Starbucks instant coffee…Via
Starbucks has a new instant coffee called Via. When they first announced it, they had a coffee test for their customers to see if they could tell the difference between the ground coffee and the instant coffee, Via. I participated in the test and although I thought they were both good, I was able to tell the difference and selected the right coffee as the instant coffee. The people behind the counter said I was the first person for that day to be correct in my chosing.
I have bought Via a few times. It’s offerred in a 3 pack for $2.95 or a 12 packfor $9.95.
Starbucks also offers an accomodating tumbler where you can store some of the coffee packs in the bottom of the tumbler for when you want some coffee, it’s readily available and all you need is to add hot water.
The coffee, Via is a really good tasting coffee for an isntant coffee and I drink it at work. I just put a packet into my coffee cup and go to the coffee kitchen to add hot water. I think it was a good concept for Starbucks to come up with because there are people who do not want to make a full pot of coffee and only want one cup. I’m the only person in my family that drinks coffee so not is it only good for me at work, but it’s an excellent concept for home as well.
Dunkin Donuts Coffee
I’m always trying out new coffees and looking for blends that impress me. Many of you do the same. My husband recently picked up a bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee and gave it to me as a stocking stuffer. I truly was impressed. I was even more impressed when he told me the price and that he got it at the grocery store. He isn’t a coffee connoisseur, and if it hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have bought it. If you’re looking for a medium roast coffee that’s really affordable, then try Dunkin Donuts Coffee. It’s now available in most grocery stores. Not only is it affordable, but it’s a great roast. Dunkin Donuts has always been famous for their coffee, and though many people are loyal to Starbucks, I’d go as far to say that this coffee could give Starbucks a run for its money. It’s rich, but not bitter, and for the price, it’s astounding. I’m thoroughly impressed.
Coffee at Home
I just got my first Espresso/Cappucino machine, and I am so thrilled. In the past, I worked in a coffee shop, so I’m pretty familiar with making various coffeee drinks. From my regular grocery store, I bought Starbuck’s espresso.
I’ve had my espresso machine for a couple of weeks now, and I’m drinking cappucinos, Cafe’ Mochas, and caramel lattes. They taste great, and my friends have said that my coffee drinks tast just like Starbucks.
I’m posting this blog because I want to note the amount of money that I’ll save by brewing my coffee at home. When I buy a Cafe Mocha at Starbucks for example, it costs me at least 4 bucks per cup. And i’m a caffine-a-holic, so I can drink a lot more than one cup a day. Even though ground espresso is a bit expensive, and I spent 100 dollars on the machine, it really will pay off over time. In actuality, when I do the Math, I’m saving a ton of money by making my coffee at home.
I will say this. It’s a lot nicer to have someone to make your coffee for you because steaming milk can get tedious, and it takes a minutre or two. Plus, you’ve got to clean the spouts after each use to ensure that they won’t get stopped up. However, during a tough economy, I’m more than willing to make the sacrifice.
I highly reccomend buying an espresso machine and brewing your coffee at home. It would also make a great holiday gift! It tastes just as good, and it will save you a TON of money in the long-run.
Starbucks Christmas Coffees
Every turn of the Yuletide Season, Starbucks fans gets their excitement bubbling up for the store’s seasonal coffee brews. not only is the yearly Starbucks planners makes waves during Christmas season, but for me, i am more after the limited taste of their Christmas coffees.
This year, branches of Starbucks in Manila started serving favorite drinks such as Dark Cherry Mocha, Peppermint Mocha and Toffee Nut Latte. Of these three my personal favorites are Peppermint Mocha because of its unique mix of mint and chocolate and Toffee Nut Latte because of the yummy smell and sweetness of it. Their menu also have some new items to pair up with these drinks, take a taste of Creme Brulee Cheesecakes, Christmas Turkey on Cranberry Bread and Chocolate Molten Cake.
Starbucks really works on making the holidays a little less dreary with ideal items which makes coffee and chat a little something to celebrate. It is also a great reward to get hold of those limited edition Starbucks planner as you complete the necessary number of drinks on your card. This Christmas, Starbucks Philippines will have a corresponding donation for every redemption made to the continuous relief operations for the victims of typhoon Ondoy as well as Sparkhope which is the coffee shop’s flagship program childhood care and development.
Benefits of Italian Espresso
A sweet-smelling warm cup of espresso makes Italians life complete each day. It is one of their best coffees.
Coffee contains two important healthy elements. First is tannin that effectively protects the kidneys from diseases. Second is antioxidant. It is an ingredient that can prevent cancer and any heart disease. Moreover, it can also take away the free radicals in the body which damage cells. Coffee is also believed to reduce diabetes and is good to the liver. If you also have difficulties in concentration, a cup of coffee can help stimulate brain. In the meantime, the caffeine in coffee can improve heart blood circulation.
According to a northern Italian dietician of Humanitas Gavazzeni Institute, Dr. Chiara Trombetti, that drinking coffee can be beneficial to our health. She believes that stronger taste of coffee is much better. You can really enjoy the benefits of coffee if you will only take it in moderation. Drinking two cups of espresso per day is advisable.
Gevalia
I joined the Gevalia coffee club and I am not as impressed as they make it sound. Sure I was given an excellent deal. For less than $20 I got a great intro package. I paid $19.95 and got a coffee maker as a free gift, as well as three coffee choices. I could pick from any of the coffees including the flavored coffees which I was very excited for. Now when you sign up for the club you agree to buy coffees from them at their price which they say is low, but I do not think it is. I do not consider $7 or more for a bag of coffee that is like a third of the size of my regular container low, but if it was great tasting coffee I may change my mind.
But now my dissappointment lies. The coffee was good but not great. It was not any better than what I can buy in the store for half the price. I am very happy with my free gifts and was glad that I did give Gevalia a chance. I do recommend the coffee pot because it is very nice, but that is really the only thing I can recommend. The coffee was good but not something to rave over. Sorry Gevalia.
Coffee Conundrum
So, I have a strange thing when it comes to coffee. I react very oddly to different forms of coffee, but I love the flavor of a lot of it, so I just can’t stop drinking it. I think it is interesting that most people drink coffee to wake up. The caffine in coffee is an important factor in this effect, but what is odd to me is that I do not have the ability to be awakened by caffine. I think this is weird. What is even weirder than this is that not only does it not wake me up, but it also sometimes will actually put me to sleep. I think this is a strange thing because I would have appreciated the extra alertness when I was in college so that I could have actually stayed up late when I needed to write a paper. I have many friends who are effect in the normal way by coffee, but not so many that are effected in the way that I am. Coffee tends to taste good to me, but if I am trying to stay awake, then coffee is not the thing that I will be drinking in order to do so!
Coffee Shop Music
I like to go to a coffee shop to write, relax or just mingle and chat with friends. It can be really annoying and obnoxious when a coffee shop chooses to play really loud music; especially when I don’t like that genre of music and I can’t hear myself think or my friends talk.
Coffeeshops have to be careful to create the right ambience without alienating their customers. In an effort to be cool, they may be losing customers by playing music that people just don’t appreciate or like. Coffee shops should be neutral in music tastes and play classical music at a low volume so as to keep everyone happy.
Some musicians they can consider are Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Handel, these are famous composers whose music is generally pleasing to all. Music shops need to definitely stay away from pop music though because many alternative types cannot stand that type of music and may tell their friends to not go to that store.
Some alternatives to music to create ambience in a coffee shop are artwork, free newspapers and magazines to read, fresh plants and flowers and free games. Don’t los customers because you are too stubborn to try and make all happy. Remember it’s not about what you want but what your customers like!
Coffee House Add On
We are all familiar with the popular saying, “would you like fries with that?” It’s something fast food restaurants do to add more revenue to each individual meal. With the advent of combo meals, these establishments are now asking if we want to, “biggie size or super size” our meals.
Coffee shops have caught on to these tricks and are now offering a plethora of delicious looking pastries, cakes, cookies, and sandwiches; hoping that we will take the bite and add more money to their drawer. Who doesn’t like a cookie with their hot chocolate? The only thing is that just like fast food restaurants and their meals of plenty, these drinks and cookies are adding unwanted pounds to our bodies. So the next time you are tempted to get a brownie with that tea, just say “no.”
Coffee from Poop
Weighing in at $100-$600 a pound, I was surprised to hear about kopi luwak coffee. This unique coffee is made by red coffee berries already picked and eaten by a small cat-like animal! Yes, you heard it right, the Luwak, better known as the Asian Pacific Palm Civet, eats the coffee berry which is collected later in the animal’s poop. After it is collected, the berries are lightly roasted. The enzymes in the civet’s stomach breaks down protein that gives regular coffee its bitter taste.
Kopi Luwak is very rare. Only 1,000 pounds are produced each year, Japan buying the majority of the coffee available. There has been question whether it is sanitary, but so far there is no public record of anyone getting sick from disease such as E. coli. The coffee is made on the Islands of Sumatra, Java, and Salawesi. Coffee coinsurers swear by kopi luwak’s mild smoothness and say it has a chocolate-like flavor.
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