Tag: wholesale coffee

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.

 

Turn your coffee break into meditation time

Posted on by Sara Walker

zen-178992_640

 

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.

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.

 

 

Coffee tasting notes

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee-beans-healthMost large commercial coffee companies employer a professional ‘cupper’, or taster, or even a team of people. As coffee is an organic product and subject to variation caused by a number of factors including weather, the taster’s job is to evaluate and assess each batch for consistency, and also to assess new blends. Tasters have very sophisticated, sensitive palates, and they can differentiate between acidity, bitterness, sweetness, aroma and aftertaste to get a complete sense of the coffee flavour. As just as much of the flavour of coffee is perceived via the olfactory membranes as via the taste buds, they also need an excellent sense of smell!

To be objective, tasters have to work in surroundings that are free of any odours that might interfere with the tasting process. They’re always served with freshly-ground and freshly-brewed coffee, as this offers the maximum of fragrance, and they evaluate every part of the drink from the aroma to the crema, the fine layer of foam that sits on top, caused by the release of the natural oils in the beans. When it comes to actually tasting, the process is rather like wine tasting with the cupper swirling the drink round to release the flavours then swilling it round their mouths before finally evaluating the aftertaste.

When the process is finished, the result is the ‘tasting notes’ that appear on a retail bag of coffee – for example, a strength factor, then notes such as ‘rich, toffee notes’ or ‘well-balanced, smooth and chocolaty’. Other descriptions you might see include ‘butterscotch notes’, ‘red wine’, ‘fruity’ (especially berry or citrus notes) or ‘mellow’. There may also be more complex and delicate top notes, all of which help to give coffee its rounded flavour.

 

 

 

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’ve got a range of top quality beans for you to discover, all at great wholesale prices. To find out more, visit our main website.

Coffee goes into the space age

Posted on by Sara Walker

coffee-international-space-stationTwinkle, twinkle, little star; how I wonder what you are. Next time you look up into the night sky and see a bright star, it could be the International Space Station, where astronauts have just succeeded in making coffee that’s literally out of this world. The problem with space coffee up to now has been that a normal coffee machine can’t function in zero gravity. There’s also been the danger of rogue coffee grounds finding their way into sensitive, expensive equipment and also boiling water being spilled and wreaking havoc in the cabin. The problem has been solved by a specially designed machine that’s a collaboration between engineers Argotec, the Italian Space Agency and coffee company Lavazza. The machine’s been named the ‘ISSpresso’, and has proved a big hit with caffeine-starved astronauts. Italy’s first female astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti, took pictures of herself with the world’s first space coffee, alongside the new machine, and posted them on Twitter.

We can’t blame her for being excited – the coffee machine was delayed for months after the rocket carrying it from earth exploded. Unfortunately coffee was deemed to be ‘non-essential’, so its arrival was delayed until a replacement ship could be sent. The astronauts aren’t home and dry, though – they currently only have a starter pack of 20 capsules for the machine, so we’re imagining squabbles over the space breakfast table! NASA is still working on how to dispose of the used capsules ecologically.

Now the espresso machine’s up and running, NASA hopes to develop the same technology for other applications, such as consuming medicine.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we can’t promise space age coffee – but we do have some great tasting, high quality beans at wholesale prices. For more information about our products or to shop online, just visit our main website at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Types of coffee

Posted on by Sara Walker

beans and groundsHere at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re coffee experts. Here’s our handy guide to the different types of coffee on the market.

Coffee beans

Fresh coffee beans are the first stop for any serious coffee lover, and come in a huge range of varieties. Their appearance and flavour will depend on a number of factors, including country of origin, growing conditions and roasting process. They must be prepared prior to drinking, which involves dehusking and washing, drying, roasting and grinding. They need to be brewed in a coffee machine such as a cafetiere or drip machine, and are considered the tastiest way of drinking coffee.

Decaffeinated coffee

This is coffee with most of the caffeine removed, and it’s produced from the green (raw) coffee beans, either by the water method or by natural or chemical solvents.

Instant coffee

Soluble or instant coffee is a very practical choice, as it needs only hot water to prepare. It’s made by removing water from the coffee by evaporation or freeze-drying, and it’s sold as powder or granules to which the user only has to add water. It’s available in both caffeinated and decaffeinated versions, and has a long shelf life.

Coffee essence

Coffee essence first became popular during the Second World War when coffee itself was in short supply. It’s still possible to buy bottles of coffee essence which are designed to be made into cups of coffee with the addition of hot water. As soluble coffee has improved in flavour, though, most people tend to stick to granules for a convenient form of instant coffee, and coffee essence is generally used as a baking ingredient. Use it to flavour chocolate cakes, savoury dishes, biscuits and sweets.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we stock a wide range of coffee supplies, all at great wholesale prices. To browse our coffee beans, coffee ingredients, coffee accessories, flavoured syrups and instant coffee, please visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Coffee comes to Europe

Posted on by Sara Walker

676187766_1357111206Nowadays, coffee is such a big part of our social culture that it’s hard to imagine a time without it. It came to the UK in the 17th century, well after sugar first made its appearance here but before tea reached our shores.

European travellers to the Near East (an area roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East) discovered coffee, and brought back travellers’ tales of the energising drink.

When coffee first arrived in Europe, it caused some controversy. Its opponents called it the ‘bitter invention of Satan’, and tried to get it outlawed. The story goes that when coffee was first brought to Venice in the early 17th century, local clergy tried to persuade parishioners not to partake. The conflict raged so hard that eventually Pope Clement VIII was asked to make a final ruling on whether or not coffee was acceptable to drink. Before making a decision, he tasted a cup himself and enjoyed it so much that coffee got the full Papal seal of approval, and it quickly became an Italian staple.

Elsewhere in Europe, coffee houses were quickly springing up as meeting places and information exchanges, with the first recorded one being in 1645. England’s first coffee house opened in Oxford in 1652, and another famous Oxford landmark, the Queen’s Lane Coffee House, was established in 1654 and is still serving coffee today. In England the coffee shops came to be called ‘penny universities’, as a penny bought you a seat at a table and a cup of coffee, and meant you could join in the lively discussions taking place on every side.

Only a few decades after coffee first appeared in the UK, there were more than 3,000 coffee houses in London, some of which started to operate like early prototypes of gentlemen’s clubs, attracting patrons with shared interests. In 1698, Jonathan’s Coffee House was frequented by bankers and stockbrokers and eventually evolved into the London Stock Exchange.

Here at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re keeping up with the proud tradition of coffee in Britain by supplying top quality coffee and coffee accessories at great wholesale prices. For more information, please visit www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.

Seven hot chocolate variations

Posted on by Sara Walker

hot chocolateHere at the Wholesale Coffee Company, we’re proud to sell a wide range of coffee beans from all over the world at great wholesale prices. We’ve got a lot more strings to our bow as well though – did you know what we also sell coffee accessories such as cups, lids and stirrers, ingredients such as sugar and powdered milk and also a range of hot chocolate powder? If you like to swap your coffee for a cup of hot chocolate in the evenings, here are a ideas for a different experience.

Spice it up: Experiment with adding spices to your hot chocolate. Ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg all work well, or make up a mixture of your favourites. For a more subtle flavour, add a cinnamon stick and let it infuse.

Syrups and essences: An easy way to create a different flavour is to add a shot of flavoured syrup such as peppermint or hazelnut, or try a combination such as chocolate and caramel. You can browse our range here. Alternatively, try adding flavouring essences like vanilla or orange.

Milk: If you normally make your hot chocolate with milk, try replacing your normal milk with almond or soy milk. Both are low in fat and have a sweet, nutty flavour that’s an excellent partner for hot chocolate.

Chocolate chili: For something a little more unusual, try combining chocolate and chili for an extra warming kick. Cut a chili pepper into strips, removing the seeds, and put one or two strips in the chocolate to infuse. Remove before drinking. Alternatively, use a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper with a little ginger and cinnamon spices.

Chocolate with a kick: For the ultimate warming drink, add a dash of alcohol. Rum, Cointreau and brandy all work well, as do cream liqueurs such as Baileys. For the taste without the alcohol, try our Irish cream syrup, £7.29 for a litre.

What is coffee cupping?

Posted on by Sara Walker

800px-Coffee-Beans“Coffee cupping” isn’t, as you may expect, the art of putting coffee in cups. It’s actually the art of tasting coffee, and experts train their palates in the same way as wine tasters to pick up nuances and overtones in the drink.

Coffee buyers and blenders use cupping to evaluate different coffee beans, and to understand what goes into making the perfect blend. It’s also used to help decide what beans will be suitable for what type of brew or drink, for example to differentiate espresso beans from a milder tasting bean.

As with any type of evaluation, consistency is key so it’s important you use the same approach each time. As coffee changes according to geographical region, climate, season and a range of other factors, commercial cuppers taste the coffee beans from each crop to ensure consistency in their blends.

Professional cuppers prefer all their samples to be roasted lightly, so that the taste isn’t masked by strong flavours, and may also insist on having samples of green, roasted and ground beans to help assess quality.

The tasting table will look similar to a wine tasting table, with samples of beans set out in individual bowls and glasses of water to clear the palate between tastings. Tasters will often brew the coffee by the simplest method possible, infusion, then taste the fresh coffee sparingly and take detailed notes before moving on to the next sample.

Although few of us need to go to such lengths to find out what we enjoy, this method of comparing coffee encourages thought and may help you appreciate the more subtle qualities of what’s in the cup.

If you’d like to try something a little different, we offer sample packs of all our coffee beans. For more information, visit our coffee beans page at www.wholesalecoffeecompany.co.uk.