House Blend

Good Morning, Coffee Crew,

I am sipping a cup of our House Blend coffee this morning.  This is a really nice blend of beans creating a balanced cup with citrus notes, hint of chocolate and full body.  The finish is clean and pairs well with most foods.  House Blend is another coffee I recommend for someone new to specialty coffee.

Do you have a theme for your shop?  We have talked about branding and its importance.  Once you have great coffee and superb customer service, you need to differentiate yourself from the competition.  One way is to create a theme for your shop, bring out your interests and personality.  Examples include Italian café, child friendly with a play area, business friendly with quiet areas for meetings, wi-fi for students and executives, club meetings, Tiki mugs, sci-fi movies, western, nautical, or whatever you can think.  Be “the place” for your favorite theme or interests.

We are entering the holiday season when our customers are looking for the perfect gift items and stocking stuffers.  Don’t miss the upcoming email newsletters with lots of holiday sales ideas.  First tip is to be sure and decorate for the holidays.  Your customers will love the ambience and want to spend their money in your shop.  So, decorate with your personal flair, turn on the music, and make it fun for your customers, staff, and yourself.

Tanya was an adorable M& M for Halloween several years ago.  J

Now that you are decorated, sponsor a Chamber of Commerce event or other civic meeting.

Last week we talked about the importance of cleaning your espresso machine and coffee brewer to create only the best drinks.  We can’t forget the coffee bean grinders as well.  Be sure to clean and dry the hopper of all oils.  Check the burrs, blades, and chutes and clean out ground coffee powder that might clog the moving parts.  Another thing I check when I go into a shop for training is to view the grinders and be sure they are not in direct sunlight.  Those little beans don’t appreciate the heat and “cooking” before they are brewed.

I was chatting with a gal who is not a coffee drinker.  I set her up with a Hearts ‘n’ Hands coffee and Sulawesi along with directions for proper brewing.  She serves coffee for a group of people once a week and shared with me the feelings she had when brewing coffee.  She loves the aroma of fresh coffee and the feeling of warmth and friendliness among the people.  Wow!  We ARE bringing people together with great coffee every day.  J  Coffee is not JUST a beverage, it is an experience.

A friend of mine just returned from Florence, Italy.  I asked him to check out the coffee shops.  Did you know the morning drink is a cappuccino (not super-sized), water for lunch (with or without gas), and wine for dinner.  Even in the land of coffee, they enjoy a variety of drinks, and it is all about quality, not quantity.  Interesting…  J

Make it a great week!

Peggy Sue Ennenga