Mention gourmet coffee companies and the first company you’re likely to think of is Star-something or other. But another company is beating Starbucks in national taste tests.
Caribou Coffee has been ranked first in national taste tests and is the second largest coffee-house company in the world. Those taste tests compared Caribou’s coffee favorable to over 40 other brands. Caribou’s product must be pretty tasty to rate that highly.
The company was started in Edina, MN, by John and Kim Puckett. The Pucketts then sold the venture to Crescent Capital, an Atlanta, GA, investment firm. From a single store, Caribou has grown to 450 coffee houses nationwide.
Coffee beans and ready-made coffee, both hot and cold, are available at those stores, along with gourmet products like lattes, smoothies, loose-leaf tea and blended drinks. The friendly Caribou staff is happy to make your brew your way. Show your java preference by picking up Caribou Coffee clothing and accessories, such as tote bags and key rings. Of course, the coffee houses also have tasty treats to go with your java. It’s a great place to stop for your morning “starter fluid” or a mid-day pick-me-up. Bring your friends to a great place to socialize.
If you have a loved one who’s a coffee addict, show your style by giving a gift of Caribou Coffee. They’ll admire your good taste and enjoy your gift. With luck, they’ll share it with you. Buy your own too, so you have it on hand when you can’t get to the coffee house itself. It’s also nice to have a supply on hand when you have surprise guests over.
Going green is big business these days and Caribou has been doing its share to protect the environment. Caribou is working the Rainforest Alliance to produce an environment-friendly coffee. That effort has not always gotten the most favorable press but the company is determined to be environmentally aware in its business dealings. The company was also the first volunteer sponsor of the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Producer Support Fund to help other members who cannot afford to take part in association activities.
All this success has not come without controversy. In the days immediately after September 11, 2001, some people protested against the company because one of its largest stockholders was the First Islamic Investment Bank of Bahrain, whose chairman was Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi. Later in the year, al-Qaradawi stepped down from the post.
Now that the controversy has died down, the company can concentrate what it does best - making great coffee. There’s a reason that Starbucks is rated second to Caribou. Why not stop in and find out what that reason is? Look in your phone book or online to find the nearest Caribou Coffee outlet and grab a cuppa today.
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October 20 2008 | coffee | No Comments »
Coffee lovers around the world not only enjoy coffee as a beverage, but as a pleasant surprise and essential ingredient in food and cooking as well. Although most often used in desserts coffee is used in a wide variety of cooking as well. These foods include chili, meat glazes, barbecue sauces, and even pot roasts.
Just like the beverage, using coffee in cooking requires freshness of the ground. It is essential to purchase the coffee freshly ground or grind the coffee at home yourself. When the recipe is asking for brewed coffee, it is essential to use fresh filtered water when brewing. It is also important to note that most coffee recipes involve making the coffee 3 or 4 times stronger than how it is usually drank. Below are only a few of the recipes that can be enjoyed.
Coffee Meatloaf Sauce- This Australian recipe is becoming more and more popular all over the world. This sauce calls for a tablespoon of instant coffee to be mixed with about a quarter cup of water and about a half a cup of ketchup. Then your favorite red wine can be added, about a quarter cup with the same amount of Worcestershire sauce. Then the recipe requires two tablespoons of vinegar to be followed by a small spoon of margarine and about two tablespoons of lemon juice. The last ingredient is a little brown sugar. The meat should be cooked for about 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the sauce is added to the meat and baked for another 45 minutes.
Espresso Brownies- The first step is to of course heat a cup of sugar combined with about a quarter teaspoon of salt, and just over a quarter cup of butter. This can all be done in a good size pot. Then vanilla, about a teaspoon, is added, in addition to about 4 ounces of chopped semi-sweet chocolate. This should be stirred well until all ingredients are melted together smoothly. Then about a tablespoon of finely ground dark roast is added. Put in your favorite of course. However, for a twist on the recipe, two teaspoons of espresso can be used instead. When this is all well together, it should be put into a mixing bowl to cool down for a couple minutes. However, when it is still a slightly warm, 3 eggs should be folded in followed by a cup of flour. Then this creation can be poured into a baking pan and baked for about 30 minutes. Its Fantastic.
Black Russian Cake- For this recipe, you should use your favorite dark chocolate cake recipe or mix. Then to this, add about a cup of vegetable oil with a package of chocolate pudding mix, the instant kind. Then four eggs, half a cup of crme de cacao is added to complete the mixture to this point. Then a cup of Russian coffee is added. The suggested recipe is one shot of vodka with half a shot of kahlua and then about half a cup of piping hot black coffee. This mixture is then beaten until smooth and poured into a tube pan. It should be baked for about 45 minutes in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven.
There are so many different recipes where coffee can be enjoyed. These include simple recipes of cookies and muffins to more complex desserts and ice creams. Coffee is most definitely a great ingredient in cooking. Want to top a dessert or have a coffee treat that can be easily added to food. Try coffee syrup. This is a cup of sugar mixed with double strength coffee. It should be boiled in a pan and then simmered over low heat for a few minutes. Try all the possibilities, it can make inferior cooking, exceptional.
About the Author:
Ray Walberg wrote at large for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com , a web page covering information on quality coffee makers . On his site you can discover his abstracts on
coffee maker and quality coffee makers.
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October 07 2008 | coffee | No Comments »