Espresso Coffee - Make Great Shots, Cheaply at Home

Everybody loves a great shot of espresso, but these frothy drinks served at your local coffee houses are one of the extra indulgences we are all trying to cut back on these days because of the expense. You don't have to go without your coffee fix, you simply have to find a more convenient and economical way to get it. One way to solve the dilemna is to buy your own espresso machine.

At about $4 a shot you will spend almost $1500 a year for one shot a day at a coffee house. Purchasing your own espresso machine allows you to have as many shots a day as you like and your espresso maker would pay for itself in a couple of months. The best espresso maker for the money you can buy is the Gaggia Classic Espresso Maker. It has classic design and very rugged build which puts you in mind of a much higher priced commercial machine that would be found in one of the big coffee houses.

Because of its advanced technology, strong construction and great looks this is a machine which will serve you great coffee and last you for many, many years. There is no end to the versatility of a Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine and it is manufactured by 'Gaggia', probably the most respected name in the espresso world. Achille's Gaggia invented the espresso coffee maker that bears his name in 1945 and the company has been known for top of the line quality in their machines ever since.

By Gary Mcquaid

Coffee: What Are The Health Benefits?

If you are a coffee drinker, you no doubt have asked yourself how much coffee is it safe for you to consume on a daily basis. This is not surprising since so much has been blamed on coffee. Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, you name it. At one time or another, coffee has been made to blame. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that fix in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Here is a statistic to ponder: did you know that there are over 160 million coffee drinkers in the Unites States alone? In terms of consumption, the average American consumes 8.8 lbs. of coffee per year. But consider this: the world leader in terms of consumption is Finland which comes in at nearly 30 lbs per year. That's a lot of coffee!

Another statistic is that there have been well over 19,000 studies done to analyze the effects of coffee. Now, studies can often be skewed to show whatever the author wants, but here is what is generally agreed: consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day is often considered more beneficial than harmful. Recent studies have shown that moderate coffee drinking can reduce the risk of colon cancer (due to it's ability to keep you regular), gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver and more, due to the fact the it is loaded with healthy antioxidants. So loaded, that studies have implied that coffee contains higher levels of antioxidants compared to other commonly consumed beverages, such as tea and fruit juice. Coffee has joined the ranks of red wine and chocolate as a guilty pleasure that may actually be good for you. As much as it is a great way to get that “fix” in the morning, recent studies have shown that coffee has been found to be rich in antioxidants and contains hundreds of pain-relieving and anti-bacterial compounds. Although one should not drink coffee with wild abandon, it's comforting to know that maybe that cup or two in the morning may be good for you. Several studies are also being conducted on Parkinson's and diabetic Patients. Research has shown that just one cup of coffee per day can halve your risk of Parkinson's, the brain disease that causes tremors and affects movement. Caffeine may protect the brain cells typically lost to Parkinson's disease. However, it has been noted that women on hormone therapy do not seem to benefit. It is felt that Estrogen may dilute the effectiveness of caffeine. It has also been found that if a woman drinks three cups of coffee a day, she can reduce her risk of Type 2 Diabetes by twenty to thirty percent. Coffee may help promote the delivery of insulin to the tissues. Experts believe that coffee's antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeine acid, deserve the credit. There are also on going studies that are producing favorable reports on coffee helping to fight Alzheimer's due to the caffeine stimulating the cognitive area of the brain. This is just the tip of the ice berg.

People with asthma who drink coffee can have up to 25 percent fewer symptoms because one of the compounds in coffee - theophylline - acts as a bronchodilator. A recent Brazilian study showed that consumption of coffee promotes better sperm mobility - and now studies are in progress to determine whether caffeine can help infertile men. Coffee contains polyphenols, substances that may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary artery disease. Caffeinated coffee, as opposed to decaffeinated coffee, makes you a better thinker. Studies have shown that coffee keeps you focused, particularly when you are doing not-so-pleasant work. A researcher with the U.S. Army stated caffeine improved scores on a range of cognitive tasks, such as decision making, learning, and attention in the sleep-deprived. Coffee can also boost your mood, probably by making you feel more energetic. A little known fact is that coffee contains antioxidants which have been shown to imporve oveall health. Here is a short list of some benefits which have been shown to be present in coffee:

Reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Antibacterial ingredients

Reduce the risk of developing gallstones

Preserve mental accuity

Reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes (if you have diabetes, reduce your consumption

If you are free of hypertension, coffee will not likely produce it

Headache relief

Reduce the risk of some types of cancer

Improve physical endurance

By Aaron Matthews-Morgan

Does Coffee Have Any Antioxidant Benefits?

Before we get all excited over the recent news about coffee being our new antioxidant, we need to take a look at the entire picture. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? If there is, how exactly is coffee an antioxidant? Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us?

Brewed coffee contains many antioxidants and consumption of antioxidant-rich brewed coffee may inhibit diseases caused by oxidative damages. Antioxidants are said to be an inhibitor of certain types of diseases. However, coffee beans are not all a like. Not all coffee beans are of the same quality or even the same make up. Sort of like comparing tennis shoes to sandals. Both go on your feet, but they are not made up of the same components. You can actually break coffee down into several different water-soluble components. The dietary fiber derived from roasted coffee silverskin. This is one component of the coffee bean that has high antioxidant content. This is how the scientists find out about the antioxidant benfits of coffee in their studies. What they do in fact is the break down the coffee beans into different components. They filter out the components that the coffee antioxidant is found in, and then they test lab rats in a variety of experiments to determine how well they survive with or without the various additives in their diet. When they discover something really swell, like a coffee antioxidant, our culture of coffee drinking addicts suddenly becomes a feverorish mob.
For years and years we've heard bad things about coffee. For example: it's bad for your heart, increases blood pressure, may cause breast cancer, probably keeps you awake at night, and my personal favorite, has a poisonous gas when brewed.When the world of coffee addicts even gets a tiny hint that coffee could have something beneficial, believe me they don't just drink more coffee, they try to get everyone to join them. So, here we now have scientific studies proving to us that coffee has antioxidants.

Researchers have identified several compounds in coffee that create a coffee antioxidant. Why would this be of interest to us? Because scientific studies are showing that antioxidants may help prevent cancer. You see the connection here. However, until human studies are done, science cannot state exactly how much coffee must be consumed in order gain this protection against colon cancer or any other type of cancer. Before the coffee is roasted the antioxidant benefits are varied. However, once the coffee is roasted and served as a drink things get evened out. They all seem to have the same degrees of antioxidants.

Some studies suggest coffee having other benefits such as added fertility in men and some benefits for those suffering from diabetes. You'll have to read those studies on your own. The fact that a coffee antioxidant exists may be true, but the reality is that coffee can be just as harmful if your body doesn't like it, if you consume too much, if you have high blood pressure, and if it keeps you awake at night. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? Yes, but the actual amount needed to be consumed in order to receive the anti-cancer benefits by humans is unknown. How exactly is coffee an antioxidant?

Coffee alone isn't the antioxidant, it's several different components that are part of the coffee bean. Roasting and heating the coffee changes the total antioxidant output. Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? It seems that although some coffee beans like green coffee beans may be higher in antioxidants that other more common beans, once they are roasted and heated for consumption, the results are the same regarding the antioxidantal benefits. Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Honestly, this is NOT a question easily answered. In fact, the truth is it is still unknown just how beneficial coffee antioxidants are for humans. Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? Yes, of course there is. If you have high blood pressure and you have seen how coffee enhances this problem, you know it's bad for YOU personally. If you can't get proper sleep or you drive everyone around you nuts because you can't sit still or shut-up, you know coffee is bad for you.

Use common sense and listen to your body. Coffee is not good for everyone and unknown just how good for anyone. How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us? Again drink coffee in moderation, pay attention to your own body. Exercise and good eating habits are a far better way to get healthy than drinking 10 cups of cappuccino a day. All things in moderation. After reading everything about this new thing called a coffee antioxidant I have decided that there are better ways of getting antioxidants into my blood.

Coffee may have many benefits, but so does water and it is possible to drown from drinking too much water. Yes, I know, you have to really drink a lot to accomplish this, but it's the principle of the matter. Too much of anything is not a good thing.

By Aaron Matthews-Morgan

The Best Way To Store Coffee Is To Go "Green"!

The best way to store coffee is a question that is always on coffee aficinados' mind, but one that is seldom "tackle". Think about it, in most coffee maker reviews, you have the best brewer, best grinder, best roaster and so on, but have you ever heard of a best container?

Folks all over the world are looking for the freshest brew, but not a lot of people are concerned about storing the coffee, which is actually a key element in the coffee experience. Unless, you have access to a coffee store near your house, and would never buy more than that day consumption. If not, you would definitely have to store the coffee.

So, what is the best way to store coffee? Remember the coffee freshness rule and you would know how long you can store that "coffee". Raw green coffee beans can be fresh for years, so they are the easiest to store. Roasted beans, which are what you can easily find in Supermarket, would lose their flavour after a week.

And if you were to ground the coffee, the flavour would be lost within hours. And you probably can forget about keeping brewed coffee as it begins to lose its flavour after minutes.

Based on the above, the easiest to store would be green coffee beans and personally, I think they are the best way to store coffee. All you need to do is to store in a cool location, in a tightly sealed container and you can keep it for more than a year!

Sure, you need to purchase a roaster and a grinder in addition to your coffee maker but you would not have to throw away any unused coffee and you would have the freshest coffee.

For roasted beans, it is similar to green beans, store in an airtight container and try to use ceramic as plastic or metal would contaminate the taste of the beans. Keep away from sunlight and try to store in dark places. This allows you to keep the beans fresh for at least 2 weeks.

And if you really want it to keep a longer time, keeping in the freezer can probably last for another 2 more weeks. To use it, just take it out and grind. Do take note that it is to keep in the freezer and not the fridge, never keep coffee beans in the fridge as it would simply absorb the odour of the other food and spoilt your coffee...

If you really want to store the roast and ground which cannot be store past a few days. Keep it with a good airtight container and away from the sun. This would allow the freshness to stay for a week. For the ground, freezer cannot help much as the surface area is too wide and it would still go stale.

If it is not green beans, the coffee beans would not last more than a month. To me, the best to store coffee is to go "green", however, let me go through the savings and convince you on this as well!

1 kg of Green beans can last you probably for a year and cost about $25.00. Assuming you have a fully automatic espresso machine which comes with a grinder, you would be buying roasted beans. You would have to buy them every month and it cost about $15.00 per 100g.

In one year, your roasted beans would cost you $150.00. So, between the roasted and the green coffee beans, that is a savings of $125.00. Sure, you have to get a roaster, let say you get a "Fresh Roast" roaster for $70.00, you still have a savings of $55.00.

Now, would you not agreed with me that the best way to store coffee is to go "green". Storing the Green coffee beans allows you to buy coffee in bulk (get discount from bulk purchase), roast your own coffee and have the freshest cup possible and not forgetting, it saves you some money in the process...

By Ebenezer Heng

How To Make Cappuccino In 3 Simple Steps!

Consider this the basic in the how to make cappuccino series. This article would highlight the steps to make cappuccino like the baristas you see in Starbucks and most coffee shops...

Before moving on to the 3 simple steps to make the cappuccino, do you know what is cappuccino? The key to understanding this, would be invaluable to learn how to make it. Knowing the components of a cappuccino enables you to visualize the procedures later.

Cappuccino is actually an espresso filled with 2 types of heated milk, i.e the steamed milk and the frothed milk. And, it is the frothed milk that gives cappuccino that classic look and it is also the "so difficult " frothing that lead world coffee bodies in using the froth to evaluate the skills of baristas.

The proportion of cappuccino is 1/3 espresso, 1/3 heated milk and 1/3 frothed milk. We would not touch on espresso in this article, as it warrants one entire article on how to get a good espresso, here we would highlight the other 2 components, the steamed and frothed milk, to better your learning in how to make cappuccino.

You would get steamed milk when the heat source (usually the steam wand) is injected into the milk, slightly below boiling point. As the injection of hot air is controlled to a minimal, there would not be any change in the milk volume except for a small amount of micro bubbles or froth.

To get more bubbles, i.e. to get frothed milk, place the steam wand at the surface of the milk, and this would creates more of the micro bubbles, remove the steam wand, when the froth has the look and feel of whipped cream.

Now, let's learn how to make cappuccino in 3 simple steps:

i. when using an espresso machine, while waiting for the espresso to brew, steam and froth the milk in a frothing pitcher. Once done, set it aside for approximately 30 seconds.

This is to allow the milk densities to separate. To speed up the process, you can try what Starbucks or most coffee shops' baristas are doing -by knocking the frothing pitcher on the table, this would separate the steam from the froth milk.

ii. Then, take a large spoon to keep the milk foam as you pour out the steam milk. As you pour the steam milk into a mug, do it slowly to prevent breaking the froth, and stop when you reaches 1/3 of the mug.

With the 1/3 steam milk done, spooned up the froth milk and put it on top of the steamed milk, this foamed milk should take up another 1/3 of the mug.

iii. For the last 1/3 of the mug, pour in the espresso down the middle of this foamy sculpture. And there you have it, a foamy cappuccino!

Not that complicated right? No need to ask how to make cappuccino like that Starbucks baristas anymore right? You can do it with 3 simple steps!:)

By Ebenezer Heng

Cappuccino: Basic Information

Cappuccino is a cup of coffee with fresh milk and milk foam bubbles burst on the top of cup. The milk foam bubbles burst acts as the insulator and keep the heat of the coffee for a longer time. The color of Cappuccino is dark brown. Normally, the cappuccino is served in the porcelain cup. It is better than the glass or paper cup. Cappuccino is a name that from the color of the robe of priest in Roman Catholic called “Capuchin”. It always drinks in the morning with breakfast. And now, cappuccino is modified to serve by the chain stores and the other manufacturing.

Type of Cappuccino

Base on the mixture ratios of the cappuccino

1. Traditional Cappuccino

It is the espresso with the hot foam milk on the top. The Thick of foam milk is about 1 cm.

2. Cappuccino Chiaro (Light Cappuccino or Wet Cappuccino)

There is more milk ratio than the normal cappuccino.

3. Cappuccino Scuro (Dark Cappuccino or Dry Cappuccino)

There is less milk ratio than the normal cappuccino.

How to make a cup of cappuccino

Compositions

1. Roasted bean = 8-10 grams
2. Fresh milk = 4-6 ounces
3. Coffee cup = 6 ounces
4. Chocolate or cinnamon powder
5. Sugar

Method

The important point in making the cappuccino is the milk with foam bubbles. The skilled barista who has acquired some level of expertise in the preparation of coffee should be pay attention while creating the milk foam bubble burst in each type if cappuccino.

1. Use one by tree of coffee volume in a cup.
2. Heat the fresh milk with 60 grade Celsius or lower.
3. Make the fine milk foam bubbles burst in suitable volume.
4. Add one by tree cup of warm milk in the cup.
5. Use a tea spoon for take the milk foam bubbles burst on the top of coffee until the edge of cup.
6. Before serve, sprinkle the top with chocolate or cinnamon powder.

Ice Cappuccino (Cappuccino “Freddo”)

The method is similar to hot cappuccino. Ice cappuccino is cappuccino that serves with ice. The ice has to fine to small molecule. The glass volume should be 8-12 ounces and cylinder shape. Put cappuccino in fine ice and add the milk foam bubbles burst on the top about one of three from the edge of the glass. Before serve, coffee maker ought to wait a moment for cooled glass of cappuccino. And do not forget to put a stick in the glass. The drinkers should drink all in one time because if the ice melt, the taste/flavor will change.

How to drink Cappuccino

1. Never stir Cappuccino with spoon.

2. Normally, no need to add sugar because the Cappuccino is pretty sweet already. But if you want sweeter, add sugar a tea spoon and stir with gentle. Never use syrup as sweetener in Cappuccino because milk and syrup will incompatibility.

3. Smell the flavor of Chocolate or cinnamon powder before drinking.

4. After drinking, the foamed milk will stick at the bottom of the cup. If no foamed milk stick means the method of making coffee is not good enough.

By Kaafae Blanda

Choosing the Right Bean to Cup Coffee Machine

Bean to cup coffee machines enable the caterer to serve superb tasting fresh espresso coffee drinks and speciality coffee variations at the touch of the button with the minimum of fuss.

Customers demand quality and choice. Gone are the days of offering a choice of a black or white coffee. Nowadays it is important to offer the very best coffee and coffee variations in different cup sizes together with a decaffeinated option.

The most convenient way of supplying this insatiable demand is with a bean to cup machine.

Bean to cup machine capacity (usage) is usually divided into three criteria.

Light volume - serving between to 30-80 cups a day
Medium volume - serving 100-200 cups a day
High volume - serving 250+ cups a day

If your expected number of cups per day is close to the overlap of volume then we recommend that you go for the next model up.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when choosing a machine is whether to go for a model with a 'built in' milk frother'.

Cheaper models will not have a built in milk frother, but may have the option of an 'add on' unit that froths the milk. The more expensive models have a fully automatic milk frother built into the machine which is also refrigerated to keep the milk cool.

Since a high percentage of drinks served will likely contain frothed milk it only really makes sense to go for the fully automatic built in versions unless your budget is very restrictive. Add-on milk frothers can be clumsy and not function to a consistent basis. There is nothing more frustrating to a busy caterer than a shop full of customers and milk that won't froth!

If your budget is tight it is best to compromise on some other features rather than the fully automatic frother option. If you are happy for you or your staff to froth milk by hand then you might as well go for the more traditional espresso machine instead and froth the milk whilst waiting for the coffee to come through the group head.

Recently there have appeared on the market bean to cup machines which incorporate a canister of powdered milk for those who do not want the inconvenience of fresh milk, although this is a trade off with sacrificing overall drink quality.

Bean to cup machines are big business. There are now a large number of manufacturers of bean to cup machines and the number is growing all the time.

It is best to choose a model from a manufacture that they have been producing for a number of years so that any initial problems have long since been ironed out. Now is not the time to be a guinea pig with a brand new model however fantastic it may seem.

Most manufacturers produce a series of models with different functions and features suitable for low, medium and high volume coffee production.

This is where you pays your money and takes your choice!

Machines are available with one, two, three or even four bean hoppers. This gives extra capacity for busy periods and / or the option of a decaffeinated coffee.

Auditing facilities are also available on the top models where information about the drinks served over any given period can be obtained and maybe downloaded onto a computer for later analysis.

Digital displays, visual looks should also be considered before making your final choice. Note that many of the top models are available in a choice of colours to match the decor of the establishment.

However as already mentioned the two most important things to establish are that the machine can cope with expected demand and that it has a built in milk frother. All other features can be considered secondary.

Before contacting a potential supplier make sure you have decided which size and what features you would like from your machine with reference to this report. That way you will not be persuaded to upgrade or pay for things you do not really require.

Don't forget to pay particular attention to the servicing costs and water treatment systems.

Remember that without a built-in milk frother you will have to froth the milk by hand and that may cause problems.

However a reliable and well maintained bean to cup machine should give many years of profitable service and provide excellent quality delicious drinks to your customers.


By Fenton Wayne

All About Coffee Makers

Sometimes coffee makers (as nearly everything) get broken for no apparent reason. When everything seems to be ok on the outside, then the problem must be on the inside, so here are some tips to help you identify the most common problems and, if you are lucky, repair your coffee maker yourself.

Problem: The coffee maker does not turn on.
Symptoms: Light on the coffee maker does not lit, there are no sounds coming from it, and it never heats up.
Possible causes and solutions: This may be caused by a burnt fuse, a defective power cord or something more important. If your coffee maker has a fuse and it is burnt then replace it, but always do it with the same type and rate of fuse, to avoid the chance of more severe problems. If you find no fuse, plug your coffee maker to a different outlet, just to be sure this is not the cause.

If it still does not work, replace the power cord (you can do it yourself if you are careful and know the basic electrical concepts, but if you don’t want to do it yourself you can ask a professional to do it). If, after replacing the cord with a new one, it still does not work, contact a coffee maker repairer.

Problem: The coffee maker is turned on but you are not getting any coffee.
Symptoms: The maker is on and heats up, but hot water is not coming out.

Possible causes and solutions: The tubes may be clogged. Sometimes water leaves calcium and other mineral residues on the tubes, clogging them after a while. Try using your coffee maker with vinegar instead of water. If it unclogs, run water through your coffee maker a minimum of three times, in order to wash out the vinegar.

Problem: The coffee maker is turned on but you get only dirty cold water instead of coffee.
Symptoms: The maker sucks water and pours it onto the coffee, but this water is cold.

Possible causes and solutions: The heating coil of your coffee maker may be dead or dying. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do, as replacement coils are extremely difficult to find and install. Consider buying a new coffee maker.

By Tamara Williams

Cleaning Coffee Maker Is Simple

Cleaning your coffee maker is not something you should over look. If you do not clean it regularly it will adversely affect the quality of each and every cup of coffee that you brew and serve. It's not really worth risking the quality then is it?

It's simple to clean your coffee maker. It's advisable to do so at least once every few weeks depending on your own individual usage rates. Some of the things that you will be washing away are the water mineral deposits, aged oil deposits, as well as any number of other particles that may have found it's way into your coffee cleaner.

Try not to use detergents to clean your coffee maker or it will leave some soap inside the system. A cheap way to effectively clean your drip coffee maker is to mix water and vinegar together and use that solution to clean the coffee maker. This can be repeated as many times as necessary to clean and disinfect the coffee maker parts.
Cleaning your coffee maker every now and then will ensure that you get the most out of each serving of coffee, and also extend the usable life of your coffee maker. Enjoy it while it's hot!

By Steven Sarsgaard

The Coffee Maker

Most people wake up in the morning and the first thing they do is fire up the old coffee maker. Most models today are very easy to use, all you need is a filter, some coffee, and running water. Press the button and you can have a pot of steaming hot coffee in just a few minutes. Today, nearly every home has a coffee maker in the kitchen. The fact is, the coffee maker has become a must-have for the kitchen. There are many variations on the coffee maker. The basic model is nothing special - it makes a cup of coffee and that's it. However, some advanced models offer much more. Many brands of coffee makers offer automatic shutoff mechanisms. That means that if you leave your coffee maker on for an extended period of time, or forget to turn it off before you leave the house, the machine will shut off automatically after a while. This automatic shutoff mechanism is designed to prevent the coffee maker from starting a fire if left for too long.

Then, there are the more advanced versions of the coffee maker that offer more features. Some advanced models sport timers, which are great for ensuring that you have a pot of steaming coffee before you even wake up in the morning. Set the timer the night before, prepare all of the ingredients, and when you wake up your coffee will already be made. You can shave ten to fifteen minutes off your morning just by having a timer on your coffee maker. People can now enjoy all the coffee they want in the comfort of their own homes. Most people probably thought that with more and more coffee shops opening up, coffee makers at home would probably disappear. However, even though coffee shops are springing up everywhere and are more popular than ever, it will probably be a long time before people throw out their coffee makers.

By Kerry Ng

Starting Your Own Coffee Shop - Important Things to Know

So you're thinking about going into the coffee/tea business. Here are some insider tips and tricks of the trade that you need to know.

Whether you've got the business plan laid out or are just entertaining the idea of starting toward your dream of opening a coffee shop, there's so much more to the industry than you ever thought possible. But don't worry; I'm going to give you some tips and tricks of the trade to get you on your way to a great business in the coffee/tea world.

Espresso machines are EXPENSIVE. However, the taste of your espresso is one of the most important facets of your business and can make or break you. You don't have to go too crazy on an espresso machine, however keep in mind that this is a worthwhile investment that you don't want to skimp on. Depending on the size of the coffee shop you want, most (if not all) coffee shops can get away with having two brewheads, so you shouldn't need to purchase a machine with three. Also, if you want the true, die hard coffee fanatics, go for a traditional machine rather than an automatic. Unless you're planning on having a line out the door for hours with unseasoned baristas, you'll be able to get through the morning rush on a 2-brewhead traditional machine, and (in my opinion) makes a much better shot of espresso.

Location is very, very key for coffee shops. When searching for a home for your coffee shop, position it within the driving path of morning commuters. Morning coffee drinkers would rather wait and drink the junk coffee at work than go way out of their way to stop for a good cup. If there's a few larger businesses in your city or town, try to position your location near an intersection close by. Even better - set up a drive through window for the on-the-go workers that don't leave much time to stop.

One of the biggest revenue builders for you is going to be the sale of whole bean coffee as well as your coffee beverages. Make a big deal to your customers about what they're drinking and give them tips and tricks for brewing the same beans at home. This might mean they'll skip a few trips to your store, but a bag of beans costs way more than their three cups of coffee for the week. Most times customers will spend more on whole bean coffee if they get hooked, or introduce it to their office. All great opportunities.

Educate your customers. I can't emphasize this enough. When customers feel like they know insider, expert information about coffee or your products, they want to share that information. So they talk to their friends about what they learned at Jack's Coffee earlier that morning - FREE advertising! It makes them feel knowledgeable and gets them engaged in discovering new coffees and continuing their education.

You'll feel the urge to expand your menu to be as large as possible - something for everyone right? Try to resist this urge. Let your customers know that they can customize their beverages and definitely take into consideration any suggestions your customers give you, but don't put too much on the menu. When a menu is too large, people get overwhelmed. Often times people new to coffee will feel intimidated by a large menu of items that they aren't familiar with and this will add to the negative feeling for them. It's also helpful to list out what each item is on the menu. This might come in handy for those are aren't familiar with what a real cappuccino is!

Make sure you offer beverages other than coffee. This may seem silly to some, and a no-brainer to others, but let me explain why. I'm all about the coffee date. Coffee shops are known as a great place to get together and socialize or just sit and read. But many times they become less about coffee and more about the atmosphere. By offering items other than coffee you're ensuring that you're catering to anyone who wants to come hang out! Also, don't be shy about putting LOTS of comfy chairs and couches in your coffee shop. You can never have too much good seating for the readers and relaxers.

By Tiffany Balz