Sulawesi

Greetings, Coffee Gurus,

I am enjoying a cup of Sulawesi this morning.  The full body, smooth and creamy mouthfeel are a treat on this cool summer day.  I am pairing this coffee with fresh Flathead cherries and huckleberries.  The heavier coffee balances the fruity tartness of these local berries.  Yum…

Both of these berries are unique to our area of northwest Montana because of the elevation and climate.  The Flathead cherries are grown in orchards around the lake and harvested in July and August.  The huckleberries are found at higher elevations in the mountains in heavily wooded areas.  The pickers are sharing space with Grizzly and Black bears as they are all foraging for these luscious, tiny berries.  Knowing this, I feel the $5.00/pint for the huckleberries is a real deal as I taste them in the comfort of my kitchen.  J

Hmmm…  Doesn’t this sound like the real deal that your specialty coffee is?  J

Business growth – when do we expand, hold tight, or something in between?  We’ve talked about marketing ideas, evaluating expenses, tracking sales, and staffing.  Some of you are considering expanding and that is an exciting time.  Almost as much as starting from the beginning.  A few tips include:

1.        Have a plan.  A written plan is even better than keeping it “in your head”.  Explore whether the best choice is to move or add locations, add or remove menu items & retail inventory, and of course staffing and management team.  Your team includes bankers or investors, vendors, and qualified employees.  As your business grows, you will need trusted and qualified management staff on board.

2.       Be sure to consult and ask questions from the experts in your business and local business people.

3.       Invest in your branding and image, avoid cutting corners and continue using high quality products.  Balance cash flow and profits with sales growth.

4.       Enthusiasm with a positive attitude are important ingredients to maximize success.  J

Customer service:  I love great customer service!  Are you asked for directions to a particular business, town, park, or other location?  Get to know your community and be an expert.  I had a state map and U.S. map in my shop for the travelers to view as they traveled by.  I am reminded of this as I am seeing many motorcycle riders on their way to Sturgis, SD.

Do you offer brewing instructions to people buying your whole bean coffee?  Be the expert and your customers will trust you and come back for more information AND great coffee.

What is specialty coffee?  Special geographic microclimates produce beans with unique flavor profiles, referred to as “specialty coffees”.  Specialty coffee beans should always be well prepared, freshly roasted, and properly brewed.  We are all a part of this fabulous craft and world of specialty coffees.

Trivia:  Who is Kaldi?  According to coffee myth, Kalidi, and Ethiopian goatherd, “discovered” coffee’s secret after his goats chomped cherries and became frisky.

Make it a great week!

Peggy Sue Ennenga