Top five coffee gift books

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Sara Walker

If you’re looking for a present for the coffee over in your life, how about one of these – ahem – coffee table books? Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge of all things coffee or learn a few hints for making the perfect mug, you’re sure to find something here.

1. The World Atlas of Coffee: From beans to brewing – coffees explored, explained and enjoyed by James Hoffman. Publisher Mitchell Beazley. Available from Amazon, £14.28 for the hardback edition. This new book by champion barista and coffee roaster James Hoffmann takes a look at the history and complexity of coffee, examining different varieties of beans and the process from bush to cup.

2. Coffee obsession by Anette Moldvaer. Publisher Dorling Kindersley. Available from Amazon, £11.99 for the hardback edition. This new book will allow you expand your coffee repertoire with over 100 recipes for everything from liqueur coffees to the perfect latte.

3. Setting Up & Managing Your Own Coffee Bar: How to open a Coffee Bar that actually lasts and makes money (Coffee Boys Step By Step Guide) by John Richardson and Hugh Gilmartin. Publisher How To Books. Available from Amazon, £11.24 for the paperback edition. This is a practical step by step guide on running your own coffee bar, including advice on location, finances and marketing.

4. The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop (Bazaar Book) by Nina Luttinger and Gregory Dicum. Publisher New Press. Available from Amazon, £12.78 for the paperback edition. A comprehensive introduction to one of the world’s most popular products, The Coffee Book is full of facts and figures, cartoons and coffee history.

5. Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed Our World by Mark Pendergrast. Publisher Basic Books. Available from Amazon, £6.63 for the paperback edition.This book reviews the dramatic changes in coffee culture over the past decade.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re experts in all things coffee. To browse our range of coffee beans, coffee accessories and coffee ingredients, all available to buy online at great wholesale prices, log on to www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Instant coffee recipes: Greek frappe

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Sara Walker

This cool, refreshing Greek-inspired drink is ideal first thing in the morning, or as a dessert/coffee combination after lunch.

You’ll need (per person):

2 tsp good quality instant coffee
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp hot chocolate powder
3 ice cubes
50ml very hot water (i.e. just off the boil)
200ml chilled milk

You’ll also need a blender or smoothie maker capable of crushing ice.

What to do:

Dissolve the instant coffee, sugar and hot chocolate in the hot water, and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into the blender.
Add the ice cubes, and pulse to crush. Add the chilled milk, and pulse to mix. The mixture should look thick and frothy.
Tip: if you don’t have a blender or smoothie maker, wrap the ice cubes in an old, clean tea towel and lay them on a chopping board. Tap them sharply with a rolling pin until the cubes are roughly crushed, then decant into a glass. Let the coffee mixture cool before beating it together with the milk using a hand blender or balloon whisk, then pour over the crushed ice. You won’t get such a thick, frothy effect, but it’ll still taste great.
Serve immediately with a sprig of mint on the side of the glass.
The ideal serving temperature for your Greek coffee frappe is 10 degrees Celsius.

For variation, try adding a shot of flavoured syrup to the coffee instead of sugar. Caramel, mocha, chocolate, Baileys, Amaretto and mint all work well.

For all your coffee needs, log onto the Wholesale Coffee Company website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk. There, you’ll find wholesale quantities of fresh coffee beans, green coffee beans, instant coffee, flavoured syrups, coffee accessories and coffee ingredients, ideal for all business and commercial needs, and all available to buy online at competitive wholesale prices. To talk to us about your business needs, give us a call on 0800 012 1226 – we’re always happy to chat about our favourite subject, coffee.

Top five coffee cups and saucers

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Sara Walker

Although many of us keep a cup of coffee on the go all the time in the office to help us concentrate, sometimes there’s nothing like doing it properly. Sit down, put your feet up and relax with these lovely ‘proper’ coffee cups, complete with saucers.

1. Blue Early Bird cappuccino cup and saucer, Pip Studio

Specially made to hold that early-morning cappuccino is this pretty blue porcelain Early Bird cup and saucer set by Dutch designer Pip Studio. £13.99 for the set, available from www.cotswoldtrading.com.

2. POP coffee cup and saucer, Sagaform

This range by Sagaform draws inspiration and pays homage to both seventies product design and American fifties POP culture. Available in a range of colours. Was £15 for the set, now £8 from www.quinceliving.co.uk.

3. Jumbo cup and saucer, Festin Couquin

Perfect for a large breakfast cup of cafe au lait, his large, hand painted French pottery cup and saucer set with its attractive shape and pretty design will a little Provencal sunshine into your home. £26.50, available from www.boutiqueprovencale.co.uk.

4. Vintage postcard cups and saucers, Disaster Designs

This pretty cup and saucer is decorated with vintage-style postcards, so you can curl up with your coffee and dream of your next holiday. £11.99, available from www.mollieandfred.co.uk.

5. Butterfly espresso cup and saucer, Sophie Allport

A pretty blue butterfly adorns this fine bone china espresso cup and saucer. It’s perfect for a solitary indulgent cup of coffee, or great for impressing friends after dinner. £10, available from www.sophieallport.com.

If you’re looking for some great value coffee beans and coffee accessories to complete that special cup of coffee, look no further than the Wholesale Coffee Company. We’ve got a great online range of coffee beans, instant coffee, coffee ingredients and everything else you need, all at great wholesale prices – just check out our website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Instant coffee recipes: spiced coffee fudge

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Sara Walker

If your idea of a coffee break is a large cup of coffee and a mouthful of something sweet rather than a whole piece of cake, this spiced coffee fudge is for you. Rich and melting, a little goes a long way.

To make around 1kg, you’ll need:

250g good quality dark chocolate, broken in small pieces
1 x 397g tin of sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
1 teaspoon hot water
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

What to do:

Line a 20cm square cake tin or shallow Pyrex dish with greaseproof paper.
Put the chocolate in a small, microwave-proof bowl, and melt it in the microwave in short bursts, stirring occasionally to make sure it’s not going to catch or burn.
Meanwhile, dissolve the coffee granules in the teaspoon of hot water. Stir in the condensed milk into the chocolate mixture, beating until fully combined, and add in the coffee and spices. Continue to beat until smooth.
Spoon into the prepared tin, and spread out evenly with the back of a spoon. (Tip: putting the spoon in the freezer for half an hour first means it won’t stick to the mixture.)
Put the tin in the fridge for at least two hours or until set, then turn the fudge out onto a chopping board and remove the greaseproof paper. Cut the fudge into small squares, which should keep for a week when sealed in an airtight tin.
Serve with a large mug of your favourite coffee.
Experiment with different flavourings by omitting the spices and adding mint or caramel syrup, white chocolate chips or chopped hazelnuts.

If you’re looking for something special to go with your coffee fudge, look no further than the Wholesale Coffee Company. Not only do we stock instant coffee for drinking and recipes, we also have a wide range of top quality coffee beans and coffee accessories, all at great wholesale prices. To find out more, visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Coffee recipes: Spicy Hallowe’en coffee cake

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Sara Walker

This dark, moist, sticky cake is a must to accompany your mid-morning coffee on the 31st October, but it’s a treat at any time of year.

To serve 12 to 14, you’ll need:

650g black treacle
1 cup (2 sticks) plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
80ml very strong black coffee, preferably made from freshly ground coffee beans
600g self-raising flour
3 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
2 large freerange eggs
570g plain yoghurt or creme fraiche
icing sugar for dusting

What to do

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease a tin approximately 20cm by 30cm, and line the bottom and sides with greaseproof paper.
Put the ‘wet’ ingredients, i.e. the treacle, butter and coffee in a large saucepan, and heat gently until the treacle melts and everything is fully combined. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
To the now-cool saucepan, add the spices and salt. Mix to make a stiff batter, then whisk in the eggs. Fold in the yoghurt or creme fraiche, mixing until just combined, and spoon the batter into the tin. Use the back of a spoon to even the mixture out.
Bake for around 50 to 60 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the thickest part of the cake comes out cleanly, with no uncooked cake mixture adhering to it. Allow to cool slightly in the tin.
Turn the cake out onto a wire cooling rack, and remove the paper. Leave to cool, then dust with icing sugar and cut into slices.

If you’re looking to buy coffee beans online, either for making coffee to drink or for recipes, you’ve come to the right place. Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a wide range of coffee beans, coffee accessories and coffee ingredients, all available to buy online at great wholesale prices. To find out more, visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Instant coffee recipes: spiced coffee biscuits

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Sara Walker

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we love our coffee. These little spiced coffee biscuits have a delicate coffee flavour, and are the perfect partner for your mid-morning coffee break. They need at least two hours in the fridge, so start them in plenty of time.

To make around 30 to 40, you’ll need:

2 teaspoons good quality instant coffee, dissolved in 1 teaspoon of hot water
120g butter or margarine
100g dark soft brown sugar
1 freerange large egg
200g self raising flour, plus extra for dusting
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
2 tablespoons chocolate vermicelli (optional)

What to do:

In a large bowl, beat the butter or margarine, sugar, egg and coffee either by hand or with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Fold in the flour and spices, and mix until you have a stiff dough.
Divide the dough in half. Dust your hands with flour, and shape each piece of dough into a roll about 15cm long by 4cm across, then, if you like, roll each cylinder in chocolate vermicelli, pressing gently to get the strangs to adhere. Wrap each log in clingfilm, and put in the fridge for at least two hours or overnight.
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Cut the logs of dough into slices, each about 3/4cm thick. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper, and lay the slices out so that they don’t touch. Bake for around 5 to 8 minutes, until pale golden and set. Allow to cool on a wire rack. Enjoy with a large mug of your favourite coffee.
Tip: the biscuits can be frozen in their raw state. Cook from frozen as required, adjusting the baking time slightly.

To browse our range of coffee beans, instant coffee, coffee acccessories and coffee ingredients, all at great wholesale prices, please visit our website, www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Types of coffee

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Sara Walker

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re coffee experts. Here’s our handy guide to the different types of coffee on the market.

Coffee beans

Fresh coffee beans are the first stop for any serious coffee lover, and come in a huge range of varieties. Their appearance and flavour will depend on a number of factors, including country of origin, growing conditions and roasting process. They must be prepared prior to drinking, which involves dehusking and washing, drying, roasting and grinding. They need to be brewed in a coffee machine such as a cafetiere or drip machine, and are considered the tastiest way of drinking coffee.

Decaffeinated coffee

This is coffee with most of the caffeine removed, and it’s produced from the green (raw) coffee beans, either by the water method or by natural or chemical solvents.

Instant coffee

Soluble or instant coffee is a very practical choice, as it needs only hot water to prepare. It’s made by removing water from the coffee by evaporation or freeze-drying, and it’s sold as powder or granules to which the user only has to add water. It’s available in both caffeinated and decaffeinated versions, and has a long shelf life.

Coffee essence

Coffee essence first became popular during the Second World War when coffee itself was in short supply. It’s still possible to buy bottles of coffee essence which are designed to be made into cups of coffee with the addition of hot water. As soluble coffee has improved in flavour, though, most people tend to stick to granules for a convenient form of instant coffee, and coffee essence is generally used as a baking ingredient. Use it to flavour chocolate cakes, savoury dishes, biscuits and sweets.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a wide range of coffee supplies, all at great wholesale prices. To browse our coffee beans, coffee ingredients, coffee accessories, flavoured syrups and instant coffee, please visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Ethiopian coffee ceremonies

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Sara Walker

As the legendary home of the coffee bean, Ethiopia has a long association with the world’s favourite drink. The Ethiopian people have such respect for coffee that they’ve developed a ceremony for preparing it, which you may be offered if you visit the country or eat at an authentic Ethiopian restaurant.

The hostess of the ceremony will begin by cleaning and washing the coffee beans (known as ‘bunna’, pronounced ‘boo-na’), to remove any debris or remnants of the fibrous outer husk. They’re then placed in a long-handled pan, similar to a covered frying pan. The pan’s placed on an open fire or in a stone oven, and the hostess will shake the beans continually so they don’t burn. When the beans are ready, they start to darken, release their oils and make a popping sound and the scent of freshly-roasted coffee will begin to scent the air.

Traditionally, the roasted coffee is then pounded in a heavy wooden bowl called a ‘mukecha’, using a metal or wooden stick called a ‘zenezena’, much like a pestle and mortar, although many ceremonies are now conducted using electric grinders for convenience and consistency.

The coffee grounds are transferred to a long necked clay pot called a ‘jebena’ and boiled over the open fire before being poured into another container, allowed to cool and re-boiled up to three times. Once ready, the coffee is poured through a filter set in the neck of the jebena into tiny china cups called ‘cini’. The resulting drink should be savoured in the company of friends.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re coffee experts and are proud to supply a range of coffee beans from around the world, all at great wholesale prices. For more information about us and our products, please visit our coffee beans page.

How to make a coffee hair rinse

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Sara Walker

As well as being tasty, coffee can be surprisingly useful. Whether you’re using it as a natural dye to tint fabric, paint or paper, turning the grounds into compost or fertiliser or using it as a baking ingredient, it’s extremely versatile. In addition, it contains no added chemicals or harsh artificial ingredients so it’s ideal for using as a beauty product. As coffee’s dark natural colour can add a subtle tint to a range of materials, it can also give brunette hair a deeper shine. Here’s how to make your own hair rinse.

Brew two large mugs of espresso coffee from beans (this is a great way of using up old or stale beans. Don’t forget to save the grounds to make a face scrub.) Leave the coffee to cool completely, then pour the coffee over your hair after you’ve washed and conditioned it, and leave it to dry. Alternatively, pour the coffee over dry hair, wrap your head in a hot towel and leave it for half an hour. Shampoo out as normal. Using some beer in the last rinse water will help seal in the coffee colour. Make sure you use an old or dark coloured towel, as the coffee may stain, and clear up any spills or splashes in the bathroom before they dry.

If you have very long or thick hair, you may need to use more coffee. Always use coffee from fresh beans rather than instant, which can contain additives. Don’t use coffee on very light hair, as the it may stain rather than adding shine and lustre.

If you’re looking for a reliable supply of good quality coffee beans at wholesale prices, look no further than our website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk. We’ve got a wide range of beans from around the world, all available at great value prices.

How to remove coffee stains from a wooden coffee table

Posted on October 4, 2014 by Sara Walker

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we love our coffee. Even we’re prepared to admit, though, that our favourite drink might have the odd downside, such as the tendency to stain certain surfaces. Here’s how to remove coffee stains from your favourite wooden coffee table.

First of all, most stains on coffee tables are from heat damage rather than from coffee. Protect the surface of your table from ‘cup rings’ by using a coaster or mat, which will also help prevent coffee drips reaching the table surface.

If the table’s been knocked and the coffee split though, take evasive action as soon as possible. Dry up the spill with an old towel, and wipe the surface of the table with a warm damp cloth with a tiny blob of washing up liquid. Rinse with clean water, and leave to dry. When dry, apply a layer or wax or polish. If you’re quick enough, this may be all you need to do.

If the coffee has soaked into the table unnoticed, though, you may have to do some DIY. If the table is antique or valuable, contact a professional wood restorer. Otherwise, wipe the table top clean and dry and lightly sand the whole table surface with a fine grain sandpaper. Wipe again to remove any dust, and apply a layer of wax or polish. Leave to dry, then apply further layers as necessary until the colour is restored.

If the table is badly damaged, it could be time to customise it. Try painting, staining or varnishing the whole table, applying a decoupage design or adding mosaic tiles to create a unique result.

When your table’s ready, don’t forget we’ve got a wide range of coffee beans available on our coffee beans page, all at great wholesale prices, and we supply coffee accessories and ingredients too.