Now that the clocks have gone back and the winter
weather is starting to arrive, many of us are looking for ways to
keep warm or cope with the seemingly interminable darkness.
A hot drink is often the solution and businesses have responded to
this by giving us easy access to
commercial coffee
machines just about everywhere. Whether we're staying at a
hotel or walking to work in the morning, there always seems to be
somewhere we can grab a brew.
So it could be said that at this time of year, a coffee is
essential sustenance that keeps us going. If we can't have long
periods of sunshine to give us a boost, a cup of coffee can often
be the best way to deal with the winter blues.
Many polls and studies over the years have confirmed that this is
exactly why many of us drink so much coffee. But does this mean
coffee is an absolute necessity?
A study by the British Dietetic Association (BDA) looked into the
reasons why people frequently enjoy a cup of the hot drink and
found some interesting differences across the board.
For instance, it said women who consume coffee on a regular basis
do so either when they are "on the go", doing their shopping or
when they are spending time with friends and relatives.
By contrast, the BDA said most men use the drink to help them stay
focused during the working day.
Of course, it's impossible to generalise and say definitively that
women prefer to have coffee during their leisure time and that men
consume it to help them concentrate at work.
But the findings do demonstrate that the beverage is popular
for many reasons, making it both a luxury and a necessity to
different consumers. With that in mind, firms in the hospitality
trade could find making coffee machines available a good way of
satisfying their customers.