The Blog of Associated Services

December 15, 2015

Battling It Out With The Sugar Coated Holidays

Tis The Season… For Sugar-Loaded Everything. Do you notice how the aroma in the air seems to change almost instantaneously just as soon as Halloween is over? It’s the holiday season, brought to life with the scents of pumpkin, cinnamon and of course, sugary sweetness. And to match the holiday themed music played in nearly every establishment until the end of the year, all of the local coffee shops bring…

El Niño and the Effects on Global Coffee Crops

December 03, 2015

El Niño and the Effects on Global Coffee Crops

Ever since advance warning of cold El Niño winds came out earlier in 2015, the global coffee community has been abuzz with discussions about how to protect coffee crops. What exactly is El Niño anyway? According to the U.S. National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, it’s a “complex series of climatic changes precipitated by uncharacteristically warm Pacific Ocean water.” Set to begin this winter and extend into spring in the…

November 24, 2015

The Antioxidant Super-Drink, Yerba Mate

What Is Yerba Mate? Yerba Mate has been around for hundreds of years, stretching back to pre-Columbian Paraguay. It is a brewed, tea-like beverage from South America which has recently gained popularity with North American consumers. Yerba Mate is made from the naturally caffeinated leaves of the South American rain forest holly tree, native to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. And just like fine coffee, there are certain methods for growing premium…

November 10, 2015

Easy Tips For Improving Office Morale

We already know that providing free food in the workplace is in itself a great morale booster. But what else should we pay attention to as office and HR managers to ensure that we attract and keep happy, productive, long-term employees? Hint – it’s the little things that go the furthest. Feeling valued is a great incentive, so let’s look at some easy ways to create and nurture that feeling.…