Have you ever seen a sand mandala? It is truly a thing of beauty – I saw one a few years ago made by monks in a garden in Glastonbury – thousands and thousands of grains of coloured sand had been formed into a stunning pattern which looked a little like a beautiful carpet. At the end of the exhibition, the mandala would be destroyed… Along similar lines, the Guinness Book of Records has a new entrance but rather than using grains of sand to create a beautiful design, this time the substance which has been painstakingly arranged is coffee beans. The artist comes from Albania and he has created a mosaic out of coffee beans in the design of five musicians – a Brazilian dancer, two drummers – one from Japan and one from Africa, an American country singer and a European accordion player.
It is said that he used a million beans to make the mosaic. As such, he has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest mosaic made using this medium. Apparently, the materials weighed round 140g.
Strati is not a newcomer to record-breaking – this is in fact his sixth entry in the Record Books. He has also made a nail-portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci, used toothpicks to make a horse design and created a Michael Jackson image with paint brushes, a screw-image of Homer and also used corks from wine bottles to make a scenic picture of the Mediterranean. We wonder what he has up his sleeve for his next trick…
Posted by Dennis on the 20th December 2011
As reported in the South Wales Argus, things are going very nicely for Esher Apoussidis, thank you very much. The business lady from the Blackwood area has had great success with her recent endeavour – a coffee shop which goes by the name of Coffee Continental.
The coffee shop was opened in September last year in Marketplace and already Mrs Apoussidis has been awarded the Caerphilly Women in Business Award for her enterprise. This shrewd business lady has used quality of product to woo customers into the shop. Apparently, Coffee Continental has over 20 coffee blends and a menu of various paninis from around the world. Mrs Apoussidis has also tailored her menus as a result of her market research with customers, listening to their likes and dislikes and suggestions. This, of course, is the essence of a good business – to focus and adapt to customer tastes and demands.
Mrs Apoussidis has been reported as enjoying baking and her spouse is also experienced in managing a restaurant – both skills are useful in running the new Coffee Continental successfully. This is no mean feat, incidentally, as the couple have three children and Mrs Apoussidis also does some part-time work in information technology.
Not content with her award, Mrs Apoussidis also won the second prize in another category – the Keeping Up Appearances category. This award looks at businesses which have improved the cleanliness of the environment.
Coffee Continental is obviously on the up and up…
Posted by Phil on the 19th December 2011
Perhaps India is not the first country you think of when you ponder coffee-loving nations, but, in fact, India’s involvement in the industry is considerable. According to reports in the Business Standard, there is likely to be an increase in the output of the product this year. By how much? The published figures suggest estimates of some 6.7%. This may mean that India has a yield of around 322,250 tonnes for the year 2011-2012, from information prepared by the Coffee Board.
What is the reason for this good news? Some are saying that it is caused by the climate in the main coffee-growing areas. In particular, the Chairman of the Coffee Board has talked about the ‘carryover’ of moisture from rains which has helped the plants to develop and grow. As the rainfall was not too localised, but was more well-distributed, this has also had an effect on the length of time that this ‘carryover’ is effective.
The crop which has the highest likely increase in output is the Arabica coffee bean. It is expected that there will be an increase of 11% from last year and that the yield will be some 104,525 tonnes. This, of course, is a very popular coffee bean. Another stalwart coffee bean, Robusta, is also expected to improve on last year with an increase of about 4.75%.
In addition to all this good news, the Indian coffee industry will also get a boost with the 3 day India International Coffee Festival, scheduled for January 2012.
Posted by Dennis on the 16th December 2011
If you have spent any time in Australia, the odds are that you may have tried the coffee from the chain Di Bella Coffee. It is a company that is going places. It has won awards. It is growing quickly – published figures indicate that it sells some 2.2 million cups of coffee each week. And now, it has its sights on new horizons – Indian horizons to be precise.
The Aussie company is reported to have plans to open several new coffee outlets in Mumbai at the beginning of 2012. It is thought that there will be six such outlets to begin with and there are also plans, apparently, to spread to other Indian cities, such as Bangalore and Delhi.
To begin with, a team eight people strong will start in Mumbai to get ready for the grand opening. They will also be on the look out for employees who have the appropriate skills for good quality food and beverage industry service. The team is expected to hire around 50 people – and even after their employment begins, they will have some training for a few weeks.
The company has tried to make a name for itself in good quality coffee – it uses premium A grade coffee beans and has prepared three of its signature coffee blends for use in India, as the first such international coffee chain in the country. There are a variety of carefully selected beans in each blend.
Posted by Dennis on the 15th December 2011
Let’s face it – traditionally speaking the Chinese have not been known for their coffee-drinking. Tea, as we all know, has been considered the drink of China.
However, for some time now, coffee is making an inroad into the enormous country. There are Western coffee chains in the country and, surprisingly, a coffee chain called Pacific Coffee (which started life in Hong Kong) also has 18 coffee shops in China. It is a fast-growing chain which is, arguably, an indicator of the growing Chinese love of the beverage. Last year Pacific Coffee had only five such shops. According to reports, they hope to have some 50 coffee outlets around the beginning of next year and the longer term target is to have a thousand coffee shops in the country.
So what is the key to the success of this fast-growing company? It is said that it has tailored its menu to the local Chinese market and has created some special drinks targeted at the tastes of the local clients. What sort of preparations are for sale? Ever heard of a ‘Huadiao mocha’? Perhaps not. It is a mixture of Chinese yellow wine and a mocha blend. Or perhaps you would be surprised to see ‘Er Wotou chilino’ on the menu: an iced coffee with the Er Wotou liquor for a bit of a kick.
Given the new, unusual coffee alcohol mixes, you would perhaps be interested to learn that the Pacific Coffee chain was 80% acquired by China Resources Enterprise, which specialises in wine.
Photo: Matt Dean
Posted by Matt on the 14th December 2011
Although the strict time limits for the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning have come and gone (the formal date for the event was 30 September), the population of the country still continues to show enormous support for the charity which organised the campaign, Macmillan Cancer Support. Many of us will be affected, either directly or indirectly, by the disease and huge support is shown to the organisation by coffee morning fund-raising.
In fact, things continue apace. Pete and Diane Wheatley have recently organised another coffee morning in aid of the charity. The sums raised amounted to some £277, as a result of all the coffee-sipping, cake-nibbling, gift and jewellery-buying and, of course, the coffee morning staple, the raffle.
The profile of the event was raised as the Mayor of the Market Deeping, the venue of the coffee morning, attended too.
The Macmillan Cancer Support is a subject close to the Wheatley’s heart – sadly, cancer has claimed the lives of loved ones and so they appreciate on a very personal level, what a wonderful job the charity does in providing support and practical advice to those who are affected and need assistance during their dark days.
The couple has organised events in the past, similar to the recent coffee morning, but had taken a break for a few years. Now they are back with refreshed vigour and zest for the fund-raising events of the future. Long may this continue to help those who need the aid of the charity so much.
Posted by Matt on the 13th December 2011
As reported online recently, there have been some findings about the effects of caffeine on our memories. Although many of us will be familiar with the way that our morning cup of coffee can kick start the day, we were perhaps not aware that it may also have a positive effect our memories.
A study by Nature Neuroscience has suggested that caffeine may affect the hippocampus. What is this? It is part of our brain and it has been said that, at present, humans are not using this element as efficiently as they could. What does it do? It is the part of our brain which deals with special memory and also the conversion of short term recollections into long term memories.
Scientists have experimented on rodents (not humans, yet) and it was noticed that the electrical currents to the hippocampus were boosted after caffeine consumption by the animals.
What does this mean? Some have reported that there may be the potential for this observation to help treatment of certain brain disorders. At a less optimistic level, perhaps it could also give an appropriate kick to our hippocampus to help improve memories too.
Of course, further research needs to be done, but it is always encouraging, isn’t it, when something that is delicious to eat and which gives pleasure to the senses, may actually be doing us some good? If caffeine is a memory boosting substance then our daily fix and trip to the local coffee house can be more and more justified.
Photo: Dixons Electrical
Posted by Matt on the 12th December 2011
There is a growing movement among discerning customers to choose products and food produce that is ethical. From looking for free range eggs, hunting down locally-sourced seasonal produce, to choosing Fairtrade products, it seems that the world is changing and developing more of a conscience.
A new coffee shop which has opened recently in Clinton, America, has also this ethos in mind. As well as selling Fairtrade products, according to reports, Coffeelands World Gifts Espresso Café has gone one step further.
What does the coffee shop do that is different? As well as selling the more usual products, such as beverages and homemade edible treats, the café also sells a variety of gifts from around the world, with an emphasis on coffee growing communities.
For instance, the shop’s owner, Ms Kane, bought several jumpers on a recent trip to Peru – but they are jumpers with a difference. The person who made them was blinded by a land mine as a child and after being helped by the Polus Center for Social and Economic Development, with the purchase of a knitting machine, he now creates many wonderful jumpers despite his disability.
The owner of the new café gift shop wants to make sure that her products are accessible and affordable and therefore aims to keep prices reasonable. Ms Kane has also been quoted as confirming that as well as supporting people like the blinded land mine victim, she wants to provide ‘competitive employment’ for the disabled in her shop too.
Posted by Dennis on the 8th December 2011
It seems that local banks do have a caring side – RBS Banchory have been in the news recently as they have helped a charity by hosting a coffee morning. Who was the charity and why was the coffee morning held?
The charity is called Home-Start Deeside. It is an organisation made up of volunteers and they aim to promote family life and the positive sides of it. Assistance is free and confidential. Volunteers visit families at home to help with parenting issues, or offer support and practical help for matters relating to family life. There is an emphasis, too, on drawing out the best in parents so that they can pass the benefit of their strengths onto their children. It aims to teach family members to have fun as part of their family life.
This is an excellent charity for RSB Banchory to host. It was a useful fund-raising affair but also helped to raise awareness of the charity and the good that it can do.
Of course, the locals could get together for a natter and drink some coffee as a social way to spend the morning. There was also a food hamper raffle and the bank staff had time to network a little with their clients and customers too.
The bank also used the event to make the locals aware of their new opening times which helps those who are unable to get to the bank on a weekday.
Posted by Dennis on the 7th December 2011
The Horncastle Ladies Club have been in the news recently. Why? Because they have been raising funds for some of the local churches through the time-honoured tradition of a coffee morning. Which churches are to benefit from the ladies’ efforts? St Mary’s Church which is located in Horncastle and St Margaret’s Church in Thimbleby are the two recipients of the funds which were raised at the coffee morning.
The sums raised were £377. As well as sipping a cup of coffee, there was also a guest speaker at the event. Who was it? Kay Chambers attended the event to talk to the group about raising funds for another good cause – St Barnabas Hospice.
This organisation prides itself on being the county’s leading independent hospice. It provides care to those who have a life-threatening illness and in the previous year, some two thousand people benefited from the care of those working for the St Barnabas Hospice.
Fortunately for those who need the help of the organisation, it is free, but the down side is that the St Barnabas Hospice relies on fundraising to provide their all-important services. According to reports of Ms Chambers’ speech, some £3.1 million is needed each year to ensure that the organisation continues to provide this service.
St Barnabas Hospice Trust started in 1979 and in 1982, the nursing home was bought by the organisation on Lindum Terrace in Lincoln. Since then it has gone from strength to strength. By 1994 it had five day care centres in the county.
Posted by Dennis on the 6th December 2011
