Blog - PVS Refreshments

Office Coffee Service in the San Francisco

31 May San Francisco , Do You Know What the Secret Ingredient in Coffee Is?

Posted at 01:04h in Office Coffee Service

Making great coffee while protecting the brewing equipment requires San Francisco employees to constantly perform a balancing act. They must choose the best type of water to find the sweet spot between preventing damage to the brewing equipment and brewing the perfect cup of coffee.

Why is the type of water so important? A cup of coffee consists of 98 percent water. That means that the beans only represents two percent of the beverage. The quality or type of water can range anywhere from “hard” (full of minerals like magnesium) to “soft” (distilled water falls into this category).

To understand the impact of hard and soft water on brewing equipment, consider the following:

many maintenance issues are caused by water because the water comes into contact with almost every part of the machine
for example, some compounds found in hard water are sticky and seek out specific compounds in the coffee grounds impeding the brewing process
the more minerals the water contains (or the harder the water), the more damaging the water can be to the brewing equipment
minerals cause scale buildup (or coat) the inner workings (pumps, boilers, and valves) of the brewing machine, causing corrosion, leaks, and ultimately, the destruction of the machine.

If too many minerals in hard water damage the brewing system, why not use soft or distilled water? The answer to this question is why balancing the water selection is so important. The right balance of minerals in the water improves the taste of a San Francisco cup of coffee.

To understand how hard and soft water changes the taste, consider the following:

minerals found in water carry coffee’s body and aroma to the palate
a high mineral content contributes to a decrease in the quality
- too much alkalinity in the water can cause a soapy taste or residue in the brewed coffee
- water that is too hard can give a bitter or chalky taste
- very little mineral content is also a problem at it causes strange extractions and off-flavors
soft water can create a bland cup of coffee

If San Francisco individuals are interested in monitoring the water that goes into their coffee, the following table from the Specialty Coffee Association’s “Water for Brewing Standards“ lists the acceptable characteristics for the best brewing water.

Characteristic	Target	Acceptable Range
Odor 1	Clean/Fresh, Odor free	n/a
Color 2	Clear color	n/a
Total Chlorine	0 mg/L	n/a
TDS 3	150 mg/L	75 – 250 mg/L
Calcium Hardness	4 grains or 68 mg/L	1-5 grains or 17 mg/L – 85 mg/L
Total Alkalinity	40 mg/L	At or near 40 mg/L
pH	7.0 (neutral)	6.5 – 7.5
Sodium	10 mg/L	At or near 10 mg/L

However, not everyone has the time or desire to check the mineral content and quality of their water. When that’s the case, there are several options to explore. The first is to reconsider your source for coffee beans. A local roaster will likely test their beans with local water increasing the likelihood that your San Francisco employees will brew great tasting coffee. On the other hand, nationally recognized brands often use pure water, which can be found almost everywhere, to test their beans as they strive to create a consistent flavor nationwide. A second option is to use water that tastes good on its own. If water tastes and smells good and is clean straight from the tap, the end result will likely be tasty.

As a side note—avoid pure distilled or reverse osmosis water. While they are often recommended, they are too pure to brew coffee and will leave a lot of flavor behind. A better option is to consider installing a water filtration system in your office break room. Employees can relax knowing they don’t have to worry about the water quality, and San Francisco employers will know the chemical makeup of the water running through their coffee brewers.

Whether your San Francisco organization is looking for a new office coffee service or just wants to update the office break room, PVS Refreshments can help. We offer a wide variety of customizable vending solutions including micro-markets and healthy vending. To take the first step, call us at 844.527.4800. We look forward to hearing from you.

Healthy Vending Machine Options in the San Francisco

31 Dec Healthier Vending Machine Beverages in the San Francisco

Posted at 10:07h in Healthy Vending Machines

Vending machine technology is only one of the many aspects of the vending industry that has changed a lot since the first bottled soft drink machines, cooled with ice, appeared on the market in the 1930’s. Which beverages San Francisco consumers want to buy have also undergone several makeovers.

Diet sodas, for example, were first mass produced during the 1960’s and enjoyed a seemingly positive reputation until the early 2000’s when sales started to decline. The shift in opinion began as San Francisco consumers learned more about diet soda’s ingredients and understood that those ingredients were actually chemicals that were dangerous to their health.

Today, medical professionals have a better understanding about the downsides of consuming diet soda. Keri Glassman, R.D.N., at Women’s Health shares, “It [diet soda] is filled with unhealthy chemicals, including artificial sweeteners, which actually make[s] you crave more calories later” and contributes to weight gain.

However, diet soda alone doesn’t cause all weight gain. Cara Harbstreet, R.D., of Street Smart Nutrition says, “Consumers of diet soda who engage in other lifestyle behaviors associated with poor health outcomes are at a greater risk than those who balance their intake of diet soda with other healthful habits.The variables make it difficult to pinpoint whether diet soda consumption alone is the cause of negative health outcomes, or whether it’s the culmination of a number of factors…nothing in nutrition or health exists in a vacuum.”

As 2017 comes to a close, it is important to consider other habits that play a role in developing health-related issues such as not exercising, smoking, consuming too many sweets, and diet or regular soda instead of water, and not sleeping enough. The following are a few health issues that can happen as a result of doing either too much of a bad thing or not enough of a good thing.

not exercising enough: increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, depressions, osteoporosis, bone fractures, and more sick days
smoking: higher risk of developing lung cancer, COPD including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and worsening asthma
eating and/or drinking too much sugar: greater risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, cavities, depression, joint pain, and an increase in wrinkles and saggy skin
not getting enough water: causes headaches, dry mouth, eyes, and skin, disorientation, low energy levels, muscle cramps or spasms, hunger, and mood swings
not getting enough sleep: increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, obesity, depression, lack of alertness, impaired memory, mood swings, and an increased chance of having a car accident

So, as 2018 is quickly approaching, individuals should focus on exercising, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and consuming healthy vending machine snack and beverage choices. But don’t forget to enjoy a special treat every once in awhile.

To help your San Francisco employees make healthy choices during the workday, offer a wide variety of healthy snacks and beverages in the office breakroom vending machine. Not only will it positively impact your employees health, but it will also help maintain high energy levels and increase productivity. That’s a win-win for everyone.

For more information about adding healthy options to your current vending machines or creating the ultimate breakroom in 2018, call PVS Refreshments at 844.527.4800. We’d love to help.

Healthy Vending Machine Choices in the San Francisco

15 Dec Healthy Vending Machine Options in the San Francisco Can Boost Productivity

Posted at 11:34h in Healthy Vending Machines

Corporate wellness programs including those that offer healthy vending machine options can have a positive impact on both an employee’s health and on the company’s productivity, but only if the wellness program is implemented carefully.

A recent study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, UCLA, and Washington University in St. Louis found that wellness program participation “improved average worker productivity by over 4 percent” which is roughly equivalent “to adding one additional day of productive work per month for each employee” (Gubler, Larkin, & Pierce,2017, p. 2). Taken one step further, researchers determined that by using diet and exercise, sick and healthy employees increased their productivity by 10 percent.

There are, however, several important caveats to consider.

Participation must be voluntary. Researchers found that when participation was required or strongly suggested through social or financial pressure, the participants reacted negatively. Participants perceived the company to be overstepping its bounds and interfering in their health and lifestyle choices.

Participants must believe in the program’s merits and safety. Highlighting the differences between the reality of the program versus its perceptions will help employees trust that their health data will remain private and will not be used for employment-related purposes.
Long-term productivity gains are unlikely to be sustainable through single or short-term interventions. Employers must consider multiple or long-term wellness support for employees if increased productivity is to be sustainable.

Wellness programs or interventions in can occur in many different forms from fitness activities to healthy food choices in the office break room vending machine. The best choices for your specific organization will likely vary from the organization next door. Ask your San Francisco employees for their opinions and preferences. To start the conversation, consider a few of the following options.

Fitness

encourage public transportation, walking or biking—arrange for bike racks and provide “bike to work” promotional materials
encourage stairwell use by strategically placing posters with information about the physical benefits of using stairs
offer corporate discounts for health club memberships in the San Francisco or offer an on-site fitness facility
coordinate and market running and walking groups and other monthly and weekly fitness challenges

Corporate Culture

Turn sit-down meetings into walking meetings
bring in items that will encourage folks to take a break and rejuvenate such as scooters, game rooms, footballs, and hula hoops
incorporate plants and other greenery around the office
offer a quiet spot to take a nap

Food Choices

offer healthy snack, beverage and food choices via vending machines or a micro-market—don’t forget to include non-dairy milk options for those who are vegan or are dairy intolerant
offer free or reduced cost refreshments for employees—it’s a great morale booster
throw a monthly healthy potluck
coordinate with a community supported agriculture (CSA) for local fruit and vegetable deliveries to the office and/or find local farmers markets in the San Francisco

Whether you are looking to offer Free Vend, add a new vending machine or create the ultimate break room, PVS Refreshments can help. We offer a wide variety of products and services that can help boost your employees’ wellness, morale, and productivity. Call us at 844.527.4800 for more information.

Reference:

Gubler, T., Larkin, I., and Pierce, L. (2017, June 28). Doing Well by Making Well: The Impact of Corporate Wellness Programs on Employee Productivity. Forthcoming, Management Science. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2811785

30 Nov San Francisco Employees Crave Healthy Snacks

Posted at 11:52h in Healthy Break Room Snacks

The increase in demand for healthy snacks is not only about which ingredients are in a snack; it is also about the ingredients that aren’t there. According to Mintel, a global market research firm, 84 percent of consumers want to reduce the amount of natural sugar and artificial sweetener in their diets. Participants indicated that weight management and future health concerns were the top reasons to cut sugar. In fact, 31 percent of participants agreed that removing sugar from their diet causes more weight loss than cutting out fat. Millennials or 18 to 34 year olds had additional concerns about sugar and its negative impact on dental health and the appearance of their skin.

Decreasing the amount of sugar consumed has many more positive effects on a San Francisco individual’s health than the few previously mentioned. Some additional health benefits of eating less sugar are

lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol (LDL) levels,
decrease risk of fatty liver disease, diabetes, and heart attack,
Lower chances of developing Alzheimer’s and dementia,
improved cognitive function, memory, and responsiveness,
increased energy levels.

Avoiding sugar isn’t always as easy as it sounds though. Sugar is frequently hidden in products that aren’t usually associated with sugar. It is also referred to by other names and found in many different forms including molasses, organic cane sugar, fruit juice concentrate, malt sugar, corn syrup, honey, syrup, and words ending in “ose” dextrose, lactose, maltose, fructose, glucose, and sucrose. The following suggestions are a few ways that can help San Francisco employees and students choose healthy snacks and reduce sugar consumption:

check the ingredient list for hidden sugar
eat as close to natural as possible
check the nutrition label to see how much sugar is actually in the product
gradually lower your sugar intake
eat more protein and healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocados, and olives
drink naturally flavored seltzer water as an alternative to sugary beverages

The increase in demand for snacks and beverages with less sugar has led to new, easy-to-find, healthier choices including kombucha teas and drinking vinegars. Since San Francisco employees are looking for a wide variety of flavors and sweetness levels, there are many new opportunities to offer healthy snacks and beverages at all sweetness levels in the office break room.

Consider offering all of your San Francisco employees the chance to enjoy a healthy snack or beverage while at work. Whether enjoying a can of flavored carbonated water or a healthy snack from the vending machine, there is an option for everyone. For more information about adding healthy snacks and beverages to your office break room or updating your current vending machine options, call PVS Refreshments at 844.527.4800.

15 Nov A New Coffee Service Benefit for San Francisco Employees

Posted at 11:51h in Office Coffee Service

Enjoying coffee and tea from the office coffee service may provide San Francisco employees with additional health benefits. Scientists from Boston Children’s Hospital recently found that consuming caffeine may help decrease pain sensitivity in those with chronic pain. The consumed caffeine caused dopamine, a carrier of messages between nerve cells in the brain, to flood the brain’s pleasure center resulting in decreased pain sensitivity, a huge benefit for chronic pain suffers.

Healthy levels of dopamine help regulate emotions, cognition, food intake, and the endocrine system. Chronic pain, on the other hand, often causes endocrine, cardiovascular, immune, neurological, and musculo-skeletal system problems resulting in decreased immune health, spikes in blood pressure, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating, and disruptions of daily activities. It appears that caffeine causes a boost in dopamine which works against some of the negative effects of chronic pain.

This new information is great news for the 25.3+ million adults who live with chronic pain. But caffeine has other benefits that can improve workplace productivity too. Caffeine has been known to decrease fatigue, offer short term mental boost, and improve memory. Coffee, tea, and chocolate are a few of the more familiar sources of caffeine. The different levels of caffeine in caffeinated beverages is a result of different places of origin, varying processing and preparation methods (including brewing time), and the amount of milk or cream added.

Typical levels of caffeine in tea and coffee include:

Coffee: 8 fl oz. mug includes 95 mg to 165 mg
Espresso: 1 fl oz. shot includes 47 mg to 64 mg
Black Tea: 8 fl oz. mug includes 25 mg to 48 mg
Green Tea: 8 fl oz. mug includes 25 mg to 29 mg
Ready-to-Drink Bottled Tea: 8 fl oz. bottle includes 5 mg to 40 mg

If coffee and tea have too much caffeine or are too acidic for your San Francisco employee, enjoying a bar of dark chocolate or a mug of hot cocoa from the office break room is another option. Both dark chocolate and hot cocoa have less caffeine than the traditional office coffee service choices.

Office Coffee Service in the San Francisco

Typical levels of caffeine in chocolate include:

Hot Cocoa: 8 fl oz. mug includes 9 mg
Dark Chocolate: 3.5 oz. bar with 70% to 80% cocoa includes 80 mg
Dark Chocolate: 3.5 oz. bar with 50% to 69% cocoa includes 70 mg
Milk Chocolate: 3.5 oz. bar includes 20 mg

Consider offering all of your San Francisco employees the chance to enjoy a caffeine pick-me-up while at work. Whether enjoying coffee or tea from the office coffee service or a bar of dark chocolate from the vending machine, there is an option for everyone. For more information about adding coffee service or updating your micro-market options, call PVS Refreshments at 844.527.4800.

Caffeine Snacks and Beverages in the San Francisco

15 Oct San Francisco Employees Enjoy Caffeine’s Benefits

Posted at 18:23h in Office Coffee Service

Maintaining recommended fitness levels is a challenge for many individuals, but there is new research about caffeine that might make it just a bit easier to accomplish. Recent research from the University of São Paulo in Brazil found a link between caffeine consumption and more effective workouts. In the study, the participants’ cycling speed was recorded after the cyclist burned 450 calories. The first time after taking a caffeine pill, the second time after taking a placebo, and the third time after taking nothing. The average cycling speed after consuming the caffeine pill was 3.3 percent faster than when compared to taking nothing. That is a substantial boost.

Benefits

But caffeine offers more benefits to San Francisco individuals who consume it than just improving one’s workout performance. If you ask, most individuals know that it decreases fatigue first thing in the morning as well as during the mid-afternoon slump. Less familiar may be the idea that caffeine has been found to provide a mental boost for 45 minutes after consuming it and improved memory over the next 24 hours. San Francisco employee’s reaction time, and concentration also increases. Each of these benefits on their own are good for employee productivity, but when combined, they could be great.

Caffeine has also been found to play a role in preventing a number of health conditions including type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, as well as reduce the risk of liver cancer and mouth and throat cancers.

Sources

To get the most benefit, it is best to consume snacks and beverages with naturally occurring caffeine. “Added” caffeine does not contain the powerful antioxidants and vitamins that are found in the naturally occurring form causing its boost to be a sudden jolt up and a fast crash down. Some of the 60 plant species that contain the naturally occurring form include cocoa beans, kola nuts, tea leaves, coffee beans, yerba maté, guarana berries, guayusa, and the yaupon holly. Chocolate, tea, and coffee are three of the more popular forms of naturally occurring caffeine in San Francisco , and each one contains different beneficial antioxidants.

Chocolate: flavonoids, procyanidins, epicatechin, cocoa phenols
Tea: epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin
Coffee: chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and melanoidins

Which one is your favorite type—chocolate, tea or coffee? Offering all three of them in your San Francisco office break room is a cost-effective way to help your employees relax and at the same time, boost their productivity. For more information about different vending machine, micro-market, or Free Vend options, call PVS Refreshments at 844.527.4800. We can help you determine the best caffeinated options for your employees.

29 Sep The New Meal in the San Francisco

Posted at 10:06h in Healthy Break Room Snacks

By previous standards, it wouldn’t be considered a meal. It isn’t always consumed at traditional meal times or eaten at a table. But according to those between the ages of 18 and 35 (Millennials), it contributes to their daily nutritional needs and functions as a meal.

What is it?

It is a healthy snack. Millennials are eating a lot of snacks. 92 percent of individuals recently surveyed by Surveygoo said they replace a meal with a snack at least once a week. 50 percent do it four times a week and 26 percent, do it seven times per week. That is a lot of snacking.

Since Millennials are now the largest segment of the population in the U.S. workforce, San Francisco employers need to reexamine their break room snack, beverage, and food options. At the top of the list of preferred ingredients for healthy snacks are whole grains, real fruit pieces, and nuts. These healthy ingredients are not just beneficial for Millennials. They are better for everyone. When researching different healthy snack options for your employees, here are three things to consider:

Nutritional Needs

Will it stop hunger between meals?
Will it help me to stay hydrated?
Will it help me to manage my health and diet?

Refuel or Energy Pick-Me-Up

Will it give me an energy boost?
Will it increase my mental focus?
Will it help decrease stress?

Ingredients

Whole Grains (oats, brown rice, millet, and quinoa)
Plant-Based Proteins (legumes, nuts, and seeds)
Fruits and Vegetables (berries, apple, and sweet potato)
Low in Sugar

Each of these areas can offer benefits when considered on their own. However, when they are considered as a group, the benefits can reach even further. A snack with healthy ingredients that fulfills nutritional needs, keeps an employee hydrated, and improves mental focus positively impacts that individual’s health as well as increases creativity and productivity. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Have you considered including healthy snacks in your San Francisco office break room? Whether you are just beginning your office break room journey or would like to update your vending machine or micro-market selections, we can help you with that. Contact PVS Refreshments at 844.527.4800 for more information.

15 Sep San Francisco , How Do You Drink Your Coffee?

Posted at 10:51h in Office Coffee Service

Did you know that the majority of U.S. coffee drinkers do not drink their coffee black? According to the most recent National Coffee Association’s National Coffee Drinking Trends (NCDT) report, 68 percent of coffee drinkers add some type of non-dairy or dairy product to their coffee, and about 50 percent add a sweetener.

Cream & Sugar Trends

Dairy and Non-Dairy Additives
- 35% add a non-dairy creamer (or coffee whitener, as it is known in some regions)
- 14% use half and half
- 13% prefer whole milk
- 5% enjoy a non-dairy milk alternative
Coffee Flavoring Preferences
- 21% prefer the flavor to be in a powder or liquid creamer
- 5% would rather add the flavoring by itself
Demand for “clean label” creamers or creamers made from natural ingredients including plant-based creamers has surpassed demand for “traditional” flavored creamers
Increased Demand for Sweeteners
- 38% use sugar
- 12% prefer artificial sweeteners

With an increase in the type and number of potential options that can be used to change the flavor or sweetness of a cup of black coffee, it is important to take the time to understand your employees’ preferences. If their preferences aren’t available, they are likely to go offsite to find that “perfect” beverage.

Cafe-Style Coffee Service

Offering cafe-style office coffee service in the office break room is a cost-effective way to help encourage San Francisco employees to stay onsite when they want a cup of coffee. To make sure everyone is able to customize their coffee, consider offering a mixture of the following products in the office break room:

non-dairy creamer (or coffee whitener): a plain or flavored liquid or granular substance added to coffee, tea or hot chocolate
half-and-half: contains equal parts of whole milk and light cream, and has 10 to 12 percent fat content (more fat than milk, but less fat than cream)
milk: cow’s milk that has been fortified with vitamins A and D, and is available as whole milk (~3.5% fat), 2% reduced-fat milk, 1% low-fat milk, and fat-free or skim milk
non-dairy “milk” options: almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, etc.
sugar: granulated or “regular” sugar, cane sugar, organic sugar, etc.
artificial sweeteners: aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, etc.

Which items do your San Francisco employees request the most? Are they available? Whether your current coffee service needs a tune-up or you want to create the ultimate break room by adding cafe-style coffee service, PVS Refreshments can help. For more information, contact us at 844.527.4800.

30 Aug When Is a San Francisco Vending Machine not a Vending Machine?

Posted at 09:25h in Beverage Vending Machines

When it’s a micro-market!

At first glance, a San Francisco consumer might see a micro-market and think it is just a decorated space with vending machines, but that is not the case. A micro-market is a cafe-style break room that offers a wide variety of healthy fresh foods as well as snacks and beverages. Not only is it a place to grab a bite to eat, but it is also a relaxing environment to catch up with colleagues during the workday. The micro-market experience is not the only thing that separates a micro-market from a vending machine. How the micro-market is run behind the scenes is a key differentiator.

Since the vending industry’s inception, vending operators have developed multiple best practices that are used to help drive success including inventory placement, tracking, and analysis. Successful micro-markets have caused operators to realize that what it takes to create a successful micro-market is quite different from a successful vending situation. Two important areas to consider are product placement and the size of the SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) count.

Product Placement

Location, location, location isn’t only a phrase used in real estate. It also influences how a San Francisco consumer sees products in a vending machine and how that same consumer makes a decision about which product to purchase. To cause an individual to look at all of the products in the vending machine, snacks are placed in strategic spots by color. Items in micro-markets, on the other hand, should be placed in a way that is similar to a convenience store—top sellers placed high and low, and promotional products placed at eye level. Grouping like items, such as healthy snacks, together is also recommended so consumers know where to find them.

SKU Counts

Generically, a SKU is a unique number assigned to a product that identifies the price, product options, and manufacturer. SKUs help a retailer track inventory, perform stock-takes, identify shrinkage, replenish inventory, and identify profits. Vending operators traditionally kept small SKU counts and worked toward eliminating unnecessary SKUs. Micro-markets, on the other hand, require larger SKU counts to be able to offer San Francisco consumers different choices in flavor, size, texture, type, etc. Micro-market operators, for example, have been able to determine that fresh food is in demand by tracking SKU counts. Results from a recent survey support those observations as more than 25% of micro-market sales are from fresh food.

Both the behind the scenes’ activities and the consumer’s’ experience with a micro-market are very different when compared to the same activities and experiences with a vending machine. The micro-market experience is about more than what is placed where; it’s the ultimate employee perk. The micro-market is a unique break room created for your employees to enjoy a healthy snack or freshly prepared meal any time of day. Addressing food preferences, diet restrictions, and requested food selections are just a few of the ways that PVS Refreshments tailors the micro-market to your organization’s needs.

For more information about the benefits of a micro-market or how to transform your San Francisco office break room into the ultimate break room, call us at 844.527.4800.

06 Aug San Francisco , Meet the Gluten-Free Snack

Posted at 01:55h in Health

With the number of San Francisco individuals who have to navigate life without gluten because of an illness like Celiac Disease, it is helpful to know that gluten-free foods are now more readily available. A recent report from Research and Markets, Gluten-Free Foods in the U.S. 6th Edition, projected that sales of gluten-free foods in the following categories—Salty Snacks, Crackers, Fresh Bread, Pasta, Cold (ready-to-eat) Cereal, Baking Mixes, Cookies, Flour, and Frozen Bread/Dough—are expected to grow to more than $2 billion by 2020. That is a lot of gluten-free food and snacks.

So, what exactly is gluten? The Celiac Disease Foundation defines gluten as “a general name for the proteins found in wheat (wheatberries, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® khorasan wheat and einkorn), rye, barley, and triticale – a cross between wheat and rye.” Gluten behaves as the glue that holds food together. Several different categories of ingredients such as fruit, vegetables, and protein do not naturally have gluten. Creating snacks and other grain-based products requires additional knowledge about how each gluten-free ingredient works as the many of the frequently used grains contain gluten.

There are, however, many plant-based gluten-free ingredient options that are now being used to create healthy, tasty, and filling snacks. The following are a few that San Francisco employees might be familiar with:

Whole Grain, Gluten-Free Ingredients

Amaranth
Buckwheat groats (or kasha)
Corn (maize)
Gluten-free oats
Millet
Quinoa
Sorghum
Teff
Wild Rice/Brown Rice

Plant-Based, Gluten-Free Ingredients

Arrowroot
Pulses (beans, lentils & chickpeas)
Cassava
Chia
Flax
Nut flours
Soy
Tapioca
White Rice

Researchers from Gluten-Free Foods in the U.S., 6th Edition found that “pulse-based [ingredients] are particularly valuable in improving the nutrient quality of gluten-free products, as they are richer in fiber, protein, and micronutrients than GF [gluten-free] staples rice and tapioca flour. The appeal of ancient and sprouted grains is much like that of pulses. For food processors [or manufacturers], these ingredients provide whole food, plant-based protein sources that enhance appearance, deliver unique tastes and textures, pack a nutritional wallop, and invite variety and innovation.”

With such a wide variety of ingredients and the different ways that they can be used, the availability of tasty gluten-free snacks in the San Francisco has grown to include many different salty and sweet snack choices. Gluten-free salty snacks often include rice and corn puffs flavored with aged cheddar or popped potato chips with barbecue flavoring. Sweet treats vary from cookies made with rice or oat flour to gluten-free Greek yogurt with a wide variety of fruit choices.

Have you considered offering both gluten-free and traditional snacks and beverages in your office break room? PVS Refreshments offers both traditional options as well as products that are gluten-free for those who need gluten-free choices. We can also help you determine the best mix of choices to offer in your office break room. For more information, contact PVS Refreshments at 844.527.4800.