by Michael Stadneck
Specialty coffee is a matter of choice, not a beverage of chance. The definition of specialty coffee or gourmet coffee begins at the origin of coffee, the planting of a particular variety into a particular growing region of the world. Specialty coffee is distinguished by quality rather than volume. Therefore, higher grades of coffee have typically been grown on smaller farms using more natural methods of cultivation. Gourmet coffee is a booming business in the U.S. Just looks at the ubiquitous Starbucks, whose net revenues were up 22 percent in 2007 on sales of $7.8 billion. And now it appears that McDonaldss is positioning itself to capture a piece of the specialty coffee market on a global scale.
Espresso coffee is all about hot water and coffee beans. But it's the way these two ingredients are put together that spells the success of this drink. Espresso coffee is prepared by a special extraction method which produces a very concentrated, strong coffee in a short amount of time. Softened water at a temperature of 90-95 Degrees C is forced through finely ground and specially roasted coffee at high pressure. Since the hot water is quickly forced through the fine grounds it usually only takes between 25 and 30 seconds to brew a cup of espresso.
CAPPUCCINO is an Italian word that does not translate directly into English. This traditional beverage of Italy is a popular morning beverage made from just two things: espresso coffee and milk steamed into puffy foam. The American version is quite similar, a coffee-based drink prepared with espresso, hot milk and milk foam.
A Cafe Latte is simply a fancy name for a cup of coffee with milk though. The milk is steamed and that is what gives it such a smooth and creamy taste that people tend to really enjoy. A Latte is the way that most Americans prefer their espresso, and is quite easy to prepare. Start with a single shot of espresso in a 6-8 ounce cup. A latte is as per usual smaller in rate than a cappuccino and has a smaller aerate layer than a cappuccino.
A Mochaccino is simply equal parts cappuccino and chocolate syrup. Some of the finer coffee houses prefer the term Cafe Mocha, using a powdered cocoa mixed with diluted cappuccino and topped with a whipped cream dollop. This is a very popular alternative to a traditional hot chocolate drink, neither as thick nor as sweet.
A Cafe Americano, similar to a long black common in Australia, is a style of coffee made by pulling a double-shot of espresso over hot water . A long black is similar to an which is made by adding hot water to espresso shots, but it retains the texture and is less voluminous, therefore more strongly flavored.
Now here is an interesting variation which would probably be more appealing to American consumers; cafe corretto. This is an Italian espresso that is modified by adding grappa, an Italian liqueur or brandy. This results in a coffee beverage that provides a distinctive flavor sweetened by the addition of the alcohol. When making this beverage, any liqueur can be added to the espresso to modify the taste. This drink is typically served as an after dinner drink. Its main purpose being to aid in digestion of heavy meals.
Knowing how to prepare gourmet coffee drinks is a fine art. A barista is someone who makes espresso drinks for a living, and is usually highly trained and has a thorough understanding of how to work with coffee. Similar to a bartender, a barista specializes in making drinks from almost any incarnation of the coffee bean.
About the Author:
Michael Stadneck deems himself to be a self-proclaimed authority when it comes to specialty coffee. As an Italian immigrant, he grew up drinking espresso and cappuccino on a daily basis. If you are contemplating a
coffee franchise you have found an excellent venue to commence your research.
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specialty coffee
July 03 2009 | coffee | 1 Comment »
by Michael Stadneck
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?
About the Author:
Michael Stadneck grew up in Palermo Italy, where he enjoyed the finest
gourmet coffee for the first 35 years of his life. Fittingly, his first position in America was with Nescafe Coffee Company. After many years he was promoted to head up the premium
coffee franchise department.
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Gourmet Coffee,
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premium coffee,
specialty coffee
July 01 2009 | espresso | No Comments »