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Top five coffee storage jars

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Sara Walker

Whatever type of coffee beans you prefer, you’ll need a way of storing them so they’re not exposed to light, air or damp. We’ve picked out five of the best coffee storage jars for your kitchen or office to keep your favourite drink fresh.

1. Ceramic jar, Beau & Elliot Home

Sturdy, practical ceramic jar from boutique British brand Beau & Elliot Home. Comes with an engraved wooden lid which is air-tight and practical too, ideal for keeping those coffee beans in tip top condition. £12, available from www.hintonshome.com.

2. Qdo birdie storage can, Pernille Vea

Designed in Denmark, this birdie storage can will cheer up your kitchen or workspace with its quirky expression. Made from porcelain and silicon, it features an air-tight, sealed lid and eyes that pop out for added ventilation. Available in three sizes, prices start from £12.99 from www.scandinavianshop.co.uk.

3. Heather storage jar, Puji

Make sure even your coffee wraps up warm with this porcelain storage jar, featuring a chunky knit design ‘sweater’ in a soft heather colour. These medium sized jars have an air-tight lid and are perfect for keeping your coffee safe. Reduced from £19 to £16.15, available from www.puji.com.

4. Ceramic mason jar, Mrs Allsorts

This jar with its green lid and ‘blackboard’ label is a practical choice in offices, where different people are looking for the coffee! Write the contents on the front with chalk to keep everything clear. Priced at £5.99, available from www.mrsallsorts.com.

5. Owl storage pot, Hunkydory Home

This little fella will keep a close eye on anyone trying to steal your coffee beans! Made from hardwearing ceramic, he costs £30 from www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk.

And of course, you’ll be needing some coffee beans to keep in those jars and pots. Visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk for our full range of coffee beans, all available at great wholesale prices.

Top five coffee pots

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Sara Walker

If you like to brew your coffee the simple way, then you’ll need a coffee pot. We take a look at five of the best enamel coffee pots and cafetieres on the market.

1. Red classic espresso maker, La Cafetiere

Featuring a high quality aluminium body, this stylist hob espresso pot comes in three, six and nine cup sizes. It’s safe on gas, electric and radiant heat sources and the simple, classic design will look good in any kitchen. Prices start from £19.95, available from http://www.lacafetiere.com. Perfect partner: Super Forte Blend Coffee Beans

2. Bistro coffee pot, Nick Munro

Inspired by the designers love of penguins (yes, really!) this sleek Bistro Coffee Pot is made from high grade hand polished polished stainless steel and has a capacity of 0.5 litres. Priced at £19.95, available from www.black-by-design.co.uk. Perfect partner: Suprema coffee beans

3. Enamel coffee pot, Joules

This enamel pot is influenced by the vintage enamelware to be found in brocantes all over France. Decorated in Joules’s Crème Floral design, this coffee pot isn’t suitable for brewing coffee but will keep your drink warm until required. It’s also virtually unbreakable, so it’s ideal for camping or picnicking. £26, available from www.hintonshome.com. Perfect partner: Caribana blend coffee beans

4. Folklore coffee pot, Nina Jarema

From the Folklore collection comes this nostalgic enamel coffee pot, featuring motifs and silhouettes inspired by the villages, forests and folklore of Nina’s native Ukraine.£14.95, available from www.cloth-ears.co.uk. Perfect partner: Forte blend coffee beans

5. Meadows cafetiere, La Cafetiere

This pretty yet functional cafetiere would grace any breakfast table with its elegant floral design in duck egg blue and polished steel. Available in an 8 cup size (1000ml / 35 fl. Oz) size, it costs £31.95 from www.lacafetiere.com. Perfect partner: Suprem blend coffee beans

You can find our full range of coffee beans at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk, so you can be sure of a great cup of coffee however you choose to brew it.

Top five coffee tables

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Sara Walker

Every home or office needs a coffee table, We’ve tracked down five of the best – safe, sturdy, with plenty of room for those cups.

1. Hooper coffee table, made.com

Ideal for a waiting room or office, this Hooper coffee table has a 1960s inspired design that will suit a contemporary decor. It has an integrated storage shelf is perfect for magazines or corporate material, and it’s made from strong, white lacquered plywood with an ash veneer for style and practicality. £129, made.com.

2. Polar coffee table, Sweetpea & Willow

Also perfect for a modern office is this simple Polar coffee table from award winning furniture designers www.sweetpeaandwillow.com. Priced at £475, it’s available in a high gloss white finish and there are other matching pieces available in the range.

3. Lyon coffee table, Alison at Home

If your taste is more for the traditional, then this Lyon coffee table should fit the bill. Hand-carved from solid, sustainably-sourced mango wood, the Lyon measures a generous W113 x H40 x D73cm, and costs £285 from www.alisonathome.com.

4. Slate coffee table, Tema home

For something a bit different, how about this Slates square coffee table from Portuguese contemporary furniture brand Tema? It’s a combination of different sized squares stacked on top of each other to clean, simple, elegant look that’s equally suited to the home or office. Available in two finishes, chocolate wood veneer or matt white lacquer, it costs £360 from www.gomodern.co.uk.

5. Industrial factory cart coffee table, Alexander and Pearl

For a real talking point, try this industrial rustic factory cart coffee table on wheels, featuring a reclaimed wooden top and metal wheels. Priced at £575, it’s available from www.alexanderandpearl.co.uk.

What ever coffee table you choose, you’ll need a cup of coffee to put on it! At the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a wide range of coffee beans, coffee ingredients and coffee accessories, all at great wholesale prices. For more information, please visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Coffee hydrotherapy

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Sara Walker

You may think you know everything about drinking coffee, but now there’s another way of getting your caffeine. Hydrotherapy – a non-chemical way of washing out the intestines and colon with warm water – has been known for thousands of years, and many modern hydrotherapists are now offering the treatment with various additions to the water, including different herbs and…..coffee.

Hydrotherapy practitioners say it’s a safe way of removing a build up of toxins in the colon and giving you more energy, and it can apparently also help calm intestinal problems and bloating. Modern lifestyles such as the use of chemical cleaners and pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals in food mean that we’re more prone to allergies and intolerances than ever before, and toxins can accumulate in the liver, making you feel tired and sluggish.

Coffee is said to be particularly effective at cleansing the liver and colon, reducing pain and helping with nervous tension. It’s also said to have astringent purposes, as well as mechanically cleaning out toxic substances, and stimulating the colon without irritating the stomach, making it ideal for people who have a low tolerance to caffeine.

Fans of the process claim it makes them feel lighter and more relaxed as well as more energetic, and the treatment can help to kick start a period of convalescence or a diet. If you’re thinking of giving it a go, always consult your GP before trying any new treatments, and use a registered practitioner.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company we think we’d rather stick to drinking coffee, and with a range of coffee beans from all over the world, all at great wholesale prices, you’re sure to find something you love. For more information, or to view our range of coffee accessories, milk portions or flavoured syrups, please visit our website.

Coffee recipes: Coffee Alexander

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Sara Walker

You’ve probably heard of a Brandy Alexander, a sweet, brandy-based cocktail made from Cognac and chocolaty crème de cacao that became popular during the early 20th century. It’s not the first cocktail to bear the name, either – its ancestor was simply called an Alexander and was based on gin. There are many stories about the origin of the name, including a claim by drama critic Alexander Woollcott that it was named in his honour, while others claim it was was named for the Russian tsar Alexander II.

Wherever the name came from, it was one of the most popular drinks of its day and still regularly pops up on modern cocktail recipes. Here’s our version of the Coffee Alexander, a cross between a milkshake, an Irish coffee and a dessert. It’s ideal for combining pudding with coffee after a summer dinner party, or served at lunch on a hot sunny day.

To serve four, you’ll need:

240ml strong fresh coffee, made from your favourite good quality coffee beans
4 scoops vanilla or chocolate ice cream (chocolate ice cream will give a richer, sweeter result, more suitable for serving as a pudding)
4 tablespoons brandy or Cognac
4 teaspoons chocolate syrup, available from our coffee syrups page
4 strawberries (optional)

Allow the coffee to stand until cold, then refrigerate until fully chilled. Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until fully combined. Pour into champagne or small wine glasses. Cut a strawberry almost in half without severing the stalk, and use to garnish the rim of the glass.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a wide range of ingredients for brewing, cooking, baking and generally enjoying your coffee, all at great wholesale prices. Find flavoured syrups, green and roasted coffee beans, cups and stirrers, hot chocolate, milk and more at wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Coffee recipes: Café de olla (spiced Mexican coffee)

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Sara Walker

Café de olla, which literally means ‘pot coffee’ is really a traditional preparation method rather than a type of drink. It should be prepared in earthen clay pots, which are still handmade by artisans today. The spicy distinct flavor of the coffee comes from cinnamon and piloncillo, which is unrefined whole cane sugar. It’s a warming, comforting drink that typical of rural areas and colder climates. This type of coffee is principally consumed in the cold climates and in rural areas. To get a really authentic café de olla you should really prepare it in the special pot, which can sometimes be found in specialist kitchenware shops or bought online – if you cheat and use a cafetiere, though, you’ll still get a delicious result.

To make four servings, you’ll need:

4 teaspoons chocolate syrup, available to buy online from our flavoured syrups section
120 ml double cream
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon sugar, ideally unrefined brown cane sugar
360 ml fresh strong hot coffee, made from your favourite coffee beans
Four small coffee cups

Start by putting the cream, half the cinnamon and the nutmeg into a bowl and whip until the mixture forms soft peaks. Pour plain hot water into the cups, and let them stand and warm for a minute. Then tip out the water and put a teaspoon of chocolate syrup into each cup.

Add the sugar to the coffee, and stir until dissolved. Divide the coffee evenly between the cups, stirring to dissolve the chocolate syrup. Top each cup with the spiced whipped cream, and top with a sprinkle of the remaining cinnamon. Serve immediately.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company we have a range of coffee beans available from different regions around the world, all at great wholesale prices. We also stock coffee accessories such as cups, stirrers and lids as well as ingredients like milk portions and flavoured syrups. For more information, please visit our coffee beans page.

Coffee all over the world: Costa Rica and Guatemala

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Sara Walker

The best known Central American coffee producer, Costa Rica produces only wet-processed arabicas and has built a reputation for fine coffee. Coffee production has long played an important role in the country’s history and still continues to be an important part of the economy. In 2006, coffee was the country’s third-largest export and employs a large percentage of the agricultural work force. The coffee produced is high in caffeine, and is often used to blend with other varieties. Connoisseurs often describe Costa Rican coffee as having ‘perfect balance’, due to its blend of mildness and acidity. The coffee tends to be grown on individual, family owned farms called fincas, rather than on large plantations, but are processed at modern, technologically advanced facilities to produce a high quality result.

Guatemala, more correctly known as the Republic of Guatemala, is a Central American country bordered by Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. With a population of around 16,000,000 over an area of 110,000 square kilometres, it’s the most populous state in Central America and is working hard to develop its already well-established coffee industry. Although Guatemalan coffee isn’t as well known as that from South America, it’s prized by many for its rich, distinctive flavour. There are three main growing regions in the country, each benefiting from the rich volcanic soil that some coffee bushes love, as well as a spectacular, rugged landscape that creates microclimates which change the taste of the beans grown at higher altitude. To drink, coffee made from Guatemalan beans is strong and full-flavoured with a chocolaty, spicy complexity of taste.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company we have a range of coffee beans available from different regions around the world, all at great wholesale prices. For more information, please visit our coffee beans page.

Coffee all over the world: Hawaii, Mexico and Puerto Rico

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Sara Walker

Although the European climate isn’t conducive to growing coffee commercially, the plants thrive throughout varied locations in the rest of the world. North America doesn’t produce its own coffee, with the exception of the Hawaiian islands which are famous for the Kona variety that’s considered to be of very high quality and much in demand. Although Kona isn’t the only variety grown in Hawaii, it’s certainly the best known and most sought after.

To produce the distinctive taste, the bushes are planted in volcanic soil on the active Mauna Loa volcano. The afternoon sun isn’t too intense thanks to a thick cloud canopy, and the new trees generally flourish to produce the berries that go on to become Kona.

Meanwhile, Mexico produces coffee on a far bigger scale. Although the individual farms tend to be small and family run, there are over 100,000 farmers and Mexico is at the forefront of the world’s coffee producing counties, with farms being primarily located in the south. Mexican beans are ideal for dark roasts and are often used as part of blends.

Puerto Rican coffee production today is fairly modest compared to the glory days of the 19th century, when the country was the sixth highest exporter of coffee in the world. A combination of natural disasters such as hurricanes combined with competition from other countries led to a drop in production, but now the Puerto Rican coffee industry is on its way back up again, with the emphasis this time on quality rather than quantity. The island has two major growing regions, but producing different but highly regarded coffee.

Know your coffee: roast types

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Sara Walker

Roasting is the process of turning raw, green coffee beans into drinkable coffee, and it has a huge effect on the finished flavour of the bean. Remember that the process will vary between manufacturers, so the only way you can really be sure of finding a roast you like is to taste it

Light roasts

Beans that have been lightly roasted are light brown in colour, and are generally used for milder coffee blends. In addition, there’ll be no oil on the surface of these beans, as the oils won’t have had time to reach the surface of the bean during the roasting process, so they won’t have that hard, shiny appearance.

Medium roasts

As the name suggests, these beans are darker in colour than the light roast, have a stronger flavour and a non-oily surface. This roast is probably the most common as it suits most people’s taste, and it’s the one most often found in America.

Medium-dark roasts

These are a halfway house between the milder medium roast and the full-on dark roast. The beans are a deep, dark colour with some oil on the surface, and a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Dark roasts

At the extreme end of the spectrum are shiny, blank dark roasted beans with an oily surface and strong bitterness. There’s still a lot of variation in this band, and some dark roasts will be much darker than others. This is the variety that’s used to make espressos, and needs to be finely ground to release as much flavour as possible.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’ve got roasts to suit all palates and budgets. From raw green coffee beans to dark roasts, we’re sure to have something you’ll love at a great wholesale price. For more information, please visit our coffee beans page.

Frozen coffee almond cream desserts

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Sara Walker

With the weather heating up, lunch or dinner guests will appreciate these light frozen puddings to finish off a summery meal.

To serve 6, you’ll need:

2 teaspoons espresso coffee, made from good quality, freshly roasted and ground coffee beans
60ml milk
2 freerange gg whites
60g of icing sugar, sieved
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
60g finely chopped almonds
240ml double cream

What to do:

In a small heavy bottomed saucepan, gently heat the milk until almost boiling then add the coffee. Allow to stand for three or four minutes, then strain through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the coffee grounds. Set the milk aside to cool.

Beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the icing sugar a little at a time while continuing to beat until the mixture stands up in stiff, shiny peaks. Gradually add the cold coffee-infused milk, almond extra and chopped almonds.

In a separate bowl, whisk the double cream until it stands up in stiff peaks, then carefully fold it into the egg mixture.

Spoon the mixture into individual, freezerproof bowls or ramekins and place in the freezer for three or four hours or overnight. To serve, remove from the freezer twenty minutes before needed. If liked, top with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and a few extra almonds.

Easy chocolate sauce

60g butter
60g golden syrup
60g good quality cocoa powder
tablespoon Amaretto liqueur or Amaretto flavoured syrup (optional)

Put all the ingredients in a heavy bottomed saucepan, and melt slowly over a gentle heat, stirring constantly. Allow to cool a little before serving.