Introducing Gifts for Coffee Lovers

If you're a regular--or even an occasional!--reader of this blog, you'll know that one of my favorite things to write about is a unique Etsy shop. Barbara's Design Solutions on Etsy is a cool shop that has a variety of home decor items as well as fashion and gifts, but it also has a special section of Coffee House Blend gifts that sets it apart.

Barbara brings you a variety of unique handcrafted items, including home decor products, home fragrances, unisex fashion, auto accessories, stationery, and bed and bath products--all made in America. She has put together a pretty incredible array of products, especially those related to coffee. I would say this is a great place to find a one of a kind gift for the coffee lover in your life.

What really makes an Etsy shop stand out in my mind is when someone finds an interesting niche and creates a variety of products around their theme. Well, if you like coffee and/or if you have friends who like coffee, I think you'll enjoy Barbara's Design Solutions on Etsy. You can also find the Coffee House Blend items on their own website at www.coffeehouseblend.com.

Her Etsy shop has several different categories such as fashion/accessories, wedding related items, and ceramic or glass mugs and tiles. The largest category is for art for home and office, and you will find a wide selection of big and smaller pieces to hang on your wall, including removable peel and stick wall art and eco-friendly fabric art. When it comes to coffee, I especially like her coffee-related t-shirts, wall art, and jewelry (such as a cute coffee cup necklace).

You can learn more about Barbara's products by watching the video below.

By the way, Barbara also does a lot of custom items. This can range from buying an item with a monogram to buying a completely unique and customized piece of art made just for you. Check out her sites and contact her if you have an idea that you'd like to make a reality!

Introducing Garcinia Cambogia in Coffee and Tea

Did you know that the natural weight loss product Garcinia Cambogia is now available in coffee and tea?

Also called the Malabar tamarind, this small tropical fruit is the most talked about breakthrough in recent history that is addressing weight loss management without exercise because of how it helps curb the appetite and stimulate production of serotonin.

Now you can try Garcinia Cambogia in the form of coffee, which by the way is the third largest commodity in the world next to oil and water. It produces over 1 billion a year in revenue and is consumed by half the people across the country.

To learn more about Garcinia Cambogia coffee and tea and to try it for yourself, check out www.buyjavitacoffee.com/sunscafe. If you're really interested in these products and are looking for a new business, you can get in on the business for unlimited wealth management while changing your life and others', one cup at a time. For more info, email sbaldwin711@gmail.com.

Introducing Ateaz Organic Coffee & Tea

Over the last few years, I've shifted more and more into organic foods, and beverages are no exception. If you likewise are a fan of organic coffee and tea, check out a company called Ateaz. Based in New York, Ateaz operates an online boutique selling artisan organic coffee and tea blends.

Ateaz offers a variety of blends and flavors of tea. Browsing the site, I'd say there's something for every taste. For example, there are lots of loose teas, from black tea to chai tea to dessert tea to detox tea. You can order the loose teas in sample zip pouches that give you enough tea to make five to seven cups and try the tea before ordering in larger amounts. And the site also has lots of tea accessories for sale, such as infusers and teapots.

As for organic coffee, you can find all manner of roasts, from light to dark. And there are decaf as well as caffeinated blends. When I visited the site, the featured coffee was an Organic Ethiopian Yergacheffee (Medium Dark Roast); this coffee was described on the site as peppery and zesty. You can get more of an idea about each roast by reading the individual descriptions on the site, as well as customer reviews that have been posted.

Another great fact about Ateaz is that they offer free shipping on any order, anywhere in the United States. Learn more at www.aateaz.com. It's definitely an affordable place to check out some organic beverages, and you may find a new favorite or two.

How to Make Sure that the Coffee Business Will Work for You

The following is a guest post provided by Cafe2U, a pioneer of the mobile cafe industry in countries all over the world.

Why is the coffee shop business worth investing in? Because nowadays this is the place to be, next to one's home and office, where people spend time to relax and unwind. It is estimated that one out of five people all over the world are coffee drinkers, and most of them consume an average of two or three cups a day. People frequent coffee shops for varying reasons, of course, but you can summarize it into three.

• They love coffee, and they can't survive a day without a dose of caffeine.
• They feel relaxed in the ambiance of the café with a homey interior and classy, jazzy music.
• A coffee shop is a perfect place either for solitary moments or for a chill night out with friends.

So when you think of a new business venture, the coffee shop business should be at the top of your list. With proper management and the best marketing strategies, you can surely earn a satisfying ROI over a year. Like any business, though, a coffee business requires a lot of hard work, research, and determination. You'll have to check twice on everything from location, menu, and employees, to your counter's layout and the preferred coffee shop ambiance.

Before you decide to buy coffee shops for sale, you should carefully deliberate first and analyze the situation. You can always find the best coffee shop for sale, but the question here is whether you're ready to take the next step.

First, you need to smooth out your business plan. It's cool to have a unique concept for your coffee shop, but will your financial capability allow it? Is the idea feasible? Once you clearly map out your venture, then you can start digging for information that will help on your endeavor.

When you're already at the stage of looking out for the best coffee shops for sale, always make the location a primary consideration. The success of a business majorly depends on the potential of its location. Check out the foot traffic in the area. Make an ocular around the vicinity. There might be other enterprises of the same line that can greatly affect the sales of your business. Also, do research on whether there are plans to develop the area in the future.

Never compromise the design of your coffee shop. This is often the strongest selling point of the business next to the coffee itself. People drink coffee to relax and find relief from the stress of daily demands. They need a cozy place that will make them feel better. So when you're looking for coffee shops for sale, always consider the quality of the interior and if it's possible to renovate it according to your desired looks.

Meet David Lee-Schneider, Barista Coach and Cafe Consultant

David Lee-Schneider has been working in the hospitality industry for more than a decade. He's been invited by businesses in Europe, China, and Australia as a cafe business consultant and barista coach. David is the founder of Barista Jam, a website where baristas and latte artists from around the world can share their latte art and learn from each other.

1. What inspired you to start Barista Jam, and how has the project grown over time?

I have always been fascinated by coffee and have been working in the coffee industry for almost a decade. When I first started to learn latte art, I was very excited and wanted to share my progress with others, posting my art on Facebook and Twitter. But I soon realized that my friends always posted nice comments, but didn't really understand much about what it takes to pour a perfectly symmetric rosetta, for example. That's when I started thinking about building a platform where baristas from around the globe could share their artwork, learn from each other, and get inspired. I was simply stunned when I realized that over two thousand latte art images had been submitted, just within a few months of launching BaristaJam.com. Now, every day you can find dozens of new inspiring images on the website.

2. How do most people learn to create latte art (trial and error, with the help of friends/coworkers...)?

I guess the way most people learn is to simply dive into it and practice as much as they can. Then there are courses you can take, that give you an overview about different techniques you can use. But you'll still have to go out and practice for yourself. From my experience, I can say that it takes a minimum of three months until you manage to get a little more consistent results. But really, you never stop learning.

3. Can anyone upload photos to Barista Jam? What about videos?

At this stage photos are the medium we chose to use. Anyone is welcome to share their latte art, no matter what stage you are at. It's a great way to get feedback from others and maybe some tips on what you can do to improve. We are currently working on a video tutorial section that will help people to see how all the different patterns are created.

4. How did you get your own start as a barista, and could you talk a little bit about your current work as a coach/consultant?

I've been working in the hospitality industry for over a decade now. At one stage of my career I started moving from making cocktails to making coffee. I fell in love with the specialty coffee industry--all the different ways of blending, roasting, and brewing coffee, and a few years ago decided to start teaching coffee making classes and share my knowledge with other passionate people. During that time café owners and businesses from various countries approached me to help them start up or transform their café businesses. Being able to help people transform their businesses and lives is my biggest pleasure and gets me out of bed every morning.

5. For people who love making lattes at home but haven't worked/trained as baristas, what would you recommend they do if they want to take their latte art skills to the next level?

To create perfect latte art you don't just need skill, but also the right equipment. First, you need an espresso machine that has a steam wand, so you can steam milk to the right temperature and texture. The texture is the biggest factor in creating beautiful latte art. There are countless videos on the internet that teach you how to extract the perfect espresso and texture milk the right way. Ones you know how to do that, jump on BaristaJam.com and get creative!

Thanks, David!