Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Many Choices of Almond Flavored Coffee

Another recent additions to Flavored Coffee range has been produced in order to fulfill the market of coffee lovers. These coffee lovers have their continues cravings for new variety in coffee to satisfy their taste buds. That is why there are so many choices of different flavors that you can choose from.

Almond Flavored Coffee is only by adding the flavor to your coffee. It is not as difficult as you might have thought it to be. The secret to getting the right flavor is to know when to add the flavor and how much to add. It is one of the most distinguished flavors that\'s is available. That\'s why there are many types of almond Flavored Coffee alone.

Though it is famous among coffee drinkers, there are people who think that coffee basically has its own natural flavor which is delicious, should not be flavored. Of course there are people who prefer to have their coffee just with cream or sugar, these people however have to accept the facts that everyone has their own taste and preferences. There two different school of thoughts here, while there are many who feel that that ordinary black coffee on its own is not tasty enough so prefer it flavored, and sometimes others think that it the original taste of the coffee is much better and more original.

How Almond Flavored Coffee is made?

Coffee beans is usually being added flavor immediately after roasting. How it is done is the freshly roasted beans are being exposed to flavoring (organic or inorganic) for a short period of time for it to absorb the wishful flavor. As for almond Flavored Coffee however, the beans are being exposed to natural or chemical flavors to achieve the desired almond flavor.

There are so many ways how flavor is added to the coffee. Some coffee fanatic will add almond syrup to the roasted beans to accomplish the coveted almond Flavored Coffee while others will add fresh ground almond right before the coffee grounds are brewed. Not everyone will like to add fresh ground almond because it does have as much flavor as the almond syrup, since it might not blend itself well enough into the coffee grounds.

Almond Toffee Crunch

Another favorite is by adding both almond and toffee flavors to the rich almond Flavored Coffee. It produces a very unique taste of sweetness from the toffee and nutty flavor from almond. It seems like there many people have grown to like the taste of almond and toffee for a change from the regular black coffee.

Chocolate Almond Coffee

Chocolate, being liked by many, has also being added to almond flavor coffee, this added richness to almond Flavored Coffee. So ordinary coffee drink has been made into a different twist of flavor again.

Almond Flavored Coffee is achieving popularity and has many fans because of its unique flavor and many different blends. In case you would like to make your own almond Flavored Coffee, it is an easy procedure. What you need to know is what to add to the coffee beans or ground coffee in order to transcend the taste that you desire.

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A Free Coffee Maker Is Good

When you think of what the idea of the perfect coffee maker do you think of one that cost hundreds of dollars? What do you think of when you think of that perfect cup of coffee? To me the concept of a Free Coffee Maker sounds best because its - well, free. Stop and ask yourself what a $500 coffee pot can do for you that a cheaper free coffee pot can\'t do? Hopefully you answered; nothing.

I\'ve seen hundreds of coffee pots and coffee maker deals that I simply cannot understand. The idea of a coffee pot costing hundreds of dollars to me just seems absurd. Don\'t get me wrong I understand that art of a classic espresso machine with all the bells and whistles. I also understand the concept of a French press coffee maker as it allows the coffee to become silky smooth. What I could never figure out is why someone would buy a coffee maker that costs hundreds of dollars outside the specialty pots. I mean what can an expensive regular coffee maker do that a regular Free Coffee Maker couldn\'t?

The concept has been around for years, mark up sells. You might be asking, what do I mean? Its a noted value and thats merely it. It is believed that a Free Coffee Maker must be useless and cheap. The belief also holds true that an expensive coffee maker makes better coffee. Again barring specialty coffee makers, a coffee maker is simply a coffee maker. Whether free nor paid they both would achieve the same results. You pour the coffee into the coffee pot add water and brew the coffee withing 10 minutes as there is no difference.

We are taught at a young age about perceived value. Perhaps we\'ve seen all the scams out there and are simply afraid that something labeled as free really isn\'t free. You may even feel that a Free Coffee Maker is going to somehow be sub-par from the expensive ones. Could it be the design of a coffee maker that could be the draw?

Look at Gevalia a company that has been around for years giving away a Free Coffee Maker. Gevalia offers stainless steel coffee makers that match the look of the fancier expensive coffee pots. Or even look more recently to companies like cafe Belmondo that bring value and a good coffee pot to the table free and have thousands of customers a year signing up to get theirs. No matter how you look at it a Free Coffee Maker is just as useful as a expensive coffee maker. Besides in todays market everyone offers a refund if you don\'t like something you purchased - even if its free.

The internet has opened doors for everyone and many times forget certain deals at one time did not exist. The ability to get face to face with suppliers of high quality free products is now there. To get a Free Coffee Maker, it used to be time spent flipping through a catalog,selecting multiple kinds of coffee or even spending much more than it was worth in the beginning.

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Coffee Club Membership is a Joy for Coffee Lovers

The coffee club concept is relatively new but is taking the world by storm. Reward yourself or your friends and relatives with coffee clubs by joining up and saving loads. Each month, you will get a shipment of coffee delivered direct to your door. This is a great way to taste new coffees, sample different varieties, find a brew that you really like and ultimately avoid a trip to the store to buy your favorite coffee. Automatic shipment is very convenient, especially if you like your coffee first thing in the morning because this means you will never run out when you need it the most.

Clubs are now springing up all over America and different clubs have different offerings so it is easy to find one that suits you. Most clubs offer a coffee of the month and/or your choice of flavors. With flavors you can choose what coffee you want delivered each month, or allow the company to surprise you. Depending on the club, it could be your favorite flavor, or a different flavor every month. Amounts vary from company to company also. Usually it is one pound per month, but you can order more if you desire.

Some clubs even offer newsletter subscriptions with informative articles about the month\'s featured coffee as well as coffee Recipes and helpful hints about coffee making and removing coffee stains. When you join one of these clubs, you are also usually entitled to a members-only discount. If the company has a sale or special offering, generally the club members will be the first to hear about it through the newsletter. In addition to coffee, gourmet coffee clubs sometimes include extras like coffee mugs or books with coffee Recipes in them.

With clubs, the membership terms are usually fairy flexible. You can usually choose the length of your club membership, from three to twelve months, whether you want whole beans or ground, the type of grind you would like and finally, you can choose flavored or regular, caffeinated or decaf coffee. The choices are endless and are designed to cater specifically for each person’s tastes. This is more work for the club but at the end of the day is done to induce you to buy more coffee.

An idea for a coffee gift is a coffee club membership. This is where you purchase a subscription for a coffee of the month club, and your recipient gets coffee delivered to them each month. Gourmet coffee clubs make a great gift idea for holidays, birthdays, or as thank you gifts. you are looking for a unique business gift, think about giving a coffee club subscription. Most people appreciate a good cup of coffee; it is enjoyed around the world. This is one gift that transcends borders. Your recipient will like the convenience of having the coffee delivered on schedule, without having to reorder all the time. If you give a club subscription as a gift, you will be able to send a gift card or letter to your recipient, notifying them of your gift membership.

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Traditional Espresso or Bean to Cup Coffee Machines for Your Business

Domestic coffee use has evolved from packets of instant coffee in the kitchen cupboard, to stylish and sophisticated pod and capsule machines. As a result, our expectations of good coffee have been raised, and as a business it is our duty to produce high quality drinks for customers which meet these expectations. So which way do we turn?

Traditional Espresso Machines

Available in various shapes and sizes i.e. 1, 2, 3 and 4 group machines (a group is where water is dispensed from, which passes through the coffee that sits in the group handle. A group handle can be a single or double group, which enables you to dispense either one or two shots of coffee dependent on the amount of coffee place into the handle i.e. usually around 7 or 14 grams) and semi and fully automatic (semi-automatic is where you control the dose of coffee and turn it off when you have enough, fully automatic means that the buttons have a pre-set dose and the machine will stop by its self). These machines usually feature either one or two steam arms for frothing/steaming milk, and one or two hot water outlets.

When you purchase a traditional machine package, they should consist of the following basic items:

• A grinder to grind the coffee
• Knock-out drawer which can sit either underneath the machine or under the grinder, enabling you to “knock-out” the used coffee
• Barista kit which can include such basic items such as a frothing jug, thermometer, pallet knife, chocolate shaker and an espresso shot glass
• Water filter which is connected to a mains cold water feed to prevent build up of lime scale inside the boiler and on the element,

Ideally, you will also need to provide a mains waste connection. The size of machine depends on the size of establishment or how busy you think you will be. The most common one by far is a 2 group fully automatic machine, but some smaller sites will have 1 and larger establishments may have 3 or 4.

These machines are very much about theatre and indeed they are for show as making coffee is very much an art and good barista training is extremely important and becoming skilled at understanding and making good coffee takes time and practice as it is very easy to make a bad coffee. Prices can vary from around £800 to £6000, but remember, you get what you pay for, so make sure that the machine you choose is new and fully warranted, including full barista training and a good support service. The great thing about traditional machines is that there are no major moving parts so less to go wrong.

In more recent years traditional espresso machines have become more advanced, incorporating things such as boiler or group head temperature control facilities which enable you to tailor the temperature of the espresso water to suit the varying brewing temperatures of coffee. Other innovations include automatic steam wands, also known as hyper wands or turbo wands, enabling you to automatically froth or steam your milk perfectly without any human intervention.

Bean to Cup Machines

A bean to cup machine does exactly what it says! The fresh coffee beans are placed inside the machine and on the press of a button the machine automatically grinds the beans and pours both coffee and milk into your cup.

Bean to cup machines, such as Jura coffee machines, are quick and easy, and make quality fresh coffee at the touch of a button. What you need to remember with this type of system is that there are a lot of moving parts so more to potentially go wrong and there is need for daily cleaning which has to be adhered to otherwise your great coffee won’t be so great the following day!

This type of system is ideal for a pub restaurant where staff training can sometimes be a problem; it is also great for convenience stores or petrol stations where a take away coffee station may be required. Some smaller machines require very little installation or training and can be tank fed, so no need for plumbing. These machines will also usually feature some form of de-scale cycle instead of a water filter to prevent scale build-up. It usually takes between 30 and 50 seconds from pressing the button to filling the cup, depending on the cup size and type of drink selection. Some of the higher volume machines can produce two milk based drinks at once, while most will make two black coffees at once, an essential feature for some very busy sites.

As time has passed, even the bean to cup machine has developed, and can now be found to use various combinations which feature fresh beans, fresh milk or an instant/granulated milk, instant hot chocolate and instant coffee.

These various machines are designed to produce anything from 50 cups per day to over 500 per day. The cost of these can vary from under £1000 to well over £10000, so it is important you make the correct choice.

Summary - Traditional Espresso versus Bean to Cup

The traditional machines without doubt are for those who want the theatricality of coffee making. The advantage is that they make great coffee, so long as those making it are fully trained. A combination of machine and thorough training can produce the true Italian coffee experience.

Bean to cup machines are quick, easy and require very little staff training. The machines will roughly produce the same coffee each and every time the buttons are pressed, whether it be 16 or 60 times, but remember, they have to be looked after and cleaned on a daily basis or problems will arise very quickly.

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Guide to Iced Coffee

If you are a human being reading this article then you have tasted and know what Iced Coffee is. But Iced Coffee is not what you are thinking it is. You are perhaps thinking that after making a hot cup of coffee, bringing the decoction down to room temperature, and then chilling it in the refrigerator constitutes a simple Iced Coffee. You could not be more wrong! No doubt Iced Coffee is a variant of a hot brewed coffee, but there is a method to make it, a method that is different from the way a hot coffee is brewed.

Making Iced Coffee The Original Way

Iced Coffee actually refers to an old method of making cold coffee. Hot coffees are hot-brewed, but if you want to make Iced Coffee the way it was made when it was started, then you have to cold-brew the coffee. Yes, you read that right - You do not need to heat coffee if you want to make an Iced Coffee. There are cold process coffee systems available in the market that need no technology and no electricity. All you need is a special pot, cold water, and coarsely grounded coffee beans!

Just pour the cold water in the special pot and dump in the coarsely grounded coffee beans. What will happen is that the cold water will extract the coffee flavors but will not extract the bitter compounds and the fatty oils that are present in the beans. This means that the Iced Coffee, which is made, will have less acid content than what it would have had if it were hot-brewed. Coffee made using this method was originally called Iced Coffee. This method was invented in 1962 by a chemical engineer, Todd Simpson, and his company is still around today (It\'s called Toddy Products).

Iced Coffee: Tips And Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to enhance your Iced Coffee experience: (i) Put some of the coffee you\'ve made in the freezer and make ice cubes out of it. Want to experiment further? Maybe you can add a wee bit of sugar syrup and a little chocolate flavoring. Result: Great ice cubes that you can suck on! (ii) If you choose to make Iced Coffee using the hot-brew method, then you must get the coffee into the refrigerator once it reaches room temperature. If you allow it to get colder than that, then it may lose its flavor. (iii) Add whipped cream to your Iced Coffee and shake it up nicely in a cocktail shaker. This will make the drink look frothy and attractive and, who knows, your friends and neighbors might regard you as an Iced Coffee expert!

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For the Love of Black Coffee

Studies show that throughout the world, people consume more than 330 million cups of Coffee each and every day. This makes black Coffee the most popular drink after water and soda. It even beats tea as people’s favorite drink. As such, black Coffee is the third favorite beverage of people throughout the world.

Black Coffee is still one of the most appreciated beverages of all times; this is mainly because it tastes so wonderful and its aroma is so tantalizing. As such, black Coffee has a way in which it is able to take your spirits to the highest levels possible. It does not matter what time of day or night it is; Coffee knows no time limits. You will want to drink it anytime anywhere, which is why this is such a great drink for all occasions.

It is interesting to note that there are more than 40 different types of Coffee plants; the most popular varieties are “Arabica” and “Coffee Robusta.” Arabica Coffee beans are actually considered to be superior in quality to Robusta Coffee beans. For this reason, Robusta beans are what are usually used for mass production.

There are several ways in which Coffee can be prepared with espresso being the most popular way. Regardless of the method, Coffee is prepared by forcing the steam that comes from boiling water through the finely ground Coffee beans. As such, the preparation time for espresso is a lot shorter than it is for regular Coffee.

Tips to Help You Make the Best Black Coffee Possible

When making Coffee, use cold water for brewing so it gets a fresher, richer taste. Ideally, try to use purified or bottled spring water to make your Coffee. Clean your Coffee machine thoroughly before and after each use. The filters and brewers should also be cleaned regularly. Remember that dirt, contaminated oils and grinds have a tendency of building up over the course of time. A lot of people prefer black Coffee. However, you can make this type of Coffee a lot creamier and give it a richer look by adding milk or non-dairy creamer varieties available in a myriad of flavors such as French vanilla and hazelnut. If you like such Coffee, then you should take some time to give espresso a try.

The only complain Coffee drinkers have with their beverage of choice is that they need their ‘Coffee fix’ and how they feel lost if they can not get it. Even caffeine is not a big issue as many Coffee lovers have switched to decaf varieties; it’s just the aroma and the feelings associated with Coffee that make it so popular across the globe.

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Monday, April 28, 2008

Valuable Tips on How to Store and Prepare Green Coffee Beans

If you\'d go to a restaurant and you\'d be shown some Green Coffee Beans that would have to make you a tasty coffee, you\'d surely make a very serious and distrustful face. Save any comments for the moment you\'ll taste the coffee, and then you\'re completely entitled to complain, if you still feel like! Many people who have drunk coffee made from freshly roasted Green Coffee Beans have often declared that these strange looking beans make the best drink they\'ve ever tasted. Where\'s the secret here? There is none actually. The problem with roasted and pre-packed coffee is that it starts losing its flavor immediately after being prepared.

There are coffee drinkers who\'d never use processed coffee; many actually improvise and roast the Green Coffee Beans in popcorn machines, then grind and prepare them. However, though with greater flavor qualities, green coffee is almost half cheaper than regular roasted coffee you find in supermarkets; the only problem here would be the availability of the Green Coffee Beans. Normally, they are to be found in special shops, or larger amounts could be ordered on the Internet. Besides offering regular commercial services online, web sites often provide very valuable tips on how to store and prepare Green Coffee Beans.

If you don\'t have a popcorn popper, a pan would also do for roasting the Green Coffee Beans; yet, true enthusiasts would rather buy special roasters, which though a bit more expensive allow a great control over the roasting level, not to mention that there is much less smoke. In case you don\'t have time enough to roast and grind the Green Coffee Beans at home, you could simply purchase small amounts of coffee from special shops that grind daily, so as to still enjoy the fresh coffee flavor.

How do you know when the Green Coffee Beans are properly roasted? Under the heat action, the water inside the beans evaporates and causes the appearance of some cracks on the surface of the former Green Coffee Beans. As the aroma spreads all around the house, it will seem like the beans are shrinking; during the entire roasting process, Green Coffee Beans are actually losing almost 15% of their initial weight. There are two stages to recognize in the roasting process: during the first one, the beans have a light brown color, and when ground they resemble cinnamon. On the other hand, the last roasting stage is complete when a full dark color has been resumed and you can almost feel the taste of an exquisite drink.

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Nio Teapot is a Perfect Coffee Gift

Nio teapot is a beautiful, simple and practical design. British born designer Oliver Hemming’s contemporary classics have won universal praise for their combination of unique styling and practicality. Each piece an individual work of art, his designs have won several awards. It’s designed by Oliver Hemming in 1982.

Teapots are usually associated with grandmother\'s and the British, which makes this contemporary design a nice change. This teapot is made from stainless steel with complimentary heat-resistant handles. It holds 1.5 liters of tea. Designed by British Oliver Hemming, this 1.5L stainless steel teapot is from the award winning Nio collection and is an absolute classic. Nio teapot is a beautiful and practical design in 18/10 stainless steel with a heat resistant PPS handle. Not suitable to be put on the stove. It also in a 1.5liter

The Nio tea pot was designed back in 1982 - but its influences are firmly set in the modernist era. It\'s the work of Oliver Hemming rather than Bauhaus, with a 1.5 liter capacity, stainless steel body, heat-resistant PPS black handle and styling that\'s certain to impress the neighbours. Nio is an award winning collection from the highly regarded British designer, Oliver Hemming. 0.5Ltr Teapot in polished stainless steel complemented by matt-black heat resistant fittings. Teapot Perfect for one person.

A classically trained silversmith, esteemed British designer oilver hemming Nio teapot makes tea and coffee pots of great originality and beauty. Oliver has won several design awards for his Nio range comprising tea, espresso, kettle and kitchen accessories. Manufactured from finely-polished 20 gauge stainless steel, it has clearly been crafted by the hands of a qualified and award-winning silversmith. It is a fabulous addition to any kitchen, the Nio Teapot\' combines innovation, function and practicality with stylish design. Please purchase online www.Katiewongnyc.com in Newyork city.

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Coffee Makers for Different Coffee Types

There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning, stumbling to the kitchen and finding your favorite coffee brewed and waiting for you. Of all the drinks in the world, coffee seems to have universal appeal. But if you have ever travelled you quickly discovered that one person’s coffee can be quite different from another’s.

A World Wide Business—Coffee Types

Coffee is grown on five different continents and dozens of countries around the world. There are coffee plantations in Columbia and much of South America. There are hundreds of plantations in Africa. The growing region expands to the east and west including the West Indies, Sumatra, and Java.

All of the coffee growing regions are in tropical zones within 30 degrees or so of the Equator. While all coffee grows in bean form, there are different types or varieties of coffee plants, hence the many different coffee types.

Roasting and Brewing

Although plant variety can affect the taste of coffee, the way it is handled following harvesting has a great deal to do with the flavor as well.

Some coffee beans are naturally roasted. These generally produce the darker and bitterer tasting coffees. The sun does the roasting and then the grinding and brewing take care of the rest of the flavorful attributes.

There are many different Recipes for a great cup of coffee and variations on how they are served. The Cooking methods require specific kitchen gadgetry to help make the best rated coffees.

From Coffee Makers to Cappuccino and Espresso

There are different types of cappuccino, espresso and coffee makers on the market. Each of these appliances is designed to make specific coffee types. Cappuccino is a rich, dark coffee whose recipe originated in Italy. It is a milder version of Espresso, but not as light as “city” coffee.

Espresso is made by high heat and pressure which produces a thicker and more potent cup of coffee.

This is usually served in much smaller cups and quantities because of how strong it is.

Electric machines are making their way from the restaurant into many home kitchens. The cleaning and care including the job to decalcify are made easier by the popularity of stainless steel appliances. There are coffee makers also that do all of the jobs of creating the perfect mug of coffee right on your counter top and even while you sleep. The grind and brew combination machines are the ideal way to get the freshest cup of coffee possible.

Decaf and coffee types that contain caffeine can be equally as appealing to the taste buds. An important fact to remember is that just because a coffee type taste strong, it does not necessarily contain more caffeine. On the other hand, a decaf cup of coffee will taste and smell just as good, but without the health concern of having too much caffeine. The process with all of the new Recipes available at coffee shops, restaurants and even at home, it is possible for anyone to make the best rated coffee around. This includes caffeine and decaf varieties.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Espresso Machines - Making The Best Coffee In The World, At Home

Think about having a fresh, coffee-shop-quality espresso when you get up in the morning - without having to leave the house. This is what your very own espresso machine can provide, but it is important to make sure you buy the right product, and know how to use it when you get it home.

Espresso is a syrupy, traditionally Italian, speciality coffee. Coffee shop owners will tell you that making mouth-watering espresso is just like pulling the perfect pint of beer. It requires patience, practice, and is much harder than it looks. Good quality espresso machines can make it easier by controlling the temperature and the internal mechanisms more exactly.

These machines function in several different ways. If, for instance, you value authenticity, and have strong arms, a Piston-driven espresso maker could be for you. The design for this fully-manual espresso machine comes from as far back as 1938. Many are now sold for decorative value in addition to making a good cup of espresso coffee,

There are various types of semi-automatic espresso machines. In all cases the water is delivered via a pump mechanism, but the grinding, preparation and insertion of the coffee must be done by hand. These may be more difficult to find, as recently automatic or super-automatic machines are becoming more popular and cost-effective.

Automatic espresso machines are very similar to the semi-automatic version, but the temperature and amount of the water is also controlled automatically. Super-automatic espresso machines are still mostly for the high-end of the market. These basically only require you to put the coffee beans in! They may also have many extra features, such as milk frothing or filter coffee making. However, some coffee fans believe the super-automatic espresso machines produce poor quality espresso.

Prices for espresso machines range from below fifty dollars to over two thousand dollars. The most expensive are pump-controlled espresso machines, which are generally only used by coffee shops. If you are purchasing one of these, clearly it is vital to find a reputable provider with experience. Thanks to the Internet home espresso machines are becoming more easily available, even from non-specialist shopping websites.

The best advance the Internet has brought though is the increase in consumer reviews of espresso machines. This helps you to purchase based on the experience of others, rather than the sales materials provided by the manufacturer.

Once you have invested in the best espresso machine that suits your tastes, you will need to buy the best quality coffee beans. There is no point blaming the espresso machine if you have scrimped on this vital component! Espresso machine providers often offer their own range of coffee beans, which may be much wider than that available at your local supermarket.

An espresso machine is a perfect investment or gift for somebody really passionate about coffee. You should be willing, like the coffee shop connoisseurs, to put some time and effort into making the perfect cup. If you do this, and choose your espresso machine carefully, you could be well on your way to coffee heaven!

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Friday, April 18, 2008

Thinking About Starting a Coffee and Sandwich Shop in the Uk?

The market for coffee and sandwich shops continues to grow in the branded sector, in terms of both numbers of outlets and turnover at the major operators, despite the reported saturation within the market. However, growth of the branded shops is at the gradual expense of the small independents and minor multiples, as the majors expand outside London and the South East into high streets at popular historic, university and tourist towns. They are also taking new business at out-of-town shopping centres, concessions within other retailer’s outlets, and travel-related locations such as railway stations, airports and motorway service stations.

Profitability of the branded operators is assisted by the fact that outlets outside London, in particular, are likely to reach a level of profit more quickly than those in high-rental, prime central-London locations.
Growth is supported by the continued increase in the proportions of 45 to 54 year-olds within the total population, of ABs and of women in employment all of whom are prime customers of coffee and sandwich shops. The preference for eating at these venues, rather than having lengthier and more expensive lunches at restaurants, is sustained by the continuing need for shorter lunches within a busier working life. In addition, many women choose to eat at coffee and sandwich shops, as they are perceived to offer a ‘lighter’ and more friendly atmosphere.
The leaders in the branded coffee-shop segment are Starbucks, Costa and Caffe Nero, while their equivalents in the branded sandwich-shop segment are Subway, Pret A Manger, Bakers Oven, O’Briens and Benjys. These are gaining share within the total branded outlets sectors, particularly through their offering of a wider range of food and drink products. These are often higher-margin items, improving profitability, with this tactic blurring the distinction between coffee and sandwich shops in general.
The ‘top ten’ branded coffee-shop according operators are estimated to a study available on www.marketsensus.com to now represent 59.3% of the total branded sector in terms of outlet numbers and 70.6% by turnover. All branded coffee shops are estimated to account for 31% of the total coffee-shop market by outlet numbers, and 34% by turnover.

The sandwich-shop sector is more complex, with one estimate putting the total number of
cafes and takeaway food shops at around 30,000. The more major branded sandwich shops represent only a very small share of this total, although Subway, Pret A Manger and Bakers Oven account for an estimated 72.2% of the ‘top 10’ branded shops by outlet numbers, and 79.1% by turnover.
Despite growing competition from other retailers such as grocery multiples and department or variety stores the branded coffee- and sandwich-shop sectors are predicted to grow at a rate of between 7% and 11.8% per year in value terms over the period from 2005 to 2009. The total coffee-shop sector is estimated to grow at a rate of between 3.9% and 5.3% per year, reflecting anticipated gains in share by the branded coffee-shop operators.

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Coffee Gift Baskets or Tea Gift Baskets? That is the Question!

Know anyone who loves a cup o' joe or a spot of tea? Getting anxious about their upcoming birthday or any other occasion that justifies getting them an appropriate and pleasing present? There's a coffee gift baskets and tea gift baskets web page at aGiftBasketParadise.com that might be what you need to finish your gift-searching mission in the best way.

What’s so special about coffee and tea gift baskets? These contain eye-opening treats placed within upscale containers that might later be suitable for the décor of any room. Alas, two gifts in one! But what exactly does the web page say about the four coffee and two tea lover treasures that are to be discovered there?

The coffee selections include "Cafe Delight Coffee Lovers GIft Basket", "Coffee Connoisseur" as well as "Java Giant" and "Coffee Concerto". The first one is simply for people who just can't live without coffee. Your special recipient will find 3 assorted gourmet coffees and all the goodies to make any coffee break unique! They can also enjoy the "101 Ways to Stay Young" coffee table book while they savor the luscious treats in this coffee gift baskets choice.

Need something for the distinguishing coffee lover? Well, the “Coffee Connoisseur” has four assorted gourmet coffees and adds treats such as cinnamon stirs, cookies, honey, creamers and chocolates - all in a dark stained basket. Lots of the finer things inside as well as a basket itself to add to the beauty of the home as well.

The “Java Giant” is a bona fide eye-opener with a clever, giant cup filled to overflowing with fine coffee and carefully selected companions. The “Coffee Concerto” will show your appreciation by raising their coffee break to high art. This has superb coffee, delectable dunk-ables, a CD of perky classical music and more, all packed in a 2 piece re-usable file box.

Have tea aficionado friends? Check out both "Tea Party" and "The Wisdom of Tea" gift baskets. The first one mentioned is a definite for tea fans on your gift list. It's an oversized cup basket stocked with everything sippable and munchable for a properly super tea party. It's "tea-lightful!" indeed.

The "Wisdom of Tea" sends warm wishes for the heart and soul. This Zen-inspired collection includes a chai tea sampler, green tea chocolates, delicate biscuits, inspiring ginger sweets and more in a ceramic planter complete with natural river stones.

So why not go the coffee gift baskets or tea gift baskets route to celebrate an occasion? Why not have the chosen online gift basket company drop-ship it to the doorstep of the lucky beneficiary? It's all possible through the power of the internet so take advantage of the available technology.

The whole process, therefore, can come to a successful conclusion with minimal effort. No mall shopping. No wrapping and packaging. No trekking to the Post Office and standing in line to mail. No hassle whatsoever! Is this not shopping at its best? What part of this don't we understand?

You now have the opportunity to take the shopping path of least resistance and get the finest coffee gift baskets or tea gift baskets at the same time. Take advantage of one of life's "perks" at your disposal!

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Dining Room Attendants

Dining room attendants are called busboys or bussers. They normally work in restaurants, cafeterias, and hotel dining rooms. They not only clear chairs, serve dishes, they also keeps a track of each visitor. They reset the table cloths as soon as a customer leaves the table, silverwares, candlelight, flower vases etc. They keep a record and manage everything in kitchen of a restaurant or a hall.

Dining room attendants can also be allotted dusty works like washing mirrors, window panes, cleaning carpets, floors, tables and chairs etc. They have a busy life during the day as well as at night. So, they are generally divided into two working shifts. One shift is during the night and the other one is during the day.

They also work as waiter or waitress. They serve foods, fill up the glasses with water or wine, arrange the chairs etc. They also act as messengers to fill up the bills or payment and to carry them to the customers from the administration desk.

Dining room attendant don not need a formal high school diploma. They just need a well conversation skills and proper discipline. So, it is always preferred to have a on-job-training for a dining room attendant. They must be well versed in English if they are working in a 4 star or a 5-star hotel as they have to deal with foreigners coming from all around the world. Dining room attendants must have a proper maintenance of their health; they must have a neat and clean appearance. It is also necessary that they must be able to follow directions without any hesitations. Some restaurants or hotels ask for medical certificate that claims that he does not have any communicable disease.

Dining room attendants seeking jobs can go through classifieds of daily newspapers or can apply directly to marriage halls, resorts, restaurants, hotels, or cafeterias. The job opportunity is gradually increasing with the increasing number of hotels, restaurants, resorts coming up. Dining room attendants can also work part time in restaurants, hotels or in bars where they get salary for their work based on hourly manner. Dining room attendant can be promoted to waiters or waitresses with work and experience. If one is interested in becoming a chef then they can pursue a diploma and try their hands in kitchen.

Dining room attendants generally earn around $7.17 per hour. After they are promoted to a waiter or waitress, they can receive overtime pay. Dining room attendants usually entertain free meals while they work.

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Saturday, April 5, 2008

Coffee Makers: a Necessary Appliance in Almost Every Household

Coffee makers come in a variety of styles, variety of sizes, and have many different convenience options. Nothing starts a day off better than a hot, fresh brewed cup of your favorite coffee and nothing can spoil a day faster than a bad cup of coffee. The coffee maker you choose can make all the difference.

There are three basic types of coffee makers: percolating, French press, and automatic drip. A percolating coffee maker uses boiling water to brew the coffee grounds to extract the coffee flavor. This method of making coffee tends to give you a tarry, bitter cup of coffee, but there are many people who prefer their coffee made this way.

A French press coffee maker has a glass carafe and requires coarse grounds. To make coffee using a French press, you would place the grounds in the bottom of the carafe and pour water at the desired temperature over them. After allowing the grounds to steep or brew for 3 – 6 minutes (depending on taste), the press (basically a mesh filter on a stick) is used to compress the grounds to the bottom of the carafe and the coffee is ready to pour. The French press gives you a stronger, bolder, more aromatic coffee, but you will have grounds that get through the press into your cup.

The most common type of coffee maker is an automatic drip coffee maker. This type of maker allows you to place the grounds in a filter, pour in cold water which the machine heats, and wait for the now heated water to brew through the grounds into the cup. Very few, if any, grounds get through the filter so you do not have grounds in your cup. The major drawback to this type of coffee maker is that some machines do not get the water to the correct temperature before it gets to the grounds so the brew is not as good as it can be.

There are a variety of conveniences available on automatic drip coffee makers. Some of the features include a timer, automatic shut off, pod compatible, and types of filters. Wouldn't it be wonderful to put the coffee grounds into your machine at night and have a fresh brewed cup of coffee when your alarm goes off? You can choose and program the coffee maker to come on at a certain time. You will just need to remember to change the settings when daylight savings time begins and ends.

Automatic shut off features allows you to pour a cup of coffee before the brewing cycle is complete. This is for those of you who can't wait to have that first cup – you know who you are. Pod compatible machines are for coffee drinkers that only need one or two cups or want different flavors of coffee. Another feature to consider is a basket filter or cone filter. The cone filter contains more of the grounds giving you a cleaner brew.

Coffee makers are a necessity for anyone that loves Coffee and it can really get your day started out right.

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Caffeine Shall I Drink a Bucket?

This FAQ is dedicated to all beverages and products that contain caffeine; including tea, coffee, chocolate, mate, caffeinated soft drinks, caffeinated pills, coffee beans, etc.

These are important point you must know

How does caffeine taste?
Caffeine is very bitter. Barq's Root Beer contains caffeine and the company says that it has "12.78mg per 6oz" and that they "add it as a flavoring agent for the sharp bitterness" There is some question of the validity of the caffeine as a flavor agent argument for soft drinks.
Effects of caffeine on pregnant women. - Caffeine has long been suspect of causing mal-formations in fetus, and
that it may reduce fertility rates. These reports have proved controversial. What is known is that
caffeine does causes malformations in rats, when ingested at rates comparable to 70 cups a day for humans. Many other species respond equally to such large amounts of caffeine.
How do you pronounce mate?
MAH-teh. MAH like in malt, and -teh like in Gral. Patten.
Is it true that espresso has less caffeine than regular coffee?
An espresso cup has about as much caffeine as a cup of dark brew. But servings for espresso are much smaller. Which means that the content of caffeine per millilitre are much higher than with a regular brew.
How much caffeine is in decaf coffee?
In the United States federal regulations require that in order to label coffee as "decaffeinated" that coffee must have had its caffeine level reduced by no less than 97.5 percent.
How much theobromine/theophylline there is in? - cocoa 250mg theobromine
bittersweet choc. bar 130mg theobromine
5 oz cup brewed coffee no theobromine
tea 5oz cup brewed 3min
with teabag 3-4 mg theophylline
Diet Coke no theobromine or theophylline
How and why does caffine effect the pulse rate of a person?
The short answer is that caffeine increases pulse rate because caffeine increases the strength and frequency of heartbeats. Since that doesn't really tell you any more than you already knew, I'll give you the long answer, which, unfortunately, requires a lot of cell biology and biochemistry
How much caffeine do energy drinks contain and how does this compare with other caffeine-containing beverages?
The typical energy drink provides about 80 mg of caffeine per can (although this varies between brands). This is about the same as the amount of caffeine provided by an average strength cup of coffee, and about twice that in a cup of tea. It is also about twice the level of caffeine found in a can of carbonated, cola-flavoured soft drink.

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