The coffee break is a very important practice in the world of events, whether they’re held in person or online. And let me tell you why:
The human attention span has been shrinking every year, reaching just 8 seconds of sustained attention, according to a study by Microsoft.
So, when it comes to organizing events, this is no different, since a talk lasting more than two hours can be too long, hurting the audience’s understanding and wearing out the speaker.
That’s why it’s extremely important to include breaks between an event’s activities, with the coffee break being a very popular practice.
So we’ve put together a complete guide on the topic so you can learn everything. Find out more:
- What is a coffee break?
- The benefits of a coffee break
- How to organize a coffee break
- Creating an event to host a coffee break
What is a coffee break?
Coming from the English term meaning a “pause for coffee,” the coffee break is a practice that happens during breaks in meetings, talks, and other types of events.
During it, attendees get a 30-minute to 1-hour break to rest mentally and physically, have some coffee or tea, or grab a quick snack.
A coffee break can also happen virtually, serving as a pause so attendees have time to step away, grab a snack, or even chat informally in real time.
So a coffee break can take different forms, and it can generate some important benefits — not just for your audience, but for you as well.
The benefits of a coffee break
1. Networking
Networking is the act of building a network of contacts, usually professional ones, through interpersonal interactions focused on the business world, with the goal of expanding your career and business opportunities.
For example, a conversation during a coffee break can generate great contacts, not just for attendees, but also for you, the organizer looking for new sponsors.
So the coffee break ends up serving as a great starting point for new business opportunities and even personal friendships.
2. A fresh pace for attendees
An event can become a bit tiring after a while, when the speaker’s voice starts to give out, the audience gets restless, and everyone starts glancing at the clock.
So why not take that necessary break to boost everyone’s energy?
Besides the attention deficit, there’s also an estimate that sitting for more than 30 minutes can be harmful to health, and it’s recommended that you stand up after that period.
That’s why you should add strategic breaks between your event’s activities — besides promoting well-being, everyone will come back with full energy.
This way, your speaker will feel refreshed to deliver even more content, and your audience will have more energy to take it in in the best possible way.
3. Adds value to your event
Contrary to what you might think, not every event includes a coffee break — it’s quite common for organizers to just announce a few breaks so attendees can stretch their legs.
That may be common, but it certainly doesn’t add much value to your event, especially for people looking for more direct, intimate networking, among other benefits.
That’s why the coffee break is an investment that can be used to attract more attendees and add value to your event.
For example, try promoting your schedule on social media, highlighting the coffee break as an important addition.
How to organize a coffee break
1. Create a schedule with strategic breaks
Before you start handing out coffee and arranging tables, it’s important to decide when the coffee break should happen.
For example, try noting which talks will run longer or which cover denser, already-defined topics — this way you can identify at which points your event might suffer from an attention deficit among the audience.
This lets you build a more efficient schedule for speakers, attendees, and staff, who will not only feel refreshed but also get the most out of your event.
2. Hire a specialized catering service
Contrary to popular belief, a coffee break goes far beyond just putting out snacks and drinks on a table.
It’s also an experience that can be optimized within your event, especially through professional service.
So hire a specialized catering service that knows how to deliver a premium experience for your guests, from carefully selecting the snacks to arranging where people stand in the room.
And here’s an important tip: consider hiring a barista, a professional specialized in creating different types and combinations of coffee — a great addition, especially for people who love a distinctive cup of coffee!
3. Run a satisfaction survey
Finally, don’t forget to find out how your guests’ experience was, since that’s how you’ll learn what went well and what you can improve for your next event.
To evaluate your coffee break, run a quick satisfaction survey with clear, objective questions about the experience, such as:
- “On a scale of 0 to 10, how satisfied were you with our coffee break?”
- “How would you rate your level of interaction during this part of the event?”
- “Leave a comment about our coffee break below.”
Creating an event to host a coffee break
Before creating a schedule, hiring a catering service, and finding out the highlights of your activities, you first need to have an event, right?
So start creating your event now, quickly and easily — whether in person or online — with a dedicated page ready to showcase your event’s benefits!
On the Even3 platform, you can promote your activities, speakers, and schedule, making your coffee break stand out even more as a highlight for your attendees!
Interested? Get started and create your event in just a few steps.
