Blog Archives - Page 40 of 51 - Buy Coffee Beans & Ingredients Online UK Wholesale

A Shot of Alcohol, a Shot of Coffee

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

It’s supposed to be spring now in many parts of the world, but spring appears to arrive a tad slowly…and in other parts of the world they’re now heading from winter. So it seems almost no matter where you are, you could do with a hot shot. A hot shot of coffee and a hot shot of liquor. This is bound to bring both the desired awakening from caffeine (seeing as sunshine is lacking) and the much needed heat from the liquor as it warms you up from the inside. Not to mention that the drink itself will be hot. If it is served with cream on top, all the better as the added calories will give you yet another kick and fatten you up to resist the cold. You never knew having a drink could be all that beneficial, did you? (If you feel the need to be healthy we recommend downing a raw fruit and vegetable juice beforehand. That way you get all your nutrients in one go and can proceed to your coffee medication.)

We found a recipe from Mexico – the Mexicans are known for their hot food, hot chocolate and hot love…

So this recipe comes from I Love Coffee, an excellent blog about, well, coffee. It saved us a trip to Mexico, for which we are grateful. Then again, it’s also given us a perfectly legit excuse to go to Mexico in the name of searching for the origins of this drink. After all, coffee connoisseurs have to go to lengths to find white beaches excellent coffee.

Fresh, drip coffee
1 oz. of White Tequila (example: Orendein brand tequila)
1 oz. Cacao liqueur/syrup
Whipped cream (organic if possible and go for the real deal as the stuff that comes in a can rarely tastes half as good and creamy!). You will probably want sweet cream, so mix with brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup when whipping it.

In a daquiri glass, pour the shot of tequila first, then pour the hot coffee. Leave enough room at the top for plenty of whipped cream. Put a large dollop of cream on top, then slowly drizzle a shot of Cacao liqueur on top.

Irish Coffee

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

Who hasn’t heard of Irish coffee? And who hasn’t tasted it? Unless you are a non-drinker you have probably come across this drink at one stage or another. It’s a classic. There is, however, good Irish coffee and bad Irish coffee. Most people agree that making good coffee is an art. When other ingredients are involved that art gets even more complicated. According to Wikipedia “The World Coffee In Good Spirits Championship is a yearly event in which Irish coffee is one of two coffee cocktails prepared by finalists.”

Irish coffee is coffee mixed with whiskey and sugar, with a layer of cream floating on top.

So what’s the trick to making excellent Irish coffee? Well, good coffee for starters. For this drink it’s generally preferred to us a mild coffee Arabica. You will want normal brewed coffee, or an espresso diluted with water also known as caffe Americano.

At least one teaspoon of sugar is needed as without it, the cream won’t float. Back in the olden days the cream was aged 48 hours to make it float more easily. Today that’s not normally the case, but it’s important you pour it over a spoon to make it float. Many people cheat and use whipped cream, but that’s not what the original recipe calls for.

We are thinking that compared to the Mexican coffee drink we posted, this must be the hottest one, as people living on a fog covered rainy island with houses probably lacking in insulation must be in desperate need of a hot drink.

This classic recipe for Irish coffee comes direct from Limerick, Ireland, where it was created by Chef Joe Sheridan in 1942 in an airport terminal that passengers passed through on their way to and from North America.

Serves: 1

Preparation Time: 5 min

What You’ll Need:

1 teaspoon brown sugar
6 ounces freshly brewed coffee
2 tablespoons Irish whiskey
Lightly whipped heavy cream

What To Do:

Place brown sugar in a coffee mug or heat-proof glass. Fill mug 3/4-full with hot coffee; stir well to melt sugar. Stir in whiskey.

Carefully pour the cream over coffee so it floats on top. (See Note)

NOTES:

Do not stir after adding cream, as the true flavor is obtained by drinking the hot coffee and Irish whiskey through the cream.

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat. – Alex Levine

Salted Caramel Lattes

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

Starbucks serve them, or at least they serve Caramel Lattes. We aren’t quite sure about the salt bit. Salted caramels, however, are divine. And as we contemplated this we started wondering what the ultimate salt caramel latte would be like? Surely it wouldn’t be like the lattes made with cheap syrups filled with 101 interesting fake flavors and preservatives. No, it would be like one of those caramel wafers that simply just melts into your coffee. It would be divine.

So we decided to find the recipe for the perfect salt caramels that we could use to melt over our coffee, or take some chunks and stir into the coffee, to flavor the entire drink.

We found it. After stumbling across quite a few “modern” recipes (if they have corn syrup in them they can’t be all that old), but as we wanted quality. Proper quality. We kept looking and finally found a traditional British recipe at http://britishfood.about.com.

Now as this makes caramels rather than sauce you just pop one into your latte for it to melt and chop one up into small pieces to sprinkle on top! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

8 fl oz heavy/double cream
2 ½ oz/ 70g butter, cut into pieces
2 oz/60g honey
¼ cup/60ml water
7 oz/ 200g fine/caster sugar
1 tsp sea salt, plus extra for dusting, preferably Fleur de Sel
½ tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Preparation:

Line an 8″ square baking tin with parchment paper, brush lightly with oil.

Over a gentle heat the cream, butter and salt together in a small saucepan. Once the butter has melted remove from the heat.
Place the honey, water and sugar into a heavy bottomed saucepan, stir well. Place on a high heat and bring to a rapid boil, continue to boil the mixture until it begins to turn a golden brown then quickly remove from the heat.
Slowly pour the butter and cream mixture into the bubbling sugar. The mixture will bubble fiercely so take care. Return the pan to the heat and cook for 10 minutes or until the caramel reaches 250°F/120°C. Once this temperature is reached, remove from the heat.
Add the vanilla to the caramel and stir well then pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Leave to cool at room temperature, then once cool pop the dish into the refrigerator for a couple of hours to firm up. The toffee will be set but not rock hard.
Tip the slab of toffee onto a cutting board. Cut into pieces the size you like sprinkly very lightly with salt. Or roll into a sausage shape and sprinkle with salt and cut the size of caramel you prefer. I also like to cut the caramel into thick pieces and roll gently into a ball between my palms, a bit of a sticky mess but looks good when it’s done.

NOTE: If the toffee has gone a little hard in the fridge, don’t worry it will soften once it reaches room temperature again.

Quotes About Coffee

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

Looking for the perfect coffee quote to put in a nice card for a coffee lover, or one to adorn your kitchen, or coffee shop? So that when you have your morning cup of Joe, or your guests do they have something to ponder at the same time? We found a selection for you. Whether you want to put it in a card, frame it, paint it on the wall, or simply enjoy reading it here and now. (We are also contemplating that right now half of the world’s quotes would probably not exist if it wasn’t for coffee in the first place. Just imagine what your imagination would look like without coffee to drive it!)

“Should I kill myself, or have a cup of coffee?” – Albert Camus

“As long as there was coffee in the world, how bad could things be?” – Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes

“I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now.” – Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

“If this is coffee, then please-bring me some tea. But if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.” –Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

“Only one thing is certain about coffee…. Wherever it is grown, sold, brewed, and consumed, there will be lively controversy, strong opinions, and good conversation.” – Mark Pendergrast

“The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., “Over the Teacups,” 1891

“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” – Flash Rosenberg

“Chocolate, men, coffee – some things are better rich.” – Author Unknown

“Deja Brew: The feeling that you’ve had this coffee before.” – Author Unknown

“I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon.” – Ronald Reagan

“Man does not live by coffee alone. Have a danish.” – Author Unknown

“Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee.” – Stephanie Piro

“No matter what historians claimed, BC really stood for “Before Coffee.” – Cherise Sincalaire, Master of the Mountain

“Police work wouldn’t be possible without coffee,” Wallander said. “No work would be possible without coffee.” They pondered the importance of coffee in silence.” – Henning Mankell, One Step Behind

“Come on, don’t you ever stop and smell the coffee?” – Justina Chen, North of Beautiful

“In Seattle you haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.” – Jeff Bezos

“Actually, this seems to be the basic need of the human heart in nearly every great crisis – a good hot cup of coffee.” – Alexander King

“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity. I bet this kind of thing does not happen to heroin addicts. I bet that when serious heroin addicts go to purchase their heroin, they do not tolerate waiting in line while some dilettante in front of them orders a hazelnut smack-a-cino with cinnamon sprinkles.” – Dave Barry

“Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.” – Alex Levine

“The powers of a man’s mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.” – Sir James Mackintosh

“Coffee first. Schemes later.” – Leanna Renee

Coffee Images to Love

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

What’s there not to love about good coffee? Yet, if you present it nicely you will love it even more, because it will appeal to your visual sense as much as it will your olfactory and taste buds (as well as your normal happy brain reaction as soon as you swallow!).

We found some nice, or inspiring photos when it comes to coffee, tea and hot chocolate – some are beautiful, others just have a nice idea in them. Like knitted coffee cup holders to keep your coffee hot and your hands cool. Great Christmas gift and if you start now you might actually have them finished by then (including the trial attempts that you messed up because you’ve never made them before). Might be a good way to get back on Auntie Augusta as well for all those knitted sweaters…

Lemon Meringue Pie

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

We wanted to find the perfect cake to serve with a nice cup of steaming tea, or coffee. It’s spring, so something fresh, yet sweet enough to be indulgent. So we decided upon lemon meringue pie – sweet delicious freshness!

This recipe comes from Pass the Bread Please – a blog dedicated to the special carbohydrate diet (SCD), so perfect if you are allergic to gluten! It doesn’t contain any refined sugars either, so yay!

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 ½ cups almond flour

3 tbsp butter, cold and cut into pieces

2 tbsp honey

1/8 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Filling:

6 egg yolks

½ cup honey

½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

½ cup butter, cold and cut into pieces

2 egg whites

Pinch of salt

Meringue:

4 egg whites

Pinch of salt

¼ cup honey

Makes one 9-inch pie!

Instructions

Crust

Heat the oven to 300ºF
Place all crust ingredients in food processor and process until it starts to form a ball.
Flatten the dough into a round disk between two pieces of plastic wrap and gently roll out the crust into an 11-inch circle. Put the dough, still between the plastic wrap on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 10 minutes.
Remove the pastry from the fridge. Peel off one side of plastic wrap and place it in the pie pan and remove the other plastic wrap.
Bake for 10 minutes until light brown in color. Set aside to cool.

Filling

In a double boiler (or in glass bowl sitting above a pot of boiling water) whisk together the egg yolks, honey, and lemon juice.
Slowly add the butter, a couple of pieces at a time, whisking the entire time. Add more pieces as the previous ones melt.
After all the ingredients are melted and well-blended, cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, stirring only occasionally, until it thickens.
Cool the lemon curd in the fridge.
Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks, but are not dry.
Gently fold the egg whites into the chilled lemon curd mixture.
Pour the mixture into the cooled pie crust.

Meringue

Heat the oven to 400ºF
Beat the 4 egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
Add the honey and beat a little longer until shiny and stiff.
Plop the meringue on top of the lemon filling, making sure it touches the crust. Form peaks and mounds as you go.
Bake for 3-5 minutes until the peaks are golden brown.
Cool and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Cappuccino Cupcakes

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

Many people love cappuccinos and what’s there not to love? Not unlike the way Amelie cracks the top of a crème brulee with a spoon with a satisfied grin, some eat the foam of a cappuccino like it was candy (the writer would never dream of doing such an unsophisticated thing, naturally).

If you want to surprise a cappuccino lover on their birthday, or simply just want to surprise them, you can bake them a batch of these delicious Betty Crocker Cappuccino Cupcakes. And if you own a coffee shop, or patisserie you might want to include a cappuccino cupcake on the menu – coffee lovers will thank you for it.

Ingredients

Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup hot water

2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

4 teaspoons instant espresso coffee powder or granules

3/4 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping

1 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

3/4 teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder or granules

2 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons caramel topping

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place jumbo paper baking cup in each of 6 jumbo muffin cups, grease bottoms and sides of muffin cups with shortening and lightly flour, or spray with baking spray with flour.
In medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; set aside. In small bowl, mix hot water, cocoa and 4 teaspoons coffee powder until dissolved; set aside.
In large bowl, beat shortening with electric mixer on medium speed 30 seconds. Gradually add granulated sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl occasionally. Beat 2 minutes longer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about one-third at a time, and cocoa mixture, about half at a time, beating just until blended.
Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each with about 1/2 cup batter or until two-thirds full.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; place on cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
In small deep bowl, beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and 3/4 teaspoon coffee powder with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form.
To serve, place each cupcake in a coffee cup, if desired. Top each with about 3 tablespoons whipped cream; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon chocolate chips and drizzle with 1 teaspoon caramel topping.

Books for Coffee Lovers

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

Whether you are looking to further your knowledge of your favorite brew, get a coffee lover a present, or indulge in a fictional adventure that involves the magic bean, we’ve gathered a list of books in which you will hopefully find a book to your taste. Some will even teach you how to set up and run a coffee shop, should you ever decide to do this during a coffee fueled adrenaline kick.

The Art and Craft of Coffee: An Enthusiast’s Guide to Selecting, Roasting and Brewing Exquisite Coffee by Kevin Sinnott

The Art and Craft of Coffee is what it says: a coffee enthusiast’s guide to all things coffee. If you are looking to find out more about how the perfect cup ends up on your desk every day, or want to start roasting and grinding your own coffee, maybe for pure pleasure, maybe because it will suit your coffee shop, then this book is a great starting point.

Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed Our World by Mark Pendergrast

Mark Pendergrast talks about coffee from its inception to the modern day. It will inform you about everything you need to know about the history of coffee, as well as what’s going on in the coffee world today – from Fairtrade coffee to what the coffee connoisseurs are up to these days.

The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee: Growing, Roasting, and Drinking, with Recipes by James Freeman and Caitlin Freeman

If you are looking for a guide to how coffee is grown, which coffee to buy, how to roast it (using standard kitchen tools), how to brew it (every technique imaginable) and how to enjoy it, this is the book for you. The author talks about coffee blends found in the US, so although informative for anyone and having over 40 recipes in there, you will get slightly more out of it if you can go shopping beans in America. However, 40 recipes is an entire cookbook, so if that’s what you are looking for, it’s still a perfect buy.
Coffee is experiencing a renaissance and Blue Bottle Coffee Company has quickly become one of America’s most celebrated roasters. Famous for its complex and flavorful coffees, Blue Bottle delights its devoted patrons with exquisite pour-overs, delicious espressi, and specialized brewing methods.

The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop

The book does what it says on the cover – it will give you a detailed journey from the crop to the last drop. It also delves into the economics of coffee, the damage mass cultivation causes and how conscious coffee is something much needed, as well as what’s going on in that scene.

I Love Coffee!: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks

If you are looking to open a coffee shop and are in need of inspiration when it comes to what drinks to serve, or if you simply like something other than cappuccino in the morning, this is the book for you. It will provide you with plenty of recipes and fun anecdotes to go with them.

The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez

Deborah is most well known for her book The Kabul Beauty School and for those who loved that book and loves coffee, this book is likely to be a treat! This is a fiction though, whereas The Kabul Beauty School was a memoir.

In a little coffee shop in one of the most dangerous places on earth, five very different women come together.

SUNNY, the proud proprietor, who needs an ingenious plan – and fast – to keep her café and customers safe.

YAZMINA, a young pregnant woman stolen from her remote village and now abandoned on Kabul’s violent streets.

CANDACE, a wealthy American who has finally left her husband for her Afghan lover, the enigmatic Wakil.

ISABEL, a determined journalist with a secret that might keep her from the biggest story of her life.

And HALAJAN, the sixty-year-old den mother, whose long-hidden love affair breaks all the rules.

As these five women discover there’s more to one another than meets the eye, they form a unique bond that will for ever change their lives and the lives of many others.

The Coffee Trader by David Liss

If you love financial thrillers and coffee…well this is the book for you! It’s set in 17^th century Amsterdam, so a healthy love of historical mystery might help as well.

The Coffeehouse Mystery Series by Cleo Coyle

Clare Cosi runs her former mother in law’s old Manhattan coffee shop, The Village Blend. Sadly she also tends to walk into murder wherever she goes. Fuelled by Java she decides to solve those murders, often helped by the NYPD, her cop boyfriend and gorgeous ex-husband, who also happens to be The Village Blend’s coffee buyer. The series is witty, filled with humor, love and extremely accurate coffee facts woven into the material. If you want to learn about coffee whilst having a good time reading fiction, this is the book series for you. Or if you just like witty crime novels. Or coffee shops.

Start and Run Your Own Coffee Shop and Lunch Bar: 2nd edition by Heather Lyon

This is a high rated book on Amazon about opening and running a coffee shop and will give you advice on everything from finding the right location to creating a great menu. The author runs a coffee shop herself and there are recipes included from it as well.

Wake Up and Smell the Profit: 52 Guaranteed Ways to Make More Money in Your Coffee Business by John Richardson and Hugh Gilmartin & Setting Up and Managing Your Own Coffee Bar: How to open a coffee bar that actually lasts and makes money by John Richardson and Hugh Gilmartin

These are two easy going, extremely insightful books teaching you what you need to know about profit and running a coffee shop. Given most businesses fail in the first year, profit is always a good topic. Especially when delivered in a witty way.

Together ‘The Coffee Boys’ have 40 years’ experience in how to make money in the coffee selling business. Whether you operate a single site espresso bar, a Michelin starred restaurant or chain of hotels, there is something in this book for everyone.

The Devil’s Cup: Coffee, the Driving Force by Stewart Lee Allen

Travelogue, history and caffeine fueled theories delivered with wit.

Does your cup matter when you drink coffee?

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sara Walker

I don’t know about you, but I have different cups, mugs and glasses for different hot drinks and occasions.

When I’m working I only drink from one mug – my bright yellow ‘Time for Coffee’ Banksy mug.

At home, I’ll drink from any large mug with a nice design on it, and a substantial handle. I’m not a fan of thin cups that are heavily stained with handles that hurt when you hold them.

When it comes to drinking coffee, this is what I like – unless I’m getting a takeaway coffee or a drink from a coffee machine, and then I’m happy with a paper cup.

Traditionally, when it comes to coffee, each style of drink comes with its own cup. Experts say that you won’t lose the flavour if you drink your coffee from the wrong cup, but selecting the right one will boost the experience and enhance the drink.

Which cup for which type of coffee?

Latte

The perfect café latte should be served in a tall clear glass cup with frothy milk going right up to the top. However, a non clear glass is also fine.

Drip coffee

The key here is to fill your cup to the top so it stays hot for longer. You might want to serve it in a clear glass if you’ve got a sweet tooth — this way you’ll be able to see if the sugar has mixed in properly.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino cups may vary slightly in size but the shape remains the same — a larger circumference around the top and a smaller base. The shape of the cappuccino cup allows the espresso to mix properly so you don’t get bubbles forming on the top.

Iced coffee

Serve in a tall clear glass with a straw and decorate with cream, strawberries and whatever else takes your fancy.

Turkish coffee

Go for an ornate cup with a matching saucer — the true name for a Turkish coffee cup is finjan. Alternatively, an espresso cup will also be fine, but for the an authentic Turkish coffee experience, pick one with a good design.

Drinking coffee could lower the risk of breast cancer returning in women taking Tamoxifen

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Sara Walker

Earlier this year, researchers at the Lund University in Sweden discovered that drinking coffee might help to prevent breast cancer returning in patients who had previously been diagnosed with cancer.

In a nutshell, scientists discovered that when patients consumed two or more cups of coffee a day with the drug Tamoxifen, they had a significantly lower chance of the cancer coming back.

The research

Researchers studied over 600 patients with breast cancer in southern Sweden for a period of five years. Half the patients were treated with Tamoxifen – a drug given to patients after breast cancer surgery to help stop the recurrence of the cancer.

Why coffee?

Although it is still unclear what role coffee might play to help lower the chance of the cancer reoccurring, researchers believe that coffee beans might help to activate the Tamoxifen making it more efficient in the patient who is taking it. However, at this stage, scientists are still unclear.

Coffee and other cancers

In the past, researchers have found that drinking coffee might help to prevent certain types of cancers from developing.

However, researchers discovered that it wasn’t because of the caffeine. For example, a study researching the effects coffee had on breast cancer, published in the National Cancer Institute, found that it didn’t matter if patients consumed caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.

Researchers believe that coffee has anti-inflammatory properties and is rich in antioxidants which could be partly why studies have found that drinking coffee regularly could lower your chances of developing certain types of cancer.

Future research

In the future, researchers at Lund University have said they would like to find out more about the effects lifestyle has on breast cancer treatment.

It would certainly be interesting to find out the effects of environment and stress, whether something as simple as consuming hot drinks regularly has a relaxing effect on the body, and what specifically makes coffee good for combating cancer.