Category: Blog

It’s time for the third wave of coffee – taste your coffee beans like your wine

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee heart

What is the third wave of coffee?

Rather than coffee beans being a commodity like wheat, there’s a fast growing movement aiming to make coffee beans a niche market like chocolate, tea and wine.

Features of the third wave include direct trade, single-origin (as opposed to coffee blends), light roasts, better quality coffee beans and latte art.

But what really distinguishes the third wave of coffee (or the speciality coffee) is that the production process is fair (even more fair than fair-trade). Quality control is exceptional; coffee roasters and coffee growers have good direct relationships; and it means that coffee farmers get to take a cut of the retail profits.

What are the first and second waves of coffee?

Maxwell House has been singled out as the face of the first wave – good quality, consistent and convenient coffee in a can. For the second wave, think Starbucks and the rise of the coffee culture which incorporates the above, plus romance, sophistication and sociability.

It’s not as if the third wave will replace the second – you don’t walk into a bar and demand to taste all the wines. But, similar to wine, there will be more options to taste and you’ll be able to read the stories behind the coffee beans.

With third wave coffee you’ll know, specifically, where your coffee beans came from, who picked the cherries and who roasted them to the delicious golden brown colour associated with third wave brews.

In some respects, the third wave is about bringing coffee back to its roots. Starbucks invented the flat white, skinny, soy latte, Frappuccino… coffees, whereas the third wave/ speciality coffee is all about the unique flavour of different types of coffee beans.

The third wave isn’t a gimmick – it’s about realising that there’s more to your cup of coffee than the coffee machine or the barista that served it to you.

Buy delicious wholesale coffee beans here

For more information about Third Wave coffee check out Third-wave coffee: Hold the Wi-fi. Extra flavour

Come to London Coffee Festival: 25-28 April 2013

Posted on by Sara Walker

The London Coffee Festival

Tea may well be our national drink, but coffee is catching up – it’s now the drink of choice for many us throughout the UK. So, what better way to celebrate your love for coffee beans and stock up on your coffee bean supplies than at the London Coffee Festival?

The London Coffee Festival is your chance to celebrate London’s thriving coffee culture and will consist of coffee tasting sessions, barista demonstrations, gourmet food stalls, live entertainment and more. The festival is expected to attract over 15,000 coffee lovers, baristas and coffee shop owners from around the UK.

Highlights include:

True Artisan Café

Here you’ll be able to sample coffee beans made from some of the best roasters in the UK, and drink coffee made by top baristas, in this pop-up coffee shop.

L’accademia Di Cimbali

The MUMAC Museum Milan will be featuring over 200 unique coffee machines and over 15,000 archive documents all about coffee. You’ll get the chance to learn more about the history of coffee, coffee machines and coffee supplies from 1912-2012.

UK Barista Championships

Over the weekend, baristas will be battling it out to win the title of UK Barista Champion. All participating baristas have to make 12 coffees in front of a panel of judges. You can watch the show this Sunday at 1pm.

The Lab Programme

Take part in interactive workshops, talks and debates about ethical issues and coffee growing. You can also find out how to open up your own coffee shop, learn more about the rich history of coffee, or just sit back with a brew and relax.

Hyde Park Music Band Stand

The Hyde Park zone will start on Friday with the Espresso Martini Launch Party followed by some phenomenal performances from some of London’s best acoustic musicians and entertainers.

Shoreditch Food Zone

When you start to get peckish, head over to the Shoreditch Zone to sample a variety of gourmet foods, tasty street treats and different types of yummy coffee beans.

For more information see The London Coffee Festival

The rise of the suspended coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

suspended coffee

Italy was the first country to introduce the idea of a ‘suspended coffee’. The idea has since spread to Bulgaria and hopefully will take off in the UK.

What is a suspended coffee?

Rather than giving money to homeless people on the streets or those struggling financially, you can now buy people suspended coffees or sandwiches at coffee shops participating in the scheme.

So, when you’re buying your morning cup of coffee made from freshly ground coffee beans, you can buy another one for someone else. Your purchase is tallied on a board, so when someone is in need of food or a drink, they can come in and claim their free coffee or sandwich.

With coffee shops, outlets and coffee machines dotted about all over our high streets, I’d like to think this idea will take off throughout the UK. Coffee 7 near Forest Gate station in London is taking part in the scheme and Costa Coffee has been inundated with requests to introduce suspended coffee.

So, will the idea spread? It’s popular in Italy and now Bulgaria, but what about the UK? There’s no reason why it shouldn’t work. After all, many people want to help those who are struggling financially but don’t want the money to go on drugs or cigarettes.

I sometimes buy hot drinks for homeless people; however, if you’re in a rush, buying a suspended coffee when you’re buying a drink for yourself anyway is a brilliant idea and will probably encourage more people to give. I think the idea of suspended coffee could be a positive move forwards to a more giving, empathetic society.

It’s a scheme that will hopefully bring out the best in human nature. What have the coffee shops got to lose? It’s a win-win situation for everyone. And who knows where it might lead – imagine suspended clothing, computers or even holidays.

You can find out more about Suspended Coffee and read hear warming stories by visiting the suspended coffee Facebook page.

How to make the perfect cup of coffee in a cafetière

Posted on by Sara Walker

latte art

Once you’ve stocked up on your coffee bean supplies and you’ve got yourself a decent cafetière (French Press), how do you make the perfect coffee with freshly ground coffee beans? Wholesale Coffee Company explains how.

Before you begin

Before you spoon in the ground coffee beans, preheat your cafetière with hot water.

Which coffee beans should I use?

We recommend coarse to medium ground coffee beans for coffee brewed in a cafetière; however, by all means, experiment and see which flavours you like best. Check with your coffee supplier to find out which coffee beans are the most suitable for use with a cafetière.

How much coffee do I need?

As a guide, aim for two tablespoons of freshly ground coffee beans for every cup of coffee.

Making the perfect cup of coffee in five steps

Once you have your coffee beans and you’ve prepared your cafetière, you’re now ready to start making coffee.

1. First place your ground coffee in the cafetière with a small amount of hot water – just enough to wet the coffee beans in the cafetière. It’s a good idea to leave the boiled water standing for about 30 seconds before you pour it in.

2. You can then pour the rest of the water into the cafetière. You’ll notice that the darker your brew, the more froth there will be on the top.

3. After a few moments, you can add more water if necessary, then place the plunger and the cafetière lid on top; however, don’t push the plunger down just yet.

4. After four minutes, you can then push the plunger down slowly.

5. You’re now ready to drink your coffee. Drink it black, white or add some flavoured syrups. Enjoy.

Buy coffee beans online

Buy flavoured syrups for coffee online

Fancy a coffee break in Columbia?

Posted on by Sara Walker

560x235_coffee_plantation

If you love coffee, why not visit one of the World’s greatest coffee suppliers – Columbia – home to top quality, Arabica coffee beans, lush coffee plantations, paradise beaches, and picturesque towns.

Until recently, Columbia was one of the South American countries that wasn’t as popular with tourists. People went backpacking round Peru, Brazil and Venezuela, but Columbia remained relatively untouched.  However, once the Columbian government started to crack down on crime and put the annual $1.6bn of aid money to good use, the tourists have started to take an interest.

Columbia is after all a major producer of coffee beans – the industry plays a big part in the Columbian economy and cultural identity. As a result, there is now such a thing as coffee holiday breaks in Columbia’s coffee region, located around the lush green Central Cordillera branch of the Andes.

Columbian coffee holidays

Holy Monkey Travel organises coffee tours which involve staying in a traditional coffee plantation house with stunning views over the valley and coffee plantations. During the tour you’ll get the chance to experience how coffee beans are grown and how the green coffee beans in the plantations are transformed into delicious cups of fresh coffee.

On top of this, you will get to have a tour of the region’s top sites including Cocora Valley which is supposed to be home to the World’s most magnificent trees; you can sample home cooked Columbian cuisine; visit picturesque Columbian villages, and of course, drink lots of delicious coffee made from fresh Columbian coffee beans.

So, if you love coffee, culture and beautiful countryside, a coffee holiday in Columbia could be just what you’re looking for. There’s also the added bonus of going somewhere that hasn’t been destroyed by excess tourism.

For more information, you can visit the Holy Monkey Coffee Break page to read more about the tour.

Image source: holymonkeytravel.com

Pod coffee machines increase in popularity

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee machines

From commercial coffee machines to barista perfected brews, there are now dozens of ways to make a great cup of coffee. However, there’s now a new way to make coffee using a coffee pod machine.

Over the last year they’ve steadily been rising in popularity – by as much as 45.1% from the previous year according to the Guardian.

Despite the fact that the coffee isn’t supposed to taste as nice as a freshly made brew and pod coffee machines are currently bad for the environment, Michelin-starred restaurants and individuals have been snapping them up for their kitchens.

So, if the coffee isn’t supposed to be that great and they’re bad for the environment, what’s the appeal? The answer seems to be efficiency, in the same way that ready-made meals are quick to make. You just pop one of the coffee pods into the coffee machine and you have coffee several minutes later – just like putting a ready-made meal in the microwave.

Although pod coffee machines are quite expensive compared to using your own fresh coffee beans, many restaurants find it cheaper as they don’t have to hire baristas. Currently, 30% of top UK restaurants have coffee pod machines in their kitchens, including the restaurant of legendary chef, Heston Blumenthal.

So, is this all just a new fad or the future of how we consume coffee? It seems like the real success behind pod coffee machines is not necessarily the product – which does look very chic – but the marketing, branding and advertising. With George Clooney behind some of the Nespresso ads, and the selling of an irresistibly sophisticated lifestyle, it’s obvious why the pods are doing so well.

But are these coffee machines sustainable? Currently, no, because the individual coffee pods are made from plastic and aluminium. Realistically, the plastic should be recyclable but currently most coffee pods cannot be recycled properly in the UK. With some brands such as Tassimo T-Discs, there aren’t enough designated places in the UK where the pods can be disposed of properly.

However, I’m sure with time there will be a more environmentally friendly ways to dispose of the pods. At least, I hope so. It would certainly make these chocolate box like pods of coffee even more appealing.

Green coffee beans for weight loss – FAQs

Posted on by Sara Walker

green coffee beansEarlier this year Wholesale Coffee Company reported that green coffee beans were being used to help people lose weight and burn fat more quickly.

In a recent press release written by Overallhealth.org, it seems that green coffee beans have been increasing in popularity over the last three months – ever since they were featured on the Dr Oz show in the US.

Although, consuming green coffee beans for weight loss is a relatively new idea and further research would need to be conducted to see the long term implications, this is what we know so far about green coffee beans.

Green coffee beans for weight loss – FAQs

What are green coffee beans?

All coffee beans are green before they are roasted.  When you take green coffee beans to lose weight they come in the form of a supplement such as pure green coffee bean extract. The ingredient that helps with weight loss is called chlorogenic acid – it’s strong in green beans but not the roasted kind.

Why is the chlorogenic acid in green beans used for weight loss?

Chlorogenic acid works by stopping the liver from releasing glucose into your blood stream and reducing the amount of new fat cells that are produced. Green coffee beans are also high in anti-oxidants which are also used to help reduce the number of fat cells in your body.

What are the side effects of using green coffee beans for weight loss?

Currently, there have been no reports of any negative side effects; however, if you are sensitive to caffeine, you may experience similar effects to drinking a cup of coffee.

How much caffeine is in green coffee bean extract?

Although, naturally, green coffee beans contain less caffeine than roasted coffee beans, green coffee extract which is used for weight loss, contains approximately the same amount of caffeine as a regular cup of coffee.

How do you take green coffee beans for weight loss?

Rather than eating raw green coffee beans, you can buy green coffee extract which comes in the form of a capsule.

You can learn more about green coffee beans here

Coffee beans and green tea may lower your chances of getting cardiovascular disease

Posted on by Sara Walker

Coffee beansWholesale Coffee Company discovers new research conducted in Japan indicating that  coffee beans and green tea may reduce your chances of getting cardiovascular disease.

The healing properties of coffee beans have been recognised for years with some studies suggesting that regular coffee consumption can lower your risk of cancer, regulate blood pressure and even get rid of cellulite when massaged into the skin.

More recently, however, Japanese researchers have discovered that drinking coffee and green tea regularly might reduce your risk of getting stroke or cardiovascular disease by as much as 20%. This is the first study of its kind involving as many as 82, 369 Japanese adults aged between 45 and 66.

Participants were followed over a period of 13 years. The results suggest that participants who consumed at least one cup of coffee a day lowered their risk of having a stroke by as much as 20%. The same results were found in the participants who consumed four cups of green tea a day.

Why does research suggest coffee beans may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease?

Victoria J. Burley, A senior lecturer at the University of Leeds, suggested that both coffee beans and green tea leaves have anti-inflammatory properties which could explain the results. Anti-inflammatory properties in food and drink are thought to lower the risk of getting a cardiovascular disease. Coffee beans are also high in antioxidants which could also explain the positive results.

The NHS, made the point that we should be cautious of such findings. The study, after all, was conducted in Japan with only Japanese people. However, cultural, genetic and environmental factors were not taken into consideration.

Nevertheless, it’s certainly an interesting study; however, more research is needed to give a conclusive answer. If for example, you consume more coffee beans than what’s required for the average cup of coffee, would the results be different?

Is it possible to become immune to the healing effects of coffee of green tea? If coffee beans and green tea can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, what other unknown health benefits are there?

Commercial coffee machines from the future

Posted on by Sara Walker

commercial-coffee-machinesAt some point in the future, you could see the commercial coffee machines in your office get an upgrade.

Forget waiting around in queues for your morning coffee because the future could bring us Wi-Fi tablet controlled, commercial coffee machines.

Although Wi-Fi coffee machines aren’t currently available on the market, Qualcomm did present one at the 2013 Mobile World Congress. Could this be a taster of what’s to come?

The design basically functions as a regular coffee machine apart from the fact that it’s powered with one of Qualcomm’s Atheros 4100 chips.

If the coffee machine existed, users would be able to order their coffee using a simple hand held tablet. So, rather than physically pressing buttons on a large machine, you’d be able to have so much more control over how your coffee is made.

Using the tablet, you’d be able to choose your preferred coffee beans as well as the strength, size and brewing time. Then once your drink is ready, your tablet will inform you – presumably with some sort of alarm system – when your drink is ready.

At present, there are no plans to manufacture commercial coffee machines with Wi-Fi; however, it certainly sounds like it might take off at some point.

It does make me wonder though – what happens if someone orders their coffee and then forgets to pick it up from the machine or other priorities somehow prevent you from collecting your cup?

Will the machine get confused and overloaded like a factory production line working on the highest speed? I’m sure this has already been thought of though.

So, what does the future hold for all our electrical appliances? If commercial coffee machines can have Wi-Fi, what about other vending machines or our everyday household items?

Will we become a nation of super lazy people or could this be the beginning of a brand new technological revolution with products designed to make us as efficient and productive as we possibly can be?

 Image: Coffee Beans to cup coffee machine

Love fresh tea, quality coffee beans and cute cats? Visit Britain’s first cat cafe

Posted on by Sara Walker

cat cafe
Wholesale Coffee Company is excited to announce that in just a couple of months, Britain’s very first cat cafe will open in London.

Not only will you be able to buy good quality coffee beans, and drink tasty tea and cakes, you’ll also be able to play with cats.

Once the café is open, there will be between 10 and 15 cats that will roam freely around the café for you to stroke, cuddle and play with while you relax.

Cat lover and entrepreneur, Lauren Pears is the brains behind Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium. After her idea was featured in the Independent, she managed to collect donations from the public totalling £100,000.

The idea may be unique here, but in Japan cat cafes have been popular for years.  The reason being – in Tokyo, many estate agents ban pets, so visiting a cat café is a good compromise.

Some sociologists have also come to the conclusion that cats can provide comfort in societies with an ageing population and fewer children.

Although, many of us in Britain are allowed to keep pets in our homes, some estate agents aren’t happy accommodating cats. Many young people also find it hard to commit financially. So, seeing as we’re a nation of cat lovers, I’m sure Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium will be a huge success.

So, where will all the cats come from? They will be rescue cats from the Mayhew Animal Home located in north-west London in Kensal Green.

Some critics have argued that the cats would be better off in a home with a solid family rather than a changing group of people; however, surely not all cats find good homes straight away, and they’d be far better off in the cat café than a rescue centre.

Pears responded to the criticism by saying that she was going to recruit volunteers who would be able to look after the cats during the night.