Coffee break, or a tasty break during hard work

Coffee break: purpose and menu features

In the modern business world, maintaining effective partnerships is impossible without the practice of collective discussion of surveys. Meetings must be organized and conducted according to certain rules. This will allow a meeting of any format to be held with maximum efficiency, benefit for the participants, and according to the agreed time frame. Effective coffee breaks allow you to successfully solve a business problem or find a group solution to a problem thanks to the well-thought-out organization of the meeting. During the break, participants will be able to relax in an informal atmosphere, establish and strengthen business relationships.

Historical excursion

Coffee break: what does it mean? This is the name for a short break lasting 10–40 minutes, which is spent during a business meeting, business conference for a snack, free communication (the terms coffee time, coffee break are also used). The concept comes from the English coffee break. Most often, cream, containers with boiling water, and sweets (sweets, cookies) are placed on the table. Less commonly, the list is supplemented with alcoholic drinks and hot snacks.

Supposedly, the first coffee break was held in 1936 in America. Back then, such events were organized to popularize the product and manufacturers. Since then, this format has become very popular in the business environment, and later – one of the most popular forms of corporate leisure. There are reports of similar interruptions during meetings held by the wives of Norwegian immigrants in Stoughton, Wisconsin, where the city has celebrated an annual festival since 1880. American behavioral psychologist John B. Watson played a significant role in promoting the aromatic drink and the concept of the coffee break.

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In English, coffee break is written Coffee break, which translated means coffee break.

The information available to us regarding the coffee break today suggests that this event was born in 1936; if you think about it, it didn’t happen that long ago. The founder of this can be considered the Pan-American Bureau, which unites coffee producers from different countries, among which there are certainly representatives from Canada and the USA. So, this organization decided to launch a campaign whose goal is to increase coffee consumption. Later, such a tradition as a coffee break appeared.

So, knowing the history of the creation of the coffee break, and actually just from the translation, you can understand what it is. As we noted a little earlier, a coffee break is a short break that usually lasts from fifteen to forty minutes. As a rule, it is held during a scientific conference, but it can also be held during any seminars, meetings or trainings, with the aim of creating informal communication and eating.

We can say that a coffee break is somewhat reminiscent of a buffet table. Its participants eat standing and pour themselves coffee, while if we come to visit, then according to the rules of etiquette, coffee should be served to the hostess of the house. The presence of a table containing everything that the kind organizers decided to order is required.

Despite the fact that the event is called a “coffee break”, and seems to indicate the obligatory presence of coffee, this does not mean that, in addition to coffee, there should not be any other drinks on the table. Therefore, the coffee break menu can be very diverse, but as you understand, at least just from etiquette, coffee must be on the table.

In addition to this wonderful drink, you can also see others, such as black or green tea, a variety of juices and mineral water. Sometimes, at the will of the organizers, alcoholic drinks may also be present on the table, among which wine, cognac or vodka can most often be seen. In addition to drinks, it is necessary that there be fresh baked goods on the table, for example, small buns, pies, cakes and other confectionery products. In addition to hot snacks, there should also be cold ones, so on the table you can see sandwiches, canapés and various toasts. You can add fruit as a dessert.

As a rule, a company organizing a coffee break places an order for a coffee break in advance, and in this case it is customary to contact restaurant business professionals. It is necessary to discuss with them issues directly related to the event itself. In a conversation between a company wishing to hold a coffee break and the restaurant in which the company intends to hold it, the following topics should be raised:

1. Assortment of dishes presented on the table, in other words - menu 2. Sorting of tables 3. Time of the event

Overall, everything sounds very nice and attractive. But perhaps right now this article is being read by people who want to have a coffee break at their event, and therefore, after reading this article, some of you may be asking questions such as “Is it worth having a coffee break at my event?” , “Isn’t this a waste of money?”, “How can this benefit me?” And, by the way, it’s very good if you asked yourself these questions, because it means that you approach the matter wisely! Or maybe you are a guest at some conference where the organizers invited you to this very coffee break, as you thought in the midst of the event. And why did they do this? Or are you an open-minded person who is interested in everything new and would like to expand your knowledge in this area?

In any case, we cannot leave you with these unresolved questions, and therefore, in order to complete the article, we will now tell you why a coffee break is so necessary. Yes, yes, exactly necessary!

As you know, this tradition of holding a coffee break came to us from the West. And at the moment it has taken root in our country and plays a very important role. It is clear that during any conferences or meetings difficult issues are resolved, that is, our brain works intensively. And it has been established by nature that every living creature needs rest.

So people are no exception. And what should you do when there’s a conference going on, just going and clearing your head a little isn’t exactly cultural? This is where a coffee break comes to the rescue, its goal will be to create somewhat informal communication between the organizers of the event and its participants, and it will also help everyone present to relax, gain strength, new energy and re-enter the discussion. As you know, coffee improves our brain functions, lifts our mood and invigorates, and together with fruits, pastries or canapés that may be present on the table, our hunger will also be satisfied. In addition, the organizing company will show only its best sides by arranging such a short break!

Firstly, friendliness towards guests, as well as caring for them, will immediately be visible. Secondly, if the event is attended by invigorated and rested guests, then we can confidently predict that such an event will be very productive and more exciting. Thirdly, the company is given an excellent opportunity to show and emphasize its prestige, because nothing compares to the exquisite service that restaurants usually provide.

In addition, you probably know how sometimes the atmosphere becomes tense when an unresolved issue hangs in the air, and there are simply no new ideas. Again, this little coffee break will come to your rescue. And also, it is there that the participants of the event can get to know each other better in a more informal atmosphere, and perhaps they will be able to find a more correct approach to each other.

Many people say that the only disadvantage of a coffee break is that it is not very long (from fifteen to forty minutes). But we don’t consider this a minus at all, but a real plus. After all, this time is ideal for relaxing and unwinding, but it is precisely this time that does not allow you to be completely distracted and forget what was discussed at the event.

Therefore, as you and I can see, a coffee break is a wonderful solution that will always be appropriate!

Rules

A coffee break is an invariable attribute of a well-prepared event; it directly indicates the level of its implementation. The experienced team of the “Russian Traditions” chain of cafes and banquet halls in Moscow and St. Petersburg will help you organize a break during a corporate meeting at a professional level, select the optimal menu within the available budget, and present the dishes beautifully. The purpose of organizing a coffee break is to give the event participants the opportunity to relax, discuss the information they heard, and share their impressions. A short break mobilizes the listener’s attention, pushes him to take a fresh look at things and make the right decision.

Buffet and coffee break are similar, but not the same concepts. They differ in their motives and menu specifics. According to the format, participants are not assigned specific seats; they pour their own drinks and eat while standing. The duration depends on the format and duration of the meeting. As a rule, there are 2–4 coffee breaks per event, approximately every 2–3 hours. It is customary to organize it during the daytime, according to the agreed regulations. The menu should include light snacks and sweets - they are convenient to eat. Hearty, high-calorie dishes that are consumed using cutlery are not served. When preparing and compiling the menu, it is important to take into account the religion of the participants, health characteristics, and season. The higher the status of the participants, the more refined the service and the higher the level of food and drinks.

There are several types of coffee breaks:

• philosophical - consists of a seminar, a short break, including food, delicious drinks, discussion of philosophical issues is acceptable;
• buffet cocktail - a break occurs after a training, conference, tea, coffee, light snacks are offered;
• outdoor tea party - it can be held outdoors, but usually a banquet hall with the necessary equipment is chosen.

To prepare large-scale corporate events and negotiations, catering services are in demand, provided by catering restaurants. They include not only preparation and delivery of goodies, but also serving, table decoration, serving guests, and cleaning at the end of the meeting. The difficulty of running a coffee break flawlessly lies in its short duration, limited range of dishes and at the same time the need to satisfy the expectations of the participants.

Invigorating coffee break: how to organize

There are several rules for organizing a coffee break:

• rest and a snack with coffee are recommended every 2.5-3 hours during the event;
• the duration of the coffee break is not less than 20, but not more than 40 minutes;
• During the coffee break, hot and cold drinks are served, as well as light snacks;
• the choice of drinks and snacks is self-service;
• a coffee break does not imply the organization of entertainment; noise and music are not welcome during such a rest.

In order not to waste time on renting equipment and purchasing food, we recommend ordering an on-site coffee break. Catering specialists will take care of furniture for catering, table setting, help you choose the appropriate menu, and provide the staff necessary to serve the coffee break.

Coffee break menu

There are different coffee break options depending on the allocated budget and type of event. A basic coffee break menu usually includes the following items.

• Beverages. Since the very name of “coffee break” mentions coffee, you can’t do without drinks. For coffee breaks, special equipment is installed so that guests can pour themselves freshly brewed coffee. There should also be a device for supplying boiling water, tea, and plain water without gas. If desired, you can not limit yourself to hot drinks and offer guests fruit drinks and juices; soft drinks are especially popular in the summer.
• Sandwiches, bruschetta. Serve hearty mini salmon sandwiches on toasted bread, bruschetta with tender veal and fried quail egg, mini sandwiches with spicy neck and aioli sauce, and turkey sandwich rolls. These sandwiches are ideal for coffee or tea, they will help you quickly have a snack and feel fresh.
• Bakery. Traditionally, various pastries are served during coffee breaks, including everyone’s favorite pies with meat, vegetable and sweet fillings, pies, cookies, miniature buns and cheesecakes. We also offer homemade, fresh, fluffy croissants with ham and cheese or salmon.
• Snacks. Small snacks will help diversify the coffee break menu, making it more complete. Order a set of canapés with cheese, eggplant rolls with sun-dried tomato and cheese, French valovans with red caviar, canapés with turkey and pineapple flambé or Georgian blinds. All these dishes can be found in our catalog.
• Dessert. End your coffee break on a pleasant dessert note; with coffee and tea it is appropriate to offer cupcakes, handmade sweets with blackberries and raspberries, macaroons, buffet petit fours - miniature cakes “Esterhazy”, “Three Chocolates”, “Mint Breeze”, “Red Velvet” and other.

These recommendations will help you quickly organize a coffee break at any event. Contact the catering specialists of the most popular capital company, choose the best menu and enjoy the impeccable organization of your event!

Send a request to organize a coffee break

Menu types

Correctly selected dishes will help to successfully implement the functions of a coffee break, satisfy the feeling of hunger, ensure a comfortable state of guests and a favorable emotional background. Several menu options have been developed, which are chosen based on the scale, specifics of the event, the number of participants, and the special needs of some of them (additional fructose is included for diabetics, freshly squeezed juices for vegetarians).

Popular drinks include traditional tea, coffee, mineral and sweet water, as well as juice, berry juice, and mulled wine (with or without alcohol).

One of the basic functions of a coffee break is to provide an opportunity to relax, get closer to interesting people, and make the atmosphere light and comfortable. Properly selected dishes and drinks will allow you to successfully achieve your goals and win over the participants of a seminar or business meeting. It is important to pay due attention to serving - plates should be accessible from anywhere, they are placed “in a circle”, that is, from cutlery, napkins, the guest moves on to appetizers, hot dishes, and then to drinks. This approach will make it possible to rationally use space and avoid crowds.

Event etiquette

According to generally accepted rules, a coffee break should be held strictly within a certain time frame, during a meeting or discussion. During a snack, it is unacceptable to discuss work issues, organize debates, or ruin professional topics. But at the same time, this is a great opportunity to enjoy a casual conversation and make new acquaintances. It is considered bad form to start discussing other participants untimely.

Drinks and light snacks should be served using a serving cart or trays. There should be no papers on the table. Those treating themselves must not break the accepted order: cutlery - snacks - drinks. It is better to approach the table again than to take too much food at once. One of the key criteria for a successful coffee break is space, and the basic principle is self-service and the absence of an assigned place.

How is a coffee break organized?

For coffee time, a separate room or a specially designated buffet area is best suited. If it is not possible to take a break in a separate room, you can visually separate a special area using furniture and screens. A buffet or buffet with light dishes fits perfectly, the purpose of which is not to feed the guests, but to briefly distract the participants in a relaxed atmosphere.

There are several nuances in organizing a snack:

• The atmosphere is light, conducive to comfortable conversations, with light snacks. Pleasant background music and flowers will brighten up the break, making it enjoyable for guests.
• Harmony of style - the lightness present should not be a violation of the style of the entire event. If the meeting takes place in a restrained atmosphere, then a break in the style of “tea party at the Hatter’s” will look extremely ridiculous and inappropriate. It is necessary to take into account the tastes and preferences of the guests, as well as the specifics of the event itself, in order to determine the style of the coffee break.
• The menu here should be based on the time of year. In winter and autumn, tea with spices or cocoa will be an alternative to coffee; you can also diversify light snacks with more filling snacks. In spring and summer, freshly squeezed juices and fruit canapés should be added. Water must be supplied throughout the event.
• Drinks - with all the variety, possible allergic reactions of guests should be taken into account. It is better if these are classic drinks: black tea, coffee, green tea. Milk, sugar, cream and sugar substitutes are also required, guests may be diabetic.
• The content of the menu depends entirely on the budget of the organizer. Typically, a coffee break includes several cold and hot dishes, drinks and dessert. When choosing caterers for a buffet table, you should carefully study the number of guests and portions per person. Hungry guests are a bad indicator of a meeting.
• Impression - if foreign guests are present, international snacks should be offered, but participants will also be interested in national dishes. Sharing culture and cuisine helps build international connections.

All cutlery should be thoroughly washed, and there should be containers with napkins on the tables.