Tag: Coffee Machines

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.

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

Coffee and paint colours

Posted on by Sara Walker

Coffee paintBlack coffee and café au lait have become so iconic that they’re used as a colour comparison for everything from fabric to paint colours. In fact, if you’re a hardened caffeine addict who’s thinking about interior design, you can now choose from a range of ready-mixed coffee-coloured paints, and even mix your own, personal shades with real coffee.

Crown Paints offer a choice of Café au Lait or Frothy Coffee (soft beige shades), or Cafetière, a strong dark brown.

At Dulux, the shades vary from Irish Coffee (a pale cream), though Coffee Liqueur (a warm, darker brown) and Cappuccino to the darkest shade, Café Latte.

If you’d like to create something a bit more bespoke, you can mix your own paint with a mixture of a commercial white paint as a base and coffee.

As coffee is a natural product, remember that the results will vary from batch to batch – so make up as much paint in one go as you’ll need to finish the job. The finished paint colour will look a couple of shades lighter when it’s dry, and may also fade gradually over time, particularly in bright sunlight. Using coffee to tint paint gives a soft, cream/beige effect, equally suitable for period properties or setting off a modern interior.

How to do it

Every time you use your coffee machine for a few days, collect the grounds until you have at least half a pint. Put them in a large saucepan with a pint of water, and bring to the boil. Leave to steep for at least an hour, or longer if you want a stronger colour. (The depth of the colour will depend on the amount of coffee grounds used as well as the steeping time).

Strain the coffee thoroughly through a filter, making sure that you remove all traces of the grounds. Add the strong coffee to the paint a tablespoon at a time, stirring thoroughly between each addition, until you reach the required colour.

 

 

 

Greek kafenes (coffee houses)

Posted on by Sara Walker

kafenioCoffee has been part of Greek culture for hundreds of years, and stepping into a modern-day kafenio, or coffee house, anywhere in Greece, will transport you back in time. Most towns and villages still have one or more kafenes, consisting of a single large room with chairs and a fireplace for winter, and exterior seating for summer, and the atmosphere there is the same as it’s been for generations. The coffee houses still form the hub of local life, as villagers meet not only to drink coffee but also to chat, exchange news and views and play Tavli, the Greek equivalent of backgammon.

Although the casual visitor might be surprised that tiny villages can sometimes support several kafenes, there’s a good reason – the men of the village often form small groups with different political allegiances, and each group takes care to frequent a different coffee shop. This restriction only applies to the ‘men’ of the village, as the kafenes are still considered to be a purely male domain, with women allowed inside only on special occasions. The female population generally compensate by holding informal ‘coffee mornings’ at each other’s houses rather than congregating at a specific meeting point.

The Greek coffee served by the kafenes is generally strong, black, sweet and served in small cups, although each establishment will have its own house style. Although similar in style to Turkish coffee, Greek coffee’s not as strong or syrupy. The coffee’s traditionally made by boiling ground coffee beans with water in a saucepan rather than a coffee machine, straining the liquid then adding various amounts of sugar, according to taste. For the authentic kafenio experience, serve the finished drink with a glass of cold water and kourabiedes (traditional almond biscuits dusted with sugar), loukoumades (fried doughnuts with honey) or a couple of sticky squares of Cyprus Delight.

The history of instant coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

instant coffeeInstant coffee – coffee granules soluble in water – has been around since the early 19th century. The first commercially successfully process for making a powdered product was developed by chemist George Constant Washington, and his product hit the shelves in America as ‘Red E Coffee’. His process was patented, but the taste of the instant coffee still left a lot to be desired when compared to the real thing made from freshly-roasted coffee beans. In the 1930s, the Brazilian coffee industry, then the world’s top coffee producer, became interested in developing instant coffee as a way of preserving their excess crops. Various companies began to experiment with liquid coffee extract, but the Swiss company Nestlé, who was at the forefront instant coffee research, launched its iconic powdered coffee product Nescafé in 1938. Instant coffee became enormously popular during the Second World War as a convenient and long lasting product, which could be made anywhere without the need for a coffee machine. In one year, the U.S. military bought more than one million cases of Nescafé, which represented a whole year’s output for the company.

Although the original instant coffee contained equal portions of soluble carbohydrate and coffee, the process was being enhanced all the time and in 1963 Maxwell House launched a freeze-drying process which came to dominate the market, giving a taste more comparable to fresh coffee.

Other milestones in instant coffee’s history include the launch of Nestlé’s famous brown tin in 1961, which in 1971 gave way to the clear glass jar still in use today. In 1986, the Nestlé also became the first company to launch a decaffeinated instant coffee.

Although modern manufacturing methods have greatly improved the taste and solubility of instant granules, the freeze-drying process means that fresh coffee will always have the edge for aroma and complexity of taste. However, the convenience factor that made instant coffee so popular during the war means that it continues to thrive in a modern market.

What kind of coffee drink are you?

Posted on by Sara Walker

What kind of coffee drink are you?

Once it was just coffee; then in the 1600s, a French doctor added milk – the latte was born. Fast forward to today and there are now dozens of coffee based drinks to feast on – from the caramel latte (skinny or with soy) to the mocha in a clear glass. What kind of coffee drink are you?

Black Coffee – no milk – maybe a sugar or two – but never instant

If you’re partial to a freshly brewed black coffee made from your own good quality coffee beans, you probably have opinions, an intellectual outlook and sophisticated tastes. Your sense of humour is dry, you’ve got a quick wit and you hate trashy T.V. You’re not a snob – you just have good taste.

Espresso – or anything – as long as it’s strong

On the ball and moving it in the right direction is the best way to describe you. You’re an entrepreneur – a career focussed go-getter on a mission and nothing’s going to get in your way. It’s either this or the clock on your office wall has reached 3pm, you’re hung-over and you’re about to drift into a deep sleep on top of your mouse mat. If it’s the latter, you’ll take any coffee that’s to hand – from one of the coffee machines, instant… as long as it’s strong.

Mocha – served in a clear glass

You’re not a huge coffee lover, but you’ve been invited out for coffee with Sue from up the road and she loves coffee. So you order a mocha, but you’d actually prefer a hot chocolate but mocha seems like a good compromise and it looks nice served in a glass cup.

Instant Coffee – out of choice – not laziness

You’re straightforward, down to earth and practical. A coffee is a coffee and you can’t understand why there are now so many different types. You think that anyone ordering a cinnamon skinny/ soy latte, for example, is just trying to show off – you’re not impressed.

Syrup (Caramel, vanilla, toffee…) Latte – as long as it’s sweet

Add some complementary pick ‘n’ mix sweets to your order – in a bag or on the saucer and you’re happy for the rest of the day or at least the next couple of hours. You appreciate the little things, you’re a lover of surprises and you love life best when no two days are the same.

And there we have it – a small descriptive selection of some popular coffee drinks and the kinds of people who drink them. If you have some suggestions for the list, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

For more information on commercial coffee machines and coffee beans visit our website www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk

Homemade Chocolate Brownies

Posted on by Sara Walker

Homemade chocolate espresso brownies from the Wholesale Coffee Company

You’ve got up early to grind the coffee beans, you’ve kick-started your day with the perfect cup of espresso – now make sure that lovely, fresh leftover coffee doesn’t go to waste. Coffee is the secret ingredient in many cake recipes, and works particularly well with chocolate, adding a depth of richness and flavour.

Use what’s left in the coffee machine to make these easy Chocolate Espresso Brownies – the coffee gives a lovely, squidgy texture and a rich dark colour. It’s best to use good quality chocolate, with a high cocoa content, ideally around 70%. This will combine with the espresso to give an intense flavour hit.

Before you start:

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease a 20cm square tin, and line the base with a double layer of greaseproof paper.
  • Make sure you’ve got some leftover coffee – if not, it’s time to fire up the coffee machine and maybe have a small cup just to keep you going…

You’ll need:

  • 60g butter or margarine
  • 50 g good quality plain chocolate
  • 175g sugar
  • 70g self raising flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 60g walnut pieces (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons espresso coffee

Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt it in the microwave, using 20 second burst of power and stirring between bursts to make sure the chocolate doesn’t burn.

Add the sugar, and mix thoroughly. Add all the other ingredients except the nuts, and mix to a smooth batter. Finally, add the nuts, if using.

Pour the batter into the tin, and smooth it out evenly. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes, until set round the sides and just slightly soft in the middle. Leave in the tin until completely cool, then cut into squares or bars.

These are great served as a mid-morning treat with a latte. For a decadent dinner party dessert, serve with vanilla ice cream and decorate with a couple of chocolate-coated coffee beans.

For more information on our commercial coffee machines and coffee beans visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk

Beauty ideas with coffee beans

Posted on by Sara Walker

How to reduce dark eye shadows, beat cellulite and get beautiful skin with coffee beans

We all know that coffee wakes up our minds, but coffee beans can also be applied to your skin to help get rid of dark circles, even out your skin tone and even reduce cellulite; not bad for a DIY facial.

And – there’s science to back it up. Researchers at the University of Tennessee found that when caffeine was added to skin care products such as moisturiser, skin tone became more even, less red and inflammation was significantly reduced as opposed to products that didn’t contain caffeine.

Similarly, coffee beans have also been proven to reduce the pesky orange peel effect. Mixing ground coffee beans with moisturiser won’t get rid of your cellulite completely, but researchers have found that when experiments were conducted, cellulite was reduced by 17 per cent.

So, if you’ve been working hard recently and sleep deprivation is taking its toll, a good night’s sleep might help in the long run, but for instant radiant skin from head to toe, why not try some of these DIY coffee bean skin care treatments that won’t cost you a fortune.

If you haven’t done so already, pop out to your local coffee supplier and get ready for seriously gorgeous glowing skin.

  • Coffee Cream Radiant Glow Mask

Mix two table spoons of freshly ground coffee with a good helping of natural unsweetened yoghurt and a dollop of honey – then apply generously to your face. If you’ve got some cocoa powder to hand, you can also add a few spoons and make it a mocha mask! Once you’ve finished mixing, leave it on your face for 10 minutes, wash off and hey presto – enjoy beautiful evenly toned skin.

  • Coffee Bean and Green Tea Under Eye Treatment

As the title suggests, for this one all you need is freshly ground coffee, some loose green tea leaves and disposable tea bags. Once you’ve mixed the coffee powder with the green tea, place it in the tea bags, add hot water, leave to soak for a few minutes until warm and carefully apply the tea bags under your eyes for a few minutes. You can always add a bit of cold water if they’re too hot. Take care not to burn yourself.

  • Cellulite Buster Coffee and Sugar Scrub

Mix olive oil, ground coffee beans, and for some serious exfoliation action, add some sugar to the equation. Give your dimpled parts a good massage, leave to dry for three to five minutes and rinse. Don’t expect instant results, but with time, your skin will start to look smoother.

If you’ve tried any homemade beauty or skin care treatments with coffee we’d love to hear about them. Post your recommendations and comments here.

Fresh Milk Capsule Coffee Machine

Posted on by Sara Walker

Capsule Coffee Machine

COMMERCIAL COFFEE MACHINE | SUPER CAPPUCCINO

Introducing the new fresh milk automated capsule coffee machine.  It has a unique auto steam function which is fully programable to fit any cup size.  With its compact footprint this machine is perfect for a small cafe bar or office environment.

The super cappuccino also produces a range of espresso based drinks from espresso, cappuccino, latte, black coffee and hot chocolate.

Each capsule contains a freshly ground serving of coffee beans which is then sealed in nitrogen to ensure only the best flavour is released.