Safety influences coffee-maker placement

Hotel & Motel Management, April 19, 2004 by Christine Blank

Safety is the No. 1 consideration when choosing coffee-maker placement in hotel guestrooms. The way a unit fits into the decor of a room is a consideration, too.

"We look at the overall aesthetics of the room and the ease of guest use," said Greg Schindler, director of operations at Country Inn & Suites, a brand of Carlson Hotels Worldwide. "We also take into consideration how the housekeeping staff will service them.

"We want to try to keep a residential look and feel; we make sure it does not clash with the room," Schindler said. "Sometimes we see lighter colors in the bathroom and darker colors in the guestroom."

Arcadia Residential Suites in Cincinnati uses black coffee makers because they show fewer spots, according to Ben Coffman, owner of the extended-stay property. To ensure safety, the coffee makers have a short cord and are placed on kitchen countertops directly in front of outlets.

While many hotels place coffee makers on bathroom counters or desks, a separate piece of furniture to house the coffee maker often is more aesthetically appealing, according to Pura Rojas, director of interior design for Powell Design Group, which is based in Orlando.

For example, at one property, Powell designed a piece of wood furniture about three feet high that has a coffee maker on top. Under the shelf with the coffee maker, there's room for suitcases.

Because the tall table matches the rest of the furniture in the room, it makes the entire decor look unified and consistent, Rojas said. The top of the piece is big enough to house the coffee maker and other food or beverages. The other advantage of the style is that it removes the coffee makers from the bathrooms, which some guests prefer.

Guest safety issues are addressed during the planning and approval process for each Country Inn property.

"We would make sure there is a proper [ground fault interrupter] outlet and make sure there is an automatic shut off [on the coffee maker]," Schindler said.

In Country Inns & Suites' rooms that have wet and dry bars, coffee makers are a logical fit for placement on top of the bars where the coffee maker's cord is concealed, further ensuring safety. In rooms that don't have wet and dry bars, coffee makers are placed on the bathroom counter. Some of the brand's properties have service trays under the coffee maker, but they aren't required.

The bathroom counter is the best spot to put a coffee maker to ensure safety when using and cleaning because the water and power are right there, according to Dieter Kadoke, senior v.p. of food and beverage for Wyndham International. Also, placing a coffee maker on a marble countertop prevents water stains on the wood furniture in guestrooms.

Wyndham buys only products that feature an automatic shut-off after 30 minutes.

Despite the precautions Wyndham takes, glass coffeepots aren't always safe for guests.

"When glass and a marble sink bang each other, something has got to give," Kadoke said.

To avoid breakage, Wyndham is experimenting with stainless-steel coffeepots at a handful of properties.

"Stainless steel costs 30 [percent] to 40 percent more than glass, but we're really looking at it from a safety standpoint," Kadoke said.

Although Wyndham executives haven't decided if they will expand the test--they want to gauge guest reaction--they said housekeeping staffs prefer the stainless steel.

"They are a little harder to clean, but once they clean them, they are shiny," Kadoke said.

At the Hilton Garden Inn in Glastonbury, Conn., management found that a cabinet that houses a minifridge and a microwave is the best place for a coffee maker.

"There is less breakage and less hassle than having it sit on a desk," said Sonny Walker, chief engineer at the Garden Inn, adding that there often isn't room on the desk.

If a coffeepot breaks while sitting in a cabinet, the glass is confined in that area. Additionally, the coffee-maker cord is plugged into the back of the cabinet, so the customer doesn't handle the cord at all, minimizing risks.

Suburban Franchise Systems places coffee makers at its extended-stay properties on the kitchen counter between the sink and the cooktop so it's not behind the sink or stove, according to Barry Vangrov, director of design and construction for Suburban. The 10-cup coffee maker is plugged into a GFI outlet on the wall, so the cord is not draped over the sink or cooktop.

The Kessler Collection places coffee makers at it's hotels on heat-resistant trays with rubber bottoms on bathroom counters. The coffee makers also have an automatic shut-off feature and short cords, and are placed next to GFI outlets.

Seven steps to perfectly brewed coffee

1. Coffee: Start with top-quality coffees from a source whose standards you trust. Evaluate the origin of the bean, the roast, the blend and the coffee's freshness to make a selection most suitable to your taste and the occasion.

2. Freshness: Always use fresh coffee. Store in a cool, dry place.

3. Water: The better the water, the better the brewed coffee. Fresh, cold tap water or bottled water is best.