How to Present Drinks Beautifully

In Sweden there is something called “kaffe kalas” which directly translated means “coffee party.” Usually you do this for a birthday, or when gathering friends. It’s an old term and not used so much by the younger generation, but the tradition stays the same today: when there is a celebration you invite friends and family over for coffee and cake. In Sweden, according to tradition, it should be seven different kinds of cake. To say a lot of cake is eaten in Sweden is an understatement, yet in comparison to the copious amounts of coffee that are drunk, it’s nothing.

If you are hosting a coffee party in Sweden you use your finest china. It’s rare you see elaborate coffee drinks and intriguing presentations. If you want to host a coffee party yourself, have friends around for tea, or if you own a coffee or tea shop you might consider looking into cute presentations though. There is nothing quite as impressive as getting a nice tasting drink served looking like it was a piece of art. And let’s face it: if your significant other shows up with breakfast in bed and have made incredulous cups of coffee, hot chocolate, and tea, it only makes it that much better.

Of course, to truly impress someone you need the best ingredients as well. Here at the Wholesale Coffee Co. we’ve made a living out of selling coffee online. If you are buying bulk it’s perfect buying coffee online and we have many different varieties (we even have green coffee beans if you want to roast them yourself), as well as tea and coffee.

Yummy Coffee Drink. :)

An old fashioned glass jar can be perfect for serving coffee drinks and hot chocolates – rustic and pretty. You can tie a ribbon on top and match the straw with the ribbon.

Fancy Coffee Drinks by gee.deasis

Fancy drinks with coffee from Indulgy.com (made by geedeasis.com)

Coffee drink that tastes like frappucinos! Just mix coffee and sweet condensed milk!

Coffee mixed with sweet condensed milk and ice cubes. Perfect for summer or if it’s really hot by the fireplace!

cokiee cup :D drink n eat..!

Why buy a cup when you can bake one? We’re guessing it’s lined by some fatty frosting (like coconut butter/oil mixed with sugar and potentially some flavouring like fresh vanilla, coffee, etc.) to prevent the coffee from being soaked up by the cake. We also presume the coffee is cold or needs to be drunk fast as frosting melts…

yum - fall brunch - wrapped coffee drinks

Once again straws, but this time matched with bottles. Perfect if you have some old fashioned milk bottles.

coffee & chocolate a beautiful partnership

Even something as simple as an espresso can be beautifully presented.

Maiko, Geiko... Most Things Geisha

Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you put in the cup – it’s just all about the presentation. (Although of course it would be better if what’s in the cup is palatable.) Who wouldn’t be awed by this?

Does your cup matter when you drink coffee?

Time for coffee mug

I don’t know about you, but I have different cups, mugs and glasses for different hot drinks and occasions.

When I’m working I only drink from one mug – my bright yellow ‘Time for Coffee’ Banksy mug.

At home, I’ll drink from any large mug with a nice design on it, and a substantial handle. I’m not a fan of thin cups that are heavily stained with handles that hurt when you hold them.

When it comes to drinking coffee, this is what I like – unless I’m getting a takeaway coffee or a drink from a coffee machine, and then I’m happy with a paper cup.

Traditionally, when it comes to coffee, each style of drink comes with its own cup. Experts say that you won’t lose the flavour if you drink your coffee from the wrong cup, but selecting the right one will boost the experience and enhance the drink.

Which cup for which type of coffee?

Latte

The perfect café latte should be served in a tall clear glass cup with frothy milk going right up to the top. However, a non clear glass is also fine.

Drip coffee

The key here is to fill your cup to the top so it stays hot for longer. You might want to serve it in a clear glass if you’ve got a sweet tooth — this way you’ll be able to see if the sugar has mixed in properly.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino cups may vary slightly in size but the shape remains the same — a larger circumference around the top and a smaller base. The shape of the cappuccino cup allows the espresso to mix properly so you don’t get bubbles forming on the top.

Iced coffee

Serve in a tall clear glass with a straw and decorate with cream, strawberries and whatever else takes your fancy.

Turkish coffee

Go for an ornate cup with a matching saucer — the true name for a Turkish coffee cup is finjan. Alternatively, an espresso cup will also be fine, but for the an authentic Turkish coffee experience, pick one with a good design.

Should coffee beans become less of a commodity product?

Gone are the days when you could ask for a simple frothy coffee in a coffee shop. If you asked now, you’d be greeted by a confused barista asking you specifically what kind of coffee you’d like, the size of the drink and even your milk preference.

Starbucks to an extent expanded the world of coffee drink options – from the skinny soy latte and flat white to the size grande frappuccino … And even coffee machines have followed suite. You may still be able to order a simple coffee in a greasy spoon or a hospital waiting room, but with the rise of the pod coffee machines and the sophisticated designs of the more modern coffee machines, coffee has certainly come a long way from the instant freeze dried granules.

In a previous post, I wrote about the rise of third wave coffee – a movement that aims to make coffee more like wine and less of a commodity product. I can certainly see this hitting off. Should coffee beans become less of a commodity product?

Coffee shops and coffee machines may give us a lot of choice, but how much do we really know about the different types of coffee beans, the roasting process and the stories behind how the coffee beans were grown and who grew them?

Perhaps in the future we’ll start to see less of the gimmicky coffee drinks and we’ll develop our taste so rather than there being a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ coffee, we’ll be able to distinguish between the different roasts and unique flavours of different kinds of coffee beans. This is the case with wine after all. Even if you’re not a wine connoisseur, you can probably tell the difference at least between a sweet and a dry or a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc.

At the moment, however, I think we’re still a long way off from coffee tasting (coffee cupping) sessions becoming as popular as wine tasting, but it’d certainly be nice to see more coffee shops offering the service.

more information about coffee cupping and coffee tasting

Buy wholesale coffee beans online from Wholesale Coffee Company

Christmas Coffee Drinks

Christmas Coffee Drinks

Christmas is party season, and if you’re looking for something a little unusual to
serve with the mince pies this year, why not try one of our special Christmas coffee
recipes?

Festive Spiced Christmas Coffee

With its aroma of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and orange, this is the ultimate
Christmas coffee. Serve mid-morning with a slice of cake on the morning of the 25th
December to get the festivities off to a flying start.

Ingredients (serves 4)

Freshly-ground coffee of your choice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
4 good teaspoons shredless orange marmalade
Sugar to taste
Whipped cream
Chocolate powder to decorate
Edible gold stars (optional)

Place the coffee and spices into your coffee machine, and allow to brew as normal.
Pour the coffee into four mugs, and stir a spoonful of marmalade into each. Add
sugar to taste. Top with a dollop of cream, a sprinkle of chocolate powder and an
edible gold star.

Chocolate and Almond Coffee

This sweet treat is perfect for warming up after a chilly walk.

Ingredients (serves 4)

Freshly ground coffee of your choice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon natural almond extract
4 good teaspoons dark chocolate chips

Whipped cream and toasted almonds, to serveMake the coffee as usual in your coffee machine, and pour it into four mugs. To each mug, add a few drops of almond essence and a heaped teaspoon of chocolate chips. Serve with whipped cream and a few toasted almonds on top.

Greek Iced Coffee

This refreshing drink is perfect served after Christmas lunch as a quick pick-me-up
when everyone’s feeling a little jaded. It needs to be made well before the meal to
allow it to cool properly.

Ingredients (serves 4)

Freshly ground coffee of your choice
Icing sugar to taste
8 ice cubes
Chilled milk to taste

Make the coffee as usual in your coffee machine, and allow to it to cool. Wrap the
ice cubes in a tea towel, and crush then roughly with a rolling pin. Put the coffee and
ice in a container with a well-fitting lid, and add the milk and sugar to taste. Shake
vigorously until well-mixed, then serve in tall glasses.

Cinnamon and Maple Coffee

This is a really simple idea that won’t take up too much time if you’re busy on the
day.

Ingredients (serves 4)

Freshly ground coffee of your choice
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Maple syrup
Whipping cream and cinnamon sticks, to serve

Place the coffee and cinnamon in your coffee machine together, and brew as usual.
Pour the coffee into four mugs, and add a good squirt of syrup to each one. Serve
topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.