Published August 27, 2015 by

Make the Perfect Cup of Tea

Photo by Corbis

Photo by Corbis

For regular black teas:

  • To make tea without milk, 2g of tea should be used for every 100ml of water.
  • Pour freshly boiled water into the pot up to 4mm and 6mm below the brim.
  • The tea should then be left to infuse for six minutes.
  • This is also known as steeping and is the process of soaking a solid – in this case tea leaves – to extract flavours.
  • On average, a teabag weighs 2g but contains around 1.5g of tea leaves, so at least two bags should be used for a small pot of tea and at least four should be used for a larger pot.
  • When made with milk, the tea should be made and brewed in the same way and then added to milk in the cup.
  • At least 2.5ml milk is recommended for use with a smaller pot, and 5ml milk is advised for the larger pot.
  • This helps the milk mix more evenly though the ‘liquor’ when the tea is added to the bowl.

For herbal teas:

herbal tea

  • Steeping tea is the process of soaking a solid – in this case tea leaves – to extract flavours and soften it.
  • For standard black tea, freshly boiled water should be used – with temperatures above 95°C (203°F).
  • Water should be left to cool down for at least 30 seconds when making green and white tea, with a recommended temperature of 74°C to 85°C (160°F to 203°F).
  • Oolong tea is best steeped in 85°C (185°F) water. 
  • Herbal teas should be steeped in water with a temperature of 95°C (203°F).
  • Regardless of the temperature, the standard explained that tea should be steeped for six minutes.

Via Daily Mail

Check out our fine tea blends at our Cappuccino Connection Shop.

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Published August 27, 2015 by

Fix Your Coffee Mistakes

Photo by thisoldhouse

Photo by thisoldhouse

Perfect your coffee making or you’ll end up having a sub-par cup of joe. Here are ways you’re ruining your coffee:

  1. Buying pre-ground beans – ground them yourself for a fresher taste.
  2. Not using a burr grinder – get the right grind by investing in a good coffee grinder.
  3. Experimenting with different-sized grinds – the coarser the coffee, the more you’ll see the difference in taste.
  4.  Not using the right water-to-coffee ratio – use a cheap kitchen scale to measure out the amount of beans and water.
  5.  Using water that’s too hot – after boiling, wait 30 seconds to get the temperature down to about 205°F, a slightly lower and optimal temperature that won’t burn your precious grounds.
  6.  Buying bad coffee – shop around for good tasting coffee!
  7.  Storing your coffee in a humid, airy and sunny location – keep it in an airtight, dry, room temperature container out of the sun.
  8.  Using old coffee – some experts give coffee just a few weeks after its roasting date before it expires. Only get one bag at a time.

Looking to buy high quality coffee? Check out Cappuccino Connection.

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Published August 24, 2015 by

Oh-So-Decadent Affogato

Photo by Antonis Achilleos.

Photo by Antonis Achilleos

This recipe oozes with deliciousness all over thanks to the Food Network Magazine.

Ingredients:

  • Ice cream (coffee, chocolate or vanilla)
  • Espresso
  • Brewed coffee
  • Optional: shaved dark chocolate and chopped hazelnuts

Place 2 small scoops of ice cream in a coffee cup, then pour in a shot of espresso or 3 tablespoons strong brewed coffee. Top with shaved dark chocolate and chopped hazelnuts.

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Published August 22, 2015 by

3 Hacks for Your Iced Coffee

Change the way you drink your iced coffee today. Why don’t you…

#1: Add some coffee ice cubes

Photo by How Sweet It Is

Photo by How Sweet It Is

#2: Or…make that chocolate instead

Photo by Man Made DIY

Photo by Man Made DIY

#3: Perhaps, mint ice cubes for a unique taste?

Photo by 17 Apart

Photo by 17 Apart

A good cup of iced coffee won’t be without good coffee. Check out our line of Lavazza coffees to create your next delicious sip.

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Published August 21, 2015 by

Would You Put Butter in Your Coffee?

“It makes for the creamiest, most satisfying cup of coffee you’ve ever had,” Dave Asprey writes on his website. He’s the creator of Bulletproof Coffee, the small company credited for popularizing the concoction. The tech-investor attributes a high-fat diet to his 80-pound weight loss. And beyond taste, Asprey says this buttery drink provides all of the energizing benefits of a cup of coffee, without the four o’clock slump. Bulletproof believers insist that the butter’s high-fat content will slow the time it takes for your body to metabolize the coffee’s caffeine. In other words, increased energy, decreased crash.

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Published August 18, 2015 by

Berry Orange Sky Smoothie

Photo by tasteofhome

Photo by tasteofhome

This all natural smoothie is great for breakfast, as an after workout cool down, or simply a healthy treat. You can also add protein powder to any smoothie recipe below for a delicious meal replacement smoothie.

2 oz. orange juice
6 oz. Dr. Smoothie Strawberry Banana Concentrate
16 oz. cup of ice

Add the ingredients, in the order listed, above and blend. Pulse in 1/4 cup of strawberries for 2 seconds. Yields 16 oz. finished beverage.

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Published August 17, 2015 by

Cure Jetlag with Vietnamese Coffee

Photo by Munchies.

Photo by Munchies

Struggling with jetlag? Drinking a cup of ca phe sua da, a popular beverage in Vietnam, is an iced coffee made from Robusta beans brewed through a Vietnamese coffee filter and sweetened with condensed milk, might just do the trick.  Munchies explains:

The coffee is served in an elegant manner that will remind you of a black and white cookie, with the sweetened condensed milk lining the bottom of the glass and the incredibly rich coffee on top. Then, after the drinker stirs the two together, they can enjoy the thick, full-bodied beverage. It should be sweet and bitter, generally carrying notes of nuttiness, depending on the bean.

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Published March 25, 2015 by

Video: Nescafe Milano Latte Art – Chocolate Swirl

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Published November 15, 2014 by

It’s Apple Cider Season!

apple-cider

It’s that time of year again: Thanksgiving & Holiday Season. This can only mean one thing: apple cider season is upon us. As always, we want you to get the most out of your cider season, so we’re here to offer our best advice.

Keep it Simple
For more than 25 years we have been making our Hot Spiced Apple Cider Concentrate to help solve the problems normally associated with serving cider. Our concentrate is 100% real cider that has been boiled down and perked up with traditional mulling spices. That’s it! Quit throwing away spoiled cider that takes up too much fridge space. Our jug sits nicely on the counter and serves up cup after delicious cup, without needing preservatives or artificial flavors.

Let People Know
Due to the seasonal nature of cider, customers must be informed of its availability as a menu option. A number of techniques can be used to get the word out, such as highlighting cider drinks as specials, putting up a counter sign and table tents, or even advertising. These promotional materials should not only bring awareness to the avid cider drinker but will also help tap into the nostalgic demand of regular coffee drinkers.

Make it Special
Rather than just handing over a basic mug of cider, it helps to add some ambiance to the preparation. Using the steam wand on an espresso machine to churn the mug of cider will not only make the cider frothier and release its aroma, but it will also make the drink more special for the customer. The more special a drink is, the more you can charge for it. Another nice value-adding touch is to top the mug with a dollop of whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

Order Your Natural Apple Cider Today!

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Published October 21, 2014 by

Tips To Help You Increase Profits In Your Coffee Shop

Coffee HouseAs a specialty coffee and tea shop owner, you know it’s critical to your business that the beverage products you feature are the ones which will make you the most money.

As new products are introduced, and new “hot” trends develop, you need low-risk ways to market these new products to your customers. All this is critical to your profit margin and success.

At The Cappuccino Connection, we like to help our customer achieve the most profit possible for the effort they put into their shops. Here are some ideas you may not have considered, or just need to be reminded of again:

Tip#1: Flavored Syrups Sell More Drip Coffee – Pocket Up To $720 More Per Month

Flavoring added to coffee helps you sell more coffee. Almost 50% of ALL beverages sold include flavor. DaVinci brand flavored syrups have been shown to sell more drinks than other brands.

One simple marketing strategy using DaVinci flavored syrup can increase your profits by $720 each month. That is: Provide the flavored syrup FREE to your customers to add to their drip coffee. Make available 4 or 5 of the most popular flavors and encourage your customers to try them and report their favorite.

How will this increase your profits? Let’s assume you have an average size shop where you sell 150 cups of drip coffee a day. The FREE flavored syrup promotion should increase your coffee sales by 20%, therefore 30 more cups per day. If your profit per cup is currently $1.00, your profit after the cost of syrup is 80 cents. Those 30 additional cups are worth $24 per day, or $720 in 30 days.

In addition, as customers grow to appreciate the flavors, they will begin buying your higher profit specialty coffees.

Tip#2: Spiced Chai – Switching Brands Could Save You $203 per Month

If you are currently using Oregon Chai, a simple switch to DaVinci Spiced Chai could add $203 per month to your bottom line – while making your job easier, not harder!

The cost of Oregon Chai is about $1.10 per serving, the cost of DaVinci Spiced Chai is only about 65 cents – a 45 cent savings. If you average 15 Chais a day, that’s $6.75 in savings, or about $203 extra profit in 30 days.

And that’s while making your job easier. DaVinci Chai uses a pump system and a concentrated formula (9:1 ratio), which allows for easy measurement and clean dispensing. Also, no refrigeration is required, meaning the drink is not cooled by adding a large amount of cold liquid.

Greater profits, easier product to use, why not switch to DaVinci Spiced Chai?

Tip#3: Feature Flavors – Seasonal or Monthly

As we mentioned before – flavoring helps sell more coffee. Many of the DaVinci flavored syrups are ideal to feature at a particular season or month. Curiosity about that flavor can sell more coffee. How about Peppermint Paddy at St. Patrick’s Day, or Pumpkin Pie at Halloween? Red Hot Cinnamon on Valentine’s Day, Egg Nog on New Year’s Day … let your imagination run wild!

Or better yet, have your customers enter a contest to suggest flavors for certain events or celebrations. Offer a prize of a mug or free pound of coffee to the winner. Everyone will look forward to trying the next featured flavor.

Call us at The Cappuccino Connection at 1-800-249-0011 – we can send you a chart of suggested feature flavors for the year.

Tip#4: Nifty Names and New Recipes

Have a special drink? Give it a special name. Turtle Mocha is more catching than Chocolate-Caramel-Praline. White Zombie, Chunky Monkey, Winterberry Freeze … all can raise a curiosity in customers which can lead to more sales.

Need ideas for new drinks? Again, let your customers get involved – with a contest if necessary – to suggest flavor combinations and new drink ideas. Name the drink after the winning customer.

Also, DaVinci Gourmet publishes drink recipes and new drink ideas. Call us at The Cappuccino Connection – we can send you new recipe suggestions.

Tip#5: Package Deals – Everybody Likes a Bargain

Make it easier for your customers. Offer a package deal which includes popular items bundled together at a lower price than the individual items. Breakfast Wakeup Special of a latte and a scone, or an Afternoon Tea for Two Special of Chai and Biscotti. Packages make the decision making process easier, and easier makes for more sales.

Don’t forget take-out packages as well as in-store specials. A Sunday Romantic Brunch package of gourmet pancake mix, coffee, and a small bottle of flavored syrup in a small basket with napkins and a candle would make an attractive special offer. It could also increase you sales of syrups for home use.

Tip#6: Special Customers Club – Make Them Feel Important:

After all, they are the most important part of your business. Your regular customers should feel appreciated for their faithful patronage of your shop. Even a simple Customer Loyalty Card rewarding them with a free drink after purchasing 12 or 20 lets them know you appreciate their business and keeps them coming back regularly.

Offer Frequent Customer Special days with discounts for all customers with the Frequent Customer Card. As mentioned before, name a drink after customers who win a contest or are your most loyal patrons.

Tip#7: Joint Ventures – Coordinate With Neighboring Merchants

Is there an automobile oil change shop near you? Wouldn’t his customers appreciate a good cup of coffee while waiting for their car to be finished? (Do any of those places ever serve good coffee? – Why not offer the oil change merchant some coupons for a free cup of coffee at your shop? His clients would be happier – and they will usually order something else in addition to the coffee. You might even sell him the coupons at your cost. Or, you could offer to give your customers a discounted coupon to his shop after they have completed their Frequent Customer Card.

How about a hair stylist? An electronics repair shop? A Laundromat? Any shop where customers might need to wait for ten minutes or more. Just think of all the businesses around you and try to figure out ways you can drive business to them while they drive business to you … at little cost to either of you.

Tip#8: Special Needs – Special Opportunities

The most common special need is sugar-free products. Here again DaVinci meets that need with the widest variety of sugar-free syrup flavors (38 in all). Sweetened with Splenda – they have excellent flavor without the added calories of sugar or the “peculiar” taste of other artificial sweeteners.

Get the word out to your special needs customers – Splenda is safe for diabetics, pregnant women, and children, and carries no health warnings or usage restrictions. Is there a diabetic focus group, a weight reduction clinic, or health spa near you? Educate them on the availability and advantages of DaVinci Gourmet Syrups.

Tip#9: Gift Baskets – Help Your Customers with Their Gift Ideas

Design various gift basket combinations for different celebrations – Breakfast in Bed, Afternoon Picnic, Birthday, House-warming, or any holiday. Include a small selection of DaVinci syrups along with coffee or tea and gourmet cookies, pancake mix, or dried fruit or candy. This provides your customers with great gift ideas for their friends and family.

Flavored syrups give you all the tools to make customers happy. Soon they will be coming to you to purchase the syrups in small bottles for home use.

How can we help you with your coffee shop marketing?

At The Cappuccino Connection, we know that helping you make your business successful is the best way to make our business successful. Let us help you with your marketing ideas and products.

We offer best prices on coffee shop supplies, beverages and great customer service. You can order online or by phone 1-800-249-0011. We also have a dedicated team for espresso machine installations, repairs and service. Call us today or fill out this form to submit your request.

If you are a customer we can also provide you with Point-of-Sale products:

  • Hot and cold drink posters
  • Banners
  • Chalkboards
  • Coffee drink counter cards
  • Full color product sell sheets
  • Recipe brochures
  • POS order cards

In fact, in cooperation with DaVinci Gourmet, we can provide you with customized POS Counter Cards, showing your own drink name and your price.

Let us know how we can help you be successful and share your own tips below in the comments section.

 

 

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