Greetings, Coffee Crew!

Happy Mother’s Day to all Moms!

One of my favorite decaf coffees is our Brazil. It is a Swiss Water Process, so there are no chemicals used in the decaffeination process. I carefully roast all coffee beans, yet the decaf beans require even more care to retain the character of the bean. As with the regular Brazil coffee beans, you will enjoy the medium body and nutty flavor. Pair a cup of decaf Brazil with Crème’ Brulee’ for a Mother’s Day treat.

Facebook! Did you know that Facebook is now the most widely used homepage? Wow! This social networking thing has really taken off. Why is that? Could it be that we can “chat” with our friends and catch up when it is convenient for us? Maybe because we can sit in our pj’s, no makeup, and sip a cup of coffee at any hour.
At any rate, social networking is a big deal and we can’t ignore it. I enjoy reading the Facebook postings from those of you who keep the rest of us informed about your daily specials, pastries, events, and fundraisers. I am confident your customers appreciate the information and it keeps them coming back and referring you to their friends.

Decaf coffee sales are increasing nationally. This is probably because the quality of decaffeinated coffee beans has improved tremendously over the years. I have put a lot of focus on creating high quality decaf coffee blends. These beans are fragile from the decaffeination processes so as a roaster, I must be much more careful with them during the roasting process. My belief is that we all need to enjoy a great cup of coffee, regardless of the country of origin or the caffeine content.

Nutrition tips:
Yogurt – We know it assists with digestion, but it also defends against gum disease according to a scientists at Kyushu University in Japan.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) – Helps keep cholesterol in check, but it also keeps your vision strong because of the omega 3 fatty acids in the oil according to researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
Dark Chocolate – Helps reduce risk of cardio-vascular disease, but it also protects skin from sun damage according to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Make it a great week!

Greetings, Coffee Crew!

Guatemala Tikal is a versatile coffee for blending or enjoying as a single origin drip brew. Guatemala Tikal has a medium body with bold citrus notes with a lingering toffee finish. Try this coffee with a Snicker doodle cookie or hot oatmeal with honey.

Occasionally, I am asked about pricing drinks.
1. For the drinks you and your staff create, your cost should be 25 to 30 percent. Ideally, if a drink costs you $1.00 to make, you would sell it for $4.00
2. Perishable products like pastries you purchase, the cost of goods sold should be 35 to 40 percent. For an item that costs you 50 cents, you would sell it for $1.35.
3. For non-perishable items like t-shirts, caps, and mugs, your target is 50 percent. For an item that costs you $5.00, you would sell for $10.00.

The coffee industry changes more in one year than many other industries change in 10 years. We need to stay in touch with our community’s needs and wants to better serve our customers and keep them loyal. Listen, ask questions, pay attention to what is going on around you, join the chamber of commerce or other local organizations.

Mushrooms grown in coffee pulp empower African women. Chido Govero grew up an orphan as a result of the AIDS epidemic. She learned to grow mushrooms in coffee pulp and sell them. The coffee cherry pulp is the husk of the cherry and is often discarded once the bean is removed. Mushrooms were a standard part of the Kigoma diet until recently. The older generations know how to cook and use them regularly. Chido found a need and filled it, providing opportunities for other women.
What opportunities do we have around us? Remember, used coffee grounds are great for mulch and fertilizer.

Drink of the week:
Orange Bliss – Start with rich shots of espresso, add dark chocolate, orange syrup (orange zest if you have it), milk, add ice and shake.
I would suggest trying this with a Guatemala coffee brewed double strength, add chocolate, orange, and a splash of milk for another twist on this drink.

Make it a great week!

Greetings, Coffee Crew ~

Kacey’s Blend is a new coffee that has medium body, nuttiness, with a subtle richness. Most everyone will enjoy this coffee, and it pairs well with peanut butter cookies or an egg salad sandwich.

I read a thought provoking column recently that I feel is appropriate to share during these tumultuous times in our world. Many times we think in black and white, that opposing sides will never meet. Night moves toward day, day toward night. If we move toward the North Pole, we pass it and move to the South Pole. Each of us moves from birth toward death, our component atoms are recycled for more life. “The universe is ultimately circular, not linear. Our lives move in loops, not straight lines.” Failing to honor and recognize the circularity of events and the lively interdependence will lead to rigidity and a grim view of life and our lives become out of whack.
But a clearer view of things brings with it solace and delight. An awareness of the “loopiness of life” does much to temper our arrogance and keeps us from bogging down in sullen depression.
The next time something bad happens, keep an open mind. Odds are that it will lead to an unexpected good.

On that note, our family will look for the good in a tragic situation. My sister’s 4 year old granddaughter has a brain stem tumor (Diffuse Pontine Glioma) and has a short time left with her family. She is the only daughter of my niece, who is the only daughter of my sister. I will be in Minnesota to lend a hand for a benefit fundraiser on April 10. Yes, Fieldhead’s Coffee will be served during the dinner, as well as gift packages of coffee offered as raffle items.
Tanya has worked with each of you to be sure your inventory and orders are in place during the couple days I will be out of the roastery. Thank you for your understanding.

Marketing tip: People buy on emotion and the need for caffeine.  How many bags of “Kacey’s Blend” coffee do you think we’ll sell at the benefit next week? Fieldhead’s Coffee is donating $1.00 per pound to the Make A Wish foundation on all future sales of Kacey’s Blend (yes, I created another new coffee). I am already getting emails regarding this, and it is purely emotional. Now, we all love Fieldhead’s Coffee, yet these are emotional and impulsive purchases.

So, have fun with your coffee and customers. Get creative and share your enthusiasm. Get emotional and passionate!

Congratulations go out to Raina Howell, barista extraordinaire, for winning a local latte’ art competition for the 2nd year. We are all so proud of you! WooHoo!!

Americano – Start with an expertly pulled shot of espresso and add hot water. This drink was created during WW II when American soldiers were in Europe and didn’t like the strong taste of espresso. Thus, the Americano was born by adding hot water to the espresso.
Try an Americano to enjoy the flavors of your espresso if a straight shot is a bit too strong for you.

Make it a great week!

Cowboy Coffee is full bodied, earthy, and chewy. Just like the cowboys prefer. This blend was a special request and has passed the “taste test” with several people who like a heavy coffee. This coffee will give you a jolt if you need a pick-me-up, is a great choice around the campfire or hunting camp, or pair with a juicy steak hot off the grill and a chocolate fondue.

Let’s get more people in the door and at your drive up window.
1. Join the Chamber of Commerce and include your flyers with promos with the monthly newsletters. Also attend the meetings and mingle. Find out what fellow business people are doing and what their needs are.
2. Tell your potential customers how much they will love your drinks. I recently drove by an apartment building sign that read “You’ll love living here”. The power of suggestion is effective.
3. We are doing a promotion with local businesses to offer better coffee to their employees and customers. After trying samples, the feedback is positive and we have new customers. Samples work and people want good coffee. There is an opportunity for you to increase your sale to local businesses as well. Bring an airpot to a local business and allow them to sample your coffee and create a program to either sell coffee by the pound, by the airpot, or by the cup.
4. Everybody loves coffee tastings. It can be very simple with a variety of coffees offered, information about the coffee farms, and complementary food pairings. Let me know if you need help with this.

Drink of the Day
Macchiato – A dollop of foam from perfectly steamed milk over a rich shot of espresso. Macchiato is Italian for “marked”.

Make it a great week!

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

Good Morning, Coffee Crew ~

What a glorious summer day in Kalispell, Montana!  I hope each of you is experiencing beautiful weather, time to get outside, and a loved one to enjoy it with you.

I am on my second cup of Ethiopia Harrar this morning.  The blueberry aroma is pronounced, has full body, and the aftertaste is chocolaty.  This coffee is easy to pair with several foods: vanilla ice cream, green salad, and of course a chocolate chip cookie.  If you need to make this a “half caff”, add some decaf Brazil before brewing.  Your flavor profile and caffeine intake will be diluted a bit for a mellower cup of java.

An uncomfortable topic for many of us is theft in our businesses.  The reality is that a cash business such as coffee is prevalent for theft from staff.  The impact of each staff member giving 1 free drink per day can amount to several hundred dollars per month from your bottom line.  At an average of $3 per drink per day the total is $100 per month.  Now multiply that number by the shifts/workers each day.  This total can be staggering and yet easy to miss because you might not notice a total of 5 – 10 drinks per day.

A few things you can do to decrease the theft problem are having a written policy regarding daily procedures and termination that is signed by the employees; discuss this during meetings and encourage the staff to watch for theft and report it to you; count cups; track products; use a POS that will assist in this; and cameras.  As the owner or manager, if you are working behind the bar yourself you will know the proper product usage for the sales totals and this is also helpful.  The POS companies will have more ideas and procedures for you if this may be a problem in your business.

Trivia:  I met a gentleman at the Farmer’s Market this summer who shared some of his experiences in Indonesia.  He explained how the Buginese people in Sulawesi/Sumatra have a history of being fierce, warlike, and industrious.  He also told me this is where the myth of the “bugi man” started.  J

Make it a great day!

Peggy Sue Ennenga

Good Morning, Coffee Crew ~~

I am sipping a cup of Costa Rica before I step out the door for the Farmer’s Market today.  It is a bright and brisk coffee with good balance.  Enjoy it with fresh fruit such as mangos and blueberries.  Yum…

The Colombian coffee production numbers for this crop year are greatly reduced.  You have probably heard about the low harvest yields in Colombia, Brazil, and Vietnam.  Rest assured, we have forward contracts to cover our current and projected needs for the next year.  We sign forward contracts with our coffee importer for most of our coffees and do our best to anticipate the needs of our customers.

I was told the comment that as café owners, we are not in the coffee business.  We are in fact, in the barista training business because statistics show turnover is 6 months.  Wow!  I am guessing in today’s economy it would be longer than 6 months with the job shortage.  However, that does put things in perspective.  I do believe we are primarily in the coffee business, yet understand the importance of an efficient and effective training program.

Work like an ant!  I read recently about taking on big projects or achieving insurmountable goals.  I felt inspired by the analogy of “working like an ant”.  Ants take one grain of sand at a time and keep doing the same thing over again until the tunnels are built.  How does this apply to us?

A barista learning how to make drinks doesn’t start doing latte’ art the first day on the job.  They learn how to pull great espresso shots with thick, rich crema.  They also learn how to steam milk differently for a cappuccino or a latte’.  Each detail combined is important in achieving competitive latte’ art.

A shop owner starting a new coffee shop or increasing customers in a tight economy need to sharpen their marketing skills.  This can be a daunting task.  So, the best thing is to create a marketing plan and break it down into manageable tasks.  You would like to increase your drink sales by 100 cups per day, so start with 1, then 2, and you get the idea.

Consumers are cutting coupons more now than they have for several years.  Mail is the preferred source of coupons, followed by email, then newspapers.  Best of all is in person.  One idea that has worked for us is putting a marketing piece with a coupon or discount in the chamber of commerce newsletter.  Most chambers will allow business members to provide inserts for a small fee.  This is cheaper than mailing and reaches thousands of people.

One thing to be careful of is getting stuck in a rut.  You don’t want your customers to expect discounts or coupons so get creative and try something new.

Your customers are very loyal and will refer others to you when they feel you are there to provide the very best cup of coffee and that their satisfaction is your priority.

You are probably all more advanced than me with regard to internet marketing.  It seems that many of you have my space and facebook pages.  Would you like for me to gather your information and create a list to share with each of you?

Have a great weekend,

Peggy Sue Ennenga