10 Tips for Entertaining with Coffee

With the Keurig K-cup  machine, providing guests with coffee has never been easier

Whatever event you’re hosting—whether it’s a dinner party with a few friends or a holiday party with the entire block—serving coffee provides a warm and hospitable atmosphere. But we’ve all been to those parties where the coffee detracted from the experience rather than enhanced it. Follow these 10 tips and successfully serving coffee to your guests will never have been easier.

1. Provide Variety
   While there are many delicious flavors of coffee available, not everyone is a fan of Hazelnut flavored coffee or a bold Colombian blend. Make sure your guests have options; they may want something additional flavor, or prefer a different strength of brew than your other guests. An easy way to supply this kind of variety is with different blends of Keurig K-cups, which come in a wide array of flavors and roasts.
2. Give Non-Coffee-Drinkers Options
   Not everyone enjoys coffee, so it’s wise to have some alternatives on hand. Good staples to stock up on include herbal teas, caffeinated teas and hot chocolate. With a single serving Keurig K-cup machine, these can be ready-to-make for your guests with minimal effort on your part.
3. Let Guests Customize their Cup
   For some, beverage “condiments” are necessary to make a cup of coffee or tea enjoyable. Make sure to have an ample supply of cream, sugar and sugar substitutes accessible for your guests to use. Not all sweeteners are created equal, so make sure to have multiple types available.
4. Make a Statement
   Afraid you might have coffee to talk over without any conversation topics? Certain Keurig K-Cups such as Green Mountain’s Fair Trade Rainforest Nut blend support a Free-Trade system to help bring poverty-stricken farmers around the world overcome poverty.
5. Don’t Run Out
   With traditional coffee makers, there’s always the risk that someone will take the last cup and you’ll be left scrambling to brew another pot of coffee—a painfully long process. The Keurig K-Cup Machine can ensure that your guests will always have access to a fresh, custom cup of coffee. It’s something to consider so you won’t be left with the reputation of being an inconsiderate host.
6. Avoid Burnt, Thick Coffee
   Once the coffee rush slows down, it’s okay to just let coffee seat on a heating plate to keep it warm, right? This may be a seemingly easy option, but if coffee is left on a heating plate for even a few minutes after brewing, it will start to burn, thicken and get a bitter taste. Nothing will kill a party faster than guests reacting to stale, burnt coffee. A great solution to this is a single-serving coffee maker that will allow coffee on demand.
7. Encourage Refills
   Don’t let your supplies run low! Look for discounts or other ways to keep coffee stocked so guests can feel free to go back for more.
8. Keep it Fresh
   Insulated carafes can be a great way to keep coffee warm, but they won’t prevent it from getting sludgy or keep it warm for longer than an hour or two. The best way to provide your guests with continually hot coffee is to heat-as-you-go, with a constant fresh-brew of coffee is with a single-serving coffee maker.
9. Respect Decaf Drinkers
   Whether you’re using a single-serving coffee maker or a traditional coffee brewing system, make sure to have decaf on hand for people with medical needs or a distaste for strongly caffeinated coffees.
10. Take the Low-Stress Approach
    Your coffee set-up should suit the way you entertain. This may involve having back-up supplies prepped and put away so you can pull them out quickly mid-party. Look into getting the Keurig K-Cup Machine if you want a simple, guest-friendly way to make fresh coffee with little maintenance during an event.

Single Cup Coffee