Marketing Mindset "Why I Get FREE Coffee Every Time I Enter My Local Cafe"

He's not a slave to his business anymore and that's all because of me... You see… he now goes to work every day because he loves what he does. That's because the storeowner Sergio likes me so much he gives it to me.

Let me explain...

Teaching many clients the secrets about business success that the experts don't want you to know. I've been a business consultant for the last 14 years.

Anyway, one day I was at my local coffee shop enjoying a Chai Vanilla Latte, and I noticed Sergio looking worried with his head buried in a pile of marketing books.

I asked him "what was wrong?" and he said, "His business wasn't going all that well".

He knew that I was a business consultant from previous conversations we'd had and asked me if I had any advice for him.

"Sure!" I said, not wanting my favourite coffee house to disappear completely, I decided to help him out.

I told him that what I taught would probably scare him, because my techniques where not conventional and if he wanted to back out, then this would be the right time to do it.

Afraid of what might become of his business if he didn't take action, he agreed and we got started right away.

Sergio was a great client, open to new ideas and trusted that I could help make a difference. Hey, what did he have to lose? I wasn't charging him a cent, right?

He was a typical business owner; he believed that 'If you build it, they will come'. Most business owners don't realise that 50% of your business success comes from effective marketing.

The other 50% is from distribution and unfortunately this is why most proprietors' work long hours for very little return.

Over time we built up a simple Business system that worked very well for Sergio, so well in fact that he could hire extra staff and actually take some time out.

Reluctantly at first, but his confidence grew with time as his knowledge increased.

He quickly saw the results of our marketing campaigns and didn't realise that advertising needn't be a complete waste of money.

Sergio found that sometimes he had so many customers there simply was no more room in his cafe for them to sit.

Not a bad problem to have, don't you agree?

You see, your business is a direct reflection of your knowledge and the more knowledge you have, the easier it becomes.

Oh by the way, Sergio has opened up his second coffee shop just down the road and guess what? I get free coffee from there too!

Scott Patterson has been involved with marketing for the past 14 years, he has helped many business owners grow their businesses any where up to 600%, using simple but effect marketing strategies that work!

Read this Article if You Like Starbucks Coffee

As a matter of fact let me recommend a book to you; "Pour Your Heart Into It" By Howard Schultz; it is the History of the making of the greatest coffee house chain in the World; Starbucks. It is truly amazing what Global Strategist Howard Schultz built; a world wide coffee brand which just keeps growing, where employees truly poor their heart into it with Starbuck's Legendary Service. The average store volumes are up 27% over last year and that means more and more people are switching to Starbucks. If you have been watching the stock charts at Starbucks you know that folks love Starbucks Coffee, some say they will drink nothing but Starbucks Coffee.

All in all this proves to be quite the winning combination both for the customer and for Wall Street; think on it. But why; well it is a combination of strategic locations, brand name, appealing coffee flavor and the fact that coffee is a basically a drug which effects the central nervous system of the human body in a way which pleases folks. In observing Starbuck's Success in the market place it is quite fascinating indeed as people line up to over pay; that is to say pay three to four dollars for a cup of custom coffee.

A Unique Marketing Spin for a Coffee Shop

Three business partners contacted me about creating a marketing plan for a coffee shop something extra would have to be added.

Since they had already signed the lease on the location that was to large to succeed as just a coffee shop I created a plan for the coffee shop to be used as a place for community service groups, discussion groups, art and theatre groups, and special interest groups. I convinced them to follow a plan that I created that would solve the extra space problem for them. I met with the three partners where I discussed my concerns about there new business venture.

The coffee shop will have a part time program director who will work with the various groups to help facilitate community meetings and set up interesting forums and discussion groups, and to provide other entertainment for the college students. the coffee house will strive to become a meeting place for various community groups, organizations, associations, and a place for college students to meet after classes. After 9:30 A.M. In the morning it will offer coffee, cappuccino, and breakfast muffins and an assortment of pastries to the people in the morning, 65% who are professional. I arranged for the coffee shop to operate a two-prong strategy.

The coffee shop will set its pricing approximately 25 percent below typical Starbucks' pricing. To capitalize on this the coffee shop set up a separate espresso station, with instruction on how to make a great espresso. The shops with the best tasting drinks did five to ten times the business of shops with average tasting espresso. I conducted some research on successful coffee shops and found that the espresso machines contribute well over 50 percent to a coffee shop's revenue and even more to its profits.

Two employees along with the manager were trained in the proper technique of making specialty coffee drinks. I suggested that the coffee shop purchased a high-end cappuccino coffeemaker that has a shiny copper and bronze exterior that can be set out in a separate station to attract interest to specialty coffees. I suggested that the coffee shop is the merchandising and taste of its specialty drinks, which involves having the right coffeemaker and coffee, and people who understand the art of making good coffee. I suggested that the coffee shop is the merchandising and taste of its specialty drinks, which involves having the right coffeemaker and coffee, and people who understand the art of making good coffee. The key to the coffee shop is the merchandising and taste of its specialty drinks, which involves having the right coffeemaker and coffee, and people who understand the art of making good coffee.

I worked with the part time program and sales director with finding groups and creating groups that will hold meetings in the coffee shop. A discount was offered to any group or individual who would bring in groups. I created a web site explaining what the coffee shop has to offer, and what meetings are taking place and how they can attend these meetings. The coffee shop will send out coupons to groups offering a 25-percent-off discount.

I bought a list from a list broker of organizations, associations, and local community groups in the area. I wrote solicitation letters to them explaining what services the coffee shop had to offer. I created online discussion groups that would involve potential clients for the coffee shop. Articles were written for on line publication for the organizations, associations, and local community groups that held meetings at the coffee shop. These articles contained links to the web site for the coffee shop that would list the upcoming events and discussions that would be held at the coffee shop. Print ads were also taken out in a small local publication that the targeted market reads.

You must promote your success to get new business. I got permission from the clients who are using the coffee shop for meetings to use there names in the next set of ads that will run, and on the new web site. The coffee shop had 8 regular groups, organizations, and associations holding weekly meetings in the coffee shop. The coffee shops morning business was doing 10 percent better that was forecasted. After about 5 months the results of these marketing efforts had paid off.

Coffee House Possibilities

We think about it a lot! While driving we're thinking about it. At work we think about it. At work we think about it. While we're in the gym we think about it. We also incorporate our fantasies into our daily lives and imagine meeting that person who gets our heart racing and our palms sweaty at the places we go. Come on admit it, we all have our fantasies. When your single your always imagining meeting that right person.

So that person walking in is hoping for the same thing you are. After all you're not the only one thinking about it, we all are. Why not, it could happen and it certainly does! We hope for that coffee house possibility of meeting that right person. Certainly while we are sitting at our local coffee shop we look up as someone is coming in and wonder and hope.

In fact, take a hot sip while driving and you might have a different possibility, an accident. After all, there are no possibilities while sipping your mocha café latté driving. Try not just picking up your coffee to go, sit and enjoy a refill. Regularity creates familiarity creating a sense of comfort, which allows two people to ease into conversation. Most people follow routines and by following one yourself you could see the same person regularly. To give your possibilities more of a chance try going to the same coffee shop and go at the same time.

If it goes nowhere don't worry, the great thing about your coffee house, there is always another person coming in creating endless coffee house possibilities. You never know unless you try. Take a chance and even say hello. When you see that certain someone that cause your heart to have a little arrhythmia, don't just freeze, at least smile.

So sit enjoy, what's your rush after all the coffee is good and that next person walking in could be the one you want to meet who wants to meet you, anything is possible at the coffee house!

Gourmet Coffee Stops Decrease Gas Mileage;Home Brewed Premium Coffee Reduce Traffic Congestion

Department of Transportation as the basis for her provocative conclusions. Nancy McGuckin, a travel behavior analyst, studied a report called "National Household Travel Survey" by the U.S. A researcher has stirred up the commuter coffee mug with the suggestion that morning rush hour traffic is worsened by stops for daily morning gourmet coffee at Starbucks and other premium coffee houses.

It has long been known that frequent starting and stopping during a commute drastically reduces fuel economy due to the need to rev up the car engine that the most fuel is wasted.

This behavior is exactly what is required when visiting congested shopping areas on the way to work, find a parking space, (where gourmet coffee shops are often located) stop the engine, return to the car with coffee in hand, restart the engine and make your way back to the highway and finally to work.

This is because people divert from the shortest and fastest route, to one that leads them past the coffee house or dry cleaners. Although not limiting this research finding only to trips to coffee houses, the research suggests that running additional errands in the morning on the way to work has contributed to traffic congestion and increased gridlock. McGuckin, the travel analyst, dubbed her discovery, "The Starbucks Effect" because during the period she studied, Starbucks added over 4000 new locations (1995 - 2001).

The shorter route between home and business office would be much more direct and require fewer bursts of acceleration, engine starts and stops and less frequent visits to crowded shopping areas, which require commuters to search for parking, with trips around the block to find spaces or idling the engine waiting for others to leave spaces nearer the coffee house.

Burning small amounts of extra fuel during those waits over and over each day adds up to very significant wasted fuel and lowered mileage over time. Wear and tear on engines increases as this behavior continues, and becomes habitual.

The cost of gourmet coffee at premium coffee houses is also as much as six or seven times the cost of home brewed coffee from premium fresh ground whole bean blends. Coffee houses have either a "house blend" or "featured" blend on brew and you get whatever they have chosen for you. Then your only choice is to elbow your way through the crowds and merge back into the city gridlock to get to work, further slowing traffic and decreasing gas mileage.

A Washington Post article by Catherine Shaver, discusses the commuter study and quotes Alan E. Pisarsky, Author of "Commuting in America" as saying, "It's more of a problem from a traffic point of view than from anything else."

Increasing the number of stops in the trip decreases gas mileage and stress levels, while brewing coffee at home can actually save you gas over a relatively short period of time. Taking fresh brewed coffee from home could actually reduce stress and wear and tear on the car. When brewing your own gourmet coffee blend at home, you have a choice of fresh ground coffee beans from fine Italian Espressos to the rare and exotic Indonesian Kopi Luwak.

Commuters can consider making gourmet coffee drinks at home before departing for work and enjoy it at home while spending quality time with the family or take it along in a commuter coffee travel mug. You'll save money by paying less than .30 cents per cup for your favorite gourmet coffee made from fresh ground beans, as well as help to reduce gridlock and increase mileage by taking the fastest route to work instead of detouring to the coffee shop.

Copyright © 2005 http://TastesOfTheWorld.net

The Changes You Want - "Coffee House Conversations"

Everywhere you go, you hear people talk about the changes they want to make in their lives. Certainly while your getting your coffee or tea at the coffee house you do.

"I want to lose weight."

"I want a better job."

"I want to make more money."

Maybe for you it's travel, education, meeting someone or improving a current relationship. We all have goals and changes we want that go unresolved. So we talk a lot about wanting them to change. How often does anyone really do anything about changing? In fact, after a while you'll start hearing the wants turn to complaints. Then the complaints turn into reasons why success is not possible. "I don't have the time or money or ability." There are an endless number of reasons.

As a life coach, people are always telling me why they are stuck and why they can't do certain things. "I don't like to workout." or "I'm too forgetful." Basically what they're telling me is, "I have no control over my own behavior." Here's one we have all heard from someone, "I'm not a morning person."

What if I offered a "non-morning person" a million dollars to be a morning person tomorrow morning? Most people would say, "Well, for a million dollars I could be." So in truth, it's not that you are not a morning person, or that you don't have the time or any of the other reasons you give that prevent you from the changes you want, you simply haven't found the motivation.

With the right motivation, and it doesn't have to be money, you can change and create winning actions in your life. You are not locked into any behavior. Stop placing limits on yourself and talking about the changes you want and the reasons you can't achieve them. There is no definition of you other than the definition you give yourself.

We all have the power to redefine ourselves and create the lives we want. Let me show you how powerful you are. Take a sip of your coffee or tea and let me ask you this: Right now, could anything stop you from taking that sip? Oh, you don't have a coffee or tea? Then get one or imagine you have one. Barring a sudden, catastrophic natural disaster, the answer is no, nothing can. The only thing that could stop you from taking a sip is…you!

In fact, nothing can stop you from going to the gym, eating right, getting an education, looking for a better job, paying attention to your relationships, not spending money on your credit cards or doing the things you should to make your life better. Nothing can stop you from anything you want to improve in your life except you. You are the only obstacle in your life.

We need to stop blaming outside factors for our behavior. There is no boogeyman keeping you from creating the life you want. We also have to stop looking for shortcuts. We tend to fall into the trap of wanting instant gratification and there are plenty of folks trying to sell this junk. I hate to be the one to tell you this but there are no magic pills that will make you thin, cure your life in seven days, get rich over night or have great abs in two weeks.

There is only one sure way to success and that's doing the work. This means we must get into action. Get motivated to change right now! Motivation is power and we have established here that being powerful is as simple as taking a sip of coffee or tea.

So enjoy the rest of your coffee or tea and smile while you take that sip, because right now you are powerful and right now you've decided to get into action to achieve the changes you want.

About The Author - As a life coach, Devlyn has made helping people find ways to improve their lives his personal mission and passion. He is a public consultant, a private counselor, an author and creator of Tools To Life. He has hosted his own radio shows called "Tools To Life" and "Love beat" and has been a guest on over 150 various shows. You can read his articles and advice all over the Internet. Devlyn has often been referred to as "America's Leading Life-Coach."

For Free E-books and more information visit DevlynSteele.com

DevlynSteele.com

Coffee in Today's Culture.

Coffee plays an significant function in today's culture. From the coffee houses of the 16th century, to the current day cafes, coffee has impacted the way of life of people from all walks of life.

From a cultural point of view, coffee houses mainly function as centers of social interaction: the coffeehouse provides social members with a spot to gather together, chat, write, read, entertain one another, or pass the time, whether individually or in little groups.

A coffee house shares some of the characteristics of a saloon and some of the characteristics of a eating place. Coffee houses serve up coffee and tea, as well as light foodstuff. Food choices range from pastries and muffins to soups and sandwiches. In some countries, cafes more intimately bear a resemblance to restaurants, offering a range of hot meals, and perhaps being licensed to serve up alcohol.

Some shops are minute cafes that specialise in coffee-to-go for rushed travelers, who may visit these on their way to jobs as a stand-in for breakfast. Some offer other services, such as wireless internet access which has carried over to stores that supply internet service lacking any coffee for their customers.

In some countries, notably in northern Europe, coffee parties are a well-liked type of entertaining. As well as coffee, the host or hostess at the coffee social gathering in addition serves cake and pastries, every now and then homemade.

For more information about coffee please visit Full City Coffee.com.

Full City Coffee.com.

Roast Your Own Coffee Beans With A Home Coffee Roaster

To a coffee lover, there's nothing like the smell of roasting coffee beans. To be honest, the average coffee drinker feels more than willing to leave the roasting of the coffee beans to the staff of their local coffee house or their preferred coffee producer. Of course, roasting one's own coffee beans has not been an option until recently with the creation of the smaller computer driven roasters. Commercial coffee roasters are not as user friendly as these newer roasters, and they come with a hefty price tag. Add to this the difficult process of roasting to insure that the beans retain their flavor, and it is no wonder that people are not lining up to roast their own coffee.

So the question is who needs a coffee roaster?

Well, there are the coffee enthusiasts who are just as in interested in all aspects of making that perfect cup of coffee as they are in drinking the perfect cup. If you are this person, then these new, smaller, computerized coffee roasters would be a perfect addition to your home. Now you can not only choose the type of bean for brewing, but can determine the right roast to obtain just the flavor you desire. The household coffee roaster makes it easier to control the amount of heat applied to the beans, and the length of roasting time.

Buyers beware though. This is still an arduous process that can leave even the most robust bean devoid of flavor. However, with a little practice and know how, anyone who considers coffee brewing not just something that they do as a morning ritual, but rather as a hobby, can take this one step further and create their own roast.

Though these roasters are not as complicated as their commercial counterparts, roasting coffee beans is time consuming, thus is still not for everyone. For those of us who are happy with the brand of coffee we purchase already roasted and ready for grinding and brewing, we can still head on over to our local supermarket or gourmet coffee house. The perfect cup of coffee can still be created without having to involve ourselves in the entire process. However, it is nice to know that there are options out there for people looking for something more than just a quick cup of Joe.

If you find yourself concerned about having the perfect bean for brewing, and would enjoy getting more involved, then owning your own roaster is defiantly the way to go. Lower cost and smaller sizes make it easier than ever to bring roasting to any home that desires it. Not only will you be able to enjoy drinking your coffee but creating it as well.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as flavored coffee at http://www.gourmetespressoandcoffee.com

flavored coffee http://www.gourmetespressoandcoffee.com

Short History of Coffee

Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee!

Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha.

No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! From it’s earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret!

As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee!

The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone!

The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee makers were invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! Automatic espresso machines began their journey in the 1930’s.

By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

C V is a freelance writer, providing articles and information on all types

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Coffee House Poet (a poem)

(Written at the Coffee House)

Here is where I meet my friends, have long conversations; glances, can't remember all their names— (all the time) my coffee cup often jumps, when they come by, breaking up the moment of my concentration….

Women want to borrow chairs—often around my table; I'm a regular here—; everyday until-night, from three to almost midnight… writing, reading, drawing, it's what I do, I'm a poet.

Three's the professor, from the U of M; and Johannes, a poet and friend; and then, there is Papa Bear, he works at the Airlines, worried, ‘Northwest,' is going out of business

And then there is Gene, he likes erotica; and Kathy, she's a Faulkner fan; and Royce, a lawyer, he has no real choice; and Mathew, he's a writer of songs, and music

And then there is Janet, she's loves the word of God; and Michelle, she likes the law also; and there's Cindy W., a poet who loves ‘Plath,' and Gary and Sue, book lovers too, and me, a plain poet.

I have learned much from all my friends, at the Coffee House, at the B & N, in Roseville—and that we all love to inhale the odor of Coffee, books and conversation; I think fate has brought us here; Amen!

Dedicated to my friends at the Coffee House; #1257 3/2/06 revised 2/5/06

the history of coffee

Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and he began to feel very happy. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! The berries also gave him a burst of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Since the goats seemed to have such a reaction, the herder decided to give it a try! Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and eating berries he had never noticed. Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink? Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha. In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery. From its earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret! No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it! As time passed, the very first coffee trees were harvested around 1100, in the Arabian Peninsula. The coffee drink became a staple of many early civilizations. In the year 1453, There was a law in Turkey that said that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn’t supply her with a daily supply of coffee! The very first known coffee shop was established in Constantinople around the year of 1475 and since that initial introduction to the general public, coffee has pretty much taken over the world! Between 1600-1700, there were many advancements, including the world’s first coffee house and the beginnings of commercial production (made by the Dutch). By the middle 1700’s, there were about 2000 coffee shops in Venice, alone! The first prototype of an espresso machine (made in Italy) was unveiled in the early 1800’s. In the early 1900’s, the first drip coffee machine was invented, making the coffee making process a little less daunting! The automatic espresso maker began its journey in the 1930’s. By the late 1900’s, coffee became the most popular beverage in the world! The coffee is harvested in many countries, including: Africa, Ethiopia, Brazil, North America, Italy and even Turkey. This kind of crop can also be easily grown and exported by many third world countries, as well. Made to tempt even the pickiest palate, coffee has evolved to include hundreds of flavors and varying grades and prices.

Thus, the beginning of the journey for what is now known as coffee! Legend has it that back in 850AD, a goat herder noticed his herd was full of energy and he began to feel very happy. Who would have thought that a berry that was discovered by a herd of goats would be the single most important ingredient in the world’s most popular drink?Because of the discovery, the drink was then named Mocha. In the nearest town, Mocha, many took their survival to be a religious sign. The broth that was produced by this unknown substance saved the lives of the men! His men became very desperate for nourishment and before long, they were boiling and eating the product of an unknown tree. It is also said that an Arabian man was banished to the deserts with his followers to die of starvation. Actually, the story of the goat herder isn’t the only legend surrounding this discovery.From its earliest beginnings, coffee was thought of as a delicacy and any recipes floating around were considered to be a closely guarded secret! No matter which story you gravitate to, the bottom line is the same: the berries (actually, the seed of the berry) gave energy and zest to all that would consume it!

how coffee shops differ from restaurants and cafs

Also frequently known as coffeehouses, coffee shops are the cozy locals where you go to have a good cup of coffee either with some friends or on your own, so as to quietly read a newspaper. Coffee shops differ from restaurants and cafés, since they predominantly offer a variety of coffee and tea, without serving anything else out of this range. Coffee shops are to be found anywhere on the globe, from the Western world to the Muslim and the extreme East, as they reflect more than just a consumer mentality, they actually function as social life centers, where people talk, write, or pass their spare time in the most appealing of environments.

Coffee shops are great places where people underage can gather and have fun listening to live or recorded music, they way they wouldn't be able to do in some bar; the atmosphere is absolutely great and most coffee shops feel like cozy places where everybody is at home. The specificity of a regular coffee shops differs from one part of the of the world to another: alcohol is served in some such establishments, not to mention that Amsterdam coffee shops are also pretty comfortable with cannabis free use.

Going to coffee shops for a birthday party or a funny evening with your friends could be a great idea. As paradoxical as it may seem, though caffeine is said to cause insomnia, most people who attend such establishments order all sorts of strong coffees particularly in the evening; 9 o'clock in the evening is the right time to gather for a flavored drink and some good live music. Whether it is jazz or blues, music and coffee go very well together; some locals even have an Arabian specific in both decorations and the type of music they play which adds up to the exoticism of the house.

One thing to be tried in coffee shops is Turkish coffee, which is one of the specialties, actually some coffee experts claim that you can label a coffee house after the quality of Turkish coffee they serve. Furthermore, ultra modern facilities combine the coffee shop destination with the wi-fi interest of young generations: this combination actually resulted in the appearance of the hybrid coffee shops that also function as Internet cafés. The phenomenon has spread to such an extent that presently, all respectable coffee shops also provide Internet access to the interested customers.

coffee drink basics

When you enter a coffee house, you have a multitude of drink choices like latté, cappuccino, straight shot and caffé mocha just to name a few.

Sometimes knowing what to order can be overwhelming unless you know what you are getting. After all, who wants to pay an outrageous amount of money for a mystery drink that you may not even like?

So http://www.perfectcoffees.com has come to the rescue, and after you read this, you'll have a basic understanding of how the most popular coffee drinks are made and what they are made of.

Most coffee drinks start with espresso and espresso is just coffee that is brewed a certain way. It is finely ground to almost a powder then very hot water is forced through the grounds under intense pressure.

The brewing process is timed so that the flavorful and aromatic oils are extracted from the coffee and not the bitter components. This produces a strong flavored, but not bitter, concentrated shot of coffee.

Straight Shot

The straight shot refers to espresso coffee and the secret to good espresso is the extraction time, volume, and golden crema which is a thick light brown layer of frothed coffee oils that float on top of a properly extracted espresso.

The short shot or ristretto is extracted to a volume of three-quarters of an ounce. The shorter restricted pour magnifies the essence of the coffee and the chance of any bitter elements being extracted is minimized. If you have ever ordered an espresso shot in Europe they usually serve the ristretto.

The long shot or lungo is extracted to a volume of one and one-half ounces.

The double shot is a 2 ounce shot using twice as much coffee in the portafilter.

The correct way to serve a straight shot is to extract it directly into a warmed demitasse cup. The warm demitasse cup will keep the straight shot warm and prolong the crema. A straight shot is best enjoyed immediately after brewing.

It is rare to see people drinking straight shots of espresso in the US. Most people here drink variations using steamed milk mixed with the shots to make the different coffee drinks listed here.

Espresso Macchiato

The Espresso Macchiato starts with a shot of espresso and then a small amount of foamed milk is spooned over the shot. Macchiato in Italian means "marked," as the espresso is marked with foam.

Espresso Con Panna

This is an Espresso Macchiato using whipped cream in place of the foamed milk. The drink gets its name Con Panna which means "with cream."

Caffé Americano

The Caffé Americano is a drink similar to American brewed coffee. It is made with a single or double shot of espresso combined with 6 to 8 ounces of hot water out of an espresso machine. The result is a very smooth cup of coffee that is much hotter than brewed coffee.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino is made with a fluffy, wet foam, mixed with espresso coffee upon the pour to create a blend of the two flavors. Cold milk is essential, as is expertise in the foaming process. Cappuccino has a large volume of foam making it a light weight drink and less filling.

Caffé Latté

Caffé Latté is similar to the cappuccino but with much less foam and more steamed milk. A latté is made by holding back the foam with a spoon while pouring the frothed milk from the steaming pitcher. The caffé latté is completed by being topped with a small amount of the held back foam.

Caffé latté gets its name from the addition of coffee to milk. For an iced latté, cold milk is combined with the espresso and then the ice is added.

Caffé Mocha

A caffé mocha is made by adding powdered or chocolate syrup to a hot shot of espresso and blended. Steamed milk is then be added to the espresso-chocolate mixture and usually it is topped with whipped cream.

Iced mochas are made with cold milk and the ice added after the coffee and chocolate have been blended.

Flavored Coffee Drinks

Some popular coffee flavors are: vanilla, Irish creme, almond, hazelnut, caramel and fruit flavors such as orange and raspberry. These drinks usually start with a flavored syrup that is mixed with hot espresso and stirred. Then steamed milk is stirred in like in a latté.

An iced version of these flavored coffees made with cold milk instead of steamed makes a delicious cold drink in the summer months.

So now that you know what's in the basic coffee drinks, try one you haven't tasted yet. Who knows, you might find a new favorite.

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gourmet coffee trivia

Interesting gourmet coffee facts:

• The Boston Tea Party was planned in a coffee house – the Green Dragon Coffee House
• 27% of U.S. coffee drinkers and 43% of German drinkers add a sweetener to their coffee.
• The world's largest coffee producer is Brazil with over 3,970 million coffee trees. Colombia comes in second with around two thirds of Brazil's production.
• Hard bean means the coffee was grown at an altitude above 5000 feet.
• Arabica and Robusta trees can produce crops for 20 to 30 years under proper conditions and care.
• Most coffee is transported by ships. Currently there are approximately 2,200 ships involved in transporting the beans each year.
• In Turkey a husband who refused to provide his wife with the drink could be divorced by her!
• Germany is the world's second largest consumer of coffee in terms of volume at 16 pounds per person. Second to the United States at 19 pounds per person.
• Over 53 countries grow coffee worldwide, but all of them lie along the equator between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn.
• An acre of coffee trees can produce up to 10,000 pounds of coffee cherries. That amounts to approximately 2,000 pounds of beans after hulling or milling.
• The percolator was invented in 1827 by a French man. It would boil the coffee producing a bitter tasting brew. Today most people use the drip or filtered method to brew their coffee.
• With the exception of Hawaii and Puerto Rico, no coffee is grown in the United States or its territories.
• Up until the 1870's most coffee was roasted at home in a frying pan over a charcoal fire. It wasn't until recent times that batch roasting became popular.
• Each year some 7 million tons of green beans are produced world wide. Most of which is hand picked.
• The popular trend towards flavored coffees originated in the United States during the 1970's.
• Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee is the most satisfying cup of coffee - it donates all its profits to children.
October 1st is the official Coffee Day in Japan.
• The first coffee tree in the Western Hemisphere was brought from France to the Island of Martinique in the 1720's

coffee grinders are the choice of people who are truly in love with coffee

Preparing fresh coffee can mean lots of things for different people: you can either buy it ground or prepare it at home just as fine or as coarse as it pleases you. Coffee grinders are very often the choice of people who are truly in love with coffee and want to make sure that flavor and the aroma are unique, authentic and the most intense one they can get. The problem with pre-ground coffee is that it loses the flavor within days after the manufacturing process, not that it would become tasteless, but you don't discover the same intensity of the original in it.

On the other hand, those who choose to buy whole coffee beans and prepare them with the help of coffee grinders at home know that the freshness and the strength of the taste will remain present for weeks on end. However, there is one other advantage of using coffee grinders beside that of flavor preservation: I'm talking about the possibility to control the strength of the coffee depending on the way you choose to grind it. For instance, largely ground coffee works excellent for after dinner occasions when you don't need to make the coffee drinks too strong; on the other hand, in the morning, one may definitely need a super fine grind to prepare an espresso and get the maximum of caffeine out of it.

There are many types of coffee grinders on the market, how can one know which to choose? Some of these special machines are created to grind large amounts of coffee that are used in cafés for instance; but this is not the case for a regular person who needs a lower capacity to use at home. When buying coffee grinders, people should ask themselves several question to make sure that it is worth making the investment. First of all, what is your budget? How often do you need to grind coffee? Who else drinks coffee in your house?

Usually, there are two types of coffee grinders to choose from: blade grinders and burr grinders. Blade coffee grinders are less expensive and fit very well in any kitchen due to their reduced dimensions; yet they cannot grind coffee the super fine way that is necessary for a Turkish coffee for example. Furthermore, they are quite difficult to clean, but that is not an operation you'll do too often. On the other hand, burr coffee grinders are the choice for true coffee lovers; the aroma of the coffee is thoroughly preserved, and though they are more expensive, users claim they are definitely worth the money.

coffee houses little known facts that you probably didnt know about coffee houses

Besides serving food and beverages, coffee houses are great places to interact socially with other people, read, write, do homework or just pass time. Providing coffee, tea, light snacks and lunch type food they offer a great mishmash of both. Coffee houses, when you think about it, are very similar to bars and restaurants. People would go to them to drink coffee or tea, listen to music, play games like chess and backgammon and read. In fact, since the 16th century they've been prominent in the Middle East. While one would typically think that coffee houses started in Italy, but that isn't the case. Shortly thereafter, others started springing up in places like Cairo and Istanbul. In 1530, the first coffee house opened in Damascus. It wasn't until the 17th century that coffee first made an appearance in Europe. The first recorded coffee house in Italy opened shop in 1645. This was followed by the first coffee house in England, in Oxford, in 1650. After that, they spread like wildfire, hitting America in 1670 in Boston. Charles II wasn't a fan of coffee houses, and tried to discourage people in London from going to them by characterizing them as places where the disaffected met and spread scandalous reports concerning the conduct of His Majesty and his Ministers. Instead of keeping people away, people flocked to them. Coffee houses were open to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and became associated with equality. That said, women weren't allowed into them. Also, many churches used them for outreach purposes, gaining membership and spreading the word of God. Bob Dylan got his start running the coffee house circuit, as did the Beats. In American coffee houses in the 1960s, musicians and poets had found a home. Later on, this obviously ceased to be the case.

Besides serving food and beverages, coffee houses are great places to interact socially with other people, read, write, do homework or just pass time. Providing coffee, tea, light snacks and lunch type food they offer a great mishmash of both. Coffee houses, when you think about it, are very similar to bars and restaurants.People would go to them to drink coffee or tea, listen to music, play games like chess and backgammon and read. In fact, since the 16th century they've been prominent in the Middle East. While one would typically think that coffee houses started in Italy, but that isn't the case.Shortly thereafter, others started springing up in places like Cairo and Istanbul. In 1530, the first coffee house opened in Damascus.Also, many churches used them for outreach purposes, gaining membership and spreading the word of God. Bob Dylan got his start running the coffee house circuit, as did the Beats. In American coffee houses in the 1960s, musicians and poets had found a home. Later on, this obviously ceased to be the case.