Category: Blog

Wake Up to the Smell of Coffee!

Posted on by Sara Walker

Most of us joke about being awakened by the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans in the morning, or when we have our first sip of java, but did you know you could actually wake up to the wonder of coffee in the morning?

We live in a day and age where crazy inventions aren’t limited to families that happen to have an inventor in their midst, but where you can buy them freely on eBay or sponsor them on Indiegogo or Kickstarter. For better and worse as you might have to browse through many crazy inventions before you find what you are looking for. On the upside you can find new gems all the time.

One of those gems, or completely unnecessary inventions that we love, is a coffee alarm clock. That’s right the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans can LITERALLY wake you up. The problem? It hasn’t yet been developed. Maybe you can fun it though? We really think it’s a must have item! We can smell it now – fresh roasted coffee beans to awaken our senses…yum!

Find out more about the project HERE.

 

The Philosophy of Coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

Have you heard of the perfect cup of coffee? Every year coffee enthusiasts try to find their own perfect cup of coffee and many coffee entrepreneurs travel the world to find what they believe to be the best cup for their clients. Often, if it’s a good coffee shop they will work with rare and expensive beans that grow in specific climates. In other words: that kind of coffee costs.

What is the perfect cup of coffee though? To some coffee is just coffee – so long as it isn’t too weak or too strong they don’t usually mind what beans, or what roast has been used, given the beans weren’t burnt when roasted. For those people to pay a lot of money for a cup of coffee when they can get another cup cheaper makes no sense. If you can’t tell the difference between a diamond and glass, why pay for the diamond? You won’t enjoy it more.

If, on the other hand, you have a developed palate when it comes to coffee then if you buy a coffee that’s inferior to what you think a good cup of coffee is all about, then you have just paid for a bad cup of coffee. Not as much as you would for a good cup of coffee, but nonetheless, you paid for something you didn’t really enjoy. If the coffee was decent, just not excellent you may find it a fair bargain, but if it tasted bad, then you have just wasted money.

Then you can choose to buy the perfect cup of coffee, or make it yourself. If you make it yourself, how much time are you prepared to spend? Is a little increase in taste experience worth a few extra minutes making the coffee, or is time worth more to you? Or do you prefer having others make it for you even if it costs more, as it makes you feel more luxurious, or relaxing?

Perfect coffee is different to everyone, because everyone enjoys coffee for different reasons. So is there a perfect cup? Well you decide…but if you are buying coffee online, then of course our coffee beans are the best! We even have green coffee beans so you can roast them yourself! And for the rest of the beans we only sell fresh roasted coffee beans! Quality to a good price – now that has to be the perfect cup, doesn’t it 😉

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Real Caffeine Free Coffee? For Real, Real?

Posted on by Sara Walker

You may have heard of it – the natural decaf. The those golden green coffee beans that contain no caffeine. I.e. in their natural state (as green coffee beans) there is no caffeine present, or so little that they could be called decaf without having to be processed first.

There are two varieties of naturally decaffeinated coffee that are fairly well known to mankind, the only problem with those is that, well, they aren’t on the market due to licensing and other such things. Thus most people aren’t really that concerned about those glorious green coffee beans and no one outside the coffee industry pays much attention to them. What most people don’t know is that there is a third variety, native to Southern Africa that is available on the market with no licensing hick-ups. It’s called Racemosa and is so low in caffeine it can be said it’s caffeine-free (decaf really implies it has been decaffeinated by a process).

If you are a mad coffee lover or to be coffee entrepreneur you might want to check this bean out by say, taking a vacation to South Africa. There you will find that Sukkot Coffee is the only company who grows this particular bean. In nearby Mozambique there is also a nursery that grows these coffee beans but it is a slow process to grow enough fruit bearing trees to start exporting the bean.

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Top seven drinks with flavoured syrups

Posted on by Sara Walker

caramel-syrupNew to using flavoured coffee syrups, or stuck for ideas? They’re a versatile addition to your kitchen or catering business. Here are our top seven suggestions for how to use them.

1. Coffee – of course. They’re called ‘flavoured coffee syrups’, after all! From adding a shot of caramel syrup to your latte to creating a more adult mix of Irish cream syrup, espresso and milk, flavoured syrups are the ideal way of creating coffee-shop-style drinks at home.

2. Hot chocolate. For the ultimate luxury hot chocolate, add a measure of mint syrup to the drink, and top with squirty cream and a chocolate mint. Gingerbread and cinnamon syrups are great for creating special Christmas drinks – add a measure to the hot chocolate, sprinkle a little spice over the top and serve with a spiced shortbread or ginger biscuit on the side.

3. Flavoured milkshakes

For a fantastic fruity treat, put 250ml semi-skimmed milk into a blender, and add 8 – 10 chopped strawberries and strawberry syrup to taste. Blend until combined, and serve with ice.

4. Iced coffee

Mix 100ml espresso and 200ml cold milk with crushed ice, and add amaretto or hazelnut syrup to taste.

5. Non alcoholic cocktail

Mix 1 measure of strawberry syrup with 100ml of apple juice, and top up with lemonade. Stir in some chopped mint. Top with a cocktail stick holding fresh strawberries.

6. Ice cream float

Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to a tall glass, and pour over a measure of vanilla syrup. Top up the glass with lemonade, and provide a long spoon!

7. Alcoholic coffee

Make a standard black coffee, and add 1 measure of vanilla syrup, and 1 measure of Irish cream liqueur. Top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles, and, if possible, a vanilla pod.

We’ve a full range of flavoured syrups available, including dark and white chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, amaretto, caramel, gingerbread, cinnamon, hazelnut and Irish cream, all at only £7.29 for a litre. To buy flavoured syrups online, visit our coffee ingredients page.

How to use flavoured coffee syrups

Posted on by Sara Walker

caramel-syrupWith flavoured speciality coffee becoming increasing popular, you’re now spoilt for choice with syrup flavours, from mint and vanilla to cinnamon spiced and chocolate, both white and dark. As well as adding a shot of syrup to coffee or hot chocolate for a drink with a twist, there are plenty of other ways to make use of flavoured syrup in your kitchen.

Sugar and spice

  • Make an easy sauce for ice cream or fruit by melting 75g of butter and 75g of cocoa powder together in a pan over a low heat. Add sufficient syrup to give the sauce a pouring consistency; amaretto, ginger and vanilla flavours work particularly well.
  • Make the ultimate strawberry sundae by marinating fresh strawberries in strawberry syrup overnight in the refrigerator. Lay the fruit with strawberry ice-cream, vanilla ice-cream and chocolate shavings in a tall glass. Finish the dish off with a fresh strawberry and a drizzle of syrup.
  • Use strawberry or vanilla syrup to glaze the fruit in a fruit tart just before serving, to give it an appetising finish.
  • When making a chocolate mousse, add a tablespoon of flavoured syrup to the melted chocolate before adding the eggs – we like gingerbread, amaretto and mint flavours.
  • Stunning savouries
  • Add a tablespoon of strawberry or vanilla syrup to a beef stew during the last half hour of cooking, for a richer flavour.
  • For a quick, light lunch, toast two or three slices of French bread. Top each one with a slice of goats’ cheese, and place under a hot grill until the cheese is just starting to melt. Drizzle a little balsamic vinegar and vanilla syrup over the cheese, and serve with walnuts and a green salad.

To buy flavoured syrups online for all your culinary and drink needs, please visit our coffee ingredients page.

 

 

Make your own coffee ingredients – caramel flavoured syrup

Posted on by Sara Walker

caramel-syrupIf you’re a fan of coffee-shop-style flavoured coffees, you might like to consider making your own flavoured syrups. They’re fairly easy to make, just requiring a little caution when handling the hot liquid, and you can personalise them to your taste by experimenting with spices and sugar levels.

Homemade caramel flavoured syrup

Use a heavy bottomed pan, and turn the hob to a low heat setting. Cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of granulated sugar about 2cm thick, and add enough boiling water to make a thick paste. Put the pan on the hob, and stir the mixture continuously. After a while, it will start to bubble and turn a light brown colour as the sugar caramelises. At this stage, the liquid will be extremely hot – take great care that none of it splashes onto your hands as you stir. Take the pan off the heat, and let it stand for a minute or so. The mixture should be a golden brown, and it will continue to cook for a while as it stands. If necessary, return the pan to the heat and let it cook a little more, but don’t let it get to the dark brown stage, or it’ll taste burnt.

Once the mixture is golden brown, let it cool – it might thicken and harden considerably. Always let the pan cool before moving to the next stage, as otherwise the caramel may spit and scald you as you add the water. Next, pour a little boiling water into the pan, and heat it very gently until the caramel dissolves into the water. Continue to add more water, a little at a time, until you have a pouring consistency.

Sterilise a bottle, either by boiling it in water or heating it in the oven. Let the bottle cool before you fill it with syrup, then seal with a clean cap or cork. Add a little syrup to coffee for a caramel flavour.

If you love caramel syrup, but don’t want the effort of making your own, check out our full range of flavoured syrups on our coffee ingredients page, priced at only £7.29 a litre.

What City Takes Coffee Seriously in America?

Posted on by Sara Walker

Coffee is said to be an art. A fine art. Some drink it just to get a caffeine kick in the morning (hey, it’s Monday today, we don’t blame you!), but really to make good coffee is akin to making good wine – it takes and artist with a flair for science to create the perfect cup. Imagination and science comes together to give you something to tantalize your taste buds.

There is one city in the U.S. that takes coffee seriously, very seriously. The fresh roasted coffee beans are so fresh they were probably green coffee beans up until the morning of the day you were having your coffee, being roasted to perfection in the basement of your favourite coffee shop.

The city…we almost forgot (but you probably guessed it right anyway): Seattle. Given the amount of rain you cannot be that surprised: people there will need something to keep them awake and what better than coffee?

In Seattle you can actually “often read where the coffee beans came from, how those beans were roasted–and even a short résumé of the barista who’s making your cup,” according to the Huffington Post. Rather impressive, don’t you think?

Second in place for best coffee city came Portland, third New Orleans, fourth Providence and fifth San Francisco (read more about each city here). Seems like the big cosmopolitan cities like New York and Los Angeles are missing out, but do not fret: each will have at least one or two coffee shops that serve cafe extraordinaire.

Can’t go to Seattle? Why not buy fresh roasted coffee beans from us? We ship to wherever you want the beans, then you can experiment with the brewing yourself. If you want to roast your own beans, we even sell green coffee beans! Check previous blog posts for many tips on how to brew the perfect cup, or bake using the best coffee ingredients!

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Milk options for your coffee machine

Posted on by Sara Walker

Milk_glassConsidering a coffee machine for your office or catering business? First, think about what type of milk you’d like to offer with your coffee, as different machines take different milk types.

Fresh milk

Most coffee drinkers would agree that fresh milk gives the ultimate taste and creaminess, and offers the best all-round experience. It’s suitable for use in top of the range coffee machines, which have separate containers for milk.

Advantages: superior taste

Disadvantages: difficult to keep and store as requires constant refrigeration

UHT milk

UHT milk is fresh milk that’s been heat treated to give it a longer shelf life. Unopened, it does not require refrigeration making it easier to store. Again, it can be used in some coffee machines which have separate containers for milk. It’s also commonly served in individual pots for stirring into coffee once brewed.

Advantages: long shelf life, ambient storage temperature

Disadvantages: inferior taste to fresh milk, requires refrigeration or quick usage once opened

Powdered milk/coffee creamer

Powered milk is fresh milk that’s been dehydrated to powder form. It’s very stable and easy to transport and keep, and has a long shelf life. The ingredients of coffee creamer, sometimes called coffee whitener, can vary, but usually involve powdered milk and added oils, to give a creamier, fresher taste. These types of milk are commonly found in coffee machines, as they don’t deteriorate quickly once opened.

Advantages: Easy to store, slow to deteriorate

Disadvantages: Tastes inferior to fresh milk

Moouw

Moouw is a new product from Denmark, a powdered milk that’s been specially developed to match fresh milk in aroma and taste. This unique product is made from a mix of skimmed milk and full fat milk powder, and allows customers to enjoy the convenience of powdered milk with a fresh milk taste.

If you’d like to learn more about Moouw, or to browse our range of powdered milk and coffee creamers, please visit our coffee ingredients page.

Green coffee bean extract

Posted on by Sara Walker

caribana-green-coffee-beansDedicated coffee connoisseurs will already know about the benefits of buying green coffee beans, and roasting them at home for the maximum coffee flavour. Did you know, though, that unroasted green coffee beans could be good for you?

Health food shops and online retailers sell green coffee bean extract, which has strong antioxidant properties, similar to those found in other natural substances such as
green tea and grape seed extract. The coffee beans contain polyphenols, which act as good antioxidants, helping to reduce free oxygen radicals in the body. There’s also some evidence that green coffee extract can act as an appetite suppressant and metablism booster, aiding weight loss when used in conjuction with  lifestyle changes such as increased exercise.

Although you can buy green coffee bean extract, the advent to easily available green coffee beans mean that it’s easy to make your own extract at home.

It’s best to use distilled water, so that you don’t introduce any chemicals into the mixture.  Put 60g of good quality green coffee beans and 350ml of water in a saucepan, and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat, and let it simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, and let it stand for an hour before seiving out the beans. The stronger the beans you use and the longer you let them steep, the greater the strength of the extract.

Start by taking one tablespoon of extract in the morning, and another in the evening, and build up to doubling that amount. Mix in a little honey or sugar if you like, or mix the extract with fruit juice or a smoothie. Green bean coffee extract is a natural supplement with few known side effects, but if you experience any problems then discontinue use.

To browse our range of green coffee beans online, please visit our coffee ingredients page.

Tips for home roasting green coffee beans

Posted on by Sara Walker

caribana-green-coffee-beansIf you’re serious about coffee, you’ll know that the only way to guarantee really freshly roasted beans is to roast them yourself in small quantities, just before you use them. Now online retailers, wholesalers and even some supermarkets have started to stock green coffee beans, they’ve become much easier to get hold of and available to everyone. Here are a few top tips to help you get the most out of your home roast.

  • You can roast green coffee beans in a stovetop popcorn maker or a heavy bottomed frying pan, but if you’re planning to roast your own beans every day, it’s worth investing in a roasting machine for consistency and ease of use.
  • It’s easy to scorch the beans and ruin them – an ideal roasting temperature is between 185 and 280 degrees celsius. If you’re not using a machine to control the temperature, use a culinary thermometer instead.
  • The beans need to be kept moving to prevent uneven roasting. If you’re using a DIY method, keep stirring the beans continuously to prevent them burning. Roasting machines may need to be hand turned by the user, or more expensive versions use a hot air current to keep the beans moving.
  • Whichever method you’re using, make sure you’re working in a well ventilated area, as roasting coffee produces smoke and gases.
  • As the beans roast, they shed their outer skin (called chaff), which can make a mess. If you’re working on the hob, clear your work area as much as possible before you start. Roasting machines usually need to be emptied of chaff between roasts.
  • Keep a few beans from a favourite roast handy for a colour comparison, so that you know when your beans have reached perfection.

To browse our range of green coffee beans, please visit our coffee ingredients page.