Coffee Tea News, Cafe, Coffee Shop, Tearoom Culture | Cafe

The Ins and Outs Of Coffee Bean Roasting

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:42:00 PST

How many mornings do you wake up to a fresh pot of coffee? Or maybe you stop at the local coffee shop for a special blend that you like? Either way, we drink a lot of coffee, but many times we do not realize everything that goes into the process. With an automatic compact espresso machine you can still create the same taste and flavor found in many coffee shops. It is not always the machine you are using that makes that happen, but the roasting process the coffee beans went through. Here are some interesting facts and information on how coffee is commercially roasted. What is roasting: When coffee is roasted, the physical and chemical composition of the coffee changes. Unroasted beans have proteins, acid and caffeine, but there is no flavor. By roasting the beans the necessary chemical reactions take place to create a deliciously smelling bag of beans. Heat during roasting will turn the carbohydrates and fat into oils and then the moisture and carbon dioxide is burned off and the acids break down. At this point the common coffee flavor is created. Determining factors: After coffee is roasted, the less time the coffee spends being distributed, the longer the shelf life will be. Most of the coffee we drink is roasted in large batches on a commercial basis. However, consumers can roast coffee themselves, which means they have more control over the flavor and freshness of the coffee and beans. Also, now that the coffee has been roasted to perfection, you don't want it to be ruined with packaging. Before coffee can be vacuumed sealed, it needs to de-gas first for several days to make sure that the CO2 is gone. There are special canisters with pressure release valves and foiled sealed bags that work as well, so that the coffee can be packaged sooner and still release the necessary gases. Coloring of beans: There are 8 main stages to the coffee bean process. The coffee beans start out green and end in a light to very dark brown. The green beans are raw as they are put in the roaster. As the roasting process begins the beans start to pale. Next they turn a yellow color as the beans are losing water in the form of steam. When they are tanning and starting to turn brown, there is a cracking or popping noise heard, known as the crack. Beans begin to turn a darker brown, from the sugars and the browning reaction. The first crack is complete and the coffee bean is smoother now. The bean has darkened considerably and the second crack is heard. The bean is very smooth. If roasting is continued, all the sugars caramelize and the bean becomes very dark, almost black. Types of coffee depending on when the roasting process is stopped: at stage 4, this is considered a City Roast, which is mild, because of the shorter roasting process. Depending on how long stage 4 is, there can also be a City Roast plus. This variation depends on how long the roasting takes. at stage 5 a Full City roast occurs. A stronger flavor, since the bean is darker now. by stage 7, you have a Vienna or Light French Roast. by stage 8, the bean is dark and this is a Full French Roast. Remember, every time you go to your favorite coffee house, they may have a professional coffee cappuccino espresso machine; however the beans are just as important. No matter what type of coffee you like, the roasting process is an integral part of receiving that delicious taste you are looking for in every cup you brew or buy. Even when doing an espresso machine comparison and deciding which machine to use, having the best roasted beans will increase the chances of every cup being a pleasure to drink. Article by Andréanne Hamel

Coffee Art Paintings

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:41:00 PST

Enjoy Drinking Coffee? Maybe You'd Enjoy Making Coffee Art Paintings Too! Drinking and enjoying coffee is a pastime that people partake in all over the world. The aroma, flavor, color, and different drink concoctions are all part of the enjoyment of this delicious beverage. However, many people have begun exploring coffee as a medium to express there artistic side as well, creating paintings and other art work for home decorating or even going so far as having their work placed in art galleries. They've figured out a different way to put their automatic coffee espresso machine to another use. History of coffee art painting: As far as it is known, coffee art painting may have originated in the Thai area where using tea to paint with was popular. Over time it was used as well for its versatility. Though not easy to work with, painting with it seems to have been most popular with the Chinese since it was used to create brown backgrounds and hues on many of their paintings. Over time many other artists have picked up on this unique and different technique that creates amazing textures and shades only seen when using coffee as paint. As an artistic medium: The views on using coffee as an artistic medium vary. Each artist has found his own unique way of using it to create his paintings. One idea that does seem to be consistent is that working with it as paint is a bit more difficult than it sounds. Creating the right mixture between it and water can be difficult. If it is too thick and there is not enough water then it may not spread easily on the canvas or the color and texture may not be right. However, by the same token if it has too much water then it will be too runny or the shades and hues will not be correct. Also, depending on the artist, some do mix it with other watercolor paints to create further shades to paint with, giving them more options and variations in their paintings. This also creates new challenges while painting with it. Again, the texture and thickness changes with the paint, giving the artist new ways to experiment and create his art. Furthermore, coffee paint can mold and needs time to dry in a way most other paints do not. Many artists have found that a lacquer needs to be applied to preserve their work. Not that painting with it is easy, but if you have an espresso coffee machine cappuccino that you are getting bored with, this just may be the artistic outlet you are looking for. Simply brewing the coffee and beginning to experiment with the way that it flows and moves is all it takes. Then you can always move onto trying different origins and roasts to create different colors and shades to paint with. Also, the canvas you choose to paint on and the brush you pick to paint with will also have an effect on your paintings. There are so many options available while experimenting with coffee painting. A professional automatic espresso machine is not needed even, just some imagination and a desire to take your favorite beverage and turn it into a work of art.

Espresso Machines Help You Pull the Perfect Shot

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:47:00 PDT

By Andreanne Hamel Pulling the perfect shot of espresso can be daunting to newcomers. Many have tried, and many have failed. But thanks to the advent of automatic machines, it’s easier than ever to get the strong, aromatic brew that espresso is famous for. Of course, quality is everything. The perfect cup begins with good beans, freshly ground to a very fine consistency. Once that’s done, the brewing process can begin. Home brewers have a wide variety of styles to choose from. Some require more skill than others. The more automated the espresso machine, the more likely users are to produce a perfect cup right away. Semi-Automatic to Super-Automatic A semi-automatic espresso machine combines the user’s decisions with the machine’s pre-programming. The user grinds the beans, measures out the right amount of coffee, and determines the proper water volume. Once this is done, they let the machine take over the brewing process. After the hot water has been passed through the grinds, the built-up pressure inside the machine is released through a collection of valves. With a little luck, the finished product is a dark, delicious cup of espresso. Businesses that serve a high volume of customers prefer even greater automation. Perhaps they don’t have time to train new employees to become skilled baristas. In this case, a super-automatic espresso machine is the best espresso machine for the job. Coffee sellers simply load the machine with beans and water and let the automated processes do all the work. The machines grind the beans, measure out the coffee, brew it, and dispense it into cups. Some even use turbo wands to produce frothed milk while the espresso is brewing. An initial investment in a super-automatic can save plenty of time and money in the long-run. General Tips To make sure your shot is the best it can be, always start with high quality roasted beans. Grind them right before you make the espresso for the freshest and strongest aroma. Some experts recommend using hot water that hasn’t quite reached the boiling point. Others insist that, for best results, the water should pass through the grinds for a full 25 seconds. It’s mandatory to leave the cream, the frothy byproduct of the brewing process, with the rest of the espresso for a rich and authentic flavor. It used to take a lot of practice to pull the perfect shot, and many people still take pride in their manual brewing skills. But for newcomers, semi-automatic and super-automatic espresso machines are a good choice. Espresso machines commercial and residential are offering more automation than ever, placing that perfect brew at one’s fingertips with as little as the push of a button.

How Do You Drink Tea?

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:36:29 PST

Tea, it's the second most consumed beverage in the world, beaten only by water. It has a place in almost every culture on earth, and has been drunk for what historical documents suggest to be over 5,000 years. There are four main types of this beverage which are white tea, green tea, oolong tea (wu long tea or brown tea), and black tea. However, each type of tea comes from the same species of plant called Camellia sinensis, and it is the processing that the tea leaves go through which determine what type they will ultimately become. Many studies show that there are a number of health benefits that can be obtained by drinking tea. This beverage has many goodies floating around it like antioxidants, catechins, and polyphenols which can shield our immune system, prevent certain tumor growth, and aid in a healthier heart. One study out of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that drinking green tea can help abate esophageal cancer, while another from Pace University reveal that drinking black tea can help destroy oral virus such as herpes, as well as prevent diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis, and skin infections. Having mentioned all that, the way we drink tea can strongly influence not only the health benefit aspects, but also another that goes unnoticed...the flavor benefits. Many folks drink tea simply because it taste great, and not just for benefits. I happen to be one of them! There are two main methods of brewing tea, loose leaf style, and by tea bag. But only one method will give you ultimate tea flavor and benefits! In America, just about 90 percent of folks brew their tea by tea bag and remain unaware of the true way tea is meant to be enjoyed. Even drinking white and green teas that are in iced tea form in bottles sold in stores does not provide the same taste and benefits. The reason is because tea bags consist of fannings (or tea dust) which happens to be the lowest grading of tea. All the natural oils and nutrients that give us that great flavor and health benefits are in little abundance in these dried up tea particles. And as for the chilled teas in bottles, well, they are loaded with sugar so noticing the subtle taste in the mix is hard. Steeping tea using whole loose leaves brings out a whole new beverage loaded with more healthy benefits and much more flavor since these leaves still have most of their oils. I'll never forget my first cup of loose leaf, and till this day I have enjoyed over 100 varieties, with hundreds more to explore. Trust me, loose leaf tea is the way to go, it offers more varieties and drinking pleasure over any tea bag! Now that we've discovered loose leaf brewing, there are a couple of other factors on taste. First, make sure that your tea is young, that is, loose teas are best enjoyed within the first six months of the flush. Second is about what kind of water you will be using to brew it. Good water makes great tea, so avoid plain tap water since the impurities will influence the taste and instead use either natural spring water (not distilled), or well filtered water. Pay attention to the steeping time that came with your loose leaf tea since over steeping can lead to a bitter cup due to the excess release of tannins. Water temperature is also important! White and green teas are delicate, so be sure to let the boiling water cool down for around 30 seconds before pouring. For brewing oolongs and black teas adding boiling water is fine since the leaves are more oxidized and "tougher". So if you're a tea bag dunker, I hope this article introduced you to something new, and the next time you hear that whistle from the kettle you ditched that tea bag! If so, years of loose leaf drinking enjoyment await you, along with a healthier lifestyle! Learn More Interesting Facts About Tea.

US Directory of Coffee Shops

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:31:00 PDT

I just found this great website that claims to be a directory of coffee shops. Now I am not sure that it has all the coffee shops there are in the United States; but it's still an interesting find. It's pretty straight forward and simple enough to use. Give it a go! http://www.coffeeshopsdirectory.com/

Over 700 Coffee and Tea Articles Added!!

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:59:00 PDT

Yes! You read correctly! I know we haven't been we've been out of the loop in terms of content but we think we've more than made up for it with over 700 articles on coffee and tea! So go ahead and take a look around. Enjoy!! 500 Coffee Articles 268 Tea Articles If you like them, be sure to Digg them! Digg the Tea Articles Digg the Coffee Articles

Fusion Announces Internet Cafe Solution

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:23:00 PDT

Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc. , a global communications service provider, today announced the launch of its comprehensive business solution for Internet cafe owners. This new product targets a growing segment of the international calling marketplace, expanding Fusion's current reach into corporate, consumer and carrier markets worldwide. Fusion reports that it has received a number of orders in several international markets, with many of them already placed into service. Internet cafes deliver an important communications service to locals and travelers requiring Internet access, often offering additional service options to enhance their customers' experience. Fusion's full, turn-key solution gives Internet cafe owners the ability to provide VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services, delivering international calling capability to those cafes not yet offering it, and delivering a more cost-efficient, feature-rich management solution to those that do. Fusion's Internet Cafe Solution provides strategic management tools that allow Internet cafe owners to set and manage rates and calling plans, establish and recharge client accounts, check live CDR and manage account activity, control more than 24 booths in one screen, and create client invoices. The solution increases management's control over typically complex business issues, including currency exchange rates and taxes, and gives cafe owners the ability to generate real-time profit and revenue reports for greater control of the overall security of their business operations and records. Delivered over Fusion's state-of-the-art, global VoIP network, and providing the ability for clients to place calls using Fusion's proprietary computer-based softphone, VoIP phones, or traditional telephones coupled with an Analog Terminal Adaptor (ATA), Fusion's solution offers business owners both exceptional global calling capabilities and comprehensive management tools. "Fusion is pleased to announce this solution for Internet Cafe owners throughout the world," said Matthew Rosen, President and CEO of Fusion. "We believe our Internet Cafe Solution provides business owners with the outstanding quality of the Fusion VoIP network and the best possible suite of business management tools," he continued. "In short, we believe it's everything a business owner needs to sell and manage a VoIP offering for a more successful and profitable Internet Cafe." About Fusion: Fusion delivers a full range of advanced IP-based services to corporations, consumers and carriers worldwide. Fusion's Efonica-branded VoIP products and services, which focus primarily on Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, have over one million subscribers from more than 100 countries. For additional information please go to http://www.fusiontel.com or http://www.efonica.com.

Teen Girl Overdoses on Coffee

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:02:00 PDT

It is an all too familiar modern morality tale: teenager goes too far and gets rushed to hospital suffering from an overdose. But in the case of 17-year-old waitress Jasmine Willis, the hyper-ventilation, uncontrolled sobbing and rocketing temperature that she suffered behind the counter of her dad's sandwich shop had a more mundane cause. She'd guzzled too much espresso coffee. Jasmine drank seven double-espressos during the course of her shift at the shop in Stanley, Co Durham. Customers noticed the difference. "My nerves were all over the place," she said yesterday. I was crying in front of the customers and had tears streaming down my face. I was drenched and burning up and hyperventilating. I was having palpitations, my heart was beating so fast and I think I was going into shock." Keep Reading

IPVG enters Internet café business

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:38:00 PDT

Publicly listed firm IPVG Corp. is entering the Internet cafe business through a partnership with Sabiclub.com Corp. Sabiclub.com runs the Station 168 chain of Internet cafes. The company is forming a strategic partnership with IPVG in establishing a separate chain branded as "i-Hooked." "i-Hooked will cater to students while Station 168's market is primarily foreigners," said Don Hung Lee, Sabiclub.com's president. The company has put up two i-Hooked cafes and plans to add a hundred more branches in the next two years. Lee did not disclose the investment structure with IPVG. Lee said i-Hooked will be franchised for about P5 million to P10 million. The partnership has plans of acquiring local cafés in building the i-Hooked brand. IPVG Corp. is engaged in gaming, data center and other IT-related businesses. Source: Inquirer.net

Man Visits 171 Starbucks in 24 Hours

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 08:44:00 PDT

This fellow, named Mark Malkoff, has done what many people has thought of doing but just did have the gusto to pull off. He ventured to visit every Starbucks establishment in Manhattan in 24 hours. Look at how his day starts: 4:00 a.m. After analyzing charts and graphs, calculating miles, and assessing store hours, I still can't decide if I've found the fastest route. The only thing more frustrating is that I'm about to hit 171 Starbucks and I don't drink coffee. All I can do now is cross my fingers. 5:01 a.m. We arrive at 181st and Washington Heights. The store is set to open at 5:30 a.m. 5:23 a.m. Most Starbucks open 10 minutes early and stay open 10 minutes late. The door is still locked. I start to sweat. 5:33 a.m. Store Count: 1 They finally open three minutes late. I chug a double shot of espresso and sprint out, jacked up on my first caffeinated drink of the day. 170 more to go. 6:22 a.m. Store Count: 4 Samantha, the barista at Broadway and 114th Street, is way too happy for 6:22 a.m. I tell her I'll have whatever is in her Starbucks cup. She says it's water and that she isn't a coffee drinker, which is like being a vegan waitress at Outback Steakhouse. Links: Radar 171Starbucks

Can Tea Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:42:00 PDT

One of the most frightening health concerns facing the aging is Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer's progresses, victims sometimes experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation. In addition, some patients have hallucinations or delusions. Doctors don't fully understand what causes Alzheimer's, though much research is ongoing. Once diagnosed, the disease may progress very slowly or very quickly. The first functions to be affected are memory and thinking, but as the disease progresses, cells die in other parts of the brain, too. Eventually the patient requires complete care. Though most Alzheimer's patients die from other health issues, Alzheimer's itself can be fatal, once enough brain function is lost. As with most serious illnesses, research focuses on two areas; prevention and treatment. Today, though there is no cure for the disease, there are treatments available that can improve cognitive function, at least for some period of time. In terms of prevention, since little is known about what causes the disease, we also don't know a lot about how to prevent it. However, we are learning the benefit of the anti-oxidants in tea in both the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's. In the past few years, lots of research has shown tea's anti-oxidants to be powerful fighters of aging and disease. Green tea, in particular, has been shown to prevent heart disease and several forms of cancer. Anti-oxidants are important because they fight free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are created as we process the food we eat into energy. Free radicals have the capacity to damage our cells and our DNA if we don't keep them in check. Anti-oxidants rid our bodies of the free radicals, protecting it from the damage they can cause. Fruits and vegetables are full of anti-oxidants, as are coffee, dark chocolate and red wine. In addition, tea is a great source of anti-oxidants. For prevention and treatment of most diseases, green tea has been found to be more protective than black tea, because the anti-oxidants in green tea are in a more natural state than those in black tea. This is because black tea is fermented during processing while green tea is not. However, in the research surrounding Alzheimer's there seems to be no difference between using black tea and green tea, because the particular anti-oxidant most effective against Alzheimer's is not altered by the fermentation process, making both teas equal for this purpose. One study reported by the UK Tea Council showed drinking tea to be an effective way to prevent and even treat Alzheimer's. The study concluded that the anti-oxidants had a neuro protective effect on some of the brain chemicals that become toxic to brain cells during Alzheimer's. While far more research is required, this is promising news. If tea can protect the brain, it may show potential in both prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's. In terms of protection, it is theorized that drinking tea may have the ability to prevent brain chemicals from turning toxic and killing brain cells. As far as treatment goes, tea's ability to protect brain cells from toxic chemicals may slow the progression of Alzheimer's. It is far too soon to predict if tea's anti-oxidants may someday lead to a cure for Alzheimer's, but the news does represent some hope in the face of a disease whose cure has eluded us so far. Green Tea and Aging In addition to the research noted above, it's important to consider the overall effect of green tea on the aging process. Green tea has been shown to slow down the aging process and protect our bodies from many different types of disease, including cardiovascular disease. Why is this important in the fight against Alzheimer's? While scientists don't have a full understanding of the causes of Alzheimer's disease, they do have some understanding of at least some of the risk factors for this disease. Two important risk factors for Alzheimer's are: Age - The greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer's is increasing age. Few people contract the disease under the age of 65. The risk for developing Alzheimer's doubles every five years over the age of 65. After age 85, the risk of Alzheimer's is nearly 50%. Heart Health – Any disease that decreases the health of the heart decreases the health of the brain. Cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and atherosclerosis have been shown to be linked to the development of Alzheimer's. This is thought to because the damage to the arteries and veins caused by these conditions reduces the amount and quality of blood flow to the brain. Since we know that green tea helps prevent heart disease and premature aging, it stands to reason that adding green tea to your diet can also, in the long run, prevent Alzheimer's. While we can't actually prevent ourselves from getting older, we can minimize the damage of aging by filling our bodies with anti-oxidants like those found in green tea. About The Author: Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit http://www.goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

The Greenest Coffee on the Planet

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:11:00 PDT

Solar Roast Coffee, a company based in Pueblo, Colorado, is making some of the most ecologically friendly coffee in the world. In fact, Solar Roast has been roasting their Fair Trade organic beans with nothing but the power of the sun since October of 2004. Learn more about this Earth-Friendly Coffee Company

Why Paul's Coffee Shop stands out

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:36:00 PDT

I like reading about the unique ways that coffee or tea establishments use to stand out. In this article when asked what they do to unique Phil Martinez says "We have a special place by the door where our customers hang their personal coffee cups and just pick it up when they come in the door. Our Marine Corps wall of honor always gets a lot of attention, and many of the customers helped decorate by bringing in their own treasures and pictures to display. We have original sand of Iwo Jima! John Wayne is also a favorite, and we have a John Wayne Omelet and a big portrait of him painted by John Wayne's wife." Post a comment if you have any special ways to keep the hot beverage requests coming.

Get in Touch with Internet Cafes

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:57:00 PDT

We've previously posted a list of websites that listed cafes. I've found another one to add to that um... list. It's called CafeTouch; and is exclusive to only Internet Cafes. This site has a blog and directory. Taken from their website: "We hope that CafeTouch will become the internet's number one Internet Cafe directory. We also home that Internet Cafe's owners will find CafeTouch to be a place where they can find ideas, discuss their business with colleagues and get updates with news."

Tearooms return to tackle high street coffee culture

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:26:00 PDT

Here is a great article about how tea is still clawing it's way into the coffee culture. The British tradition of afternoon tea is enjoying a renaissance. Sales of speciality teas are growing at record rates, there are two-month waiting lists for afternoon tea at London’s top hotels, and a new chain of high street tearooms is set to open. William Gorman, executive director of the Tea Council, said that women between the ages of 20 and 40 were leading a boom in tea drinking. He said: “We drink 165 million cups of tea per day, as a nation, compared with 70 million cups of coffee, but 90 per cent of tea is drunk in the home. The market is ripe for a new, public, tea venture.” The waiting list for afternoon tea at the Ritz has reached eight weeks for weekend sittings and the hotel now has five sittings a day. Profits at Bettys, the northern chain of teashops, have soared, while sales of its speciality teas are up 10 per cent. But there are few places on the high street that specialise in serving tea. Now one British firm is fighting back against the coffee shop chains. Hope and Greenwood, a husband-and-wife partnership, is planning a national chain of 1950s-styled outlets, where the tea is loose-leaf and “fancy" coffee is banned. The couple have formed a joint venture with Ponti’s, the restaurant chain, to create the British Tea Rooms. The first outlet will open on Marylebone High Street, in the West End of London, in September. The company plans to open 50 British Tea Rooms nationally in the next few years. Kitty Hope, one half of Hope and Greenwood, said that the cafés will be “very British and very nostalgic”. She said: “I think there are too many coffee chains. You go to a coffee place and you get a horrible cup with a tea bag in it. Then you have to add your own milk. It’s horrid. It doesn’t give tea the respect it deserves.” “You can go to the Berkeley for tea at one end of the market, or to a greasy café, but there’s very little in between.” Mick Nash, managing director of Sedley Place, the firm that will design the tearooms, said that he hoped to replicate the spirit of the late 1950s, when the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told Britons they had “never had it so good”. Mr Nash said: “It’s going to be genuinely British.” Source: TimesOnline.co.uk

McDonald's Opening Coffee Chain in Japan

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:38:00 PDT

McDonald's is set to take on Starbucks in Japan with a new chain of coffee shops brewing up bargain lattes, the fast food chain said Thursday. The Japan unit of U.S.-based McDonald's Corp. will launch 15 pilot "McCafe" stores in the Tokyo area on August 29, according to a company release. The stores, the burger chain's first foray into the coffee shop business, will offer drinks at low prices to target families, the release said. McDonald's said it will consider opening McCafes across Japan in the next fiscal year. The cafe business in Japan has been shrinking and stood at 1.052 trillion yen (US$8.61 billion) in 2006, down 5 percent from the previous year. Still, sales at specialty coffee shops like Starbucks have soared. The Seattle-based coffee chain, which launched in Japan in 1997, has almost 700 stores across the country and saw sales jump 16 percent last year to 78.9 billion yen (US$646 million).

Tea Immersion Week

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:00:07 PDT

Immerse yourself in the hypnotic world of Tea . . . Spend a week exploring the riches of the Chinese and Japanese cultures that lie at the heart of Tea. Experts on music, Asian culture, and the world of tea will guide your journey through Tan Dun's musical and theatrical world, Chinese and Japanese tea ceremonies, raku ceramics (including a special "Tea in Your Own Bowl" event), yoga and tai chi, and themed dinners in several of Santa Fe's finest restaurants. Guest speakers include the noted tea expert and author James Norwood Pratt. Your journey will be capped by the American premiere performance of Tea: A Mirror of Soul. The Tea Immersion Week is housed at Sunrise Springs, a 70-acre resort retreat noted for its lush solitude, with towering cottonwoods, healing gardens, and spring-fed ponds, and the contemporary elegance of its guest casitas, each of which includes a kitchenette, master bathroom, computer alcove, fireplace, and private patio. Luxuriant spa treatments, including reiki and hot-stone massages, are available at Spa Samadhi. Click here to learn more about Sunrise Springs. The Tea Immersion Week begins on Monday, July 16 and concludes on Sunday, July 22. Click here to see a complete outline of planned events. Click here for Tea Immersion Week pricing information or if you can't make the whole week, click here for details on Day Passes.

Coffee Company Success

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:20:03 PDT

I just read a blog post about a coffee company having some cool ideas to increase sales and spread the word about their products. This post stated that Specialty Roast Coffee Company who donates $2 of every bag of coffee beans to a charity of the buyer’s choice. Coffee connoisseurs can visit SpecialtyRoast.com and select from a growing list of local and national charity foundations to donate to. This is a good strategy by itself; but they do something else that is very innovative. They started purchasing additional domain names including the names of the charities followed by the word “coffee.” For example RedCrossCoffee.com, PetCoffee.com (Humane Society). The owner claims that this is one of his best ideas as it brings residual traffic to his business from type-ins. Customers tell their friends that they order their coffee beans at RedCrossCoffee.com and the power of word-of-mouth marketing sets in. This is the kind of forward thinking we need to propell our tea and coffee businesses. LINKS DotSauce Chris Ambler Specialty Roast

Crazy Coffee Mugs

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:00:33 PDT

I found this section of a website that archives tons to wacky mugs. This one stood out to me. It's called a Lap Mug. It is designed for the table but people increasingly eat and drink around the house. The lap mug is for indulging on the sofa with a wedge for nestling in your lap. Here's the link to that archive thing.

This What I Call Cafe Marketing!

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:17:00 PDT

Drivers may find themselves doing a double take as they pass the intersection of Spring Street and Schoolhouse Lane in Northern Pennsylvania come August. A uniquely shaped building, the brainchild of Forty Fort resident Amie Harley, will add a twist to the landscape along this retail strip. A Cup of Heaven, Harley’s specialty drive-through coffee shop, will be shaped like a giant coffee cup. Harley, 27, came up with the idea after spending time near Spokane, Wash., where she was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base. She immediately noticed the coffee kiosks on every corner of the city and the convenience they provided for the consumer. Harley, who grew up in Plymouth, loved the concept so much she brought it back to Wyoming Valley. Harley wrote a detailed business plan to the federal government and received a $60,000 grant from the Veterans Benefit Administration for the shop. The grant covers a portion of the $300,000 startup cost for the business. The cup-shaped building will be 18 feet in diameter, enough to house all equipment and employees. Harley expects to employ one full-time and three part-time workers at the shop. A Cup of Heaven is the first business enterprise for Harley, who has previous experience working in the restaurant business. The shop will rely heavily on morning commuters in the Luzerne County area, competing with local Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks Coffee Co. stores. Other than the ease of two drive-through windows, Harley plans to entice customers by providing an alternative for the local consumer. Harley sees her coffee as smoother, less potent than Starbucks coffee and will offer it at a cheaper price, she said. She plans to provide a more extensive menu for noncoffee drinkers and children. A Cup of Heaven will offer coffee and espresso-based drinks such as lattes, mochas and cappuccinos, along with frozen fruit smoothies, teas, milk and bottled water. Breakfast sandwiches, fresh fruit and bakery goods will also be served. If customers want to take some of Harley’s coffee home, they will be able to buy her fresh roasted coffee beans either ground or whole. “I’ll be roasting my own beans right inside,” she said. “You’ll be able to see them and you’ll be able to smell them.” According to Harley’s business plan, A Cup of Heaven will succeed and its popularity could spread rapidly across the state. “Economically speaking, Wilkes-Barre has gone downhill in the last decade and it needs more businesses to help rebuild what was once a thriving city,” Harley said. Source: timesleader.com