Our Green Team has discovered another way to reduce the amount of non-recyclable trash here at the dealership.
This month we are installing a new coffee machine in the customer lounge. Why? Well, did you know we were using an average of 40 non-recyclable 'k-cups' every day during the summer. The numbers skyrocket even higher during the colder months.
Why We Loved 'k-cups':
Remember the old days when a service department offered coffee like you made at home, from a regular 12-cup coffee maker. Well, if you do, then you also remember standing there wondering just how long that coffee had been sitting there. Would it still be drinkable? Should you ask? Who should you ask? Will you become one of 'those people' who was so picky they needed a fresh pot made just for them? Should I just have picked up a cup before I got here? Is that really decaf? - the stress on the customer was palpable. It wasn't much easier for those making the coffee. Who made that pot and when? Do we need a whole other machine for decaf? Is it too strong/weak for this customer's tastes? Are we doing flavors? What flavor was that supposed to be? If we leave it warming and a customer pours out the last cup, would they know to shut off the heat? Would any of us be there to notice before the pot shattered? Do we let it go cold? Do we need a microwave to reheat it?
Not fun.
Then came the convenience of k-cups and we all went wild. Not only could you guarantee each customer a freshly made cup of coffee no matter what time their appointment was, they could have flavors. French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Donut Shop, French Roast, Pumpkin Spice, regular or decaf... Oh, the choices! Plus, tea and hot cider options, little to no cleanup - what's not to like?
What's Not To Like:
Suddenly we were faced with a different issue. All this choice and ease of use came with a big problem. Every cup of coffee made meant one more NON-recyclable plastic item being tossed away in the trash. Then we did the math. With our busy service department we were using a conservative estimate of 40 cups a day during the hot summer months. That easily doubled in the cold New England winters. Just when we wanted to make less of an environmental footprint this was creating a seemingly unavoidable, embarrassingly obvious, coffee-scented Bigfoot-sized one.
Not good.
Our Solution:
Our Green Team talked over the issue but hesitated and struggled with going back to the old one pot ways of the very distant past. We just couldn't face our customers with a change like that.
So, we took some advice from our 'big-sister' Cadillac store. They had made a change over the year before to a much more sophisticated barista style machine. This didn't require the customer to remember to remove a used k-cup after they made their coffee (let's face it, that's kinda gross) and provided the custom fresh cup we wanted to offer.
Next, we made some inquires with their sales rep and explained our quandary. Would this work for us, our customer, and our budget? Yes, it would. We were fortunate that a new machine was just being put into circulation that offered a decent amount of options and rid us of all that plastic.
We had a bit of a bump in the road the first few days - a dispenser spring broke, but by the next week we were up and running and it has been smooth sailing since.
Customers can select from a number of choices via the large touch screen that includes Breakfast Blend (regular coffee), Decaf, 50/50 (half regular, half decaf), Espresso, French Vanilla, Mocha, Latte, Cappuccino, and two hot Chocolate options. The way our new coffee maker works is by freshly grinding the bean for each cup. Then by utilizing a reverse French Press system, the coffee is dispensed in the cup and the grounds are dispensed in an internal bin. Tea and Hot Cider can also be made via the Hot Water dispenser button. We also offer a rotating selection of flavored creamers for those who love that extra bit of sweetness.
With this new model we get to keep offering you a customized fresh brewed cup with only the cup (recyclable) and the bean (compostable) to be disposed of. Good for you, good for us, and good for the earth!
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Long Subaru is committed to a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle policy.
Currently we are 'Run on Sun' with both our Showroom, Service Area, and Collision Center 100% solar powered. We encourage our customers to join us by placing commonly used customer lounge items such as coffee cups and water bottles in the recycle bin.
