Argentine Version of Starbucks Opens in Buenos Aires
Latin coffee lovers in Buenos Aires now have access to a special brand of Starbucks drinks whipped up especially for them. Starbucks just opened a coffee shop there. The company plans to open four more stores there by the end of the year. The specialties on the menu will include “dulce de leche” which is a traditional carmel style cream and a milky “matte” which is based on the tea like drink which is popular there. Starbucks already has coffee shops in seven other Latin American countries.
Historical Coffee Shop Set to Become History
The Coffee Cup was the first integrated diner in Charlotte and officially became a historical landmark last year. The new owners of the shop have applied for a permit to have it demolished. Their decision is due to a conflict with a developer. The demolition request will be reviewed by the historic landmarks commission.
Coffee Globe Trekker Part 4
Mmmmm…. the coffee of Guatemala. Whether you are in the Mexican / Central American region or not, you have probably tasted the coffee from this region.
Right now, the coffee from this area is not only known for it’s rich diversity in producing coffee, but also because of the politics taking place. Guatemala is one of the main regions that have produced coffee in order to export around the world. Because of the richness of the land, they have the capacity to grow more and to grow it better. With this, is the opening of things such as the Fair Trade act. This has caused several of the smaller coffee farms to close and has led into a crisis of coffee. If you want information on the politics of coffee, you can find it all in Guatemala.
Okay, stepping outside of that, because this area has so much coffee available, it is also rich in tradition, starting with the way that it is grown. Because of the climate, the coffee is shaded by trees. While this makes it take a longer time to grow, it also offers one of the richest tastes in the world. This particular process allows the coffee beans to have layers of taste, instead of just being a strong movement to the head.
Because Guatemala is filled with coffee farms and ranches, you can basically go anywhere and expect to have coffee. And, you can expect to have it on every occasion…from morning coffee to special coffee for holidays to coffee for the extra rituals and customs. The large amount of farms in the area has made it a main staple and has allowed for a richness in the culture to be added.
This is definitely a place that I would want to go as long as there is coffee there because of the capacities of growing the coffee as well as the richness that is added to the way that the beans are grown.
Coffee Globe Trekker Part 3
Today, I’m imagining that I’m in Russia, most likely Moscow. The coffee traditions of this area are smack in the middle of three areas – Europe, China and the Middle East. And, that is what gives them their special ways of drinking coffee.
So, in the 1600s, coffee started coming over from China and the Middle East…. the first introduction, from what I’ve found. What this allowed was for strong blends to be available to the country – such as the Arabia Coffee Beans (mmmmmmmm). That was met with the idea of “tea time”, known in Russia as Poldnik, something that is culturally sustainable in Russia.
So, this combination of things is what brought Russia the coffee they have today. With tea time in place, are Russians that not only drink tea, with a sweetner on the side, but also coffee, with several preferring this over tea. And, yes… they mostly drink it black. The great Russians are much happier without the sugar and cream. Of course, many will add in lait russe, also known as Russian milk, which gives it a great taste.
With the growth of coffee is now not only the coffee used at tea times, but also with ‘morning coffee’ a tradition that most of us have. Along with this, Russians have several cafes that are upbeat and used to converse. Most of them also have breakfast and lunch items, as well as deserts and evening music, others focus on literature. But, all of the ones that I have seen, have really cool atmospheres and some almost look like contemporary re-dos of the Viennese Coffee houses.
So, if you ever plan on traveling to Russia, don’t worry…you will have your coffee available to you at all times of the day or night.
Coffee Globe Trekker Part 2
One of the best coffees that I have ever had was during my days of wandering around the world. A coffee that I was able to have was when I was visiting Israel and stayed an evening with the Bedouins. The Bedouins are like the gypsies of the Middle East. They wander through the deserts with camels and take care of the outside skirts with their survival as nomads. However, they are also very kind and friendly, and do they have some good coffee!
The way that they make their coffee, you don’t need any more than one sip to take care of you. Among the Bedouins, they will make the coffee after their meal, almost like a desert. This is because it is known for helping to digest food. All of the coffee is picked, roasted and brewed fresh, giving it even more of a taste when you drink it.
In Bedouin tradition, not only is the coffee used after every meal, but is also used for rituals. During every serving, they will make sure that they grind the coffee beans fresh, and prepare it with cardamom, cloves and nutmeg. This is what gives it the sweet taste, instead of the bitter taste. This is used instead of sugar.
When someone is passing through a Bedouin village, it is the coffee that is served to them that greets them. This is given to them in small cups, and is also given to them after the meal. When the coffee is served, it is also significant for how long someone can stay. The Bedouin do not allow visitors to stay more than three days and three nights. On each night, they will be given an extra cup of coffee that signifies their stay. If they are not given any coffee, it means they are not welcome anymore. This is different, depending on the Bedouins, but it is one of the forms of communication that is used.
So, if you are ever traveling in the Middle East, pass through a Bedouin camp, if for nothing else, for the coffee. It is some of the best tasting coffee that I have ever had, not only with it’s taste, but also with it’s significance.
Coffee Globe Trekker Part 1
In different places around the world, coffee is served differently, looked at differently and is used for health in a different way. Out of my curiosity to see if everyone was as much as a coffee fanatic as me, I started looking into exactly where I could go in the world to get a good cup of coffee.
My first stop…Ethiopia. Coffee that is here is a part of a daily social concept that takes place at people’s home. Typically, if you have a friend, they will invite you over to their home for coffee. And, not only do they do it once, but it will happen twice during the day…. morning and evening. In my opinion, this sure beats tea time.
So, if they can’t afford to have the coffee twice a day, they will use it for special occasions in order to gather everyone together. Coffee is one of the main staple drinks of holidays, rituals and various other traditions. For example, most Ethiopians will go on a 55 day fast. Before they start it; however, they will have an evening of festivities, with one of the main stays as being coffee.
Oh, another very cool thing… Ethiopian culture will brew the coffee exactly where it is going to be served. Talk about guaranteed freshness, smell and taste. This is matched with easier access to coffee beans that come from the fields. If any of you have ever had the Ethiopian coffee bean, you know that it has a strong and rich taste that can’t be beat. And, because there coffee is served completely fresh, it will only be served in very small glasses. It is often compared to Turkish coffee, that has the strong and bitter taste… but only balanced when you add sugar.
So, Ethiopia is on my list to visit during the season of rituals and holidays for some good, rich coffee.
Frappuccino Recipes
Making your own coffee drinks at home is less expensive, but they still offer a great taste. Making your own allows you to substitute ingredients and this helps especially if you are watching fat or sugar intake.
Mocha Frappuccino
1/2 cup whole or skim milk
2 TBS chocolate syrup (you can substitute with the sugar free syrup)
1 TBS plus 1 tsp sugar or sugar substitute (Equal or Splenda)
1/3 cup strong cold coffee
1 cup ice
Mix all ingredients together in a blender until ice is crushed and all is well-blended.
Caramel Frappuccino
1/2 cup cold coffee
3 TBS sugar substitute (Equal or Splenda)
1/2 cup whole or skim milk
2 cups ice
3 TBS caramel sundae syrup (sugar free can be used)
Whipped cream if desired
Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and ice is crushed.
Starbuck’s New Mermaid Logo Causes Outrage
Starbucks has a new more revealing logo of its trademark mermaid. The logo — which offers a more revealing look at the coffee chain’s mermaid symbol and goes with brown instead of green as its color, and has caused quite the controversy.
A Christian group, “The Resistance,” is calling for a national boycott. The logo, based on a 16th Century Norse woodcut, will be on Starbucks cups for at least a few more weeks and will be the permanent logo for Pike Place bags of coffee, according to Starbucks Executives.
The Christian group says the revised Starbucks logo “has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute,” and that “the company might as well call themselves Slutbucks.”
Bridget Baker, a spokesperson for Starbucks, said the newly revived logo was “modified a bit [from the original] based on feedback” from Starbucks customers during its 2006 appearance. “We feel it’s appropriate,” she said.
So if you haven’t seen the new logo yet, what do you think? Here is a picture of the logo Starbucks had been using, and most people are more used to.
Make It Sweet
Life is like having a cup of coffee. You sit by the window, lift the cup and take a sip… only to realize that somebody forgot to put the sugar. Too lazy to go for it, you somehow struggle through that sugarless cup. Until you discover undissolved sugar crystals sitting at the bottom.
That’s how life is. We sometimes forget to make an effort to value what is around us.
Look around. Maybe the sweetness you are looking for is closer than you think.
Learn to appreciate.
Flash a smile.
Have your coffee.
Make it sweet.
Beyond Coffee
I’ve been hanging out at a different type of coffee place lately. It not only sells coffee, but also makes chocolate. On the other side is a little wine bar, something that is popular to combine in various areas of Colorado.
So, all of the chocolate that is here is special custom made in the store. I have to say, it is to die for. But, not wanting to give up my addiction to coffee, I decided to compensate. So far, I have tried just about everything I can with chocolate and coffee in there.
There are a couple of variations at this coffee shop that add in chocolate. Of course, there is always the mocha. But, they also have an interesting twist where they combine hot chocolate with drinks. Hot chocolate with chai is one and hot chocolate with a latte / coffee is another. I have to say… it is to die for. If it doesn’t kill you first.
Because the chocolate is specially made, it is extremely rich. Imagine the Belgium chocolate that we all love. Yep. That’s combined with the coffee. I couldn’t even drink a small cup it was so thick with the combination of stuff and so rich with the flavor. And, I ended up having to drink a lot of water with it afterwards in order to compensate.
Needless to say, despite the bad after effects, this combo drink is one of the best that I’ve ever had. If any of you want to try it at home ( if you dare), get the good hot cocoa that is richer to combine with stuff. I tell you, it is something that you won’t regret.
Cheers!
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