For coffee drinking gourmets your selection process should include purchasing green coffee beans as part of your formula for a fantastic cup of coffee. These beans can be kept for up to one year and stay fresh for your brewing pleasure. If you buy in bulk amounts you will be saving money on these essential beans for coffee and you will be saving money on shipping. Most serious coffee drinkers know the pleasure of roasting and blending their own coffee for an unusual but very satisfying experience. You will be glad to learn that all of the supplies for making coffee are available from online coffee stores and are simple to order. You will find any unique coffee making materials online at various sites that are legitimate coffee suppliers.

The real facts about coffee beans include that these are really the seeds of the fruit that come from coffee trees. These beans are green until they are place through the roasting process. Depending on the roasting process the beans turn to many shades of brown. In the industry a green coffee bean is simply one that is not roasted but is in its natural state. It is the roasting process that determines the shade of brown that your product will take. Many coffee lovers like to roast their own coffee to match their preference for the blend they are preparing.

The best green coffee beans are from the Arabica tree. All of the premium coffees on the market today use these beans because of its rich full flavor that it provides to the coffee experience. You are able to order this specific green bean online from a coffee supplier. The other nice thing about green beans is that they can last in storage for over a year and remain fresh and usable. You should not be worried to order in bulk and save money on the cost and also save money on the cost of multiple shipments when you buy in bulk.

The Arabica tree beans are really graded into five categories. Most of this grading process is based on “defects” in the bean. The higher the grade the fewer defects that are detected in the bean and during the grading process. Once you have your supply of green coffee beans you can roast them to perfection according to your individual preferences. From there you can make your own blend and test it out in your coffee maker. You final outcome will be a tasty cup of coffee. You will be able to sit back and delight in your creation and delight in the moment and the mood. You will be able to take in the aroma of a fantastic homemade brew for you and your friends.

If you want the experience of roasting your own beans to match your preferences and like the thought of making your own coffee blend you will want to buy these small green coffee beans for your drinking pleasure. It is a fantastic way to try a new cup of coffee and experience the art of making a coffee to match your taste buds. Invest in the experience of making your own blend to enhance your like of coffee.

Coffee gets people going every morning and is used by millions every day in the United States and around the world. There is coffee from all parts of the world offering different flavors and robustness. Regardless of where the coffee originates, the formula for a fantastic cup of coffee is the same. The perfect cup of coffee is a delicate balance between the amount and type of grind of coffee beans you use, the temperature of the water, the length of time the water is in contact with the ground coffee and proper handling and storage of coffee beans.

Buying, Storing and Grinding Coffee

If you want to guarantee the perfect cup of coffee every time we have to go back to how we store our coffee beans. Buying coffee whole, in bean form is the best way to lock in the flavor and freshness. Once a bean is ground, it’s flavor and freshness are immediately compromised. This is why proper storage is crucial to a fantastic tasting cup of coffee. The best way to buy beans are in air tight sealed bags. Stay away from bulk coffee beans because these beans are not stored air tight, thus compromising their freshness. If you buy beans from a roaster and they aren’t in an air tight bag, make sure you store them wrapped tightly in an air tight container as soon as possible. This will keep your beans fresh much longer.

Many people place their coffee beans in the freezer and then grind what they need and store. This is a terrible practice. Freezing coffee beans allows for condensation to form on the bean itself, thus accelerating the loss of freshness. Only grind coffee at the time you plot to use it and never place it in the freezer.

There are several different grinds for different coffee applications. Espresso is a very fine grind, suited for a quick brew time while French press requires a very coarse grind suited for an extended brew time. The proper grind for drip coffee lies somewhere in between. About 10 to 15 seconds in coffee grinder will be appropriate.

Water Temperature and Ratio to Coffee

Measuring your coffee correctly is extremely crucial to getting that perfect cup. You should use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of water. An average coffee cup filled just beneath the lip is about 9 ounces of water. For a normal mug of coffee 3 tablespoons of ground coffee is excellent. Water temperature should be around 190°F-205°F which is just below the boiling point. The best way to brew in my opinion is not in a coffee maker but in a handy Melita plastic coffee brewer, equipped with either a metal mesh filter for best results or a paper filter. To keep coffee warm after brewing I recommend a thermos carafe which will not burn the coffee like the hot plate attached to your coffeemaker will.

Coffee has a point in which it will release bitter flavors. This is the reason it is crucial to use the right amount of water to grounds. If you brew coffee through grounds that have already passed the optimal point for brewing, the flavors released from the coffee grounds are bitter. This is a common complaint of people who say they don’t like strong coffee. Properly brewed coffee is supposed to be strong and robust, but not bitter or acrid.

In summary, brewing a fantastic cup of coffee is simple. While at the same time, making a cup of horrid coffee is just as simple. With these simple tips in mind, a fantastic cup of coffee that will beat out Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Peets is possible right in your own home.

• Five pounds of roast to order premium Masterpiece Coffee!
• Packaged immediately after roasting using premium one way valve bags!
• Ships Quick and Fresh!
• Simply tell us the grind level you would like in the order notes!

Product Description
Not quite as dark as our French roast, this single origin Colombia Supremo is roasted in the right Italian style with the beans glistening from the caramelized oils. Used in many of our blends for its semi-sweet and smoky overtones. Of course it’s wonderful as a stand-alone cup.When released into the cooling tray this coffee is extremely oily and the bean is a deep auburn in color. One of our favorite coffees to roast!… More >>

Colombia Italian Roast, Five pound bag

Everyone in the corporate world knows that the impression that you make with your work, your style and your presence is what makes or breaks your professional life. As company, whether new or ancient, you need to place yourself strategically in the market and maintain your position. A lot depends on how well you do your networking and stay connected. People need to remember you. They need to remember your company’s name, its products and services. You may get momentary attention through advertisements but remember people’s attention span is small. They may get excited today, but forget tomorrow. To keep a multi-pronged marketing strategy in place, you may want to use personalized merchandise to spread your message in the corporate world. As a goodwill gesture, as a party gift or as a promotional material, corporate gifts play an vital role in taking your business one step forward in the right direction.

Personalized Travel Mugs presents you with an option to express your company’s name, its mission, its product in a truly personalized and stylish manner. You will get a choice of different options for color, shapes, product, material, etc. that would ensure that the recipient always travels in style. Let’s talk about the personalized coffee mugs that expressmugs.com has to offer. We all need a travel coffee mug, whether rushing through the office commute, making that long drive back home, on the go or in the train. No one wants to burn their hands holding that paper cup with coffee in it and making their way through people or cars. So travel mugs are the solution for the modern-day professional to carry his/her coffee easily and keep it hot too.

The range of travel mugs available with Espressmugs.com is varied and there are numbers of products to choose from. You can have the sports lovers’ customized stadium mugs or cups with or without handles. You can have the chrome end, professional looking cups that you can carry to the meetings. You can have coffee mugs with funky graphics that are customized keeping the buyer’s need in mind by the in-house art department. You can even use their simple to follow template to customize the coffee mug with your company’s logo or name or message.

As a creative person, I take personal interest in making different formats, clip arts and templates for the buyer to choose from. The options are many and it is guaranteed that the product will grab the attention of people around. Personalized coffee mug is a fantastic corporate gift thought. It is useful, has a personal touch to it and will make your company’s name noticeable among many people. Even if you are plotting to buy bulk coffee mugs for personal use, to distribute in a family gathering visit the website. We can help you use personal photographs, family jokes, etc. imprinted on the coffee mug for use. So yes, help your acquaintance, clients, employees or friends travel in style with personalized coffee mugs.

If you like coffee, then you need to know what keeps the flavors at their peek.

For the freshest coffee, you should use your coffee beans within 45 days of roasting, and in half that time if they are already ground. It is for this reason, that you should not buy your coffee beans in bulk!

Coffee should be brewed in 4-5 minutes using 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of filtered water. Tap water alters the taste of the coffee, so use spring or filtered water.

Make sure the wet the paper filter first (if using a drip coffee machine) as this takes away that paper taste from the filter. Freshly grind your coffee beans using a medium setting, and do not leave the coffee sitting on the warming tray, make enough to consume straight away, for the perfect cup of coffee.

If you are using one of those French Presses to make your coffee, then freshly grind your coffee beans using a course setting, remove the plunger, place your ground coffee at the bottom and add your boiled water. Do not pour absolute boiling water over the coffee, the temperature should be about 205 degrees, just under the boiled point. After 4-5 minutes press down the plunger to separate the grounds from the coffee.

Grab a chair, your newspaper, take a relaxing deep breath, and sip your coffee and delight in!
gourmet coffee

• Package: CS 5/3.5#

Product Description
* Blend of Arabica coffee * Simple to prepare, just toss a few scoops into a blender with ice and your choice of coffee, milk or water… More >>

BT BULK COFFEE, CS 5/3.5#, 03-0526 Huge TRAIN SMOOTHIE POWDER

So you have chose on starting a coffee shop! Congratulations! In my coffee shop business plot package, I go into more detail regarding equipment but due to space here, I am only going to give you some basic thoughts of what to consider when looking at your equipment needs.

First of all, do yourself a favor and DO NOT buy any used equipment unless you know the exact age, where it came from, who used it, and that maintenance records are verifiable. I am only referring to anything with a motor or compressor. Used sinks, tables, counters, etc are fine as long as they are in decent shape. All other equipment, be VERY careful!

Even if you get it from a friend, you might be assured by them that the equipment was maintained properly and often, but did they get it used and can they get that guarantee from whom they bought it from? And how ancient really is it?

As you may have guessed, I fell into this trap and had things breaking down when I did not expect it shortly after I opened my coffee shop. Yes even my espresso machine. I was in a terrible spot then! Luckily I had access to a one group machine for backup and a local guy was able to fix the other quick but you may not be as lucky.

I eventually upgraded to mostly new equipment when, but this can be avoided by getting new equipment at the start. You will be glad you did it, trust me!

Equipment Needs

Cash register or POS computer? – A computer POS (point of sale) system is excellent there is no doubt about it. These are the ones that have the touch screen monitors and such. But, they are probably (and arguably) best for analyzing your sales and inventory only, and not much more. They do not speed up your customer line.

If you want one of these guys, be prepared to pay about $5000 for a base system. The price goes up for multiple terminals and printers, monitors, a kitchen printer, etc.

In my opinion though, a POS quick food register that has price look ups (PLU) and department categories is sufficient for most coffee shops. Try to get one that allows you to download the information to your computer. Most have this feature today. It may, but increase your manual inventory and sales tracking if you have to place this info into your accounting software and spreadsheets manually but it can be a huge money saver. If you get in the habit of entering the figures daily, you will not have a huge amount of data entry to do at month’s end. You can usually get these types of registers for about $800 or so.

If you end up opening other stores, I reckon the touch screen computer POS may be the way to go then because it will make your management and inventory control much simpler, and you can link all of your stores together and control them from one place.

Espresso Machine

This is the Mack daddy of the whole business, your life blood. DO NOT SKIMP ON IT! But, having said that there is the line of overkill you do not need to cross either. I say, two group maximum, if you need more power or want a backup, get a one group as well.

The feasibility of a three or four group is fantastic but it’s hard to get more than one person working on them due to spacing of the group heads, etc. Ordinarily, you do not need more than one person pulling shots and making the espresso beverages anyway. It is nearly impossible for one barista to use all four groups at one time so you be the judge! But that may be up to debate if you get REALLY busy. But, a two group is always my choice.

There are three basic types of espresso machines: Semi-Automatic, Automatic or Super Automatic. Well My choice is always the automatic because you can program them to cut off a shot at 23 seconds, or whatever you choose but still do it manually. The semi-automatic requires manual shut off by the operator.

The super automatic machine will grind the beans, tamp, pull the shot, shut it off and even discard the used grounds. Yes, I am serious. I believe you lose a lot of ‘art’ when you use one of these. You’d be surprised at the amount of people that like to see a barista set up and then pull a fantastic shot. These super autos are also huge bucks. But if all you want to do is go your cattle call through the line, this is the machine for you!

The boiler capacity should be large enough for a huge rush, 9-14 liters should be sufficient. You do not want to run out of steam or hot water in a rush and with a smaller boiler that will happen! Trust me on this from experience!

Buy a machine based on the availability to get parts and service locally. Do not buy based on price alone, or ‘coolness’ or ‘features’ of a machine. They are all excellent these days. Features will not mean anything if you cannot get local service on your machine.

As far as water softeners, the choice to get a whole water system softener is going to depend on where you are located. In central Texas, the water is VERY hard but I chose to not soften my whole water system, just for the espresso machine. If you are not familiar with hard water, this is what causes lime build-up. It’s a white, crusty looking build up that will kill your $5000 or 10,000 espresso machine. It clogs up the piping that in time, builds up to the point of the water not being able to get through. Then your machine needs to be completely taken apart and de-limed. Not pretty and not cheap!

You will most likely have to have a complete de-liming performed several times over the life of your machine, but if your water is very hard and you do not soften it for your espresso machine, you will most likely have to have it de-limed at a minimum of once per year. This will get time-consuming and expensive, even if you learn to do it yourself. I had my one group de-limed for about $900 so do the math. Avoid lime scale build-up by getting a water softener.

Espresso Grinders

You will need one for decaf and one for regular espresso. There are several manufacturers and models. I will tell you though to be sure it’s automatic and has a doser/coffee hopper. They make a doserless model that grinds right into the portafilter and though this is freshly ground espresso, it does not work well in a rush! The units with a hopper allow the hopper to fill with ground espresso and have a lid to keep out the air. The larger units have a larger hopper and vice versa. Also, these have a bean hopper that you can get about 2 lbs of espresso beans in.

Bulk Coffee Grinder

These are the types you see in the food store bulk coffee aisle. Be sure to get the full scale version, not the shorter one. The only difference I can see is the taller one is simpler to get a bag under to grind beans for customers. The shorter one is not! Try to have one grinder for regular and decaf, and another for flavored coffee if you will serve it. Using the same for all three will make the regular and decaf coffee taste like the flavored coffee. This grinder will need proper maintenance and burr replacement after so many hours as well. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on this.

Coffee Maker (drip)

Be sure to buy for your volume. Automatics are best as they are plumbed to a water line. Pour over units will you need to fill manually! The air pot brewers are the better fits because they brew the coffee directly into the air pots. There are single unit models and double unit models. You will save a lot of time especially in a rush, with a double brew unit.

Pastry Case (refrigerated and non)

There are several different sizes. Take your floor space into consideration but also buy for capacity and visual show. A nice, attractive unit that holds and displays a nice array of pastries is key for merchandising. Dual zone cases are a excellent thought because they let you have part cold, and part room temperature (dry case) pastries that do not need to be refrigerated.

Blender

There are several models to choose from but some have features you just won’t need. Be sure to get a commercial blender. Consumer units do not have the heavy duty types of motors that commercial units have. That means they will break down a lot quicker than a commercial one! I would suggest you give Vitamix a look here.

Sandwich Prep Unit

These come in single, double and triple door units. Of course, plot for your overall room but your needs as well. The larger units have more capacity inside the unit, but the larger plus is the prep top area that has more compartments to place meats, vegetables, etc in. If you are plotting on a regular deli and Panini service, I would say the double door unit would be excellent. You may even get away with the smaller one!

Under Counter Refrigerator

Do yourself a favor and get a double door unit. These are basically like the sandwich prep units but without the top compartments. The inside capacity should be huge enough to hold a excellent part of your dairy, as well as opened soy cartons, smoothie mix, bottled water and soda (if you do not have a larger unit or merchandiser for water and soda. Plot accordingly.

Storage Refrigerator

This is for the back of your shop. This will be your commercial refrigerator in the back area to house your back stock of refrigerated items such as milk, as well as your baking ingredients, food items, etc. There are double and single door units.

Ice Maker

Getting an ice maker that can make an average of 600-1000 lbs per day is excellent. It will give you enough and still be able to make more within 24 hours. In a busy shop, you’d be surprised how much ice you can go through: sodas, fruit smoothies, frappes, frozen chai.

Freezer

You will need one of these to keep your ice cream, and other food ingredients that can and need to be frozen.

Oven

Get this based on your baking level. A ¼ size may be too small and a full size may be too huge. The median unit is a ½ size and has 3 racks.

Convection oven? Most pastries, pies and other baking can be done well in a convection oven. That is an oven that has a blower wheel that disperses the heat evenly and quicker throughout the oven. Therefore your baking time is usually cut in half.

Panini Grill

Cast iron (non-ceramic) with ribbed plates are the better units. With the ribbed, rather than flat plates you will get the ‘grill marks’ on the bread and that always looks impressive. I recommend a double plate unit so you can effectively grill up to four Panini at once if you have a large order

Three Compartment Sink

This will be essential per most health departments for wash, rinse and sanitize. If you have a commercial dishwasher, it usually overrides the 3 bay sink. But, most restaurants have both. You don’t need a huge one, just one huge enough to get your largest ‘washable’ piece of baking or cooking hardware into.

Hand Sink(s)

Check your health department requirements because you may need a hand sink every so many feet or based on how many employees you have, or based on your floor plot. These are sinks only huge enough to wash your hands in and that is it. That is why they are so small.

Furniture

Pick and choose what is in between comfortable and not. This will help you avoid squatters that like to stay all day. Ordinarily, people in your store is a excellent thing but not if they are taking up space and just being comfy! This will include your tables and chairs, as well as couch, wing hairs, etc. If you are an eclectic coffee house, excellent finds can be had at Goodwill and other resale shops.

Phone

Just get one that you can hear when it rings! A cordless phone is a fantastic thought.

Radio System

If u can, get extra speakers and have one in at least all four corners for best sound quality.

Credit Card Machine

This is the swiper w/pin pad – If you accept credit and debit cards, this is essential. Usually they are bought from your credit card processor. Leasing one of these is usually a rip-off. Try to buy it outright.

Prep Tables

These are stainless steel or aluminum and fantastic to make a kitchen prep area. They clean easily too. They come in various heights and widths, with or without a backsplash and usually have a shelf underneath.

So there you have some information to get you started on plotting your equipment needs for staring a coffee shop. Be sure you take your floor space into account when figuring the sizes of your equipment. Also be sure you account for your anticipated customer volume. Early plotting is key to having the right equipment to start with.

Tony DiCorpo is a coffee shop owner, operator, barista and entrepreneur. He is also a coffee shop business consultant. He has authored many articles on the specialty coffee business and a business plot package that can be found http://www.tonys-coffee-shop-business-plot.com

• Five pounds of roast to order premium Masterpiece Coffee!
• Packaged immediately after roasting using premium one way valve bags!
• Ships Quick and Fresh!
• Simply tell us the grind level you would like in the order notes!

Product Description
Our signature blend of light, medium and dark roasts make a smoky, nuttty coffee with a smooth round end. This blend has the dark roasted qualities of our french roasted without the nippy aftertaste. Each coffee is roasted separately and post-blended in order to bring out the highest quality in each coffee. If you order whole bean coffee you will notice the various roast levels…. More >>

House Blend, Five pound bag

• Five pounds of roast to order premium Masterpiece Coffee!
• Packaged immediately after roasting using premium one way valve bags!
• Ships Quick and Fresh!
• Fruity and rich.
• Simply tell us the grind level you would like in the order notes!

Product Description
One of the most complex single origin coffees available. Wild, woody with a strong fruity aroma. Known to be one of the worlds oldest cultivated coffees and by default is considered organic because their farming practices have not changed for hundreds of years. The beans have a reputation of coming in all types of shapes and sizes which many reckon lend to the unique qualities and complexities of this coffee…. More >>

Arabian Mocca Sanani, Five pound bag

Usually bulk coffee is available on the internet at a severe discount. But, you should always keep in mind that your shipping costs may outweigh any discount you receive because of the bulk order. The beans are typically shipped in 5 to 25 pound bags. And often overlooked factor when deciding who to buy your coffee from online is the location of the shipper. The closer the shipper is, the less your delivery costs will be and the more fresh your beans will be.

A simple search on Google will reveal that there are tons of bulk coffee programs online. If you are a right coffee drinker, you will want to join an auto ship plot that ships a certain amount of coffee each month. Each company differs in the amount they will ship on these programs, so be sure to check with them before you order. Because they are roasted in house, most house blends are up for sale. You can expect to see Sumatra, Central American, Kenyan, and South American beans, but before you go ordering tons of coffee beans directly, be sure you test the quality of the coffee in low quantities first. Ideally, you want to keep the quantity down anyway because you want to consume it before it goes stale.

Traditionally buying bulk coffee is reserved for restaurants and coffee houses. Additionally, if you plot on brewing a large amount of coffee and buying in bulk, you may want to invest in a commercial grade coffee machine. Your small coffee maker on the kitchen counter more than likely can’t handle the load you will be putting on it if you do choose to brew for the masses. Additionally, they can’t make the water hot enough to extract the full body of the bean and achieve the optimal flavor.

For more fantastic <a target=”_new” onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.coffeebeansdelivery.com/index.html/buybulkcoffeesave.html”>Bulk Coffee</a> thoughts, visit my simple coffee resource and guide: <a target=”_new” onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.coffeebeansdelivery.com/index.html/coffeedeliveryservices.html”>http://www.CoffeeBeansDelivery.com</a>