Coffee is among the most popular beverages in the world, alongside tea, beer, and plain water. This results in an enormous market not only for coffee grounds and beans, but also for products like paper cups, plastic lids, stir sticks, creamer, and more. The United States, in particular, is a robust market for coffee of all kinds, and this calls for the right materials for getting coffee to go or preparing a cup of it at the office. A related topic is hot soups. Soup is a convenient and common food item for lunch or dinner, and it may be served casually at home or even at an office’s cafeteria. Americans love hot soups almost as much as coffee, and soup may served in a ceramic bowl or even plastic bowls if desired. Hot soups can be heated up in a microwave or a stove, or poured in a kitchen. What is there to know about coffee and hot soups?
Coffee Market
The United States is the single largest coffee market in the entire world. This nation imported 27.5 million bags of un-roasted coffee goods back in 2014, which made up 25% of the world’s share. This makes for a hefty market value. Today, the American coffee market is estimated to have a value close to $48 billion, and specialty coffees make up nearly 55% of that market share. While a number of large, nation-wide coffee brands and retails are commonly bought from, small and independent coffee shops have a strong presence too. Coffee is a staple drink, and even a small, one-location coffee shop may have no trouble drawing in customers. This can add up; coffee shops get nearly $12 billion in annual sales when combined, and this may be an impressive figure. Independent coffee shops often serve unique blends or combinations of flavors and condiments, making them fun and personal.
What about the average American drinker? Some 150 million people, fully half of the American population, drink coffee. At least 30% of Americans drink it at least occasionally, and on average, an American will consume 1.64 cups of coffee per day. Among dedicated coffee drinkers, this daily average may be even higher, closer to 3.1 cups or so. Most often, Americans drink their coffee in the morning with breakfast, since this drink is a stimulant. Nearly 65% of all coffee is consumed with breakfast, with another 30% being drank in between meals and only 5% or so being consumed during other meals. How might a person get a fine cup of coffee to go?
Coffee Cups
A common way to have a fine cup of coffee is to visit a coffee shop big or small and order a cup to go. Coffee shops offer their drinks in disposable paper cups, which may sometimes be made of recycled paper. These cups are leak-resistant and can hold a lot, and they may come with a cardboard sleeve to protect the drinker’s hand from the hot surface. These coffee cups also have fitted plastic lids that resist spills or leaks, and these lids can also help trap heat inside the cup. These leak-resistant coffee cups can be taken nearly anywhere, such as on a bus, subway or taxi. When a person is done with their coffee cup, they can dispose of it in any trash or recycling receptacle.
What about at the office? Employees can get hot soups from the cafeteria or bring soup, and they can also prepare coffee in the break room. For lunch, employees can easily bring soup in Tupperware or other containers, or soups may be dry powders and ingredients in plastic packaging. When water is added and the whole package is heated up, it forms a ready-to-eat meal. Hot soups, and related foods such as instant ramen noodles in broth, can be conveniently prepared this way at the office.
An office break room may include a coffee station. Here, employees can take turns buying coffee bean or grounds bags, sugar and cream packets, and more. Coffee can be ground and brewed, and workers can refill the pot whenever they find it empty. This can make coffee easy to prepare, though workers are urged to be considerate and keep the coffee station clear of messes, trash, and spills.