little more insight.  Listen to episode 24 of Think Big Radio to find out the 13 (plus some!) things that entrepreneurs cannot live without.

Click to listen:

Take a look at our full list below:

1. A sense of humor (from @AllisonThinkBig)
2. A great team (from @AllisonThinkBig and George Brooks of CremaLab)
3. Goals, direction and focus (from @beatnikbusiness)
4. Work-life balance (from @joshmccleary)
5. Passion (from @gimmetim)
6. A challenge (from @Dan_Via)
7. Coffee! (from @Dan_Via)
8. An unfiltered critique of plan, process and product (from @mrjerryjonesjr)
9. Social media (@donpower, @JoinSaloveiTeam, @RexTullius)
10. An iPad (from @EBuckIII)
11. A smartphone (from @KcMoboss, @srfuller, @K12Cloud)
12. Flexibility (from @beatnikbusiness)
13. Apps (from George Brooks via Facebook)

Plus, we have a few extras!

14. Exercise
15. Books
16. Sleep, vacation and breaks
17. High-speed Internet
18. Networking
19. Headphones
20. Ongoing, great ideas
21. Podcasts (and other ways to gather information and advice)

A huge thanks to our Twitter followers and Facebook fans who let us know what they cannot live without!  As an entrepreneur, what could you not live without?  Comment below and let us know!

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

bizperc Proves Entrepreneurs Cannot Live Without Coffee

Stop 5 of the bizperc walking tour: all-you-can-drink coffee from bizperc






If there is one thing that entrepreneurs can't live without, bizperc believes it's coffee.  Take away an entrepreneur's computer and he can use his smartphone to answer emails.  Take away an entrepreneur's desk and he can sit on the floor or head to the local coffee shop to work.  Take away an entrepreneur's daily calendar and he'll just be late to meetings anyway. But take away an entrepreneur's coffee...and prepare for fury.  


Coffee and energy drinks are essential for most workers' day-to-day lives, but especially for that of an entrepreneur.  Entrepreneurs often work crazy hours, sometimes working until 3:00 in the morning  just to finish an important project.  Coffee helps the entrepreneur stay awake and feel invigorated during those late-night projects.  Coffee runs through the veins of entrepreneurs...and we believe that every entrepreneur should have access to all-you-can-drink coffee.


That's why bizperc's atmosphere revolves around coffee.  Why do you think it's called "bizperc" in the first place?  The name "bizperc" came for a combination of "business" and a coffee "percolator".  


In order to provide our entrepreneurs with all-you-can-drink coffee, bizperc provides an instant Bosch/Tassimo coffee machine with a wide variety of pods (coffee at the touch of a button!).  Hundreds of coffee mugs are available as well as a large coffee percolator, an old school coffee machine and a coffee bar where entrepreneurs can socialize over a good old cup o' joe. 


Welcome to the bizperc coffee bar! Come network and collaborate over a good cup of coffee.

bizperc provides freshly ground coffee and an old-school coffee maker next to a percolator.

Percolate with us!

A Bosch instant coffee maker with pods are always available. 

Check out rule #3: caffeine deprivation is a cruel and unusual punishment!

There is always a wide variety of pods available at bizperc.

We even have Think Big mugs!


Tired of paying $5 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks?  Then come check out bizperc and drop-in for just $15!  You'll get the chance to network, collaborate and down all of the coffee you possibly can!  Call Sarah today for a tour at 816-842-5244.

Follow bizperc! @bizperc
Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Monday, November 21, 2011

What is Think Big Partners Thankful For?

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

What are we thankful for?  We're so glad you asked.


We're thankful for the amazing entrepreneurs who we have the opportunity to work with every day; from experienced techaholics to dedicated social media gurus.


We're thankful for our inspirational coworking space and the ideas that percolate within the bizperc walls.


We're thankful that Kansas City is exploding with entrepreneurship and collaboration with initiatives from KCSourceLink, the Social Media Club of Kansas City, Google Fiber and the Kauffman Foundation.


We're thankful for Twitter.


We're thankful for the 113 contestants who entered into The Gigabit Challenge and their dedication, passion and courage to put a business idea on the line.


We're thankful for our partners and all of our supporters who have helped make TBP what it is today.


We're thankful for other startup accelerators and business incubators out there that are leading the way for entrepreneurs and innovators. 


We're thankful for coffee.  


We're thankful for the precious time we get to spend with our friends and families.


We're thankful that our company is made up of driven, innovative and rockstar entrepreneurs who have been, there done that and are willing to help others do the same.


We're thankful that our office has one of the best views of downtown Kansas City.


We're thankful for 37signals and its mysterious ways of organizing our chaotic lives.  


We're thankful for all of the small businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations that have collaborated with us to throw events like Entrepreneur Corner, Think Big Kansas City, The Gigabit Challenge Finale and Entrepreneur Bootcamp.  


We're thankful for entrepreneurs, just like you, who have become living and breathing proof that Think Big Partners is making a difference in the Kansas City community and beyond.


What are you thankful for? 


Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig