The Best Selling Coffees in the US

Drinking coffee is a matter of taste, it is impossible to say that this brand is good and the other is bad, some people like it mild and others like it strong, some like it with an earth taste and others like it bitter. The truth is that there is no good or bad answer to which is the best coffee in the world. The top three coffee brands in the United States are chosen not because of their quality but because of their sales per year compared to others.


The top seller in the past three years is the Via Ready brew which is sold by Starbucks. The blend was introduced to the market in 2009 and made one hundred million dollars in that year alone. Today in 2011, it has more than doubled and almost tripled its sales. It is prepared in espresso machines and also in pods for people to serve themselves. The blend of coffees used is a secret which belongs to Starbucks. It is a medium roast coffee with little color and an earthy taste. It is terrific to be able to make all those specialty coffees Starbuck’s makes and sells in your home.

Second in line is the Caribou blending which is owned and sold by Green Mountain Coffees. This is also a medium roast blend with great taste and aroma. It is made by Green Mountain for home use with percolators; it is ground for espresso machines and for pods too. You will find it in Dunkin Donuts pods all over the country in the fall of 2011. If it is accepted and liked by Dunkin Donut customers it will probably become number one in the country. Caribou sales in grocery chains and independent stores produced over $120 million in 2010.

The third runner up followed by a very close behind fourth is Folgers, the fourth is Celestial Seasonings, these two are also owned and roasted by Green Mountains Coffees. They are both blended for use with espresso machines and pods; they are blended to be used in special Coffee shop drinks and mixes. Both coffees are for people who enjoy a mild, soft roasted brand with little bitterness and after taste. Sales in 2010, even with the recession almost reached the one hundred million level, the deal with Dunkin Donuts will probably send both of them over that line and beyond.

So go visit your nearest grocery store and enjoy one of the above mentioned brands of coffee. I think you will be glad you did! The other option is to visit your nearest Seattle’s Best or Dunkin Donuts for a fresh brewed cup of coffee that will certainly please your taste buds. While your at it enjoy a glazed doughnut as well.

Dave Lashier writes Espresso Machine Reviews for such machines as Mr Coffee Espresso Machine. Please visit EspressoMachineReviews.biz to find great prices on Espresso Machines!

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Barista Training Classes – 5 Things To Look For

The term “barista” hails from the Italian language and refers in that language to a bartender who serves both coffee and alcoholic drinks. However, in North America, the term overwhelmingly refers to those who are adept at operating a commercial espresso machine and hand crafting specialty coffee beverages.
In fact, most coffee house baristas do much more than just make a superior shot of espresso. They now possess a wide-ranging set of skills, including how to make hand-crafted coffee using a French Press, Chemex or Hario V60 dripper, how to care for the espresso equipment, and how do latte art.
Given the dramatic rise in popularity of independent and chain coffee shops and coffee houses in the United States over the past two decades, there is an increasing number of employment opportunities for people to work as baristas.

People are attracted to working in the specialty Coffee industry for a number of reasons. Mastery of the ability to serve excellent coffee and espresso drinks takes time and training, so there is understandably a sense of pride that accompanies becoming an accomplished barista. Also, many people enjoy working in and around coffee houses, given the unique ambience and general feel that many of them possess.
If you are considering becoming a professional barista – or if you just want to learn how to make an amazing shot of espresso – you will benefit from getting the proper training in advance.
Here are 5 things to look for in barista training classes:

1. Focuses on a range of required techniques:

Anybody who has ever observed a barista in action may be tempted to underestimate the various feats being performed before their very eyes. A good barista can make it all look so simple. However, there is much to know in order to master the skills of a professional.
Make sure that the barista training class you are considering exposes you to the following skill sets: Espresso history, science and theory, grinder and espresso machine basics, grinder adjustment, proper espresso distribution and dosing, tamping technique, shot timing and extraction, proper milk steaming and texturing, pouring technique, classic drink preparation (espresso, cappuccino, latte, macchiato, Americano, and mocha), latte art, equipment cleaning, and customer service. You should also check to make sure the barista training classes you are considering also cover some of the other coffee brewing methods such as: hand pour-over drip coffee from a Chemex or a Hario V60, a French press, and a vacuum filtration siphon pot.

2. Exposes you to different types of machines and equipment:

As can be imagined, there is a wide range of different types of espresso machines and equipment on the market. A good barista training course will thoroughly explain components and specifications. It will also review how to select the appropriate equipment for different applications. And, it also covers machine cleaning and maintenance techniques.

3. Reviews management-level considerations:

The course should expose you to a general knowledge of coffee shop operations, coffee shop efficiency, coffee sourcing, finding good suppliers, and preserving coffee freshness and quality through proper storage.

4. Small class sizes:

 
Particularly important is to look for a coffee school that offers small class sizes. Ask about their ratio of instructors to students.
 

5. Tailored to different student needs and learning styles:

Finally, ask about their teaching philosophy. The coffee school you choose for your training class should be one that places an emphasis on each student’s unique learning style. You need patient instructors who understand that each student has varying levels of background knowledge about the coffee business – and each one takes in information differently. You should avoid schools offering one-size-fits-all teaching styles for your training experience.

Consider these 5 things to look for in your next barista training class.

To find more from Tom Vincent or to learn more about coffee education, barista training, and coffee company consulting – check out Texas Coffee School or follow Texas Coffee School on Facebook and Twitter (@TXCoffeeSchool).


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Coffee & Caffeine – The Elixirs of Strife

How much coffee can one nation drink? Why not have a cup or ten? Have you noticed that you are on edge, quick to bark or bite and have trouble sleeping? Me, too. It’s all about our coffee consumption, also known as caffeine overdosing. Gotta have that buzz. It’s an addiction, no two ways about it.


Caffeine is one of the most powerful stimulant drugs around, as if you didn’t know. Thank God it’s legal. But, we are caffeinating ourselves at a very self-destructive rate on a daily basis. We could not work without it. We could not “relax” without it. The more you drink, the more you want, the more you need. We all know that the best jolt comes after the first cup. After that, the effects are quite diminished. It just gets to be absurd having to drink, drink, drink one more cup. But, we do.

I love nothing more than getting up early (because I can’t sleep worth a darn, and never have) and firing up the computer right along with a nice strong pot of mud made from gourmet beans that I grind myself. It smells so good and tastes so good, for a while anyway. Then, the tension mounts. I am jumpy. My hands have tiny caffeine tremors, my gut is burning, and then I get hungry. Yes, Coffee really does increase your appetite, especially when you’ve been sitting at a computer letting words pour off your finders for hours. It’s an endless cycle.

I absolutely know my life would be much better if I could give it up. But, being the man of many vices that I am, I realize it’s gonna be one steep uphill climb and a half. I’ve done it before. And, it really pays off. You actually end up having much more energy naturally than drinking cup after cup can ever give you. The caffeine buzz is fleeting while the natural one is not.

And, then there’s the weight thing. The exhilaration gives way to tension then immense hunger. All the exercise in the world can’t combat that, though I keep trying to offset this unending cycle. What would it feel like to be naturally buzzed? From my past experiences, it’s quite nice. But then, you smell one too many whiffs of great-smelling java and you’re toast. And, the rush from that first cup after abstinence is almost too much to describe. Man, it is so awesome. But, it’s not only very self-destructive, it’s a lie, dang it.

I really am into making some big dietary changes to my life. I’m sick of huffing and puffing during racquetball, skiing, biking and walking up stairs. I need to lose 40 pounds…at least. I look forward to it. But, it won’t be easy. It’s a risk-reward kind of thing. Maybe if I can just get through the withdrawal process, weaning myself little by little, and then start reaping the rewards, I’ll be on my way to a new habit-forming lifestyle of healthy choices without that demon coffee plaguing me and begging to rejoin my life.

Tobacco, you’re next!

Grant Brad Gerver is an entrepreneur and creative consultant for Filibi, an online classified and coupon advertising site and free home business paying 70% commissions to its members. He’s also a YouTube blues singer-songwriter and guitar player (gbgerver) who performs with The Buzzard Brothers. Additionally, Grant writes political humor, thousands of bumper stickers, and humorous movie reviews. He has also worked with various companies as a product-naming specialist. He’s a retired elementary school teacher and published children’s author who works in the health care field.


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