How Toyota Finance Australia Used Coffee To Bring Their Workplace To Life
When Toyota Finance Australia moved into their newly refurbished Sydney headquarters, they weren’t just looking to fill a beautiful office. They were looking to create a space that people genuinely wanted to return to, not because they had to, but because they chose to.
With hybrid work becoming the new normal, Toyota Finance Australia needed more than just furniture and function. They needed a cultural catalyst — something to anchor daily connection, spark spontaneous conversation, and build community.
15+
minutes saved per coffee break
$3-4
saving per coffee to the employee
The Challenge
Following a major head office relocation, Toyota Finance Australia faced a challenge shared by many modern workplaces: how do you bring people back to the office and make them want to stay?
With a hybrid workforce, rising expectations around workplace experience, and a brand new fit-out at 225 George Street, Toyota Finance Australia needed a new way to inspire attendance, drive connection, and create a cultural heartbeat in their space. Simply put: they didn’t need just a barista, they needed a reason.
The Brief
Design a workplace coffee solution that:
- Encourages cross-functional connection
- Increases in-office attendance without mandates
- Reflects Toyota Finance’s employer value proposition and premium design intent
- Delivers measurable cultural and operational impact
Our Solution
Coffee On Cue delivered a seamless, full-service in-house coffee program that quickly became the workplace’s social centrepiece.
What We Implemented:
- $1 flat-rate coffee menu featuring specialty coffee roasted in-house
- Full-time baristas embedded onsite as trusted community anchors
- La Marzocco equipment for consistent, high-quality output
- Strategic placement of the coffee bar to serve as a “natural water cooler”
- Real-time reporting to measure consumption, usage, and ROI
What Made It Stick:
- 4-week trial to reduce perceived risk and secure stakeholder buy-in
- Cultural reframing: coffee as a tool for connection, not a cost
- Hands-on leadership engagement — including our baristas serving Toyota Finance Australia’s CEO
“You want people to come to the office because they want to — not because they have to. This gives them a reason.”
Anette Hon, Project Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
“No one even leaves a cup out — they know the space, they respect the barista. That speaks volumes.”
Rachelle Tappenden, Workplace Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
“It’s not just about productivity — it’s about reinvesting time into relationships.”
Anette Hon, Project Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
“We framed it not as a perk, but as a catalyst for the workplace we wanted to create.”
Rachelle Tappenden, Workplace Lead | Toyota Finance Australia
The Results
Culture-First Transformation
- The coffee bar became a daily touchpoint across departments
- 60% of staff reported more interaction outside their teams
- Regular praise from vendors and guests who reference the coffee bar as a “wow” moment
Voluntary Attendance Lift
- Tuesdays and Thursdays now reach 100% desk capacity (308 seats)
- Monday attendance jumped from 80 to 180+
- Friday — once empty — now averages 80–100 staff onsite
Retention & Productivity Impact
- Barista service added to onboarding EVP
- Staff save $3–$4 per coffee compared to local cafés
- 15+ minutes saved per break — redirected into meaningful connection
Pride in Space, Respect for People
- Cups returned, space kept spotless
- Baristas (Kyle and Pablo) considered “part of the tribe”
Quantifiable Impact
- 170+ coffees served on a regular day
- 4.5x FTE hours re-invested
- Significant drop in offsite café traffic
- Sustainability wins through reusable cup uptake and environmental reporting
Why It Worked
“It’s not just about productivity — it’s about reinvesting time into relationships.”
— Anette Hon
“We framed it not as a perk, but as a catalyst for the workplace we wanted to create.”
— Rachelle Tappenden
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