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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premium coffee,
specialty coffee
July 01 2009 | espresso | No Comments »
It was during the 1930s that physicists began discovering a slew of exotic atomic particles from kaons and muaons among other strangely termed discoveries. When informed, Enrico Fermi proclaimed that he would have become a botanist if he wanted to remember all of that yet, interestingly, this famous physicist later invented the process that was used in atomic bombs.
This is how I feel about coffee, actually. It may bring about a sense of romance and be a delicious treat, but there are so many names to remember!
For instance, there is the simple yet elegant Frappe consumed largely in Latin America and Europe. This tasty cold espresso is made with two teaspoons of milk and sugar along with crushed ice. For a variation in this recipe, add a quarter cup of crme de cacao and brandy.
The Cappuccino Borgia is the counterpart to the Frappe. This delicious creation consists of one quarter-cup orange (peeled) and one and a half cup of chocolate flavored ice cream. Take espressos to a whole new level by also adding six tablespoons of orange juice and a quarter-cup milk. You may find yourself speaking fifteenth century Italian with that one!
Head back to the twenty-first century Caribbean style with a Calypso Cooler. Add a couple bananas and two cups of coffee-flavored ice cream to a cup of extra strength, chilled coffee to whip up this delicious drink, but add a few tablespoons of rum and you may lose track of your luggage.
While on the subject of adding alcohol to coffee, we cannot forget about the Latin drink of Caffee Zabaglione which all starts with a quarter cup each of dry Marsala and sugar. Then, add in four egg yolks and a pinch of salt, wish and cook until thick. Include in the mix a cup of Italian roast at room temperature and you have made not only a beverage but also breakfast and a hangover cure.
Traditional Turkish coffee is known for its strong, dark flavor cut with cardamom, but the Scandinavians have also learned to put this ancient spice to use in the specialty drink Cardamom Kaffee. Mix an eighth-cup of cognac with two teaspoons curaco, one teaspoon sugar and a cracked and seeded cardamom pod. Microwave the mixture for approximately ten seconds, light with a match and pour on about a half-cup of extra strength coffee for a marvelous coffee treat.
Despite the many names, you must give credit to those inspiring such creativity when it comes to these fascinating coffee mixtures. They may not be inventors of giant atomic bombs, but they have certainly made a mark in the coffee world! So get your coffee grinder and pot and start experimenting.
About the Author:
Rob Carlton is writing first and foremost for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com , an internet site with topics around how to choose coffee a bean grinder and coffee grinder recommendations. His
contributions on coffee grinder are published on his site.
Tags:
cappuccino,
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espresso,
italian roast,
specialty coffee,
Turkish coffee
November 02 2008 | coffee | No Comments »