Coffee Hits All The Right Spots

It can be said that coffee definitely hits the spot. In fact coffee hits a lot of spots! People all over the world enjoy a daily cup of coffee. Japan, for example, ranks number 3 in the world for coffee consumption. There are over 10,000 coffee shops and kiosks to cater to the needs of Tokyo alone. The Japanese even use coffee to get rid of spots! For reducing wrinkles and improving their skin, the Japanese have been known to bathe in coffee grounds fermented with pineapple pulp.

No matter how you like your java, be it rich, dark espresso, a frothy cappuccino or latte, iced or hot; you will find plenty to tempt your taste buds when it comes to coffee selections. In fact, specialty coffee sales are increasing by 20% per year and account for almost 8% of the 18 billion dollar U.S. coffee market. Statistics show that among coffee drinkers, the average consumption in the US is around 3 cups of coffee per day. Also, studies find that over 50% of the population, equivalent to approximately 150 million Americans, drink espresso, cappuccino, latte, or iced coffees.

There are currently around 35,000 coffee shops around the United States, with an average $30 billion a year in sales. Based on market research, there will be approximately 42,000 or more independently owned coffee shops in the US by the year 2011. An enterprising business person should look at the gourmet coffee business as a golden opportunity.

Gourmet coffees, also known as premium or specialty coffees carry an impressive gross profit margin, compared to regular brewed coffees. For example a frothy espresso based drink may retail in a coffee shop for an average price of $2.95, while the average price for brewed coffee is $1.35. Your gross profit margin is approximately 75% on each, thus you would make $2.21 on a frothy creation and only $1.02 on a brewed cup. Equipment might run you an additional $5,000; however, if you made an additional $1.33 per drink on 100 drinks per day, that equates to $48,500 per year in extra income.

The United States imports over $5 billion worth of coffee every year. Juan Valdez and his little donkey must be keeping very busy! Americans drink 460 million cups of coffee every day, which makes the United States the leading consumer of coffee in the entire world.

A scientific report from the University of California found that the steam rising from a cup of coffee contains the same amounts of antioxidants as three oranges. The antioxidants are heterocyclic compounds which prevents cancer and heart disease. Guess what! Coffee is good for you!

Approximately 90% of the American adult population drink some type of coffee product every day. Some people drink 2-3 cups or more a day. People who are getting hooked on specialty coffee drinks are rising every year. It is estimated that over 30 million American adults drink specialty coffee beverages daily; such as mocha, latte, espresso, cafe mocha, cappuccino or other frothy varieties either steaming hot or on ice.

Coffee sales are continually rising year after year. And so are the pricing modules! Coffee is the second largest commodity traded, next to oil. If you are looking for a business to get into, coffee is probably the best business for you to consider. Can you think of any other product that has such universal appeal, is easy to get into, and is relatively simple to operate?

July 01 2009 | espresso | No Comments »

Purchasing Coffee Makers Online

If you are in the market for a coffee maker, there are many styles from which you may choose. The most common is the coffee maker, but there are also cappuccino and espresso machines to consider. With the onslaught of "gourmet" coffee houses in America, many people who have been exposed to more than the regular cup of black coffee are deciding to make their coffee at home in more specialized ways.

Espresso and cappuccino makers are vastly more expensive than their coffee making counterparts, usually at least 10 times higher for a basic home model and 100 times more and up for a serious commercial brand. Popular brands of espresso machines are Saeco, and Brasilia.

Espresso is made by forcing pressurized water through coffee beans that have been ground into a powder. Cappuccino is made by combining the espresso with steamed milk. If you would like to make these at home, an espresso machine is for you. Also, fresh beans and a grinder should be utilized to ensure the utmost in freshness. There are any number of grinders available as well, from motorized electric grinders, to hand held press grinders. Online sites can detail many of the qualities of coffee makers to help you make the best decision for your espresso making needs.

There are more than 14 million coffee makers purchased in the United States every year. Coffee makers, especially when compared to their espresso making partners, are relatively inexpensive. Many popular brands of these machines include Braun, Black and Decker, Mr. Coffee and Krupp. They do basically the same job, but at lesser temperatures and without the pressure. Hot water is simply filtered through ground coffee beans into a carafe. The carafe can be either thermal or glass.

Thermal carafes are nice because they can in some cases keep coffee hot for more than 12 hours, without the use of an external heating element. Glass carafes sit within the coffee maker on top of a hot plate and usually stay hot for a couple of hours, but the amount of coffee in a clear glass carafe is always visible and apparent.

Cost is not always the major consideration when buying a perfect coffee maker for your home. Many independent research companies have pointed out that the most important part of making good coffee comes from buying the right coffee to put into the maker, not purchasing one specific model over another. If you would like to pay more, make sure that you are getting features for your money, like auto shut off and timer capabilities. It is very nice to be able to program your coffee to greet you already made in the morning.

December 08 2008 | coffee | No Comments »