Tag: buy wholesale coffee online

How to make dalgona coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

You may have hear of dalgona coffee, which is the hot new trend on the block. It comes from South Korean, and has been a smash hit on social media as it looks very visually appealing with its thick consistency and defined layers. It’s quite sweet – a bit like a thick, sugary latte – so if you prefer your coffee plainer this probably isn’t the drink for you. If you fancy a bit of a weekend treat, though, this recipe is easy to try at home – just remember to post a pic on Instagram afterwards!

Dalgona contains just four ingredients – instant coffee granules, water, milk and sugar. Whipping the coffee, sugar and water together causes a chemical reaction which creates a consistency a bit like chocolate mousse or whipped cream, which you then spoon on top of the milk. If that sounds like your cup of tea (or mug of coffee), then here’s what to do. Tip: this is best served in a clear glass mug, so that you can see the layers which are part of the drink, a bit like Irish coffee.

To make two servings, you’ll need:

  • 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules
  • 3 tablespoons hot water
  • 3 tablespoons sugar (you can get away with two tablespoons if you don’t like things that sweet)
  • 500ml milk, either iced or hot depending on what you want the end result to be/

Put the coffee, sugar and water in a bowl and whisk continuously for around 5 minutes. You can do this using an electric whisk, a mechanical whisk or a hand whisk if you’re feeling strong. When the mixture starts to stand up in peaks a bit like egg whites (honestly, this does happen!), it’s ready.

Pour the milk into two mugs or glasses, and spoon the coffee mixture on top. The appeal of this coffee is sipping the milk through the thick, velvety coffee layer, which makes it feel a bit like an ice cream float! You can experiment by adding coffee liqueur, if you want to.

Coffee games to play at home

Posted on by Sara Walker

We’re all in need of a bit of cheering up at the moment, so we’ve put together some coffee games for you to try. You may end up improving your coffee knowledge, or you may just end up drinking lots of great coffee – either way, it’s a win/win! Here we go:

Game 1 – full of beans. You’ll need two players for this one, so you can either co-opt another member of your household or play virtually with a friend. You’ll also need four completely different coffees, such as our sample pack of beans – try and pick different roasts and origins. Label four identical cups or mugs with a sticker on the bottom. Brew each of the samples using the same method, and mix up the mugs without looking at them. Then, try to guess the origin and roast. If you’re not a coffee afficionado, then just try and guess the continent – if you have a friend who thinks he knows his beans, then challenge him to guess the country or even the region. Player with the most correct answers wins.

Game 2 – around the world in 7 coffees. This one’s less of a game and more of a challenge! As we’re all limited on travel at the moment, the aim is to travel virtually around the world via coffee specialities. Nominate a country every day for a week (France, Italy, Vietnam, Turkey, USA) and brew a traditional coffee from that country to enjoy. Try café au lait, cappuccino, ca phe, traditional Turkish and more.

Game 3 – the right note. As all coffee lovers know, different blends of coffee have different top notes, including floral, chocolate, fruit, nuts, citrus and more. This one is a variation on game 1 – but instead of matching the coffee to the country, you have to choose which flavour belongs to which blend! Set up the cups as in game 1, and write down the predominant flavour note for each blend. Then, see if you can match them up using your sense of taste alone. The player who gets the most right answers wins.
One thing we’re definitely still taking seriously is our wholesale coffee! We’re still supplying wholesale coffee beans and ground coffee online, all at great bulk prices, so take a look at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk to browse our full range.

The Wholesale Coffee Company Coffee Break Quiz

Posted on by Sara Walker

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company we’re coffee experts – and here’s where you find out if you’re an expert too! We’ve put together some fun facts and figures in the shape of our coffee break quiz about everyone’s favourite drink. No Googling now! Answers at the bottom of the page.

1. Coffee originally came from:
a. Ethiopia
b. Indonesia
c. Brazil

2. ‘Café Sua Da’ is:
a. A single origin coffee bean commanding the world’s second highest price per kilo
b. Vietnamese iced coffee made with sweetened condensed milk, espresso and ice
c. Nothing to do with coffee – it’s Italian for a bar that serves food as well as drinks

3. Coffee beans are technically:
a. Fruit
b. Seeds
c. Beans

4. What does ‘espresso’ literally mean in Italian?
a. Strong
b. Fast
c. Pressed out

5. There’s something very special about kopi luwak coffee. What is it?
a. It’s only harvested at certain times of year, when the moon is full
b. It passes through the digestive system of a civet cat before being harvested, which is said to give it a milder, smoother flavour
c. It’s only grown on one tiny island in the West Indes, and the entire annual crop weighs less than 100kg

6. Which country drinks the most coffee per capita?
a. USA
b. UK
c. Finland

7.‘Decaffeinated’ doesn’t actually mean ‘completely caffeine free’, as the process can’t remove caffeine completely. If ‘normal’ coffee has between 95 and 200mg per cup, how much caffeine do you think is in decaff?
a. 2 to 12mg per cup
b. 20 to 40mg per cup
c. 15 to 20mg per cup

8. We all know that a caramel-topped, sugar-sprinkled latte is going to contain more calories than a straight, unsweetened black coffee – but how many calories does that ‘straight coffee’ actually contain per cup?
a. 15
b. 1
c. 25

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we specialise in supplying delicious coffee at great wholesale prices, both to businesses and directly to customers at home. Take a look at our main website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk to find out more and browse our range.

Scroll down for the answers!

Answers: 1a, 2b, 3b, 4c, 5b, 6c, 7a, 8b

Coffee fads: ways to serve an espresso

Posted on by Sara Walker

It seems like just drinking your espresso plain and black isn’t good enough any more. Here are three coffee trends involving adding extra bits and pieces to your caffeine fix – we think we’ll just stick with a dash of semi-skimmed, thanks.

Fizzy coffee: Apparently big in Italy, this is a soft of caffeinated soft drink. Just make some fresh espresso, let it cool, chill it in the fridge and add an equal amount of cold sparkling water or tonic water. Add sugar to taste. While this may make sense in a country as hot and sunny as Italy, we’re not sure it’s going to sound as appealing here, where we tend to prefer our coffee hot.

Next up is the Espresso Romano, which confusingly doesn’t seem to be drunk at all in Rome. It’s basically a standard black espresso, garnished with a little lemon juice. This could work well with certain types of coffee bean, especially those that have fruity, citrussy notes. To try it, make a cup of espresso then cut a thick slice of lemon and rub it around the rim of the cup. Squeeze a few drops from the lemon into the cup itself before discarding.

Finally, there’s the ‘Paleo coffee’ – black coffee with added butter and oil, supposed to support weightloss. However, there’s no scientific evidence that suggests that adding butter and oil to your coffee has any effect other than making your coffee greasy. If you’re trying to keep an eye on your weight, then drinking your coffee black is probably the way to go.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’ve got everything you need to keep your commercial coffee business running smoothly. We supply coffee beans, coffee supplies and coffee accessories, all available at great wholesale prices. No fizzy water or lemons, though, sorry! To find out more about our full range, take a look at our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Coffee fads: coffee in a cone

Posted on by Sara Walker
Image: Pixabay

Compared to other recent coffee fads, such as coffee served in an avocado shell (really, we’re not making it up), this one seems almost tame. In fact, it’s not really a coffee fad at all, more a coffee cup fad. While it’s certainly environmentally responsible to use a non-plastic container for your coffee, we think this might be taking it too far!

The newest trend in Johannesburg, South Africa, is for coffee in a cone. That’s a waffle ice-cream cone. Dubbed ‘the most Intagrammable coffee trend yet’, it consists of a waffle cone lined with dark and milk chocolate and filled with latte coffee, decorated with a heart. It certainly looks pretty, and would create an instant mocha if that’s your thing. Would you really have time to drink it before it leaked, though? How would you manage to put it down in you wanted to, and what about drinking it on the tube? It was invented by The Coffee Grind Company, who invented special cones with four layers of chocolate, each with different cocoa percentages to help show down the melting process. Once poured, you’ve only got a few minutes to down your coffee before the ‘cup’ leaks. ‘Coffee in a cone’ became an instant hit on Instagram when it was first launched, with photos being shared a million times. We’re not sure that this is a trend that’s here to stay, though – we still think mugs are probably more practical, particularly if you’re at work!

While we may not be in the business of quirky cups, we’re certainly in the business of coffee. We’ve got everything you need for your commercial coffee business, including top quality coffee beans, accessories and supplies, all available at great online prices. To find out more, just take a look at our main website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

 

How to say ‘thank you’ to your customers this Christmas

Posted on by Sara Walker

As we all know, loyal customers are the backbone of any hospitality business. Whether you’re a small high street coffee shop or a larger business, it’s more important than ever to help customers feel appreciated. Here are a few ideas to say ‘thank you’.

Start a loyalty service

This doesn’t have to be complicated – all you need is a small printed card and a stamp. Offering every 10th drink free, or offering bonus products, is a great way of keeping customers returning. Also, remembering regular customers’ names or how they like their drinks will help them feel appreciated.

Offer bonus products

Everyone loves a bargain, and Christmas specials such as a free mince pie or festive biscuit with every drink for a limited period will help people remember you.

Organise events

Invite loyal customers to ‘members only’ events at your venue. You can offer anything from tastings of new coffees and other products to a talk or book reading. The element of exclusivity means that people will feel appreciated for their loyalty. Alternatively, if you’ve got a milestone coming up in your business (anniversary of opening, or fifth Christmas, or new premises), throw a bigger bash for customers to help celebrate.

‘Just because’ discounts

In this age of relentless promotions, deals are often just seen as a form of marketing. Go spontaneous with a ‘just because’ discount (offering 20% off hot drinks, for example, for the week before Christmas). The unexpectedness of the discount means it will be appreciated by customers.

Shout about it

If you don’t tell your customers you appreciate them, they won’t know! Create a big poster, and stick it up in the window or behind the bar area, thanking them for their custom. Encourage people to take snaps with the poster for social media, and offer prizes for your favourites.

Merry Christmas from all at the Wholesale Coffee Company, the home of wholesale coffee beans and coffee supplies for the restaurant and catering industry.

 

Turn your coffee break into meditation time

Posted on by Sara Walker

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Coffee doesn’t always have the best reputation for calming us down. Drinking too many cups of strong black to keep us going or counteracting a late night with lattes can result in jitters and frayed nerves. Turning your coffee break into a meditation break, though, can really help you to centre yourself in the middle of a busy day, so you can face afternoon tasks with more energy and motivation.

It seems that ‘mindfulness’ is a big buzz word at the moment. It means a mental state you can achieve by concentrating on the present moment, focussing on your feelings, emotions and bodily sensations while accepting them calmly. It helps to rebalance and calm a stressed mind, and a 15 to 20 minute coffee break is the ideal time in the working day to practice it.

If, like us, you love your coffee, the very ritual of making yourself a cup is calming. If you can’t make a decent cup at work, though, don’t panic – you can still do the mindfulness break with a decent cup of takeaway coffee. In fact, the process of going out into the fresh air to fetch it can help to refocus your mind and make it receptive.

Coffee stimulates all our five senses – you can taste it, see it, feel the heat of the cup, hear the water as it’s poured in and smell the aroma. It comes with good vibes, as well, as it’s associated with relaxation and taking a break.

Once you’ve got your drink prepared and ready, sit down in a quiet area with it on the table in front of you. Coffee is a perfect pair for mindfulness, as it’s too hot to drink immediately, forcing some quiet time first. Be aware of your breaking, and inhale and exhale deeply through your nose. Take a tiny sip of coffee, and hold it in your mouth while you breathe in and out. This will help the flavours develop. Focus on the smell and taste, and how it feels in your mouth.  Concentrate on nothing but those sensations, and think about them. Take at least 15 minutes to finish the cup, and at the end you should be feeling clearer-headed and calmer, ready to return to your desk.

For coffee supplies at great wholesale prices, including coffee beans and coffee accessories, visit our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Italian coffee tycoon loved coffee until the end

Posted on by Sara Walker
The stove-top Moka pot was the first true home coffee machine, making restaurant-standard espresso
The stove-top Moka pot was the first true home coffee machine, making restaurant-standard espresso

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we thought we’d heard of just about every coffee-related idea out there, but Italian coffee tycoon Renato Bialetti came up with something new for his funeral – being interred in a coffee pot!

You might not have heard of the man himself, who died in Switzerland aged 93, but you’ve probably heard of the foundation of the family fortunes – the Moka coffee pot, the stove-top metal coffee pot invented in the 1930s by Renato’s father Alfonso.

The coffee pot became a success as it was relatively cheap and durable, and was the first true home espresso machine. Previously, the only home method available had been the drip method, which didn’t replicate the strong flavours of espresso produced under steam pressure. Inventor Alfonso had been working in the aluminium industry when he got the idea for the pot from a washing machine! Italian women used a boiler system that drew hot, soapy water out from a pipe and distributed it over the clothes. After some experimentation, his famous design reached the market in 1933. It was based on a classic silver coffee pot used as part of a dinner service in wealthy homes, a design that was cleverly designed to appeal. The

The distinctive design hasn't changed for over 80 years.
The distinctive design hasn’t changed for over 80 years.

pots are still manufactured today to the same design, and to date over 300 million have been sold worldwide, although the Bialetti family are no longer involved.

Renato’s three children designed to honour their father’s work by commissioning a special giant Moka pot to hold his ashes. His remains were then interred, still in the pot, in the family tomb in Omegna, Italy.

If you love coffee as much as we do, visit our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk to find a great selection of coffee beans and coffee accessories at competitive wholesale prices.

 

 

 

Is cold-brew coffee the big new thing in caffeine?

Posted on by Sara Walker

wcc article 3Does your coffee come in a beer bottle with an artisan label? If you fancy yourself as a coffee afficionado, you might have come across cold-brew coffee in fashionable coffee bars. Iced coffee has been a staple drink for the warmer months for years – made of conventionally-brewed coffee that’s been allowed to cool, iced coffee is served over icecubes or crushed ice and often flavoured with syrups. Cold-brew coffee is a different cup of tea – it’s made by steeping coffee grounds with water at room temperature. Unlike conventially-brewed coffee, which is ready to go in a few minutes, making cold-brew takes a little time investment – you’ll need to leave it for 24 hours. The resulting concentrated coffee essence is then diluted before drinking.

So what’s the attraction? Fans say the drink delivers a fresh coffee flavour and caffeine hit without any hints of bitterness or acidity. It’s also apparently a more complex taste experience as nuances of flavours aren’t destroyed by heat, and more delicate notes of chocolate and spice are easier to detect. In addition, it can be a more refreshing drink for the warmer weather. Interest has increased recently, with one Manchester coffee bar selling hundreds of bottles a week.

The method might be news in the UK, but it’s not a brand new invention. In fact, the Japanese have been cold-brewing coffee (known as Kyoto) for around 400 years. Whatever its origins, prettily-packaged cold-press coffee has taken off at festivals and campsites across Britain, and fans are experimenting with adding various types of milk and other flavourings to enhance the taste even more. It may not be too long before you can walk into your local coffee bar and ask for a cold-pressed almond-milk cappuncino – but be prepared for eyebrows to raise in the meantime!

However you like your coffee, we’ve got all you need here at the Wholesale Coffee Company. From top quality coffee beans to accessories, we’re your one stop shop for great products at wholesale prices. To find out more, visit the main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

 

 

Happy New Year from the Wholesale Coffee Company

Posted on by Sara Walker

happy-new-year-1063797_640Many thanks to all our customers for your support in 2015, and we wish you a happy and prosperous 2016. There’s still a holiday feel in the air, so we’ve put together this light-hearted  coffee quiz for you to enjoy with the last of the mince pies. Happy New Year!

  1. All of the world’s coffee comes from the area between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. What’s the nickname of this area? A. Java line – B. Bean belt – C. Caffeine county – D. Bean equator
  2. How many calories in a cup of black coffee? A. 50 – B. 100 – C. 15 – D. 0
  3. How many cups of coffee does the average person drink a day? A. 1 – B. 0 – C. 3 – D. 7
  4. Which has a higher caffeine content, fresh ground coffee or instant coffee? A. ground – B. instant
  5. Name the only state in the US that grows coffee. A. Hawaii – B. California – C. Nevada – D. Florida
  6. Where does the name ‘cappuccino’ come from? A. From the brown habit of Capuchin monks – B. It means ‘breakfast cup’ in Italian – C. It’s named after a coffee bean farmer – D. It’s named after a bar where it was first brewed
  7. What’s the only drink more popular than coffee? A. Tea – B. Water – C. Beer – D. Juice
  8. What is an Americano made of? A. Equal parts filter coffee and milk – B. An espresso shot with cream – C. Sweetened filter coffee – D. Espresso with hot water
  9. Where’s the best place to store ground coffee? A. The fridge – B. The freezer – C. A cool, dark place
  10. Decaffeinated coffee is completely caffeine-free. A. True – B. False

Visit our website in 2016 for all your wholesale coffee needs – www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Scroll down for the answers.

1 – A

2 – D

3 – C

4 – A

5 – A

6 – A

7 – B

8 – D

9 – C – coffee is sensitive to moisture, so storing it for long in a fridge or freezer could cause it to deteriorate. It’s OK if you’re using it quickly, but a cool, dry, dark place like a cupboard is better.

10. – B. All decaffeinated coffee contains a small amount of caffeine. Permitted limits are 0.3% for soluble coffee and 0.1% for ground coffee.