In brief
Gen Z is bringing different coffee expectations to the workplace: plant-based milk, cold brews, and beans with a story behind them. Facility managers who respond to these trends now are seeing improvements in both employee satisfaction and employer branding.
- 57% of 25- to 39-year-olds choose specialty coffee (NCA, 2025)
- Oat milk accounts for 33% of all alternative milk orders
- 82% of employees associate good office coffee with a better mood
- Cold brew is the second-fastest-growing coffee category among younger workers
Gen Z brings different coffee expectations to the workplace. While baby boomers were perfectly happy with filter coffee and coffee creamer, the younger generation is all about plant-based milk, cold brews, and beans with a story. For facility managers, this means making concrete choices: which milk do you stock, which brewing methods do you offer, and how do you keep it manageable? Below, you can read what recent surveys reveal and how you can respond to these trends effectively.
Coffee preferences by generation: what do the numbers say?
The figures are clear. According to the 2025 NCA National Coffee Data Trends report (the annual market survey conducted by the National Coffee sports club the U.S.), 66% of Americans drink coffee daily, but the breakdown varies by age group. Among 25- to 39-year-olds, 57% choose specialty coffee, compared to 54% of those over 60 who stick with traditional filter coffee. Among 18- to 24-year-olds, nearly half drink at least one specialty coffee per day.
That preference is reflected in milk choices. Research by Lincoln & York, a British coffee roaster specializing in market analysis, shows that 37% of 18- to 34-year-olds choose alternative milk with their coffee. Transaction data from Square confirms this: oat milk accounts for 33% of all alternative milk orders, well ahead of almond milk at 10%. Oat milk in the office is therefore not a fleeting trend, but a structural shift in what the younger generation expects from office coffee.
Apply this to your office supplies: always offer a plant-based option alongside low-fat milk. Oat milk foams well and is the most widely accepted flavor.
Cold brew and nitro at the office: Is it feasible?
Cold brew (coffee steeped in cold water for 12 to 24 hours) is the second-fastest-growing coffee category among younger employees. Gen Z prefers cold, less bitter brews over classic hot coffee. More than 60% of this generation opts for cold beverages more often during social gatherings, and they bring that habit to the workplace. Nitro coffee—cold brew infused with nitrogen gas for a creamy texture—fits right in with that trend.
For a commercial cold brew offering, you have two options. One: a ready-made keg supplier that delivers weekly. Two: brew it yourself using a cold brew barrel, which is cheaper per serving but more labor-intensive. Cold brew on tap adds only a fraction to your existing coffee budget, especially compared to the situation where employees go out to buy iced coffee every day. Start with one tap and track consumption over eight weeks before scaling up.
Specialty beans and ethical sourcing: where is the line drawn?
Gen Z demonstrably places greater value on origin and sustainability. NCA data shows that 65% of Gen Z coffee drinkers prefer coffee with functional or ethical added value. Competitors in the coffee industry are already responding to this with transparent origin communication and traceable supply chains. That doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive micro-lot beans. It does mean, however, that a bag of supermarket coffee beans with no origin information is no longer sufficient.
A practical compromise: choose specialty beans with a recognizable certification label (Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade) and display information about where the beans come from in the coffee corner. This has a significant impact on the customer experience, while keeping the additional cost per pound to a minimum.
Coffee offerings as an employer branding tool
A Staples Workplace Survey reveals that 82% of employees say that coffee at work improves their mood. Nearly a third would consider leaving an employer that does not provide basic amenities such as good coffee. This is doubly true for the younger generation: they judge the work environment based on details that older generations consider trivial.
This makes coffee an inexpensive way to signal your brand as an employer. While a ping-pong table might gather dust after two weeks, the coffee corner is visited every day. Measure this effect by including two questions about the coffee offerings in your biannual employee satisfaction survey. This way, you can link the offerings to concrete satisfaction metrics rather than just a gut feeling.
Splitting the bill: where do you draw the line?
A facility manager at an office with fifty employees noticed that the oat milk was running out within two days, while the coffee creamer was barely touched. After a quick survey, it turned out that 40% of the team preferred plant-based milk. The standard order was adjusted to 60% oat milk and 40% low-fat milk. In addition, a cold-brew tap was introduced on a trial basis.
Once the selection expands to include premium specialty or nitro options, a split bill is worth considering. A rule of thumb: the employer covers the cost of basic offerings (filter coffee, espresso, one plant-based milk option). Premium upgrades, such as nitro or rotating single-origin beans, can be partially passed on to employees through a small co-payment. This keeps costs manageable without compromising the quality of the offerings.
Tailoring your coffee offerings to Gen Z doesn’t have to involve an expensive renovation. Simply adjusting your product mix, adding one more brewing method, and setting clear boundaries can make a measurable difference in employee satisfaction and workplace atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions About Expectations for Coffee Service at Work
How do Gen Z’s expectations for office coffee differ from those of older generations?
Gen Z is more likely to choose specialty coffee, plant-based milk, and cold-brewed beverages. Older generations are generally satisfied with filter coffee and regular coffee creamer. The difference lies in variety, awareness of origin, and the expectation that employers will go along with this.
Why should an employer offer plant-based milk as a standard option?
It’s not mandatory, but it is a good idea. About 37% of employees under 35 choose alternative milk. Oat milk is the most popular option and appeals to both those with specific taste preferences and those with lactose intolerance.
How do you get started with cold brew at the office?
Start with a single cold-brew tap or keg system and track consumption over an eight-week period. Compare that to how much employees spend on iced coffee outside the office. Based on that data, you can decide whether to scale up permanently.
How much of a difference does the coffee selection make for employer branding?
Research shows that 82% of employees associate coffee at work with a better mood. Nearly a third would consider leaving if basic amenities are lacking. Include two questions about coffee in your employee satisfaction survey to measure its impact.
How can you tell if your coffee selection is a good fit for your team?
Send out a short digital survey with three questions: what kind of milk do you drink, how do you prefer to prepare it, and is there anything you’re missing? Combine that with consumption data from your supplier. Within two weeks, you’ll have a clear picture.
