Coffee can make you look and feel good

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Sara Walker

We all know how good that first cup of coffee makes you feel first thing in the morning – but did you know that coffee can help make you look good, as well? The caffeine in coffee makes it an efficient beauty aid, and coffee grounds have the advantage of being free, making them a great choice. Here’s what to do:

Use fresh coffee grounds – just make and drink your coffee and let the grounds cool before you use them. Drain out any excessive water, then mix a good, heaped tablespoon of the grounds with a tablespoon of olive oil. Use the mixture as an exfoliating face scrub to remove any dead skin cells and give you a fresh glow. The caffeine will also help energise your skin and reduce puffiness around your eyes – although use it with caution around the eyes.

Caffeine is such a useful compound – not only does it wake up, refresh and tighten skin, it can also help reduce the appearance of cellulite. Shop-bought anti-cellulite treatments can cost a fortune, so this DIY budget version is as good for your wallet as your skin.

In a large bowl, mix two thirds coffee grounds to one third water and add a few drops of tea tree oil and a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Using a face cloth or your hands, massage the mixture onto dry skin using a circular movement. The essential oils not only add a pleasant fragrance but will also help tone skin. When you come to wash the scrub off, remember that coffee grounds can block plugholes over time so take care.

Here are the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re proud to supply a wide range of coffee beans and coffee accessories, all at great wholesale prices. For more information, please visit our coffee beans page.

Coffee chocolate ‘martini’

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Sara Walker

This isn’t really a martini, as the alcohol it contains is creme de cacoa and coffee liqueur rather than gin and vermouth. It looks attractive served in a martini glass though.

To make 8 servings, you’ll need:

60ml coffee liqueur, such as Tia Maria or Kahlua
240ml creme de cacoa (if you want to make a less alcoholic version of this cocktail, you could also use an equal quantity of hot chocolate, chilled.
300ml vodka
240ml espresso coffee, made from freshly ground beans and chilled
white only of one free range egg
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
12 ice cubes

Put all the liquid ingredients – coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur or hot chocolate, vodka and coffee in a freezer-proof jug, bottle or bowl. Cover, and place in the freezer for a couple of hours.
Put the egg white in a bowl, and whisk until frothy. Spread the sugar out on a saucer. Dip the rims of the glasses first into the egg, then into the sugar. Leave them to dry, then chill them in the fridge.
Crush the ice roughly, either in a food processor or by putting them in a plastic bag and wrapping it in a tea towel. Put the bundle on a chopping board, and hit it with a rolling pin until the ice is broken into suitable pieces. Divide the ice between the eight glasses.
Pour the cocktail mixture over the ice. If you have any egg white left, use it to stick a chocolate covered coffee bean to the foot of the glass.

These coffee cocktails make something a little different to serve at a summer party or celebration. Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a range of coffee beans suitable for all uses, and all at great wholesale prices. To find out more, please visit our website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Top five novelty coffee mugs

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Sara Walker

Fancy raising a smile when you raise your cup of coffee? Perfect for home or office, for yourself or as a gift, we’ve found five mugs to do just that.

1. Retro rocket ray gun mug, The Gift Oasis

This mug fulfills every childfood sci-fi fantasy you’ve ever had – it’s a retro ray gun and a rocket in one. No-one in the office will ever get your mug mixed up with theirs again, and you can while away long meetings by pretending to zap your colleagues… £12.99, available from www.thegiftoasis.com.

2. Fan-tasche-tic mug, the Dot Com Gift Shop

Here’s a mug that’s a cut above the rest. This ceramic moustache mug is ideal kick starting the morning with that first cup of coffee, and it’s dishwasher and microwave safe too. Makes a perfect gift for anyone who’s ever wished they could grow that stylish 1930s moustache. £3.99, available from www.dotcomgiftshop.com.

3. The Rights novelty coffee mugs, House of Bath

These tongue-in-cheek ceramic mugs are best used as a pair to make sure everyone understands how the perfect relationship works! If you’re feeling brave, they’d make a great wedding present. £12.95 for the pair, available from www.houseofbath.co.uk.

4. Prescription coffee mug, The Gift Oasis

Do you know someone who just can’t do without their coffee? Encourage them gently in their addiction with this coffee mug shaped to look like a prescription drug bottle. The label says ‘prescription coffee – take one mug and repeat until awake and alert’. Now there’s some medication we could get behind! £11.99, available from The Gift Oasis as before.

5. Camera lens mug, Getting Personal

The perfect gift for a photography buff, whether amateur or professional, this camera lens mug comes with a detachable lens cover lid that makes a useful coaster or biscuit tray. Ideal for those long hours in the studio. £14.99, available from www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we like people to enjoy our top quality coffee beans, but we take them seriously too. That’s why we stock a range of coffee at great wholesale prices, so you’re sure to be able to find something to your taste. For more information, visit our website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Beef and coffee pie

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Sara Walker

There are certain flavours that coffee complements perfectly, such as chocolate, caramel and …..red meat. You may not have thought of adding coffee to savoury dishes, but it adds a richness and intensity to beef and venison dishes that guests will appreciate but be unable to identify! This is a take on a shepherd’s pie.

To serve 6, you’ll need:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1.5kgs stewing beef, cut into chunks
75g plain flour
3 carrots, peeled and cut into slices
2 red onions
2 cloves garlic
400ml red wine
Sprig of rosemary
500ml freshly-brewed black coffee
1kg floury potatoes suitable for mashing
50g butter
50ml milk
100g mature Cheddar cheese, grated

What to do:

In a cast iron lidded casserole dish, heat the oil over a medium heat. Fry the beef until sealed on all sides, then stir in the flour with a little salt and pepper. Cook for a minute, then remove the beef and set aside.
Peel and chop the onions and add them to the pan. Add the garlic, carrots and chopped rosemary, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the wine, and bring to the boil.
Add the beef back into the pan, and pour over the coffee. Cover and cook for two hours, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and peel and slice the potatoes. Add them to the water and boil for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain, add the butter and milk and mash. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
Carefully spoon the mash on top of the beef mixture, and top with the cheese. Put in the oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbling.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a range of coffee beans at great wholesale prices, suitable for all uses including cooking. For more information, please visit our website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Top five vacuum flasks for your coffee

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Sara Walker

Need to keep your coffee hot on the way to work or for after the gym? We’ve picked out five of the best vacuum flasks to keep your favourite drink piping hot and tasty, ready for when you need it.

1. Cartography vacuum flask, Berry Red

The traditional vacuum flask has been given a make-over with a printed leather-effect map of rain distribution over the globe. With any luck, though, your day out will be a sunny one! Holds 500ml. Priced at £21, available from www.berryred.co.uk.

2. Vintage world map flask, The Contemporary Home

Decorated with vintage maps to give you something to read while you sip your coffee, this flask is great for picnics, days out or long train journeys as well as taking to the office. Holds 350ml. Priced at £15, available from /www.tch.net.

3. Bike flask, Ted Baker

This vintage-style flask from Ted Baker’s new Wild & Wolf range is perfect for long countryside jaunts on your bike. Made from stainless steel, it has a vintage bike race printed sleeve and holds 500ml. £22.50, available from www.cotswoldtrading.com.

4. Petal flask, Orla Keily

Designed for gardeners but ideal for everyone, this petal flask from Orla Keily brings a touch of sophistication to any activity. £16.95, available from www.hintonshome.com.

5. Hola bird vacuum flask, Disaster Designs

This vacuum flask is beautifully illustrated with quirky bird designs. It features a handy carrying strap for extra stability, and holds 500ml. £14.99, available from www.cloth-ears.co.uk.

Now the cooler weather’s on its way, it’s the ideal time to invest in one of these lovely flasks. And if you need a little help with some coffee to fill it with, look no further than the Wholesale Coffee Company. We stock a range of coffee beans of all kinds, all at great wholesale prices. To find out more, visit our website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Top five coffee-inspired cushions

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Sara Walker

Everyone has a special relaxing corner where they like to retreat with their mug of coffee. To make your coffee time even more enjoyable, we’ve picked out five coffee-inspired cushions to decorate your favourite comfortable chair or sofa.

1. Handmade Thai silk cushion in mocha, Le Cocon

This luxurious silk cushion from Le Cocon will make a stunning accessory for your room. In exactly the same shade as a cup of milky coffee, it’s handmade from finest Thai silk and comes with a duck feather pad included. Priced at £60, available from www.swankymaison.com.

2. Upcycled Nescafe cushion, The Little Mill House

This cushion features a Nescafe advertising design and would look great in the kitchen. The backing is a red polka dot design and is 100% cotton with a fold over opening. The cushion comes complete with a cotton feather cushion pad and costs £45 from www.littlemillhouse.co.uk.

3. Delicious coffee cushion, DigetexHOME

This cushion is reminiscent of adverts in 1950s American diners. It measures 43cm by 43cm, comes complete with a feather pad and has the design printed on both front and reverse. It costs £30 from www.digetexhome.co.uk.

4. Coffee talk cushion, Ohh Deer

Hee hee! Every coffee lover we know feels like this sometimes, and this cushion would make a great gift for anyone you know who just can’t do without their favourite drink. It’s made from soft faux suede and come complete with a fibre cushion pad insert. It measures 43 by 43cm, is handmade in the UK and machine washable (in case you spill your coffee over it). Was £34.95, now £19.95 from www.ohhdeer.com.

5. Kantha embroidery chevron cushion, In-Spaces

The timeless design and mixed browns of this pretty cushion would complement any coffee lover’s home. The contrasting bright colours of the embroidery on a base of neutral mocha silk make for a sophisticated design. Priced at £40, available from www.in-spaces.com.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we love all things coffee. Check out our range of coffee beans, coffee ingredients and coffee accessories on our website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Chocolate coffee fairy cakes recipe

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Sara Walker

These tempting little cakes are an adult version of a children’s favourite. Serve them for a traditional afternoon tea with sandwiches, or for morning coffee.

To make 12, you’ll need:

For the cakes:

300g self raising flour
350g sugar
70g cocoa powder
250g creme fraiche
250ml vegetable oil, such as sunflower
250ml very strong cold espresso coffee
3 free range large eggs

For the buttercream filling:

110g butter, softened
370g icing sugar
60ml very strong cold espresso coffee
chocolate covered coffee beans, to decorate

What to do:

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with muffin cases.
Put the oil, coffee and eggs into a bowl, and whisk until combined. Add the flour, cocoa powder and sugar and beat until you have a smooth batter.
Divide the batter equally into the muffin cases, smoothing out each one with a knife. Bake for around 20 minutes until well risen and golden. To check if they’re done, insert a skewer into the thickest part of a muffin. If it comes out clean, with no uncooked cake mixture adhering, they’re ready. Otherwise, return the tray to the oven for a few minutes. Leave them to cool in the tin for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack until cold.
Meanwhile, make the buttercream. Put all the ingredients into a bowl, and beat until smooth. Spoon the mixture into an icing bag with a large nozzle.
Slice the top off each cake, and discard. Carefully pipe a pyramid of coffee icing on top of each cake, and finish with a chocolate-covered coffee bean.
Serve with a large mug of your favourite coffee.

Tip: the cakes can be frozen before you add the buttercream. When ready, just thaw and pick up from step 4.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a range of coffee beans suitable for all uses including cooking, all at great wholesale prices. To find out more, visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Banana coffee muffins recipe

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Sara Walker

Possibly the ultimate treat at breakfast time, these muffins combine nutritious bananas and hazelnuts with the buzz of coffee. They’re also delicious mid-morning or for a weekend brunch, with a cup of – you’ve guessed it – coffee. This tasty recipe is a great way of using up any overripe bananas – just pop them in the freezer one by one, still unpeeled, until you have enough to make a batch of muffins, and defrost them at room temperature one to two hours before required.

To make 12, you’ll need:

75g butter or margarine, softened
4 ripe bananas
150g sugar
1 freerange egg, beaten
2 tablespoons very strong black coffee, such as espresso
225g self raising flour
150g chopped hazelnuts

What to do:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases.
Peel the bananas, put them in a large bowl and mash them roughly with a fork. Add the butter or margarine, and mix together with a wooden spoon. Add in the sugar, coffee and egg, and beat until fully combined. Add the flour, and beat until you have a rough batter. Stir in the hazelnuts.
Divide the mixture equally into the 12 cases, levelling off the tops with a knife. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the muffins are well risen and golden brown. To check they’re done, insert a skewer into the thickest part of a muffin. If it comes out clean with no uncooked cake mixture clinging to it, they’re ready. If not, return them to the oven for a few minutes.
Serve with a large mug of your favourite coffee.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we supply a range of top quality coffee beans suitable for all purposes, and all at great wholesale prices. To find out more, visit our website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Cool muffins on a rack and serve.

What’s new at the Wholesale Coffee Company

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Sara Walker

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re always looking for great quality new products to bring you, so you’ve got the very best in coffee beans, accessories and ingredients for your cafe, restaurant or business at competitive wholesale prices. Here are a few new products we’ve added to our range recently.

Tunki coffee beans

We love these Tunki beans, a top quality 100% arabica, single origin, gourmet coffee from the Peruvian Andes. Grown at 1300 to 1800 metres above sea level, these coffee beans offer an intense, chocolaty flavour with a floral aroma and notes of treacle, citrus and red berries. If you’re looking for something special to offer your more discerning customers, Tunki is for you. For more information, visit our website.

Moouw milk powder

Need milk for your coffee business? How about Moouw milk powder, a new milk product developed specifically to match the taste of fresh milk. While powdered milk products are practical, particularly for use in areas where there’s no easy way of installing refrigeration, they’re often let down by an inferior taste and greasy aftertaste. Now Moouw milk solves this problem, with its soft creamy texture and fresh milk taste, achieved with a unique blend of skimmed milk and full fat milk powder. Made in Denmark, Moouw is the practical, tasty alternative to traditional powdered milk and it’s ideal for use in automatic coffee machines. To find out more, visit the Moouw page on our website.

Happy cups

Why happy cups? Well, these sturdy paper cups are available in a whole range of designs, from sunny yellow to retro chic, so there’s sure to be one to bring a smile to your customers’ faces on a drizzly Monday morning. Available with lids for businesses offering a takeaway service to customers. For more information, visit our coffee cups page.

Top five personalised coffee gifts

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Sara Walker

if you know someone who loves coffee, treat them to an extra-special gift that’s just for them. Here’s our pick of the top five personalised gifts for coffee lovers.

1. Wooden coffee storage crate, Plantabox

These cute little crates are ideal for storing coffee paraphernalia at the office, and there’s plenty of room for mugs, spoons, bags of coffee, biscuits, and everything else the dedicated coffee aficionado needs. It measures 31cm x 20cm x 15cm and can be personalised with 18 characters per line. Make this gift extra special by filling it with a selection of our 1kg coffee sampling bags. Crate costs £23.95 from www.plantabox.co.uk.

2. Personalised wooden coasters, Maria Allen Boutique

This set of four wooden personalised word coasters comes with the addition of any four names of your choice. They’re from cherry wood and MDF veneer and are laminated on the surface for protection. £35 for a set of four from www.mariaallenboutique.com.

3. Personalised square canister, Jonny’s sister

This smart enamel canister is ideal for storing your personal coffee stash. They’re hand painted and the wording is available in a choice of fonts. £27, available from www.jonnyssister.co.uk.

4. Personalised polka dot coffee mug, Getting Personal

This navy polka dot mug is the solution to keeping track of your mug in a busy office. It’s dishwasher safe, and can be personalised with any name. £9.99, available from www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.

5. Personalised travel mug, Snapdragon

This practical mug is ideal for keeping your favourite drink warm, whether you’re travelling to work, in a meeting or working in the garden. It can be personalised with your choice of characters up to 30, is dishwasher safe and features double wall insulation and a silicon lid. £15, available from www.snapdragononline.co.uk.

For all your coffee bean and coffee accessory needs at great wholesale prices, don’t forget to visit our website – www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.