Tag: coffee beans

The ultimate coffee table

Posted on by Sara Walker
Photo copyright Re-worked, http://re-worked.blogspot.co.uk
Photo copyright Re-worked, http://re-worked.blogspot.co.uk

Coffee tables come in all shapes and sizes, and are made from a variety of materials including glass, plastic, recycled components and wood. Some are functional, while others are more stylish than practical. Now, though, we believe we’ve discovered the ultimate coffee table. Why are we so confident? Because this is a table that’s actually made from coffee!

The material used to make the table is called Curface, developed by a group of industrial designers under the company name Re-Worked, who look for ways of recycling industrial waste.

Their material is made from a mixture containing recycled polystyrene coffee cups and coffee bean grounds.  The result is durable, waterproof, hardwearing and strong, and is also malleable when heated, making it easy to work with. Just like wood, the material can be sawn and sanded, and the flat sheets are idea for tables and counter tops. Unlike wood it’s already naturally waterproof so requires no further sealing, finishing or maintenance. The finished product has a smooth texture with a faceted look suitable for a range of decors, and, as it contains 30% coffee grounds, even smells slightly of coffee for a while after manufacture.

So far, the company has experimented with tables, restaurant counters, chairs and stools, and also more ambitious projects such as structural screens. As the material is so strong, in theory it could be used to construct an entire building.  Currently, the company are producing pieces on a commission-only basis; but who knows? In the future, you might be able to get your office caffeine kick from a desk actually made from coffee.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re proud to supply a range of top quality beans at great wholesale prices. And if some of the grounds from our coffee beans ended up coming back as furniture, we’d be even prouder. For more information, please visit our coffee beans page.

 

Monsooned Malibar coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

indiaHave you ever tried ‘monsoon coffee’? Also called ‘monsooned Malabar coffee’, it refers to coffee beans subjected to a particular process, designed to produce an individual taste. Unique to the Malabar coast in the subcontinent of India, the coffee beans used in this process are harvested then left exposed to the seasonal monsoon rain and winds for up to four months.

The constant wetting and drying process causes the beans to swell and lose any acidity, which apparently gives a far smoother, mellower flavour once the coffee beans are brewed.

The history of the process, which can be applied to any type of bean, dates back hundreds of years. When coffee beans were first brought to Europe from India, they travelled by sea, sometimes taking six months to complete the voyage. The long exposure to humidity and sea weather caused the beans to age from the normal freshly-picked green to a pale yellow, and caused corresponding differences in the taste of the coffee. As transportation times improved, the beans were less affected – and legend has it that Europeans began to notice and remark on the difference in flavour. Upon investigation, it was determined that the variation in humidity appeared to have a positive effect on the coffee, and experiments were made to replicate the conditions by exposing the beans to monsoon conditions.

The modern process is very carefully managed, and involves spreading, raking and turning the harvested beans to ensure that they absorb the moisture evenly. When it’s ready, the bean becomes significantly larger and turns pale golden in colour. Once packaged, the beans are roasted and brewed as usual.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, you won’t find monsoon coffee – but you will find a great range of top quality coffee beans, all offering fantastic value for money. For more information, visit our coffee beans page.

Last Minute Cake for Your Coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

You’re having friends over for coffee when suddenly you realize you have nothing to serve with the coffee (or tea, or chocolate…). You may want to serve something home made, but that doesn’t mean you have an hour to spare. So what do you do? You make these apple pies.

We found this recipe at Yammie’s Noshery and there are plenty of other recipes there that could put you in a food coma, of the nicer kind.

 Two Minute Apple Pie Parfaits

1 firm apple
1 tablespoon brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (more or less, depending on what you like)
Granola and/or ice cream for topping (This is my favorite granola recipe. Here’s a healthier version)

Peal and chop the apple. Toss it with the brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon. Microwave for about 1 minute or until the apples are tender. Top with granola and ice cream if desired.

You can multiply this recipe for as many parfaits as you want. You can either mix it all up and divide it into the glasses and cook them each separately, or you can mix it all up, cook it and then divide it into the glasses. If you cook all the apples in one bowl for multiple servings, just stir after each minute until the apples are done.

Of course you still have to serve proper coffee with the pies. If you don’t have one already make sure that for next time you get some fresh coffee beans, a coffee grinder and a French press if you don’t have an espresso machine. If you want to go the extra mile, roast your own green beans. If you are reading this because you want to save time finding an easy recipe we are guessing you aren’t the type though. You can, however, buy coffee online from us, saving you trips to the shops.

Whipped Cream and Other Coffee Toppings

Posted on by Sara Walker

Maybe the cake isn’t all about the icing, but it does help if the icing tastes nice. Otherwise, why have icing?

When it comes to coffee some like it plain, some like it with milk, and some like it with topping. Whipped cream is popular for some coffees like mocha and sometimes the whip comes with chocolate, or other things in it, or on it. If you run a coffee business the topping can make or break you. At least if you have a client like the author of this blog. You see I love whipped cream and if they give me the fake stuff I tend to avoid it. Hence, in London you will usually find me at Nero’s as they use real cream. My only complaint is that they don’t sweeten it.

Now you might not run a coffee shop, but if you like indulgent treats and experimenting with your coffee then there are some toppings worth trying. Below you find some ideas.

* Add a shot of Baileys to your coffee and then top it with whipped cream with a shot Baileys in it (add whilst whipping) and a few flakes of chocolate (you can grate some chocolate with a cheese grater, or chop it with a knife)

* Like orange? Add some orange essence into your coffee, a bit of honey or brown sugar, then add a tiny bit of orange essence to your whipped cream as well and top it off with a piece of candid orange. You can also add orange zest to the whip if you like it a tad more bitter.

* You can also have even MORE coffee in your coffee: add 2 teaspoons espresso powder or 2 1/2 teaspoons freeze-dried coffee crystals and a generous tablespoon of sugar (or honey, or maple syrup) into 1 cup heavy cream. Whip as usual, tasting and adjusting the sweetness toward the end.

* If you love chocolate, you can use that for your cream. In a double boiler or the microwave, melt 3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips. Let chocolate cool until still liquid but not hot, about 5 minutes. Whip 1 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add 1/2 chocolate mixture and beat until combined. Add remaining chocolate and 1 tablespoon sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Other ideas is to add almond essence, crushed candy cones (for that Christmas flavour), crushed Daim chocolate pieces (a Swedish favourite), vanilla powder, or vanilla essence, cinnamon, chai tea powder (or chai spices: nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom)

As always: use fresh roasted coffee beans and if you want to buy coffee online, we suggest you use us as your retailer (naturally). We also sell green coffee beans if you want to roast them yourself. That way they are guaranteed fresh! If you are buying coffee online from someone else, do your research first as you want to use a reliable shop, especially if you have a coffee shop where good coffee can make or break you.

Coffee that nearly looks too good to drink....But who am I kidding?? - #Coffee #Yum #Drinks #Dessert

 

Civet cat coffee (kopi luwak)

Posted on by Sara Walker

civetProbably best known as the world’s most expensive coffee, kopi luwak (civet coffee) is made from coffee berries that have been eaten and excreted by Asian Palm Civet cats, nocturnal, catlike animals native to Asia and Africa. The cats love fresh coffee berries, and they eat the ripe fruit straight from the tree, stripping off the soft, sweet  exterior and swallowing the coffee bean whole in the process.

Sound appetising? Apparently, the digestive enzymes remove any bitterness from the beans, so what’s eventually excreted is a sweet, smooth, mellow tasting bean which is then collected and hygienically and thoroughly cleaned. The civet beans are only roasted lightly, so as to preserve their complex flavours. The resulting coffee can fetch hundreds of pounds a kilo.

The term ‘kopi luwak’ refers to any type of coffee processed in this way, and many manufacturers produce their own brand. As there are many variations in the natural process, ranging from differences in beans, climate and growing conditions to the diet and health of the cats, no two differently-branded packs of kopi luwak will be quite the same, but should have the same smooth flavour.

Coffee connoisseurs and industry experts aren’t united on the subject of kopi luwak, with many claiming it’s a novelty item, and that the price refers more to the production gimmick and rarity value than any benefit in flavour. A trade in farmed kopi luwak has also sprung up to meet demand, with civets kept in cages, a practice which has attracted concern from animal welfare organisations.

At the Wholesale Coffee Company, you won’t find the slightly controversial kopi luwak amongst our range – but you will find many other fantastic, top quality brands and types of coffee bean, all representing great value for money. For more information, please visit our coffee beans page.

 

Christmas Drinks

Posted on by Sara Walker

Christmas is coming up and we’ll…drink to that. Of course, when we drink we’d love if it includes coffee. Fresh roasted coffee beans that are freshly ground to be precise. We may even roast the green coffee beans ourselves to get the perfect blend.

As it’s usually cold around Christmas time a little bit of liquor with the coffee helps to keep you warm. Find below a nice Christmas drink to keep you warm and happy. And remember, whatever you do: use fresh roasted beans of a good quality. It’s the best you can do to ensure the drink turns out nice. And of course: freshly whipped cream. Not the stuff that comes out of a can – after all you want a traditional Christmas!

We found this recipe at Recipe Hub

Ingredients:

4 oz strong coffee
1 1/2 oz amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz butterscotch schnapps
1 oz creme de cocoa
fresh whipped cream
grated chocolate, for garnish

Directions:

Combine strong coffee and liqueurs in a glass. Stir to combine and top with fresh whipped cream. Garnish with grated chocolate.

Serve warm or over ice.

 

‘Tis the Season

Posted on by Sara Walker

‘Tis the season…to drink coffee. Naturally. It’s always the season to drink coffee. However, in Christmas time you can add some extra spice to those fresh roasted coffee beans of yours. You can do so by adding traditional Christmas spice into your regular blend, like cinnamon and nutmeg for example. You can also try candy cane lattes, or why not eggnog lattes?

Below we have listed some recipes we found. Of course you need to buy coffee online from us and then it’s just to get started. And if you really can’t buy from us then we recommend truly fresh roasted coffee beans that you grind at home. The fresher the better. You can even buy green coffee beans and roast them yourself.

Eggnog Latte – recipe from Mother Nature Network

Prep time: 5 minutes, Cook time: 1 minute
Ingredients
• 1/3 cup 2% milk
• 2/3 cup eggnog
• 1 shot (1.5 ounces) brewed espresso
• Nutmeg (optional)
Directions
1. Pour milk and eggnog into a steaming pitcher and heat to between 145-165 degrees F, using the steaming wand.
2. Brew the shot of espresso, then add to mug.
3. Pour the steamed milk and eggnog into the mug, using a spoon to hold back the foam. Spoon foam over the top. Sprinkle ground nutmeg (or grind fresh nutmeg yourself) on top of the foam. Serves one.

Candy Cane Latte

1 cup almond milk or regular organic milk
1/2 cup brewed coffee or 1 shot espresso
2 tbsp crushed peppermint candy canes + extra for decoration

Whipped cream (optional

Mix the coffee with the candy cane, then add the steamed milk (if you can’t steam it at home, whip it whilst heating it to get it frothy. Almond milk, however, does not really froth). Potentially add some sweetened whipped cream. Sprinkle some crushed candy cane on top and serve with a candy cane to the side.

Who doesn't want to wake up to a yummy peppermint latte on Christmas morning??

Dinner party desserts made with coffee – coffee ice cream

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee ice creamYou’ll need an ice cream maker for this simple recipe, but the results are really worth the investment. Using espresso beans such as our great value Suprema coffee beans will give a rich depth of flavour. This ice cream is great served on its own, accompanying another dessert or made into a sundae with whipped cream, chocolate-covered coffee beans and a drizzle of caramel syrup.

Ingredients

  • 600 ml whole milk
  • 4 tablespoons coarsely-ground coffee, made with fresh coffee beans
  • 135g caster sugar
  • 8 egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons cornflour
  • 250ml double cream

 

  1. Put the coffee and milk together in a saucepan, and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, and leave to stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve to remove the coffee grounds, and put about three quarters of the mixture back into the pan, retaining a quarter. Stir the sugar into the pan, and heat gently until dissolved.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and cornflour then gradually pour on the hot milk. Tip the mixture back into the pan, and heat until it comes to the boil, whisking constantly. It should thicken just enough to coat the back of a spoon – at this stage, take it off the heat quickly before it curdles.
  3. Stir in the reserved milk, and leave the mixture to cool.
  4. Once cold, remove any skin that’s formed and churn it in an ice cream maker until slushy.
  5. Whip the double cream until it stands up in soft peaks, and fold into the ice cream. Finish the freezing process.
  6. To serve, remove from the freezer 10 to 15 minutes before required, to allow the ice cream to soften.

For a wide range of top quality coffee beans, suitable for all uses, please visit our coffee beans page at the Wholesale Coffee Company website. We also stock a range of flavoured syrups and other coffee ingredients, perfect for making coffee drinks or for using in recipes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Educating Your Coffee Shop Clients

Posted on by Sara Walker

Have you ever heard about educating your clients? If you haven’t, you might wonder why you should educate them? Why do you tell your clients you sell fresh roasted coffee beans if they don’t have nose enough to figure it out themselves (like hello that scent should say it all)? Why tell them that if they buy the green beans they can roast them at home to come up with their own roasts and blends? And why tell them about the laborious process of harvesting and roasting coffee? Why not just serve them the coffee and the associated products and hope they like them?

There are two reasons why you educate your clients: passion and money. If you sell the best fresh roasted coffee beans in the vicinity chances are you are passionate about it. Likewise, if you are selling fairtrade coffee, knowing that the farms your coffee comes from have properly paid employees, you are probably passionate about letting clients know so that next week they don’t buy coffee that came from slave trade.

So where do the money come in? Well, if someone knows for sure that your coffee is fairtrade, chances are they are prepared to pay more for it. Likewise, if you describe the elaborate process of finding the best beans, roasting them yourself and making unique blends, it will sound like you are selling something valuable. If people know it’s valuable, they are happy to pay more. When they know the hard work and expertise that’s gone into something they are usually prepared to pay more.

If you manage to really impress someone, or make an impression there is also the possibility of them telling their friends about it. If they tell their friends then they might end up your customers also. You will also find that the more someone thinks about coffee the more they want it – the more engaged you get in something the more you wanna try everything around it.

So let us tell you right now: we’re passionate about coffee and the coffee we sell is great. For example we have various different green coffee beans for roasting. Perfect if you have a coffee shop and want to make your own blend. Try our Forte or Caribana for example. Of course we also sell Nespresso. In case you have too much to do to spend time perfecting your espressos. So if you want to buy coffee online, check out our shop!

Specialty Coffee Drinks An Illustrated Guide by letteredandlined

Coffee drinks

Dinner party desserts made with coffee – hot coffee soufflé

Posted on by Sara Walker

beansIf you’re a little more confident in the kitchen, try impressing your guests with this coffee soufflé, served with a spiced cream flavoured with cardamom pods. As with any soufflé, the trick is not to overcook it – it should be soft in the middle and crisp on the outside. Make sure the oven is really hot before you put the dish in, resist the temptation to check on it partway through the cooking, and you should get a perfect result.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, separated
  • 160g caster sugar
  • 45g plain flour
  • 75ml Tia Maria or Kahlua coffee liqueur
  • 375ml milk
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely ground coffee, made from fresh coffee beans
  • 350ml single cream
  • 2 cardamom pads
  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees centigrade, and butter a 1.5 litre soufflé dish.
  2. While the oven’s heating, start by preparing the spiced cream. Lightly crush the cardamom pods, and put them in a saucepan with the cream. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and allow to stand for 15 minutes. Strain, then put in the refrigerator until needed.
  3. Put the milk in a saucepan, add the coffee and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, and leave to stand for about 15 minutes.
  4. Whisk the egg yolks with 120g of the caster sugar until really light and fluffy. Trapping air in at this stage is what will cause the soufflé to rise, so spend some time on this stage.
  5. Whisk in the flour, then strain in the milk, whisking constantly until combined.
  6. Pour the batter back into the saucepan, then bring to a boil, whisking constantly until it thickens. Remove from the heat, and add the coffee liqueur.
  7. Whisk the egg whites until they stand up in stiff peaks. Fold in the remaining caster sugar, and carry on whisking until you have a glossy meringue.
  8. Fold the meringue into the coffee mixture, and pour the finished batter into the dish.
  9. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until well risen and firm on top. Serve immediately with the spiced cream.

For a wide range of top quality coffee beans, suitable for all uses, please visit our coffee beans page at the Wholesale Coffee Company website. We also stock a range of flavoured syrups in our coffee ingredients section, perfect for making coffee drinks or for using in recipes.