In brief
Office occupancy in the Netherlands averages 59%, with significant peaks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As a result, coffee contracts based on pre-pandemic figures no longer reflect actual consumption. Billing based on actual attendance rather than headcount helps prevent both overcapacity and shortages.
- Drinking habits remain stable for each employee present: 3.5 to 4 cups per day.
- Total weekly consumption is, on average, 30 to 40% lower than in 2019.
- Tuesday and Thursday are the busiest days at the office; Friday is consistently the quietest.
- A usage-based contract with a bandwidth model is a better fit than a fixed FTE volume.
For years now, coffee consumption in hybrid work settings has no longer followed the old pattern of five equal office days. Office occupancy in the Netherlands now averages 59% (CBRE, 2025), but that occupancy is unevenly distributed throughout the week. As a result, coffee contracts based on pre-pandemic figures are no longer accurate. Below: what shifts the data from 2024 to 2026 reveal, how these differ by sector, and how buyers are revising their volumes.
From five days of stability to a pattern of ups and downs
In 2020, most organizations based their calculations on a fixed coffee consumption per FTE (full-time equivalent, i.e., one full-time employee as the unit of measurement): an average of 3.5 to 4 cups per person per workday, spread over five days. That calculation is now outdated. The average office occupancy rate in the Netherlands is now 59%, with clear peaks on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have the highest occupancy rate at 65%, followed by large corporations at 56% and the public sector at 51%.
Data from around the world confirms this trend. HubStar, a workplace analytics platform, reported a global peak occupancy rate of 58.6% on Tuesdays in 2025, while Friday’s rate remained at 34.5%. In terms of coffee consumption in hybrid work settings, this means that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, an office operates at or above its previous capacity, while on Mondays and Fridays, consumption is sometimes less than half that level.
What the numbers mean for office coffee in a hybrid 2026
An office with 200 FTEs that used to consume 800 cups per day (4 per person) now uses around 520 cups on a busy Tuesday (65% occupancy, with the same drinking habits per person present). On Fridays, that drops to about 280. The weekly average thus falls well below the old contract volume, but the peaks on Tuesdays and Thursdays still require the same machine capacity.
If the current trend in staff levels continues, average consumption per FTE will decline further in 2026 to between 2.0 and 2.4 cups per day, calculated across all workdays, including days worked from home.
According to market data, fully occupied offices generate approximately 2.3 times as much beverage consumption as hybrid-occupancy environments. This explains why contracts based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) are consistently overpriced when occupancy rates range from 50% to 60%.
Sector differences account for the variation
The shift in coffee consumption and office occupancy rates varies by location. The IT and financial sectors have the highest percentage of remote work: 97% of companies in those industries support teleworking (CBS, 2024). The public sector exhibits the “camel hump” pattern (an occupancy pattern with two peaks in the middle of the week): strong peaks on Tuesdays and Thursdays, low occupancy on the other days. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) tend to operate entirely on-site, so coffee consumption there remains closer to the old pattern.
So, anyone purchasing office coffee for a hybrid organization in 2026 won’t be looking at the number of FTEs, but rather at the daily occupancy profile.
Revising the coffee contract: from a fixed volume to actual consumption
Many coffee contracts are still based on a fixed monthly volume per employee. With occupancy rates fluctuating between 35% and 70%, you end up paying for coffee that nobody drinks on slow days. Here are three steps to help fix that.
First, map out the occupancy profile for each weekday using access data or workspace bookings from the past three months. Then, convert consumption to cups per employee present rather than per FTE. Assume 3.5 to 4 cups per employee present per day. Finally, negotiate a consumption-based contract: billing per cup, or a bandwidth model (a contract type with an agreed-upon minimum and maximum volume per month) that adjusts according to occupancy.
A useful rule of thumb: with a 59% occupancy rate, use a staffing level of 50% to 70% of the previous FTE level to avoid overcapacity without causing shortages on peak days.
The traditional all-you-can-drink model deserves a rethink. With fluctuating occupancy, you pay a fixed amount for capacity that isn’t fully utilized on three out of five days.
Case study: financial services provider, 150 FTEs
A medium-sized financial firm with 150 employees had a contract in place through 2024 based on 3,000 cups per week (150 FTEs × 4 cups × 5 days). After analyzing workspace bookings, the average occupancy rate was found to be 55%: around 75% on Tuesdays and Thursdays, around 50% on Mondays and Wednesdays, and below 35% on Fridays.
Actual weekly consumption was around 1,650 cups. By switching to a consumption-based contract, availability remained the same during peak times, while the unused volume was eliminated
Usage is based on attendance, not headcount
Coffee consumption in a hybrid work environment is no longer a matter of simply multiplying by the number of FTEs. Data from 2024 to 2026 shows that occupancy patterns vary widely by day, sector, and organization type. Those who base their coffee contract on actual attendance rather than headcount avoid overcapacity on slow days and shortages on peak days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much coffee will an office consume in 2026 compared to 2019?
Total weekly consumption is on average 30 to 40% lower than in 2019, as the occupancy rate has dropped from approximately 85% to 55–60%. Per employee present, drinking habits remain virtually unchanged: 3.5 to 4 cups per day.
On which days is coffee consumption highest in the office?
Tuesday and Thursday are the busiest days in the office. More than 70% of Dutch organizations report these two days as peak occupancy days (CBRE, 2025). Friday is consistently the quietest day.
How do you adapt a coffee contract to a hybrid work model?
Track the occupancy profile by weekday using access data or booking systems. Calculate consumption per person present rather than per FTE. Negotiate a usage-based contract with billing per cup or a bandwidth model.
Does coffee consumption vary by sector?
Yes. The IT and financial sectors operate most hybridly, with the lowest average occupancy rates. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) follow the old pattern more closely. The public sector experiences sharp peaks on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with quiet Mondays and Fridays.
Does an all-you-can-drink policy still work when staff levels fluctuate?
With occupancy rates fluctuating between 35% and 70% daily, a fixed all-you-can-drink model means you’re paying for unused capacity. A usage-based model with per-cup billing is better suited to hybrid offices
Making the right choice
When comparing service contracts, pay attention to response times, parts coverage, the frequency of preventive maintenance, and the availability of replacement equipment. Ask about exclusions and make sure all agreements are documented in writing.
Would you like advice on which service contract is right for your situation? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.
