Thanks all for your replies to my inquiry. I do believe in the power of a shared coffee in building community. It seems am not alone. We have a espresso/drip coffee machine (it makes both) at The Network Hub and I've noticed that the consumption of coffee has increased steadily and that more of our fellow entrepreneurs gather around having a cup of coffee in the morning (and in the afternoon, when the 3pm wall hits). So my empirical (anecdotal) observation was what prompted my question.
Now, on to the quality of the coffee :-) we have been thinking about getting Ethical Bean coffee (it's a popular brand here in Vancouver, organic, ethical, etc. - and it's tasty). May report back when this happens :) Best, Raul 2009/10/8 Eli Malinsky <[email protected]> > > without coffee, we might not have any community. I would suggest it is > essential. > > We wired in a high-volume coffee machine...not espresso, just > regular.... > > Eli Malinsky > Centre for Social Innovation > > On Oct 7, 4:43 pm, Steven Heath <[email protected]> wrote: > > On Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 5:27 AM, Raul Pacheco <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > Hi all, > > > Please forgive the question if it's deemed too dumb, but I am writing a > blog > > > post on whether having a centralized caffeine supply (read - coffee > machine) > > > where all members of a coworking space can get coffee is a > > > community-building element/factor. Would you agree? > > > Maybe I'm just crazy and this kind of conversation is irrelevant, so if > this > > > is the case, please ignore my request :-) > > > > We have an espresso machine. Members like it. But not sure if would > > place it in community building aspect however. > > > > I place it like having a desk and wifi... basic office supplies :-) > > > > -- > > Steven Heath > > Director, Foxbane Consulting > > Founder, AltSpace > > Cell: +64 21 706-067 www.foxbane.co.nz > > Level 22 > > Plimmer Towers > > 2 Gilmer Terrace > > Wellington > > > > AltSpace.co.nz - Shared office space in Wellington for home based > > workers, freelancers, or nimble companies > > On Oct 8, 11:37 am, Devin <[email protected]> wrote: > > Does anyone have any experience incorporating a juicer into their > > coworking space? They're loud but juice gives people solid, > > sustainable energy - a great alternative to caffeine. > > > > We're starting a juice bar in the front/co-working space in the back > > in North Brooklyn. If anyone is interested in helping/joining/ > > learning more lemme know. > > > > ciao > > > > On Oct 8, 10:20 am, Alex Hillman <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > We've got a coffee machine (and supply some of the best local roasters' > > > beans). It's one of our more manage-able variable costs, and its well > worth > > > it IF you're getting great coffee. I can't tell you how many times our > > > coffee has been part of what someone recommended to a friend who was > > > thinking about coming. > > > > > It's funny what entices people sometimes :). > > > > > We started with a standard 12 cup pot, and upgraded once we were > brewing > > > nonstop to a similar size, but commercial drip machine that can brew > much, > > > much faster. One of our members upgraded his home espresso machine and > > > brought his old one in, which some other members enjoy. > > > > > I wouldn't dismiss the coffee pot (or a water cool) as a > social/community > > > building tool so quickly. Having community "places" within the office, > no > > > matter how small, provide a reason for someone to get up from their > desk and > > > bump into/converse with someone. > > > > > We actually had some folks set up a community chess game on one of the > > > tables in our kitchen (near the coffee) and it's become a HUGE > community > > > bonding experience. I won't say its because of the coffee, but without > the > > > coffee, there's less reason for people to find themselves in a non-desk > > > common area than with the coffee. > > > > > -Alex, IndyHall > > > > > -- > > > ----- > > > -- > > > ----- > > > Alex Hillman > > > im always developing something > > > digital: [email protected] > > > helpful:www.unstick.me > > > visual:www.dangerouslyawesome.com > > > local:www.indyhall.org > > > > > On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 4:43 PM, Steven Heath <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > On Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 5:27 AM, Raul Pacheco < > [email protected]> > > > > wrote: > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > Please forgive the question if it's deemed too dumb, but I am > writing a > > > > blog > > > > > post on whether having a centralized caffeine supply (read - coffee > > > > machine) > > > > > where all members of a coworking space can get coffee is a > > > > > community-building element/factor. Would you agree? > > > > > Maybe I'm just crazy and this kind of conversation is irrelevant, > so if > > > > this > > > > > is the case, please ignore my request :-) > > > > > > We have an espresso machine. Members like it. But not sure if would > > > > place it in community building aspect however. > > > > > > I place it like having a desk and wifi... basic office supplies :-) > > > > > > -- > > > > Steven Heath > > > > Director, Foxbane Consulting > > > > Founder, AltSpace > > > > Cell: +64... > > > >www.foxbane.co.nz > > > > Level 22 > > > > Plimmer Towers > > > > 2 Gilmer Terrace > > > > Wellington > > > > > > AltSpace.co.nz - Shared office space in Wellington for home based > > > > workers, freelancers, or nimble companies- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text - > > > -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Raul Pacheco, PhD. Chief Content Creator, Hummingbird604.com Founder, Pacheco-Vega Consulting and Research Studio My research site can be found here http://www.raulpacheco.org My personal blog is http://hummingbird604.com My office is located at The Network Hub 3rd Floor, 422 Richards Street Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2Z4 Find me online on Twitter & Facebook http://www.twitter.com/hummingbird604 http://www.twitter.com/raulpacheco (http://www.facebook.com/drpachecovega) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
