Category: Blog

According to a UK report by Allegra World Coffee Portal entitled The Future of Coffee, the specialty coffee market sector is set to rise at 13 percent year-on-year, which is three percent more than the standard UK coffee market. The data was collated via 16,839 responses from online consumer surveys and almost 70 interviews with senior industry leaders in various areas of the coffee industry. The report predicts that the UK coffee market as a whole will continue to grow, but the strongest growth is in the specialty coffee sector.

What does ‘specialty coffee’ actually mean? It’s not referring to drinks such as latte, cappuccino or mocha, but rather to the beans themselves. The report was based on the definition laid out by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, which defines ‘coffee with a distinctive character and no primary defects, scoring 80 or higher in the SCAA cupping protocol’. That’s a definition that’s not aimed at consumers, so we’d add our own definition as ‘a coffee that’s produced in small quantities with a focus on quality and consistency. The UK report refers to a ‘radically transforming’ coffee market in Britain, due to the increase in independent coffee companies working to improve service and quality.

The UK market for green coffee beans was estimated at around 47,000 tons a year in 2015,  growing at the rate of around ten percent annually. The UK market for roasted specialty coffee beans was around 6,000 tons in 2015, growing at a rate of 17 per cent, and could be worth almost £170 million by 2020.

 

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re proud to be independent. We’ve been supplying the UK commercial coffee industry for over 20 years, and we have our own factory in Valencia where we roast, pack and carry out our stringent quality control. If you’re looking for high quality roasted coffee beans from a small producer, why not try our Indonesian Blue Dragon beans – just visit our main website to take a closer look.

Whether you fancy trying something different in your coffee or you’re trying to cut down on processed sugar, give these ideas a try for a new twist on your daily caffeine.

Salt

Although it’s not what you might expect, adding salt to coffee can cut down the bitterness and create the illusion that it’s sweeter. The sodium ions released when you add salt to coffee will reduce any bitterness without masking flavours. You only need a little pinch, which isn’t enough to make the coffee taste salty.

Apple juice

Again, you don’t need to go mad! Just a tablespoon of apple juice will add natural sweetness and won’t affect the taste. Best in black coffee.

Maple, agave and carob syrups

These are marginally better for you than refined sugar, but should still be used in moderation! A teaspoon of any of them will add sweetness without affecting the flavour. Maple syrup also adds a subtle richness to milky coffee drinks like latte.

Black treacle (molasses)

Treacle has quite a strong flavour, so it will affect the taste of your coffee. It’s great for adding to black coffee, and perfect for spiced speciality coffees like pumpkin lattes. Be warned though, it does turn the milk a slightly odd colour if you use too much! Experiment with molasses as the amount you use is very much down to personal taste.

Coconut oil

Using coconut oil instead of milk not only gives a subtle, creamy flavour but also packs a nutrient punch. Make a fresh pot of coffee and pour it into a blender, then add a tablespoon of coconut oil (per cup), and a teaspoon of honey. Pulse the blender to combine the mixture, and drink.

Different milks

Almond milk, soy milk and coconut milk all have their own health benefits and will all make your cup of coffee taste subtly different. Experiment with different types of milk and you might find something you prefer to dairy!

For a wide range of coffee beans, all available at great wholesale prices, take a look at our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

If you’re in the middle of promoting your Christmas menu at the moment, you’ve probably added some festive specials. Spare a thought for health conscious, coffee-loving Britons this winter, though – seasonal specials at some high street chains contain a whopping 22.5g of fat and 53.3g (13 teaspoons) of sugar! With daily adult recommended allowances for a man being 70g of fat and 90g of total sugar, you’re blowing half your allowance on a single drink – not to mention the hefty 460 calorie payload. The recommended daily calorie allowance for a man is 2000 a day, and for every extra 3,500 calories you eat a week you’ll gain a pound. That means that if you drink just one of these drinks a day for seven days, you’ll gain a pound – no wonder many of us put on weight over Christmas!

In your own coffee shop, how about offering some festive specials that won’t break the calorie bank? Instead of adding extra sugar as part of the drink, flavour drinks with spices and let customers add their own sweetener if they wish. Serve chocolate chips or marshmallows on the side, and use skimmed milk instead of cream.

Healthy festive coffee ideas

Chocolatey espresso – a standard espresso black coffee contains around 5 calories. Add a shot of chocolate syrup for an additional 40 calories, and serve with chocolate-coated coffee beans on the side.

Spiced cappuccino – a standard cappuccino made with skimmed milk weighs in at 95 calories. Add a single shot of gingerbread syrup for 40 calories, or use sugar-free syrup to add only five calories. Sprinkle the top with a dusting of ginger and nutmeg, and serve with a gingerbread biscuit on the side.

Skinny mint latte – a standard latte made with skimmed milk contains around 135 calories. Add a shot of mint syrup (40 calories) or mint sugar-free syrup (five calories), and serve with a light dusting of cocoa powder on top. Add a chocolate mint in the side.

For all your commercial coffee needs, visit our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

 

 

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we take our coffee very seriously. All our beans are quality controlled, and everything’s produced to the same high, consistent standards that our discerning customers have come to expect. While we know that our customers like to grind their own beans and take their time preparing high quality coffee drinks for their own customers, in Ethiopia the ceremony of preparing and drinking coffee can take hours. Here’s what goes on at the ceremony.

Coffee was believed to have been discovered in Ethiopia in the 11th century, and it’s formed an important part of the national culture ever since, providing an opportunity to socialise and exchange news. The coffee ceremony can take up to three hours, and be performed up to three times a day. It’s also performed to welcome visitors, and it’s a mark of friendship to be invited to attend. There’s also a spiritual element, and the three rounds of the ceremony are said to be necessary to transform the spirit.

The process begins with preparing the room, which includes burning incense and filling the jebena, around, clay coffeepot with water and setting it on hot coals to heat. Next, the green coffee beans and cleaned and roasted in a pan over an open fire. The degree of roasting will vary depending on personal taste. Next, the roasted beans are ground with a mukecha and zenezena (tools similar to a pestle and mortar), and added to the hot water in the jebena.

Once ready, the coffee is poured into tiny cups. The shape of the jebena means that the coffee grounds remain in the pot during pouring.

Depending on the region, guests may add sugar, salt, butter or honey. The hostess of the ceremony may also add spices during the roasting process to flavour the finished coffee. The pot is traditionally passed around three times, with the coffee being weaker during each serving.

For all your commercial coffee needs, visit our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.