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Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

dougw — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:33:20 GMT

Some time ago my company had an off-site meeting for about 48 managers. They divided the group into 8 tables to participate in cross-functional activities, case simulations and exercises. The method they used to assign staff to each table was they asked everyone to select their favorite chocolate bar and all those who selected the same type of chocolate bar had to sit at the same table. The idea was to put staff together who don't normally spend time together.

It turned out that all the engineering managers selected Coffee Crisps and nobody else did. It struck me that this was way beyond the statistical probability of random chance.

I do not have any idea why Engineers like Coffee Crisps, or why others don't, but it seems to be a thing in our company.

Do you like Coffee Crisps?

What is your favorite chocolate bar?

Has anyone else come across this or similar odd phenomenon? Preferences of introverts?

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

cstanton — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:19:30 GMT

They're dangerous (joking). They're definitely in the region of sweets around "honeycomb" type.

'Crunchies' are similar, but a bit tougher to chew, almost like a toffee after a few bites.

The type of centre was very popular in the victorian era where you used to be able to buy literal slabs of it as "cinder toffee" and you still can in some places.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

DAB — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:33:51 GMT

I have never seen those before, but they do sound enticing.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

DAB — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:32:59 GMT

I buy them to go and I get five desert servings out of each, so I can indulge over time.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

beacon_dave — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:32:06 GMT

The second one perhaps could be enhanced into a marble run / chain reaction type machine.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

Fred27 — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:30:27 GMT

Maltesers are awesome. Not only do they taset great, but there are some cool things you can do with them

1. Lie on your back, put a malteser to you lips and blow gently. It will hover above your mouth and you just open your mouth when you want to eat it.

2. Get a long springy metal tape measure. put one end by your mouth and get a friend to hold the other end higher. Roll the malteser along the tape and into your mouth. See how far you can manage.

I think we may need some videos to add to my explanation..

https://youtu.be/bpxHPJIuBv0?si=vozp3H8LF1mrFmtu&t=64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEtXYX8Jy-o

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

wolfgangfriedrich — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:44:29 GMT

I have never tried them. My calories counting goal just got a re-calibration ;)

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

dougw — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:14:38 GMT

I find Maltesers to be highly addictive...

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

kmikemoo — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:02:24 GMT

dougw The Coffee Crisp arrived today and I have tried one. I like them. They are good sized and crunchy. They're a bit more subtle in taste than I expected - but that's not a bad thing. I did say to myself that Kit Kats should be that size. 😆 I'm undecided where in the spectrum of "Favorite Candy Bar" they fall. Fortunately, I have three more to help me make my decision.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

beacon_dave — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:49:18 GMT

I suspect that you can put on weight just by looking at one of those on-line...

Looks like around 2400-2500 calories per portion.

"Second helpings anyone ?"

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

wolfgangfriedrich — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:01:26 GMT

My favourite revision of them is:

After a few of them, you stop counting and just keep going...

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

cstanton — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:21:24 GMT

I have mixed feelings.

1. I'm disappointed that these are, in fact, not 'crisps' as I know them as these:

2. Despite that, I've never seen these in England - send some over 😃

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

dougw — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:34:27 GMT

We don't even have a Longhorn here, but it sounds decadent.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

DAB — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 19:33:22 GMT

What is not to like?

I like good chocolate in any form.

Have you ever had a Chocolate Stampede at Longhorn?

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

Fred27 — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:32:21 GMT

I've never heard of them, but they sound nice. A very quick search didn't show anywhere you can get them in the UK at anything other than rip-off prices.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

michaelkellett — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 08:53:54 GMT

I live in Scotland - home of the Caramel Wafer. They do mini ones in tubs now as well. There's nothing to beat a cold Caramel wafer (the toffee hardens up a bit at low temperatures.)

You can go on a trip round their factory !

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

kmikemoo — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 02:51:56 GMT

dougw That makes your story amazing. I have ordered some from Amazon - just to see what makes them so special.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

dougw — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 22:52:55 GMT

The selection process was set up to avoid collusion.

Yes they are a bit like a coffee flavored Kit Kat - slightly crunchier.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

kmikemoo — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 21:08:30 GMT

Is it a coffee flavored Kit Kat? That would work. 👍 I think I've still got to go with Snickers. It is interesting that there would be that much commonality of choice. It could have been that someone said it out loud and everyone in earshot went "Ooh! I haven't had one of those in a while." Does it work? The next time you fly, order a CranApple and see if someone near you doesn't do the same thing.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

ralphjy — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 21:06:42 GMT

I also have never heard of Coffee Crisp. As a kid I liked Nestles Crunch but never had a huge thing for chocolate bars. I prefer gummy bears…

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

beacon_dave — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:10:19 GMT

Not heard of them either.

Over here we have the Tunnock's Caramel Wafer, which might have similar Engineer appeal.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

dougw — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:58:53 GMT

I added an image of a Coffee Crisp candy bar.

RE: Why do engineers like Coffee Crisps?

genebren — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:45:22 GMT

I have never had (or had seen) a Coffee Crisps. It seems to be a Canadian thing? Sweets are something that I don't usually partake in, as I have been a diet-controlled diabetic for over 35 years.

Strange how statistics work. From you isolated sample it would seem as if there were correlation, but I think it would be a very deep reach to find a pattern in chocolate bar choices and one's chosen profession.

Nightmare Interviews

dougw — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 18:47:26 GMT

What is the worst job interview you have ever been in?

Some interviewers like to pose puzzles that can be fairly simple like "How many kings can be placed on a chess board without threatening each other?" or a little more involved like "Given 12 coins, where one has a different weight, and a balance beam, what is the minimum number of weighings needed to determine which coin is different and if it is lighter or heavier than the rest?"

I have never been in an interview where I was asked such a puzzle. And I have never posed such a question when I was asking the questions.

Have you been in such an interview? What was the purpose of the question? Did the answer achieve the purpose?

Are such questions a good idea?

Do you like such questions?

What do such questions tell the interviewee?

By the way, what are the answers to the 2 puzzles above?

RE: Nightmare Interviews

Jan Cumps — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:33:57 GMT

Yes for an employee. You look for reasonable domain skills and growth potential.
If you interview a consultant, the process is more focused on what needs to be done now.

With funny questions and quizzes you can only filter out people that haven't been to a lot of interviews yet, and peoples that have been to many interviews. Don't overestimate yourself: your witty quizzes are as lame as those of any other interviewer.