Monthly Archives: January 2014

Wine of Araby! You’re probably thinking of an exotic bottle of wine right now, right? But … that’s not quite what it is. Let me give you a few more hints. In ancient days, some called the wine of Araby the bitter invention of Satan that refreshes, energizes and fuels your creative juices, and fires up conversations. What is this wine of Araby?  Coffee, of course!

In ancient Arabia, coffee houses were called ‘Schools of the Wise’. These were places where one could come, meet friends, gossip, dance, play chess or even conduct business. This was the original social networking platform and even after centuries, coffee continues to be the hot spot around which life happens. And a lot can happen over coffee, right? You can meet your future spouse, have your first date over coffee, find out that a friend is getting married, finalize business plans, enjoy stimulating conversations, launch a website, enjoy a sunset, contemplate on life as you watch it pass by. And if that’s not enough, Time magazine featured an article recently called “How Coffee Could Save Your Life” describing how a healthy habit of drinking coffee could decrease suicidal tendencies. For coffee lovers, the pursuit of that perfect cup of coffee is both elusive and exhilarating and Michaele Weissman, famous author and coffee connoisseur, has beautifully encapsulated this obsession in her book called God in a Cup. The title of the book and its journeys to distant places and exotic lands in pursuit of that “perfect cup” is something coffee lovers can truly identify with.

But you don’t have to be a coffee connoisseur to be on a quest for that perfect cup! And you don’t have to be an Indiana Jones braving adventures in foreign lands to find a coffee shop that brews the perfect cup. I’ve discovered that you can have it right here, right now and right in your home. Here’s how...

First grab a cup, sit down, relish the aroma, sip and relax. Now listen …

You will need coffee, water and brewing equipment. Good coffee is a perfect blend of coffee, good filtered water (preferably RO), right brewing time, the right cup to drink with (smile …) and the right drinking time.

The Coffee: You have to try out different coffees before you decide which one is the best for you. Go for a medium or lighter roast coffee if you want coffee that is less bitter. Ground coffee is what is popularly used, but try buying the original beans and grinding them just before you brew coffee. You would need a burr grinder which grinds the beans evenly but coarse. The finer the grind, the bitter it tastes. Oily beans indicate that the beans are fresh. Dry beans are stale. Store the beans in an airtight container to retain its flavor and not for too long. Ideally buy coffee every 1-2 weeks.

The Coffee maker: You’d need to do some research, experiment and decide the right machine for you and your needs. DailyCuppaCoffee has a variety of home and office coffee makers along with all the accessories and you’ll probably find what you need there. Whether you use a percolator, regular drip, Melitta-style cone filters, French press or Aeropress, it’s important that you keep it clean. Rinse out all the grounds well and use a clean brewer, each time you make coffee.

Water: The water you use makes all the difference in the taste of the coffee. Are you surprised that this can make such a difference? Filtered water, preferably reverse osmosis would be better. Chemicals and salts present in tap water affect the taste of coffee. Heating the water to the right temperature is the next important aspect. Over heating or under heating water both spoil the taste of coffee. The ideal temperature would be 195⁰ to 205⁰ F. Before you pour the water on the ground coffee allow it to rest a minute.

The Right Proportion: The proportion of water and coffee is of utmost importance. You can follow instructions given by the coffee manufacturer or adjust the proportion according to your taste. Coffee aficionados suggest 2 tablespoons coffee for 6 oz of water.

The Brewing time: This is the time the water remains in contact with the coffee ground. It can be anything from 20 to 30 seconds for an espresso or up to 5 minutes for a drip system. That makes a difference in the taste. So go ahead and experiment. Try adding a pinch of salt to the coffee grounds before brewing to make your coffee less bitter.

Time to drink: Pour the coffee in a thick walled mug and drink it right away. If you keep it for more than 20 minutes, it will lose its flavor! And never, never, never reheat coffee! Did I say never? I mean … never! And again, never reuse the grounds. Use fresh grounds each time you make coffee.

Added flavor: And then of course you can add steamed milk, cream, chocolate, a dash of cinnamon for that extra flavor.  Make it a latte, cappuccino or a mocha but whatever you add to it, it should not drown the coffee flavor.

As much as you enjoy drinking coffee, making or brewing coffee at home is also a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Right from the lingering aroma which pervades your home and perks you up, to the taste that satisfies—there’s nothing like making a perfect cup of coffee at home.

If you were to start a small coffee business in the United States, you would have a minimum of 200 million potential customers. It’s a market full of potential.

To begin with, here are some facts and figures. The average intake of coffee in the United States of America has been on the rise in the recent past. Based on a study conducted by the National Coffee Association, statistics show that 83% of adults in the United States drink coffee every day.⁽¹⁾ That would amount to a little bit over two hundred million! ⁽²⁾Obviously to cater to this rapidly growing need the coffee production has also increased immensely over the last few years. In fact, the annual growth rate of coffee shops is estimated to be 7%. ⁽³⁾

Here are 10 more good reasons you might want to consider starting a small bistro or cafe:

 1. After crude oil, coffee is the most sought-after commodity in the world

The worldwide consumption of coffee was 135.6 million bags in 2010 and reached 137.9 million bags in 2011. During the last 12 years consumption increased at an average annual rate of 2.5% making coffee the second highest most traded commodity after crude oil. ^(4-5)

 2. USA is the leading consumer of coffee in the world

America’s average consumption of coffee comes up to about 400 million cups per day. Multiply that by 365 and you have 146 billion cups of coffee per year. This makes the United States of America the world’s largest consumer of coffee.⁽⁶⁾

 3. High profit margin

Once they are fairly popular amongst the local crowd the average coffee shop can serve up to 500 customers a day. So if your average cup of Joe costs $3 you can make up to $1500 a day (this is not including other drinks and snacks that those 500 people might buy along with their coffee). Being a coffee shop, you will have hardly any over head expenses compared to restaurants, so your daily profits are relatively high.

 4. The rise of the coffee shops

In 2011, there were about 20,000 coffee businesses according to research carried out by the SBDC (Small Business Development Centre) network.⁽⁷⁾ Since the annual growth rate of coffee shops is estimated to be 7% (after doing some math I figured out), by the end of 2013 there will be at least 22,900 coffee shops in the USA. The popularity of coffee seems to be ever increasing, so why not get in the game and become a part of that statistic?

 5. The coffee business is growing

In addition to the ever increasing number of coffee shops in the United States, Starbucks has become the third largest restaurant chain in the USA. This is the result obtained after accounting for massive chains like McDonalds and KFC. ⁽⁸⁾ If that doesn’t say coffee is popular, I don’t know what will.

 6.The neighborhood hangout

Seeing that coffee is an integral part of American culture it has held a very special place even in the social world. Coffee shops are a great hangout for youngsters after school and even for adults to unwind after work. It also makes for a convenient rendezvous. 

 7. Coffee Habits

A lot of working people have fallen into the routine of picking up a cup of coffee on their way to work. Some even pick up coffee for their friends or colleagues every day. People also grab coffee on their way back home from work as a way to help them unwind after a long tiring day. So if you were to strategically position your coffee shop, you would get a lot of customers, and we all know what more customers means, right?

 8.  Low start up costs and little training

The startup cost of a new coffee shop can begin on a small capital depending on how you handle your cash. You will need to invest in furniture and of course a splendid coffee machine. The rest is up to you. Creating an ambience in your little cafe doesn’t necessarily have to cost a bomb.

The only training you will require is how to make a decent cup of Joe. Of course since it is a business you will need some training in the business field but if you are considering starting a coffee shop then you probably already have a business degree right?

 9. Coffee is versatile

There is an endless list of the different types of coffees that are sold at coffee shops. Everything from hot, cold, with milk, without milk, with froth, without froth and flavored coffee can be found anywhere you go. So no matter what the temperature, or the time of day there will always be a coffee that suits your customers’ moods. Seasonal variations are always a hit  or you could even try weekly themes. There are plenty of versatile opportunities to market your goods.

 10. Share the love

You have to love coffee! That’s the only sure-fire way to make your coffee business a success. Your passion will infect others and pretty soon, your little café will be the buzz on local social media networks.

So, who’s up for it? Would love to hear your thoughts! 

Resources

 1. “Green coffee shops cut rubbish, but at what cost?” By Megan Snedden, 22 July2013.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20130722-erasing-coffee-shop-waste

2. State and County Quick Facts, United States Census Bureau, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

3.  http://coffee-statistics.com/coffee_statistics_ebook.html

4-5. World consumption of coffee at 137.9 million bags in 2011

Press Trust of India/New Delhi 30 May 12 | 02:43 PM

http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/Marketnews-118651-Marketnewsdet-World_consumption_of_coffee_at_1379_million_bags_in_2011.htm#.UrA53NIW1R4

6. http://coffee-statistics.com/coffee_statistics_ebook.html

7. http://www.sbdcnet.org/small-business-research-reports/coffee-shop-2012

8. Starbucks Is Third-Largest Restaurant Chain, Technomic Says, By Cecile Vannucci, 

April 29, 2011, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-28/starbucks-is-third-largest-u-s-restaurant-chain-technomic-says.html