Coffee Break Friday - Free Coffee?

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When is free coffee not free?

I love getting free things.  Free samples, free software, and most of all free beverages and food.  One of the best places to get free beverages and food is at a conference.

The opening reception at IZEAFest was a prime example of a great spread.  Hors D’oeuvres, various finger foods and an open bar were the order of the day and they were exquisite.  I know it must have been expensive, but the impression it gave was one of great class.  Other conferences should aspire to the yumalicious food and copious drink which were there.

So this morning I came in and found a nice arrangement of coffee, sodas and tea available.  I had thought “Neat, now I can have another cup of coffee this morning.”  After pouring the coffee and putting in whatever accouterments into the cup, I then tasted it.

Ugh.

Why is it every time there’s “free” coffee I end up paying for it when I drink it?  It’s as if the hotel had intentionally filtered said coffee through a jock strap while making this vile stuff.  They even laughably served it in Starbucks cups.

Before you get on my case and say I’m raggin’ on IZEAFest, let me tell you that there are very few conferences I’ve been to where free coffee ever tasted good.  The ones which have good coffee usually have some sort of single serve coffee system like a Keurig, or Flavia.  So with that in mind I want to know why does free coffee have to taste so bad?  Wouldn’t you as a conference organizer want to give your attendees the best impression you can?

I think sometimes it’s just a matter of what’s only available from the conference center or hotel.  But maybe, just maybe I’d like to see a conference take the initiative and organize something really special for free coffee.  How about a Java bar or a couple of single serve coffee machines?

Com’on people. Let’s make free coffee something people want to drink instead of just tolerate.