NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 27, 2023 17:03:50 GMT -5
Our school had a coffee lover basket for auction once.
It had a couple mugs, coffee, two bottles of flavoring, raw sugar, sugar cubes and some snacks.
It was being bid on pretty aggressively.
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steph08
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Post by steph08 on Jun 27, 2023 18:53:07 GMT -5
I don't drink coffee and just started into tea, so I'm not much help.
I do love those funny little tea steepers that look like unicorn pool floaties or fishing bobbers.
I think what you are doing is very nice and shows the employees that they're appreciated. My boss and I are 3,000 miles apart, but she has sent me gift cards after especially trying days or projects. It definitely sets her and the company apart from others I have worked at before.
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saveinla
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Post by saveinla on Jun 27, 2023 21:18:36 GMT -5
Trader Joe's Coffee Lover's Chocolate-Covered Assorted Espresso Beans - they have a small package and one bigger with dark chocolate.
I love these and would suggest throwing them in the basket. They also have coffee flavored chocolates - you need to explore the section in the store . You can also get them on Amazon, but it costs much more.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jun 27, 2023 21:58:27 GMT -5
I like coffee but I am mostly a one cup a day drink it black kind of person. My boss hates coffee and only deals with the office coffee machine because her boss loves it.
Gift cards to a local coffee shop or Dunkin Donuts might be useful because most generally have tea as well. There are also fun things like chocolate covered coffee beans or cookies containing coffee as well. I really did not drink coffee before coming to NJ, so a coffee theme would have felt exclusionary. I'd keep that in mind and see if he can find out who doesn't like coffee at all or strongly prefers tea.
I have to avoid dairy for health so hot chocolate gifts always make me sad because its a waste of a gift I have to give away.
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tractor
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Post by tractor on Jun 28, 2023 8:01:29 GMT -5
As the spouse of a teacher, I think the only thing you should not include is a coffee mug, I can't count how many she has brought home, let alone brought to goodwill. In general, anything that they can use in their classroom/school is a great addition ( can you slip in some booze 😀). I wouldn't ignore just a big tub of Folgers, they can share it with all the other teachers (something my wife also buys all the time since the school will not provide it).
For the record I like my coffee black and chewy, nothing can be too "rich" or "dark" for me. Several shots of espresso usually is a good start.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jun 28, 2023 10:21:53 GMT -5
Whoops - I didn’t see this before I posted. [mention]geenamercile [/mention] and I are on the same page - snacks that invoke coffee and recipes to make different coffees seem to go best with the theme to me. I am not sure what exactly your husband is doing, but it sounds like corporate bullshitterary. If so, it doesn’t have to be that thoughtful or meaningful. It just has to thematic. Ouch, especially because I stated I was spending my own personal money on this. I suggested a drink neutral cup, a recipe book, thematic candy and thematic pastries. Much more appealing to non-coffee drinkers than a bean grinder. It is a nice gesture. I hope your husband’s employees appreciate your thoughtfulness.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Jun 28, 2023 12:27:19 GMT -5
So, I didn't realize I was going to get such odd responses from people. I do grasp that it's impossible to make everyone happy, but I didn't realize that a public employee trying to be nice was so abhorrent.
I'll try to explain this again, but I'm likely not going to respond further. I know I shouldn't take everything so personally, but I was just seeking ideas like Mich, Bonny, and Weltz suggested.
My spouse and I spend our own personal funds each year to welcome everyone back in autumn to our respective work places. We've done this a few different ways.
1) individual swag bags for everyone. —Some years, when DH knows the team well enough, we will actually buy specific gifts for each person based on what they like and who they are. —Some years, I’ve followed a theme like color or kitchen and made two more gift bags than there are people. Each gift bag is different but follows the theme. So the color year, one gift bag and everything in it was yellow; another was red; and so on. The year I did kitchen stuff, there was non-perishable interesting food, kitchen utensils, etc. in each bag. One year I did an office spruce up theme--wall art, fancy stuff for pencil/paper holders.
I always make two extra so that everyone gets a choice when picking. If you pick last, you at least get to choose from three remaining options.
Regardless of the above options, No two bags are ever exactly the same.
2) lots of items following a theme. Generally at least four items person. However, they're not bagged/wrapped. They're intermittently set out during the three days. Throughout the three days, the items are either a prize for some fun competition (last year they had a corn hole tournament) or a raffle item. There will be moments throughout the three days when one of the administrators does or presents something professionally insightful, and my husband will say “hey, that’s exactly the type of philosophy, creativity, or goal we’re aiming for” and let the person choose something.
So, yes there would be a coffee and tea bar anyway. And now I’m thinking that what if someone prefers their caffeine as soda? That could be available also.
But the prizes/gifts are part of the “welcome back to work” and setting the tone for the year. Chloe, What you are doing is a kind and thoughtful thing. Most people will appreciate it but not everyone will. Some people are just sarcastic and cynical looking for motive when there isn't one. That's on them.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Jun 28, 2023 14:33:01 GMT -5
Knee Deep in Water Chloe I think your thoughtfulness and generosity are rare these days. A few random thoughts: - If you're near an Ikea, they sell a nice, inexpensive French press. - DS3 loved French press coffee when he was in college so one year we ordered him a smaller one from Amazon (just enough for one mug/two espresso cups) - chocolate covered coffee beans - coffee/tea flavored chocolate - tea tree oil / cream / cosmetics - loose tea - tea bags - steeper for loose tea (as someone else suggested) Could you make up two sets of gift bags? "Tea gift bags" (with one coffee item) and "Coffee gift bags" (with one tea item)? And perhaps let the people choose one or the other? Just some thoughts.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Jun 28, 2023 20:08:16 GMT -5
We're thinking further out than K-cups. Not just providing coffee to drink. I should specify that I make gift bags/baskets for each person attending the three-day event.
I'll probably get four or five 2lb packages of whole beans.
So, I'm thinking in each gift bag/basket could be Frothers, cold brew carafe, french press , etc. Mini-whisks? Fancy stirring spoons? a bean grinder. I took a seminar on coffee making with various appliances. Perculator, drip, french press, pour over drip and a couple I don't remember. Pre Keurig. Fresh ground coffee vs. coffee preground from the store. The best was spring water poured over freshly ground coffee. Cowboy coffee where an egg and coffee grounds is boiled in a sock. Side note, I donated a pour over set to a charity. The 4 bottles of Star Bucks coffee out bid my pour over. Sadly, coffee makes me sick after years of drinking 12 cups a day.
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chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Jun 28, 2023 20:25:34 GMT -5
I'll admit to not having read the entire thread, with apologies.
definitely do tea options, and hot chocolate options. the point is, it's a warm, caffeinated drink. you've covered all three with this.
K-cups are def not the be-all, end-all anymore, which is a good thing.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jun 28, 2023 20:35:25 GMT -5
I'll admit to not having read the entire thread, with apologies. definitely do tea options, and hot chocolate options. the point is, it's a warm, caffeinated drink. you've covered all three with this. K-cups are def not the be-all, end-all anymore, which is a good thing. We had a Nespresso machine in our cabin on the cruise. It was well used while I was on cabin arrest and couldn’t get to the coffee bar for my cappuccino. If I was going to buy one of these, that’s what I’d get. Until then, you’d have to pry my French press from my hands.
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nittanycheme
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Post by nittanycheme on Jun 29, 2023 8:46:33 GMT -5
I have no interest in coffee and would probably not even bring the gift bag home. I'm a tea person. Have you ever had tea from Mariage Freres? OMG! Best tea on the planet. They've been in business for 130 years. You don't have to go to Paris tto get it. It's available on Amazon. www.mariagefreres.com/UK/welcome.htmlI love them! I didn't know you could order it on Amazon! I went to visit some friends who were living in Paris, and we went there for tea and desserts. Their desserts where absolutely fantastic too! <off to order some now!>
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jun 29, 2023 9:09:25 GMT -5
I have no interest in coffee and would probably not even bring the gift bag home. I'm a tea person. Have you ever had tea from Mariage Freres? OMG! Best tea on the planet. They've been in business for 130 years. You don't have to go to Paris tto get it. It's available on Amazon. www.mariagefreres.com/UK/welcome.htmlOoh, I missed this comment. The Earl Grey Provence is my favorite! My aunt brings it home from Paris whenever she goes to visit friends.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Jun 29, 2023 19:15:53 GMT -5
Individually wrapped chocolate covered spoons and rock candy sugar sticks would by nice as part of a coffee/tea themed gift bag IMO.
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