Given coffee’s ubiquitous status as a drink for all nations and classes, it is not surprising to see it appear in some famous quotable quotes. From US presidents, poets, renowned authors and traditional sayings right the way to comedians and film directors, here are ten of the best coffee-related quotes, pulled from a library of many hundreds that have surfaced in global pop culture over hundreds of years.

“Coffee has two virtues: it is wet and warm.” Dutch Proverb

“Coffee, which makes the politician wise and see through all things with his half-shut eyes.” Alexander Pope.

“I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon.” Ronald Reagan.

“I like cappuccino, actually. But even a bad cup of coffee is better than no coffee at all.” David Lynch.

“I like my coffee like I like my women. In a plastic cup.” Eddie Izzard.

“If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.” Abraham Lincoln.

“It seems to me that trying to live without friends is like milking a bear to get cream for your morning coffee. It is a whole lot of trouble and then not worth much after you get it.” Zora Neale Hurston.

“Cocaine is like really evil coffee.” Courtney Love.

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.” T. S. Eliot.

“Like everyone else who makes the mistake of getting older, I begin each day with coffee and obituaries.” Bill Cosby.

10 Top Coffee quotes is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

Usually better know for its fond affliction for tea, the North West of the UK could become known for its lavender latte, if Claire Cheetham’s Lancashire lavender latte creates its desired impact.

Currently working for one of a leading coffee chain’s outlets in Preston, the 22 year old is hoping that her unconventional combination, blending coffee with lavender and honey, will win her the title of the company’s Barista of the Year.

Set to compete head to head with seven other contestants from the north of England and Scotland, to see who can produce the fastest and best quality cup of coffee, Claire will also be attempting to secure her crown by impressing judges with her lavender latte in the competition’s creative round.

Commenting on her unique creation, the young contestant said, “My signature drink came about by setting up the counter like Heston Blumenthal’s kitchen and doing lots of experimenting,” helping her achieve “just the right balance between the freshly ground roast coffee and the sweetness of the lavender and honey milk.”

Customers of the coffee chain can apparently sample Claire’s creation at the Preston outlet until Monday, in return for a donation to the business’s foundation that supports the welfare of coffee-producing communities in countries such as Colombia, Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Guatemala, Uganda.

The regional finals will then take place on Wednesday, with the winner of the UK finals in October going on to take part in a global competition, where participants will be rigorously tested on their knowledge of their industry for the chance to win a once in a lifetime trip.

Calming Lavender Could be Hot Contender is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

As a result of Peru signing a free trade agreement (FTA) in August 2010 after 18 months in negotiation, Peruvian coffee beans, avocado and asparagus could soon be appearing on Korean supermarket shelves, subject to parliamentary approval on both sides, according to reports.

Based on information disclosed by the Peruvian ambassador in Korea, Marcela Lopez Bravo, there are high expectations for the entry of South American agricultural products into the Asian market.

Marking a significant step in the advancement of the Peruvian export industry, gaining a new market is of considerable importance, as Lopez Bravo revealed, particularly since an increased volume of trade could lead to the establishment of direct air connections. The ambassador is said to have been campaigning for the setting up of such flights between Incheon the country’s capital of Lima.

Expected to increase by an impressive 500 per cent over the forthcoming five year period, the Korea-Peru trade volume currently stands at a reported US$1.7 billion.

With Chile currently representing Korea’s first and sole FTA in the geographical region, the question has been raised as to whether Peru will be challenging this position. However the ambassador’s viewpoint is that the two country’s offerings bring something quite different.

In other Peruvian coffee news, exports grew by 28 per cent during the first half of 2010, attributed to the improvement of local production and international prices. As has been revealed by the Association of Exports, the country’s coffee output grew by four per cent in volume and to US$153.5 million during the period.

FTA Brings Coffee and Other Commodities to Korea is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

If you want to produce coffee that is fresh and flavoursome on a large scale then you should consider a coffee grinder as a worthy investment. We sell a number of coffee grinders from market leader Brasilia and there are plenty of different options to meet the varying needs of coffee shop owners and catering businesses.

The Brasilia RR55 OD is an on demand coffee grinder, which means that the beans remain intact until you need to use them. A button press is all it takes to kick the machine into action and it will accurately measure a single or double shot and grind the beans in real time. It can be set to grind larger amounts depending on your requirements and – unlike many other grinder brands – some consideration has been given to the operational noise levels, so at 69 decibels you will not drown out the conversation every time you need to grind. Working at full steam this coffee grinder will get through 9kg of beans in an hour, but its 1.2KG storage chamber should give you enough room to breathe.

The light weight Brasilia RR45 PST Deli Coffee Grinder is designed to dispense into individual coffee bags ideal for a deli coffee shop. It also shares the same hourly output as the RR55 whilst opting for a subtle black design that is suitable for every decor. The flat grinder blades and auto stop mechanism make this ideal for any busy deli shop that sells quality coffee.

coffee shouldn’t be a grind is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

Although we sell many different products which offer advanced, complex functions, for businesses that simply need good old fashioned boiling hot water on tap, our selection of water boilers will be able to provide this facility quickly and efficiently.

One such device is the Bunn H5MA Boiler, which has a 7.57 litre capacity and can help to prepare drinks or food items. In an hour it will be able to produce boiling water at a rate of 79 litres and you can control the temperature to an precise degree to ensure that you are able to get consistent results when preparing items such as oatmeal, gravy and mash.

The Marco Auto Fill Water Boiler Aquarius 15 is ideal for smaller operations, with its maximum hourly output of 28 litres allowing you to produce 156 piping hot cups of coffee or tea. It can automatically refill the storage tank, requiring plumbed into the mains water supply to achieve this. The stainless steel body is not only attractive but is also easy to clean.

The Marco Ecoboiler T10 offers identical specifications to the Aquarius 15 in terms of hourly output, but it is built to increase the efficiently of its operation, which means less heat is wasted and your energy bills will be lower.

Whichever water boiler you choose, make sure that you read the specifications carefully and pick one which is appropriate for your kitchen or place of work, as the various models we sell are designed for a wide range of very different circumstances.

Get Into Hot water is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

Some people prefer their coffee with a spot of milk. Some enjoy it with cream and plenty of sugar and the most hard core coffee lovers take it black. However, there are some weird and wonderful beverages which also harness coffee in imaginative and sometimes unlikely ways and these are just a few of the front runners.

Those who feel that coffee is lacking that supreme horseradish style kick that only wasabi sauce can provide will be interested to know that at least one individual in the world has tried out this slightly off-putting mix for himself and posted the results in a video online. It is safe to say that this kind of coffee will not get a mainstream following, but it is certainly something that might be worth trying once.

For a more regal take on the humble coffee we have to turn to Prussia’s Fredrick the Great, who according to legend would take his mixed up with mustard and champagne. This concoction is made even more bizarre because Mr The Great decided to outlaw coffee amongst the general population during his rule, which is surely double standards.

If you head to Africa for your coffee you might find that it has a few added extras that you would not find in the west. In Morocco they are fairly fond of putting some peppercorn into the mix, whilst Ethiopia has a penchant for popping some salt into coffee rather than sugar to take it in completely the opposite direction.

Weird coffee drinks is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

Coffee is a commodity that, such as any other resource, will see its price fluctuate over time. The growth in the popularity of coffee shops and home coffee making equipment has made the price rise incrementally, but in the last few years this increase has become steeper, with record highs being hit in recent months.

In 2010 the price of coffee beans rose by 34 per cent and as a result the price of a cup of coffee from any commercial retail outlet has risen to accommodate this boom. The main reason for the price increase is a squeeze in the supply chain which has left the sought after product more expensive and scarce than ever before.

Some industry experts believe that the price of coffee beans will continue to soar, although because of the global popularity of the product most are convinced that people will continue to buy coffee with the same regularity and in the same numbers.

Coffee production in Columbia has fallen and there are hopes that Brazil’s exports will be able to plug the gap.

Experts estimate that coffee would have to almost double in price from its current high in order to put off developed nations such as America and the UK from buying it and for the time being the record high prices are not knocking back the coffee lovers from partaking of their morning brew.

The price of green coffee beans is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

By encouraging, or by giving their clientele no other option than to stand, bar owners view the counter style set-up as a way of creating a new buzz within their outlets with quick, convivial exchanges and, it is hoped, a higher throughput for their businesses.

Whilst the standing option may suit the busier modern day customer, a combined study by the University of Exeter, UK and Bilkent University, Turkey into the role of coffee houses in the evolution of today’s consumer culture offers some fascinating insight.

Delving deep into the history of coffee establishments in the Ottoman Empire from the 1950s, the researchers found that these early outlets offered far more than hot beverages and were viewed as controversial enterprises.

Patrons of these ancient coffee houses were apparently amused with gambling, drugs, music and dance, amongst other entertainment. As such, the early day coffee outlets clashed strongly with the religious moral principles of the period (orthodox Islam) and were viewed as sinful and illegal.

However, coffee houses went on to flourish and during the following two centuries, Ottomans from all positions in society met to indulge in coffee, socialise and engage in literary discussions. From this point on, a new Ottoman consumer formed and was one that resisted the state and its religion’s prescriptions, instead finding its own direction and enabling the coffee culture as we know it today to fully unfurl.

Higher Hopes for Standing Room Only Coffee Bars is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

Bean to cup coffee machines facilitate the process of making speciality coffees at the touch of a button. Equipped with built-in coffee grinders, this increasingly popular type of machine is able to grind the beans, brew the coffee, steam or foam the milk and to dispense perfect lattes and cappuccinos.

Of growing interest, particularly in environments where high throughput is required and speed is of the essence, bean to cup coffee machines are an increasingly strong solution; requiring only minimal training and reducing the requirement for numerous staff – although basic daily cleaning is essential. They are also ideally suited to outlets where self-service options are needed.

Our new selection of automatic bean to cup coffee machines have been chosen because of their ease of use, reliability and the superior tasting coffee they produce. Offering excellent consistency and the best quality coffee possible, all the automatic machines listed use fresh beans and fresh milk unless otherwise specified.

Already supplying a considerable range of the increasingly popular bean to cup coffee machine, we have added several new models to our portfolio, further enabling us to meet the needs of all coffee outlets.

Of our new additions, the CS2600f, CS3600f and CS3600i have already become our best selling units, all finished with a simple yet elegant stainless steel exterior, which is hard wearing and easy to clean and all capable of producing up to 100 cups per day. Moreover their intuitive touch pads and LCD displays render the units perfect for self service locations or for staff usage with minimal guidance.

Producing drinks of coffee shop quality at the touch of a button, the CS2600f model has eight different hot beverage options to choose from, whilst the CS3600f and CS3600i versions can produce up to 12 different drinks. An added benefit of the CS2600f is its built-in 3.5 litre water tank for remote site usage; however the unit can equally be operated in a mains-fed capacity.

Meanwhile the CS3600f model has two individual powder canisters to allow for hot chocolate, mocha and decaf coffee options, whilst the CS3600i has a single extra powder canister to give the additional choices of hot chocolate and mocha drinks.

Also newly available are our CS4600f, CS4600i models, as well as our flagship high capacity CS5600f and CS5600i units. Both CS4600 models can produce up to 300 cups daily and again use fresh beans and milk to produce the highest possible quality of coffee, with user-friendly intuitive touch pads and LCD displays offering up to 12 different drinks. The main point of differentiation of these models over the CS2600 and CS3600 versions are their three powder canisters, which allow for more powdered drink options, including hot chocolate, mocha and decaf coffee, amongst others.

The CS5600 units meanwhile, are capable of producing up to 500 cups a day, use both fresh beans and milk to ensure the best resulting coffee and have three powder canisters for a greater hot beverage selection. They are also capable of producing two drinks simultaneously and have twin grinders with 48mm conical blades for improved grinding and longer life. They are also armed with dual bean hoppers and two boilers for faster service, essentially doubling up on all functionalities to ensure their high capacity.

Like the CS2600, CS3600 and CS4600 models, both of our new flagship CS5600 high volume models also boast intuitive, user-friendly touch pads and LCD displays, which are again perfect for any self service requirements or for staff usage with minimal training. In terms of additional technical benefits, these models have a programmable water time and ground coffee counter, powder pulse functions, an automatic cleaning cycle and a de-scaling system.

In short, our new CS5600 models – which can be supplied with steam wands as an optional extra – are versatile high capacity units, combining technical innovation with ease of operation and brewing excellence in a stylish modern package. We are confident that these units will meet the exacting demands of any high volume outlet. Furthermore, the full metal body of both units is hard wearing, simple to clean (requiring just a couple of minutes at the end of the business day) and simple yet elegant in design.

With attractive prices and interesting deals available on our entire new CS bean to cup coffee machine range, there is likely to be a solution for you. Packaging your chosen machine with sundry items such as coffee beans, sugar sachets, powdered drinks, crockery, latte glasses and water filters, as well as offering free delivery, free installation and training, you will be up and running and serving high quality coffees in no time.

Take a look at our full range of Bean To Cup Coffee Machines

Our New Bean to Cup Coffee Machines is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd

In its first ever Coffee Chess Challenge, Stourbridge Chess Club challenged coffee enthusiasts to test the improvements in mental acuity to be had through the consumption of their favourite brew in a nail-biting chess game.

Taking place on 14 August, members of the public were invited to step up to the bar and to compete against their top players.

Julie Wilson, one of the club’s members, reported that the event was a success, however only a small number of coffee drinkers were courageous enough to go up against the club’s so-called master players in pursuit of a free cup of coffee.

One chess enthusiast that did step out of the crowd was locally-based Geoff Harris, by all accounts a previous member of the club. Mr. Harris was the sole challenger to earn himself a free drink at the expense of his opponent.

In other coffee news, a new coffee and chocolate shop has opened in Cambridge. Called Jocalette, the outlet is a family-run enterprise and offers coffee, tea, chocolates, sandwiches, various cakes and snacks as well as some small gift items.

Owned by Gill and Peter Pederson, the pair, as far as they are realistically able, ensure that all their products are sourced locally, organically and from sustainable sources, with understanding the provenance of the products/ingredients they use of considerable importance.

In terms of the coffee they use, this is a blend of two Brazilian offerings, both from family-run businesses, as well as another from Nicaragua.

No Check Mate with Free Cup of Coffee is a post from: Caffe Society Blog This feed and all content © 2010 Caffe Society Ltd