2012 OCS Operator of the Year: Dave Hart, Coffee To You, LLC, Santa Clara, Calif.

Service: innovation and organization

In the future, Hart wants to see coffee service evolve with new products and equipment that will bring even more of the coffee house experience into the workplace.

“I thank Starbucks every day for opening our eyes to a good cup of coffee,” Hart said with a laugh.

Of the recent changes, single cup has been one of the most successful for Hart. “That’s what my customers are requesting,” he said. However, he always pairs single cup with traditional air pots for meeting rooms and in executive briefing areas.

In the single cup segment, Keurig and Flavia are well known to OCS customers, but Hart reasons that soft pods will grow. He’s surprised this hasn’t happened since pods are less expensive than cartridge single-cup coffee and a “greener” option. He believes it will take a brand name roaster producing and marketing pods to drive their growth.

Hart’s biggest successes when bringing his service to a customer location isn’t always coffee — often it is bringing organization to a breakroom. Coffee To You provides storage containers for sugar, stir stickers and other items usually placed on the counter.

“If everything is labeled — chances are it will get back the way it should,” said Hart.

While Hart is flattered by the OCS Operator of the Year award, he feels most honored having a dedicated staff. “I have fantastic employees representing Coffee To You,” he said. “I think that is most rewarding to me.”