New coffee gadget to improve coffee taste
The geeks among us will be interested to hear that a new coffee brewer is on the market and it has been getting good reviews from the online gadget websites. What is it? Created by a design engineer and an engineer/entrepreneur over the last couple of years, the Espro Press has recently been launched to the public. In essence, it is a device which is not dissimilar to traditional French presses, but operates on the basis of a two stage process. Why the dual processes? Because it is thought to improve the flavour and avoid coffee sediments.
How does this two stage process work? The key is in the micro-filter. It has been particularly designed so that coffee grounds are not let into the cup, but the aromatic oils are. One of the micro-filters is vertical to give this effect to allow the oils to seep to the top and the second one is designed to make sure extraction ends when the coffee reaches your cup. It has been said that this filtering process means that coffee is 5 to 10 times finer than other products.
Other features include a vacuum insulation to the brewing apparatus, which keeps the water temperature constant for longer. The initial model will make 1-3 cups of coffee although the Espro team are seeking to create a bigger brewer, which will have an increased capacity, at 4-8 cups for a larger party of coffee-drinkers.
Why not look out for the product and see if it also floats your boat?
What has Jimmy Choo got in common with coffee?
A strange question, no? The fashion world is renowned for starving themselves of food stuffs to keep lean and slim and so what would it have to do with the delicious beverage of coffee? The answer is rather unusual. Jimmy Choo, famous shoe and accessories designer, has come up with a creation that adds a little va va voom to the coffee drinking experience.
Choo, of Sex in the City fame, has launched a new range of accessories to entice shoppers to enjoy their coffee experience even more. What has he designed? He has created a luxury coffee cup sleeve made out of leather. Avoid using the disposable cardboard cup holders which are often available in coffee shops to help you to carry your cup of coffee without scalding your fingers and, instead, indulge in a leather holder which can be used time and time again.
Of course, the Choo design is considerably sleeker than the normal coffee shop affair. It comes in a range of colours – taupe, dark-brown or black and of course has a signature label just to brag and show off about the branding of the article.
Although a high quality item, there is of course a designer price tag to go with the Jimmy Choo leather coffee sleeve. It comes for the price of $125/£105 per coffee sleeve. Perhaps not one of the first things that a cash-strapped person living through a recession may choose, but you have to admit that there’s a certain sensory delight to the product.
Coffee chain expansion into the UAE
The Canadian coffee chain, Tim Hortons, which also sells doughnuts and sandwiches, is something of a giant in its native country. There are said to be over 3,000 outlets and the rumours are that it has a whacking 80% of the poured-coffee market. However, Hortons is not sitting on its laurels – no siree. The company has recently hit the headlines with the details of its expansion plans into the UAE.
However, a different marketing strategy will be required in this new expansion venture from that in its native Canada. In a recent online interview, the chief operations officer for the company for international markets, answered questions about the preparations that Tim Hortons is making for this new area of business.
It is said that billboards will be used to advertise the new Hortons outlets in the country and also that the company has a licence to introduce 120 outlets in the Gulf within a five year period. There will be considerable competition though – and Hortons has said that it seeks to differentiate itself from other coffee chains, by focusing on its food menu, as well as the coffee trade. They believe that this dual specialty will give the company the edge against other outlets, which mainly focus on coffee.
Of course there are also around 25,000 to 30,000 Canadians in the UAE to support their home brand, but they are seeking to appeal directly to the locals too. It is certainly an interesting endeavour but proof that the coffee bug is affecting many countries around the globe.
Different vibe at the Coffee House
Coffee houses are undisputedly popular social places – business meetings, family get-togethers, dating couples, friends’ catch up sessions, all routinely take place in these establishments the world over. However, the Coffee House in America strives to also create a social atmosphere but this time with a difference.
The Marquette Tribune has recently noted that it has, in fact, a reputation of one of the oldest not-for-profit coffee houses in America.
So what is the story about the Coffee House? It opened in 1967 as part of an outreach programme in the area and had a religious background (the Lutheran Campus Ministry and Redeemer Lutheran Church were involved at the outset). The social vibe of the coffee establishment has changed over the years but still makes a special space available for visitors. It focuses on providing an arts programme and community initiatives each month and has an atmosphere and setting which is appropriate for poetry readings and acoustic music.
People have been moved to volunteer their time to the Coffee House – in fact the whole organisation is volunteer run – and it is said to provide a different setting for music and art, in that alcohol is not served. There has also recently been an emphasis on social topics such as the ‘Living Activism’ project to promote local issues and organisations such as Hunger Task Force, Peace Action Wisconsin and the Urban Ecology Centre. These groups can make the locals aware of their issues and aims, raising awareness about their various causes.
Winner of the Beverage Standards Association Awards
If you live in Whalley, UK and love drinking coffee, it would be a good idea to wander into the Benedicts of Whalley Deli Café Bar, to sample some of their award-winning coffee. As reported in the Clitheroe Advertiser, it seems that this establishment has nailed what it takes to give great service and great coffee to its customers.
So who has acknowledged the skills of the Whalley Deli Café Bar? At the Beverage Standards Association Awards this year, the establishment picked up the Four Cup National Standards Award. This accolade acknowledges that the café bar is ‘exceptional’ both as far as its service and also the atmosphere or ambiance is concerned.
This is nothing to be sniffed at – according to reports from the Chairman of the judges, Ranald Paterson, only six establishments managed to score ‘four cups’ in the marking system. The top marks would be five cups and the scale spans one to five cup marking options.
The coffee shop is located in Maureen Cookson’s women’s clothing shop and the Beverage Standards Association Awards felt that this was a perfect destination café amidst the high-end women’s garments, underwear and shoes. Who doesn’t want a decent cuppa when they are ready for a break amid a bit of retail shopping extravagance? The Association praised the ‘genteel, comfortable surroundings’ of the coffee bar, which gave customers a welcoming rest and the option to refuel mid-shop.
It is encouraging to note that the judges are promoting different venues for coffee shops and are rewarding good service and a welcoming atmosphere.
Christmas coffee gifts
If you are a coffee lover, then wouldn’t you rather like to indulge your coffee-loving senses this Christmas? Here are a few ideas for gifts to slip into the stocking of a coffee enthusiast:
1. The cafetiere is a simple device that even the least-technically minded can use with ease. For those who are likely to drink alone, there are the ‘single’ cup cafetieres or larger ones for bigger gatherings of coffee drinkers.
2. Try a new blend of coffee to go with the gift. If you want to splash a bit of cash, there are many a connoisseur’s blend of coffee which will delight the festive senses – civet coffee, from Indonesia, for example, is one of the most expensive coffees, as it is produced by using the civet animals (the beans travel through their digestive system, are cleaned and then roasted). There are many other blends from countries all over the world to choose from.
3. Perhaps you would like to kill two birds with one stone – give a Christmas gift and also help those in a disadvantaged country at the same time. Why not buy some Fair Trade products? As well as choosing coffee products, there are also chocolate treats as part of the scheme too.
4. What about one of the Christmas coffee table books to entertain your recipient as he or she sips on his cuppa? One well-reviewed book is Nick Yapp’s 100 Days in Photographs: Pivotal Events which changed the world. Another good book for browsing during your coffee break is the National Geographic Simply Beautiful Photographs.
Rwanda coffee chain is growing…
In the local news for Massachusetts in the United States, there is hopeful news for a new Rwandan coffee chain which is taking baby-steps to develop itself. This is good news – in the land which is famed for a pioneering spirit, Bosco Munga is forging his way in the coffee industry.
So what’s the story?
The Bourbon Coffee branch is due to open later in December in Cambridge. This will be the third outlet in America – the other two opened in Washington D.C and also in New York City. The owner is a former refugee from the troubled African country of Rwanda and he is finding a new life for himself and his coffee company in the United States. He already has four coffee shops in his native country.
He is reported in the local press explaining the reasons for his decision to choose these three locations for the Bourbon Coffee chain. Apparently, Mr Munga wanted to have a presence in the political capital of his new country (Washington D.C.), the financial capital of the Big Apple and now he is also aiming for the intellectual capital, as he sees it.
Mr Munga, however, is also proud of his roots and they are reflected in the design and décor of his coffee shop – the Cambridge branch is said to be in an African architectural style with artwork too. He is aiming to have a mix of visitors – business meetings would be welcome (there is free wi-fi ) and also the art exhibitions are intended to welcome locals.
Green coffee and losing weight
The beauty industry is endlessly trying to help us to shed pounds: secret ingredients to cellulite busting creams, diets that involve specific ingredients, food combinations or limited food groups and endless tips and suggestions to help to stave off cravings or boost the metabolic rate.
However, did you realise that a rather humble, much-loved food ingredient may also help to keep weight down? According to reports in the OTC Pharmaceutical Business Review, there is a new product on the market that makes use of this ingredient. Naturex, which is a botanical manufacturer from France, has apparently made an announcement that its product, called Svetol, is useful to lose weight. And the ingredient which the company holds responsible for this weight loss? Green coffee bean extract.
So how does that work then? The reports indicate that this product prevents glucose being absorbed in the intestine which in turn cuts down the sugar levels in the blood. The result of all this is that the body makes use of stored fat to provide energy.
The reports have also referred to a placebo experiment which involved 50 participants aged between 19 and 75 years of age and who were overweight. Over a 60 day period, the placebo group lost 2.9% of weight, whereas the group using the Svetol product had an average weight loss of 5.7%.
According to a spokesperson, the Svetol product approaches weight loss in a different way from more conventional weight loss tablets, which tend to work on suppressing appetite.
Coffee on tap
Many of us wake up bleary-eyed in the morning and one of the first things we do to kick start the day is to make a cup of coffee to regain our senses. There have been all manner of machines and contraptions over the years to make this morning beverage experience as convenient as possible – from teasmaids in the bedroom, to cafetieres, coffee-makers in all shapes, sizes and designs.
However, there is now a new idea on the market that makes drinking coffee even easier. As reported in recent ‘gadgetary’ news, the Scanomat TopBrewer is the latest idea to make drinking your morning coffee as easy as pouring yourself a glass of water from the tap.
This gadget is in fact a sort of ‘coffee tap.’ Your caffeine elixir is, in theory, only the turn of a tap away. Accessible in the extreme, no?
The design appears, on initial inspection, to be a simple tap out of the worktop from which coffee springs like a fountain at the turn of the tap. However, the trappings and machinery necessary to make the whole thing work are tidily hidden under the counter top, to avoid any unsightly cables and tubes distracting from the clean lines and simple idea of ‘coffee on tap.’
The design also allows for the coffee-drinker to select from a variety of coffee types – the drink supplied could be espresso-based for instance, as required. Similarly, a variety of coffee beans can be selected for the coffee machine too.
Coffee harvesting comes early in Karnataka
If you’re a fan of coffee from Karnataka, there’s good news – the beans are ready a little early this year and so the farmers have already started to harvest them.
When are these beans usually ready? The reports are that the Arabica bean is usually ready to be picked around the middle of December but this is an unusual year and the coffee berries are already ready. The same applies for the Robusta coffee bean – the harvesting of this bean is also expected to take place at any time.
So why is the coffee in a harvestable state earlier than normal? According to the chairman of the Karnataka Planters’ Association, the rains are responsible for the change in tempo. As the rain came a little early in 2011, the crops is ready now. In some cases, the early rains have caused a little damage but the overall prognosis from reports from experts is good.
After the coffee plants had blossomed this year, the Coffee Board were in a position to make their initial estimates about the coffee for the country. What figures did they come up with? The reported statistics indicate that the Board believed that for the year 2011-2012, there would be around 104,000 tonnes of Arabica coffee and 217,000 tonnes of Robusta.
As the coffee industry is such a popular and thriving one, no doubt there will be little problem in finding a home and a consumer for the coffee once it is ready.