It’s something you probably don’t even question, the in-room coffee for your guests. It’s just something you do, right? Guests are either going to drink it or not?

International travel writer Kim Westerman recently outlined in Forbes some of the reasons why hotel coffee is, well, not the finest java experience people have while travelling. While the coffee isn’t the focus of the hotel stay, it can be a positive experience for the guest.

Most hotel in-room coffee “doesn’t have a fighting chance,” she says. Drip coffee makers at higher-end properties are rarely cleaned, trap flavours and odours that aren’t supposed to be in coffee, and are used for who-knows-what purposes - everything from brewing tea to cooking meth.

And if you soften your establishment’s water supply to avoid water spots while cleaning, Westerman says, this changes the texture and “makes coffee too viscous.”

Even if you offer high-quality coffee sachets, it still has to contend with the softened water and dirty coffee maker. And guests want a good cup of coffee when they arrive, ready to relax after their journey.

So what to do?

For starters, consider offering freshly-brewed quality coffee in the lobby or other reception area. It makes a wonderful impression even if guests don’t buy a cup - most people just like the smell alone.

And for in-room coffee, try using French press or plunger coffee makers, which are far easier to keep clean than drip machines, and can use easy clean-up plunger bags - large teabag-style mixes of ground and instant coffee. Providing non-softened water, either by a dedicated faucet or in the refrigerator, would also give your guests a much better in-room coffee experience.

If you find few people are drinking your coffee, try switching brands, switching from Colombian to Brazilian (or vice versa) or looking for a coffee that is prepared according to green or fair-trade practices and make it a lifestyle selling point for your guests. Looking into all this too-often forgotten area can make a significant difference to your guests’ stay.