Whether you love it or hate it, coffee plays a role in the life of workers across the country. But just how big is that role?

Honest Coffees has done a survey with the aim of answering the question: how does coffee affect working life? The results – like caffeine – are eye-opening.

The survey highlighted differences in coffee preferences between men and women. While both sexes rate latte the highest – with 26% of women and 19% of men naming it as their favourite – men are three times more likely than women to order an espresso.

The humble Americano came in at number two overall, with cappuccino taking the bronze medal and mocha and macchiato bringing up the rear.

So, how does coffee affect working life? Well, the research showed that coffee drinkers are nearly three times more likely to stay late at work than those who abstain.

Twenty per cent of workers who drink two cups of coffee or more per day will stay an hour late, and the number rises to 22.2% for those who drink four or five cups.

In contrast, just 8.5% of non-coffee drinkers are willing to stay an hour late, with similar percentages for people who drink a single cup each day.

Honest Coffee found a similar pattern for shorter periods of time. A whopping 42.6% of people who drink four or five cups will stay 45 minutes late, compared to less than 15% of those who shun coffee entirely.

Honest Coffees founder Wyatt said, “It didn’t surprise us when we saw coffee drinkers tended to stay at work longer. Studies have shown it increases alertness and concentration, keeping you focused for longer.”

Overall, the survey found that 17.2% of men and 10.6% of women are willing to stay behind an hour late. Under-35s are the most likely to clock off the moment the day is over, with 20.9% heading home as soon as they possibly can. Compare that to those dedicated over-55s, with only 11.5% leaving on the dot.
Good coffee means happy workers

Luckily for coffee drinkers, most workplaces have a ready supply of coffee on hand. However, this isn’t necessarily good news – more than 75% of the people we surveyed rated the quality of the coffee at their work as average or worse.

Wyatt added, “We’ve said for a while that having good coffee at work can actually save an employer money, because it means people are less likely to pop out for a cup.”

If that last statistic has left you with a bitter taste in your mouth, try having a cup of coffee – exactly a fifth of everyone surveyed said coffee put them in a better mood.

(source: Honest Coffees)