Safari Blend

Greetings Coffee Crew,

I hope each of you enjoyed a safe Labor Day weekend.  Holidays are sometimes very busy in the coffee business, and my experience is customers are very happy if you are open to serve them.

I am sipping a cup of Safari Blend.  The fruit notes, medium body, and snappy finish are a great example of “an adventure in every cup”.  This coffee is equally great with a piece of chocolate cake or apple slices.  I prefer Safari Blend as a hot drink even though it is tasty as it cools down.

Do you and your staff ask customers if they brew coffee or tea at home?  This is a great opportunity to discuss coffee brewing and storage techniques, and to suggest bean sales.

Our local high school matches seniors with groups of incoming freshman to mentor them and help them adjust to their new school and teacher expectations.

What a great idea for your staff!  Appoint a lead barista to work with new staff members on drink making techniques and to immerse them into your shop culture.  You will be delegating some of your responsibilities, freeing up your time.

Some of the 2010 coffee trends from a recent survey include:

1.        Quality coffee sales continue because consumers are reluctant to substitute for their daily java.

2.       Coffee consumption continues to increase worldwide.

3.       To avoid the “fast food fight”, serve outstanding coffee and carve out your own niche.  The “pretty good” coffee market will be a fight among the big fast food chains.

4.        Starbucks has been the trailblazer in the specialty coffee market in the U.S.  They have opened doors for entrepreneurs to thrive in the specialty coffee business.

5.       Consumers are looking for healthy and sustainable drinks.  Offering low/no calorie flavorings is becoming more popular.  Many shops are not selling bottled water and offer water by the cup.

6.       Ready to drink coffee and teas are popular but are not replacing the specialty drinks prepared by a barista in a coffee shop.

Marketing Idea:

Have an essay contest and pick your topic.  Such as favorite coffee experience, places you have enjoyed a cup of coffee, favorite person to share a cup of java, when did you drink your first cup of coffee, favorite brewing technique, etc.

The prize could be as simple as a prepaid coffee card, free pound of coffee, or something bigger.  Everyone loves a contest and winning a prize.

Make it a great week!

Peggy Sue Ennenga