Coffee

 Modern Coffee Tables

Modern Coffee Tables are a great way to add something special to your home. I know that I will receive some flack for this, but I have always considered  almost all antiques to be in exceedingly poor taste. To me, the best sign of good taste is a desire to fit in with one’s own time. People who fill their living rooms with china vases and antique coffee tables show themselves to be uncultured and given to an embarrassing level of nostalgia. This is why I was willing to fight so hard to get a modern coffee table into our living room.  Houses without modern coffee tables are likely to be the homes of  Bolsheviks and barbarians.

Of course, my husband has always felt very different about this matter. He hates modern contemporary coffee tables. He hates any form of contemporary furniture. He fancies himself a progressive, but I think when he starts to talk politics, he comes off as rather a romantic old fool. Nonetheless, he does have the sense to let me decorate the house – at least most of the house. Modern coffee tables, however, were another matter.

He has no objection to the modern office furniture. At least I have been able to overcome his objections long ago. The contemporary coffee table is another matter. You see, he has an antique coffee table that he received from his great aunt when she passed on. She was a terrible old woman, but he was very close to  her.  I offered to put it safely in storage So I could decorate the living room with modern coffee tables, but he would have none of it. He had decided that this was where he would make a stand. Modern coffee tables provoke modern thoughts, and my husband is a classicist. He would not given in as easily as he had in the past.

I finally won, but had to use a bit of trickery. Until we were able to join our friends in having modern coffee tables, I simply refused to have coffee in the living room. We would entertain guests, have a delicious meal, and then take our coffee in the dining room. My husband could not stand this. It violated his old world sense of propriety. Soon he gave in to my demands, and we had a modern coffee table in the living room.  I loved winning that war. It was not about modern coffee tables. It was about power, power which is mine now!

Wholesale Gourmet Coffee

Wholesale Gourmet Coffee is the best tasting coffee around. It seems that our society can never get enough caffeinated goodness. Now, just to be clear; I’m not referring to chocolate here, folks. No sir! I am talking about rich, smooth java. These days you can have it served up just about any way you please. Get it piping hot; get it over ice with whip cream, or have it blended into a shake. It really is up to you. The coffee world has exploded since the 90s trend began. Take a look out your window and you’ll most likely spot a green Starbuck’s sign. These establishments are literally everywhere. It’s highly doubtful that anyone is going to go caffeine deprived. My only question is; do these places use the cheap stuff or do they invest in wholesale gourmet coffee?

You can purchase wholesale gourmet coffee yourself. It’s true. All you need is access to the Internet. My wife and I buy wholesale gourmet coffee online all the time. Not to mention oodles of other things. Hop on the web and take a gander at all the fine coffee products at you very fingertips. I recommend that anyone who purchases daily lattes from a local coffee dive, to invest in their own espresso machine. This just makes sense. Now, granted you can fork out any amount of cash for a fine espresso machine. However, you can find ones that do it all for a ballpark figure of 500 bucks. How does that strike you? Just consider what you already spend before you jump the gun and say “Yikes, that’s too much!” Do you buy a latte every day at Starbuck’s or some other joint? Or maybe you purchase two each day? That’s 25-50 bucks a week if you add it up. Imagine how fast you’d have your espresso machine paid for, and it would last you for years to come. Talk about savings. This is the way to go. Then you’ll simply find yourself buying wholesale gourmet coffee on the web. It’s really cool because you can choose from such a vast variety. What is your favorite coffee bean or flavor? Purchase wholesale gourmet coffee just the way you prefer it and let your personal espresso machine go the daily grinding. This is what I do and it’s so convenient. I love not having to drive somewhere each day to have a great coffee. It also saves gas money and time.

If an espresso machine and wholesale gourmet coffee sound perfect for you and your schedule, then it’s time to check out the awesome products on the web. Find that professional grade espresso machine that suits your budget. But don’t forget about the wholesale gourmet coffee.

Commercial Espresso Machine

Twenty years ago, a cup of espresso coffee would bring that trip to Italy to most people’s minds. Today, espresso is a part of the American culture, with a shop on almost every corner in large cities. There are even home espresso machines for the espresso enthusiast. These vary in quality, but are reasonably priced. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a commercial espresso machine, you’re faced with so many choices, bells and whistles it’s difficult to know where to begin. Here’s a quick run down to help you make the right choice for your business.

There are several factors you’ll need to consider before making a purchase. How many cups will you be serving? Are you selling only coffee, or do you have a little cafe serving deli sandwiches, salads and desserts? Do you have a lot of turnover in your employees? These are all important considerations when deciding which commercial espresso machine to choose.

Contrary to popular belief or what a sales person may tell you, all the new commercial espresso machines will produce a good cup of espresso. Much depends on the maintenance and reliability of the machine as well as the expertise of the operator. You may also be surprised to know that the single biggest factor in producing a good cup of espresso is the temperature of the water. The optimal temperature is 203 degrees. Many machines have fluctuating water temperatures, due to a too-small boiler. Temperatures may vary as much as 15 degrees one way or the other, between cups brewed on the same machine. A variance of 15 degrees can ruin the taste of a cup, even when you’ve got the best quality coffee beans.

There are four basic categories of commercial espresso machine.

1. The manually operated machine is actually the preferred machine by European baristas, who swear that this commercial espresso machine produces the best cup. This type is the least expensive and most reliable, but requires constant attendance and an expert operator.

2.Semi-automatic machines require that the operator stop the flow when the desired shot has been expressed. This commercial espresso machine works best with only one “group” or coffee spigot per machine, allowing the operator to monitor both coffee and frothing milk. For a low-volume operation, this type can be a good choice.
3.Automatic machines do not require operator intervention, automatically dispensing a measured shot of espresso. However, with programmable electronic parts, you may be introducing a new dimension of maintenance cost, and will need steady workers who are well-trained..
4.Super-automatic machines, as the name implies does the whole job for you, grinding, brewing, pouring and sometimes even dispensing frothed milk right into the cup. The down side of this choice is a compromise in quality. These machines work best in businesses like bars or gas stations, where the espresso is an incidental product.

Your choices are many, but be assured there’s a commercial espresso machine that’s right for your business.

French Coffee
In France, coffee is as much a part of the culture as food and wine, art, fashion and general joie d’ vive. French coffee is a subject of pride among the French. With their 100% Arabica coffees the standard fare at the most modest of cafes, their reputation is well-deserved.

French coffee is best described for its quality. There is a brasserie or cafe on virtually every street in Paris, where it is a national morning ritual to have your morning coffee, along with a croissant, sitting at the cafe and watching the world go by. Most cafes and brasseries have large lattice-paned windows for best viewing while consuming your pastry and French coffee. Although you do not typically get a refill, the French coffee mug is large and generously sized.

Standard cafe offerings include Cafe Au Lait, which is simply strongly brewed Arabica with a steaming shot of frothed milk, is a popular choice. Cafe is plain black coffee, brewed to espresso strength. Cafe crème is coffee with hot cream, a heavenly concoction. Cafe Americain is the French coffee equivalent of American diner-style coffee, much weaker than regular French coffees. Cafe Leger is a somewhat watered down espresso suited to the late night after-theatre coffee, when you may want to sleep sometime soon! The French coffee repertoire also offers Cafe Decaffeine for those who’ve already imbibed too much caffeine for the day.

Restaurant diners may be served a pot of coffee at the end of the meal, with a pitcher of steamed milk on the side.

For the ultimate French coffee experience, find a brulerie. A brulerie is a coffee store where the beans are roasted on the premises. Bruleries offer the freshest product, and hence the best cup of coffee you may ever enjoy.

If you’re a visitor to France, and an avid coffee drinker, here’s an insider’s travel tip: purchase a European drip coffee maker for use in your hotel room in the wee hours as you sit and plan your day’s activities. Explore your neighborhood – there’s sure to be a hardware store, coffee shop or department store where you can buy an inexpensive and dependable coffee maker. Next, go the local grocery where you’ll find quality Arabica coffees and crème fraiche, which comes in small cartons in a six-pack. Pick up some sugar if that’s a necessary ingredient. Set your crème fraiche out on the windowsill in the evening, and it will be properly chilled in the morning.

Before you turn in for the night, visit a Boulangerie for your morning croissant or other pastry of choice. When you wake, just brew and enjoy.

Any way you cut it, French coffee is something to linger over, no matter the time of day. Coffee in France is indeed a pastime, well loved, lauded and essential to the French coffee experience.

Ethiopian Coffee
Most of us have coffee every day of our adult lives and we think very little about it. Sure, sometimes when we want to splurge, we might order one of those fancy coffees, but for most of the time, coffee is just coffee.

For a special change, you ought to try coffee from the country where coffee was ‘invented’; Ethiopia. Ethiopian coffee is some of the most special on the planet and most people know nothing about it.

It is said that coffee was first used in Ethiopia around 850 AD when a goat herder saw his flocks eating the bright red berries. He tried it and thought he had found something very special. He took the beans to a local monastery where one of the monks thought that they might be harmful. The monk threw the beans into the fire and the rest is history. The smell of the roasting beans attracted attention and we have the beginnings of our daily coffee.

Ethiopian coffee comes in a variety of types. The traditional Arabica beans are part of the coffee blends. The difference in the taste of Ethiopian coffee comes from the areas where it is grown and in the processing. Processing also varies from region to region. Some Ethiopian coffee beans are dry-processed; others are washed. Beans from washed Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, and Limmu have a less woody, earthy taste and have a lighter body.

Unlike in many coffee producing countries, the Arabica beans that are used in Ethiopian coffee are indigenous to the region. This coffee was not brought from somewhere else just to start a business. They have been growing in Ethiopia since time immemorial.

The top grade Ethiopian washed coffees are Yirgacheffe and Sidamo. These coffees are prized by coffee connoisseurs but are easily available through the importers that you might find on the internet. For those that are interested, you can also find Ethiopian coffee that has been organically grown.

It is a good idea to buy your Ethiopian coffee from a reputable company that has a lot of experience in coffees from the region. Quality can vary not only from year to year, but also from place to place. There are strict grading standards for Ethiopian coffee depending on the quality and processing of the beans. For the best coffee, make sure that your supplier provides Grade 1 beans.

In many ways, Ethiopian coffee is unique; not having the acidity of the coffee found in neighboring Kenya and it is rarely too strong or pungent.

Blue Mountain Coffee

Jamaica is a magical, beautiful and soulful destination for the traveler, especially those who are coffee lovers. The eastern side of the island boasts the Blue Mountain range, majestic and ethereal, and home of the world class Blue Mountain coffee.

The Blue Mountain range is one of the highest in the Caribbeans, with high yearly rainfalls typical of the tropics. Rich soil and good drainage, combined with the cool climate adds up to perfect coffee growing conditions.

This mountain range merits its name, with swirling, misty fog of a bluish color being the norm. Due to this almost constant haze, shade trees are not necessary, as is required with other fine coffees. The fog allows for slow ripening of the beans, best for a harvest of a coffee bean of a complex and subtle rich flavor, without a trace of bitterness.

Within the Blue Mountain range, the coffee growing regions are carefully mapped to define coffee producing land that can be designated Blue Mountain coffee. Within this exclusive region, some 6,000 coffee growers, most small family-owned businesses, produce a unique taste in the world of coffee, typically commanding a high price.

Elevation is an important consideration in the coffee grower’s world. In order to earn the designation “Blue Mountain coffee”, the crop must be grown between the 3,000 and 5,500 foot range. Coffee may not be grown above the 5,500 foot range, as Jamaican law designates the higher elevations as protected forest lands.

The Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica inspects and certifies both coffee cultivation and harvests, to verify that coffee beans are grown in the designated Blue Mountain coffee region. Moreover, each batch is graded for quality designation, determined by size and appearance, with strict, small and specific percentages of defective beans allowed in any batch. There are five classifications of grade, ranging from the premium Blue Mountain Peaberry, to Blue Mountain coffee #1 to the lowest classification, Blue Mountain Triage, containing beans of all sizes.

The world famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee industry was hit hard in the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, with Ivan in 2004 and Dennis and Emily in 2005 causing a terrible blow to the Blue Mountain coffee growers.

Following hurricane Ivan, which caused terrific damage to the coffee crops, an uncharacteristic period of dry weather stressed the coffee trees still further.

In 2005, hurricanes Dennis and Emily spared the trees in wind damage, but the horrendous rainfall nearly wiped out access roads between the growers and their market, resulting in spoiled crops. Many coffee mills sustained severe damage, further foiling efforts to bring the precious crop to market.

In 2006, weather conditions are better, and the Blue Mountain coffee crop is getting back on its feet.

With clement weather, it is expected that the coming crop will demonstrate its normal sterling qualities once again, and we can all once again rejoice in the delights of Blue Mountain coffee.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee
When you think of gourmet coffee, it’s likely you think of the fine South American and African Arabicas. You probably wouldn’t think of fine Arabica coffee, grown right here in the U.S. Yet, it’s true. One of the world’s finest coffees, Kona, is grown in Hawaii, on the “big Island”. Kona coffee is a distinct designation given only to coffee beans grown on the west side of the island of Hawaii. This is because of the unique environment, found in no other location. The combination of volcanic soil and alternating sunshine and rain forest conditions produces the flavor unique to this coffee.

Hawaiian Kona Coffee has a unique body, complex flavor, lightly acidic, with a rich, delicious and spicy aroma not found elsewhere in the coffee world.

Coffee came to the Kona region of Hawaii from Brazil, in the form of cuttings. Although these cuttings took many years to develop into a large and consistent enough crop, by the mid-1800’s, Kona coffee was a commercially grown crop, with many large plantations in the Kona district.

In 1899, a crash in the coffee market around the world left the Kona plantation owners no option but to lease small portions of their plantations to individual farmers, who then farmed five to twelve acre parcels of Kona coffee trees as family businesses. These small coffee producers were diligent and conscientious in their efforts, bringing a high quality coffee bean to market.

The volcanic soil and rocky slopes contributes to an unusual ripening cycle of the Kona coffee bean. The coffee “cherries” do not ripen all at once, so a mechanical harvesting process is not possible. Workers must visually and individually inspect the beans for ripeness, so that immature beans are not harvested and mixed in with mature beans. Each tree must be picked many times throughout the harvest season. This makes the coffee producer’s product more labor intensive, but well worth the price of the finished crop.

Aside from the unique growing conditions found in the small region of Kona, much of the quality of the coffee crop is attributed to the care taken by the small, independent growers in producing the highest quality of their crop. Within the Kona district, there are about 600 farms, usually consisting of just a few acres each. The total acreage of Kona coffee farms is only about 2300 acres, amounting to about two million pounds of beans each year.

Much like small vintners producing fine wines, the traditional Kona coffee grower runs a family business dedicated to producing the finest crop of coffee beans each and every year, taking pride in offering you the best cup of Hawaiian Kona Coffee you will ever taste.

Next time you’re at the grocery, look for the Kona coffee label. You’ll be glad you did!

How to Start a Coffee Shop

If you’ve thought about owning your own business, but you don’t know what kind there all kinds to choose from in the business world. A lot of people have bought franchises with famous names, and you can too. One of the most hip and profitable is to start a coffee shop. Check out the benefits of going franchise with your idea to start a coffee shop, and know that if you stick it out, you’ll succeed.

It takes a lot of up front money if you want to start one that’s independent. If you don’t have a business degree with finance and marketing, you’ll be in for a rude awakening. It could take years just to study and understand what you’re doing before you ever start building a business. The advantage of using a franchise to start a coffee shop is the business support you’ll get.

Before you step foot into the store, you’ll go through a lot of work. You’ll begin your journey by working with the franchise company on where you’ll need your store located. Most companies will help you with customer demographics to start a coffee shop. At times a company will send someone to your area to tell you where the best place is to place the shop. Others will expect you to study and understand your real estate area, and then send in proposals to start a coffee shop.

After the site selection is approved, you won’t have to worry about building or stocking your store either. All of this is handled by the franchise that you want to start a coffee shop with. Another great benefit is that you don’t have to spend countless hours at the computer designing marketing or merchandising materials.  Advertisement is the most expensive short and long term outlays to start a coffee shop.

Don’t feel intimidated either if you don’t have any retail business experience. The franchise will give you all of the training that you need. Of course, what company expects out of you as compared to another is different. Some companies will train you to be only the operator, and will bring others in to manage when you want to start a coffee shop. Lead managers are placed inside your store to help it run smoothly for a certain period of time too.

If it’s your dream to start a business like this, then go ahead and push forward toward it. Remember though that you need to have a good credit rating, so you’ll be able to be approved for financing. Take note too that there will be an outlay of cash on your part because bank financing will only cover so much of the debt to start a coffee shop, but it can be done.

Coffee of the Month Clubs
There are so many different types of gourmet coffee beans growing around the world. These beans are found in about 100 growing regions across the globe. It would take a long time to try each and every one of them. Those of us who would like to try would benefit from joining one of the many coffee of the month clubs in business today.

The coffee of the month clubs typically deliver about two pound of expertly selected roasted beans each and every month. You don’t have to simply accept whatever they send, either. You can opt to choose a standard shipment of the company’s signature brewing beans and a flavored brand as well.

Some people simply like to order nothing but the traditional roast each month because the quality of the beans in the coffee of the month clubs is so superior. However, I like to be a little more adventurous. I prefer to receive different coffees each month. After I find one that I can’t live without, I may settle down but until then I’m going to try as many different types as I can. Variety is the spice of life, as they say.

Members of the coffee of the month clubs can also choose between ground beans or whole beans. I prefer the latter because nothing smells better than fresh ground java beans. My entire kitchen fills with the intoxicating aroma every time I use my antique coffee grinder. I also like being able to control the coarseness of the grind as well.

I will occasionally opt for the pre-ground type so I can have a supply for those late mornings when an antique coffee grinder will never work in time. The convenience of ground beans is well appreciated on those mornings but I still miss my freshly ground batch.

You may be a little apprehensive about getting involved with the coffee of the month clubs with good reason. No one really wants to commit to years and years of a service that they may not always want.

The good news for apprehensive individuals is there are coffee of the month clubs that offer memberships that are as short as two months in length. You can continue your membership or simply stop deliveries after the two-month period.

The typical memberships for the coffee of the month clubs are 12 months which is perfect for many of us. When giving a membership as a gift, you may want to choose the shortest time period and let your happy gift receiver choose whether or not he would like to continue.

Coffee Creamer

One of the most versatile beverages that we enjoy now and then (possibly every morning) is coffee. It comes in so many various textures and flavors that are suitable to virtually every palette. Coffee creamer initially was available in powder and liquid forms to lighten up the boldness of black coffee, making it smoother to drink while not using actual milk, which does not do much for coffee’s texture.

Available in a multitude of flavors and textures, cream has become a staple for the java drinking set. Until recent years plain coffee creamer was the only kind available. While that design is still available, flavored creamer offers numerous ways for you to wake up in the morning or enjoy dessert in the evening after dinner.

The powdered version has more unnatural ingredients but tends to last longer and is more affordable. It is made in larger sizes and can be purchased in bulk. This type of coffee creamer is easy to store and use. Another benefit seems to be that you can use it regularly. This is ideal for someone who cannot drink milk on a regular basis.

Liquid creamer is more of a dairy product, sold in refrigerated sections of the supermarket. Like milk it has an expiration date that identifies a more limited timeframe for use than powdered coffee creamer. The benefit of using liquid tends to be a smoother blend with the coffee and a smoother texture to your beverage. For those who are more conscious about what they eat or drink, liquid coffee creamer offers a more natural choice than a powdered version, not to mention they can be found in fat free varieties as well.

It has evolved over the years to include many different flavors that make coffee more interesting to drink. Those who have come to prefer their coffee with flavored creamer find it difficult to use plain coffee creamer and still enjoy their coffee. One of the first flavored coffee creamers to enter the market was hazelnut flavored. This flavor adds a nutty warm texture to coffee. Another flavor that was introduced was vanilla, offering a creamy texture with a kick of sweetness. These two first flavors were also later combined into another favorite liquid coffee creamer, French vanilla. This flavor, along with Butter Pecan tend to make coffee drinks very sweet while maintaining the nutty flavored balance, like a good dessert. Irish crème is another flavor that was added to the market, adding the taste of liqueur without the actual liqueur.

Coffee and what we put in it has changed so many ways over the years, making traditional milk or Half and Half something for cereal or cooking. Granted, there are still consumers who use milk instead of coffee creamer. Now the option of adding some extra flavor and individuality to your coffee is available and consumers are drinking it up!