No one would argue that coffee makes a tremendous difference to the efficiency and overall well-being of everyone you work with, so it is easy to get overwhelmed with the raft of potential products, services and quotes that come to you during your search through all the NYC coffee distributors.
But by asking five simple questions, you will be able to quickly sift through that pile and unearth the true gems in the world of coffee distribution.
How do I know if the coffee distributor offers quality products?
That old adage “it’s quality more than quantity that counts” is very true in the world of office coffee supply. Having six brands of coffee to choose from is great – but if they’re all low-quality grinds trucked into New York from distribution warehouses scattered across the country, six is as good as none. So investigate the brands offered, find out where they come from and most of all – taste them.
Taste them, taste them and then taste them again. Because true quality coffee distributors will have no issue with offering samples of their products – they know they’re offering you the best selection of coffees available. Having a focus group from your office do a “tasting meeting” can be a great way to take a little of the burden for choosing between coffee distributors off your plate – after all, you might really love one particular product, but the rest of the office could prefer another.
With any luck, you’ll find a number of products that are real crowd pleasers in a catalog alongside some special, premium products that will help keep everyone equally happy. The real question then becomes how will you narrow down your selections into a reasonable coffee service order? But that’s a question for another day.
Does this coffee distributor offer a wide array of products?
Now I know we just told you that quality was more important than quantity, but there is plenty to be said for ensuring you can cater to the diverse taste preferences of your workforce. You need to be sure that the coffee distributors you are considering offer a wide variety of products that will really hit the spot for your team. This means digging into the information provided to see what’s really offered instead of accepting the “plenty to choose from” line on their sell sheet.
Obviously, the first step when establishing whether the variety of products offered by a coffee distributor is good or not is to check their online catalog. Look for a few things you know you’d want to order, and maybe even search for something exotic you have always wanted to try. If you are having trouble finding more than a couple options for any given item on your wish list, the product portfolio might be too weak to satisfy the thirst for coffee in your work place.
Take the time to enquire with the coffee service representative as to whether there’s a more diverse catalog of coffee products available offline – for all you know they might have a great hookup for the sought-after Jamaican Blue that your engineers were raving about, and if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
How do I know if they provide trustworthy service?
Office coffee is serious business, and trustworthy coffee distributors know just how serious it can be to let down hundreds of workers by providing a sub-par product, showing up late or worse, missing a delivery altogether. This is an area where word of mouth can be a huge bonus for you, so look for reviews of the office coffee service you’re considering.
Ask your coffee distributors for a current list of clients. Some firms will have these proudly displayed on their website and marketing collateral, because being the supplier of office coffee for a few Fortune 500 companies is one of the best endorsements a brand can have. Take particular note of reviews from similarly-sized companies in your area, as these will often give you the best picture for how well a particular coffee distributor can meet your needs.
How many years has this NYC coffee distributor been in business?
Coffee distributors, like so many businesses throughout New York City, come and go. This is why it is important to take note of how long your potential coffee distributors have been in business. Sure, there are up-and-coming companies in every facet of the business world, but coffee provision is a tough market to keep your head above water in for long if you are not able to provide a service that exceeds expectations.
Firms like Corporate Essentials have been providing gourmet office coffee services to companies like yours throughout NYC and surrounding areas for nearly two decades, that’s a lot of staying power.
Do they know the local NYC coffee market?
The last stop on our five-question journey to choosing between coffee distributors will sound a lot like a real estate pitch: location, location, location! The truth of the matter is, those coffee distributors who are local have the best connections to the coffee market here in NYC.
And those connections are the only way to get solid offerings from some of the most treasured establishments in town. So ask yourself: does your staff wish to subsist entirely on a drip feed of Folgers, or once in a while are they going to want something a little special from Blue Bottle? Local knowledge is a powerful asset.
If you’re ready to learn more about how Corporate Essentials can be your coffee distributor, contact us today so we can get you and your team tasting delicious NYC coffee for your office.
