We recently got a new member of our research group, a Merrild coffee machine. The Department of Computer Science at Aalborg University consists of several different research units, and luckily, one of the other units passed on their used coffee machine which still can be considered hyper-modern compared to our former one.
Easy access to coffee is an essential part of the infrastructure at any academic institution, and our department is no different. One of my appreciated benefits as a Ph.D. Fellow is the included unmetered amount of coffee. This benefit has changed what was, as a college student, a significant expense in my finances into a remarkably less significant cost.
The coffee machine and coffee drinking serve several purposes besides getting coffee. Firstly, it’s simply a part of the daily schedule, like turning on the computer. It’s a ritual that cannot easily (or should not?) be changed. Secondly, the environment around the coffee machine and the act of drinking coffee is a catalyst for socializing with colleagues. E.g., pitching some research ideas, discussing the stack of student reports, or simply a chance for some small talk. Thirdly, getting coffee makes it easy to procrastinate other more complex tasks. Whether or not the “fact” that I will be more efficient and creative after picking up coffee is true, it is not something I currently plan on challenging (but probably should.)
Welcome to our latest research group member, our new (used) Merrild coffee machine.