The Power of Seasonal Coffee Offerings: How to Keep Your Menu Fresh

Your goal as a cafe or restaurant owner is to give your patrons a wonderful and distinctive experience. Our own experience operating cafes has taught us that leveraging the power of seasonal coffee offerings is one efficient method to accomplish this.  Coffee is, after all, more than just a drink; it can be an adventure and a love affair with flavors. As coffee connoisseurs, our mission should be to constantly bring your customers something fresh, something unique, and something exciting.  Below we talk about how to keep your menu fresh, and your customers coming back for more. 

cold brew coffee

Leveraging Seasonal Fresh Crop Coffee

Our seasonal sourcing is one approach to make sure we're giving our consumers the freshest New Crop coffee. This strategy doesn't always include buying in small amounts; instead, it involves timing our purchases to coincide with the natural harvesting seasons for coffee.

Our philosophy on coffee is firmly grounded in a dedication to excellence and freshness. Here is how we accomplish that:

Honey Prep Coffee

Understanding Coffee Harvesting Seasons

Coffee, much like any agricultural product, has a season. Here's a quick look at coffee harvesting seasons in various regions:

These timelines can vary based on several factors like weather and climate conditions. It's essential to stay in constant communication with your suppliers to ensure optimal freshness.

Why Micro-Lot Coffee Is Popular

Our entire coffee selection is sourced seasonally to ensure peak freshness, but we also offer the unique option of micro-lot coffees. With these rare, limited lots, you can give your menu a unique and extraordinary twist. You may have noticed that we regularly release new coffees that are only offered for a brief period of time. Our Burundi Angele Ciza lot, a lovely offering we expect will only be available for a month or two, is a recent example of this. The reason for the limited supply is to make room for the upcoming special coffee experience. By doing this, we update our selection frequently, keeping the coffee experience fresh and exciting.

Seasonal offering

Engaging Barista Teams and Customers with Seasonal Coffee

The introduction of seasonal coffees creates a sense of excitement and anticipation

Menu of coffee

Enhancing Your Menu with Seasonal Flavored Drinks

Also consider refreshing your menu with seasonal drinks that feature distinctive flavours and syrups, like our Giffard Syrups, in addition to coffee. Although we recently shared some Spring beverage suggestions in a blog post, there are many more options available for creating creative drinks.

Concluding Thoughts

We believe that seasonal coffee offerings can significantly improve your customers experience . Your offerings will always be current, intriguing, and special if you source seasonal ingredients/flavors, highlight exclusive micro-lots, and regularly change your menu.   Take advantage of seasonal coffee offerings today and watch it change your company through excitement and increased average spending habits.

 

Why Chefs Should Consider Coffee and Food Pairings

Why should chefs consider coffee and food pairings? You understand as a chef how important it is to pair food and wine to produce a satisfying dining experience. Have you thought about the potential for coffee to elevate your meals, though? A carefully designed coffee program may set your restaurant apart from the competition and provide your customers a truly exceptional dining experience.

Chairmans Steakhouse

Benefits of Coffee Programs in Restaurants

By developing a coffee program, you can:

Adding a New Dimension to Your Menu

With the help of a coffee programme, you may provide a variety of tastes and textures to go along with your meals, giving your customers a whole sensory experience. Like wine and food, coffee and meal combinations can bring out the best in both the coffee and the dish. Coffee can be consumed as a beverage or as a food element, and it goes well with dessert, breakfast, and even as a palette cleanser in between courses.

A coffee programme might also let you highlight various roasts and brewing techniques. You may accentuate the distinctive flavours and qualities of each coffee by providing a choice of brewing techniques, such as drip coffee, pour-over, or French press as well as either hot or cold coffee options could be incorporated.

Alforno Restaurant

Increasing Revenue

Coffee is a high-profit product that can help you increase your revenue. If you have a good coffee programme, you can upsell to customers who want a full meal experience. Providing excellent coffee selections that go well with your food can entice customers to indulge in an extra cup or perhaps try a different coffee beverage.

Also, by gaining a reputation for serving superior coffee, you might draw in new clients who are searching for a whole dining experience that includes outstanding coffee.

Creating a Unique Identity

It can be difficult to establish a distinctive identity among the various restaurants available nowadays. But, a coffee programme can help distinguish your restaurant from the competition and develop a devoted clientele of diners who value the care and dedication to quality.

You can demonstrate your dedication to quality and attention to detail by concentrating on a carefully designed coffee programme. In the busy restaurant industry, this can assist you in developing a distinctive character.

Alforno Restaurant coffee and food pairings

Coffee and Food Pairings

One way to create a truly unique coffee program is by incorporating coffee and food pairings. By offering coffee options that complement your dishes, you can take your dining experience to the next level.

Here are three coffee and food pairings to consider:

  1. Light Roast Coffee with Seafood

The subtle flavors of light roast coffee make it an excellent pairing for seafood dishes. The lightness of the roast allows the flavors of the coffee to complement the delicate flavors of the seafood.

Pairing Suggestions:

  1. Medium Roast Coffee with Savoury Dishes

Medium roast coffee has a balance of acidity and body, making it a versatile pairing for a variety of savory dishes. The medium roast coffee can enhance the flavors of dishes such as burgers, steaks, and roasted vegetables.

Pairing Suggestions:

  1. Dark Roast Coffee with Chocolate Desserts

Dark roast coffee has a bold and rich flavor that pairs well with chocolate desserts. The strong flavor of the coffee complements the sweetness of chocolate, creating a harmonious balance.

Pairing Suggestions:

  1. Espresso and Cappuccino Pairings

Espresso and cappuccino are two popular coffee options that can add a new dimension to your menu.

Pairing Suggestions:

Pairing Suggestions:

coffee and food pairings

A coffee program can add value to your restaurant's products by giving your menu a new depth and giving it a distinctive personality. You can elevate your dining experience and provide your customers a genuinely memorable dining experience by introducing coffee and food pairings. So think about creating a coffee program that goes well with your meals and makes your business stand out from the comp

Building Process Documents for Your Cafe: The Importance Coffee Shop Operations

Every organization, large or small, needs process documents to make sure everything performs as it should. Cafe owners in particular benefit from documenting the processes so it aids in teaching staff how to prepare coffee, including espresso techniques, opening/closing procedures, managing cash and greeting customers.   It offers clarification, aids in avoiding errors, and makes sure everyone is aware of what must be done to succeed in their positions and ensure they are meeting their direct report’s needs.  

This blog post will discuss how to build a process document, why it's important to document the process, and how a cafe owner may use it to train staff members. We'll also take cues from the E Myth, a book that emphasizes how critical systems are to the success of any firm.

Training document review

Why is Documenting a Process so Important?

Documenting the process is crucial because it provides a clear path forward, helps avoid mistakes, and ensures everyone is on the same page. Here's why:

Provides a Clear Path Forward 

The process documentation's most obvious advantage is that it provides your team with a resource to consult when there are issues regarding how something should be carried out or who should do what next. Instead of wasting time repeatedly answering those inquiries, just direct them to your documentation!

Helps Avoid Mistakes

Since everyone has access to the same information about how things are supposed to work within their department or division (or even across departments), there's less room for confusion about who does what when something goes wrong. Fewer opportunities for someone else's mistake costing you money down the road because nobody knows where things went wrong in order for them not being able--or willing--to own up until after damage has been done.

presentation

Ensures Everyone is on the Same Page 

A well-documented process enables you to achieve consistent outcomes. This is because documented processes can be repeated, and by following the same steps each time, they become predictable. Clear instructions that specify each task and its purpose, who is responsible for it, and when it should be done, are accessible to everyone involved in the project. This results in less workload because there is no ambiguity about what needs to be done next or why certain steps must be completed before others.

What Does a Process Document Include?

 

Here's How You Can Create One.

A process document is a written description of how to perform a particular task or activity. It can be used to describe the steps and procedures involved in any given activity, for any position or task with any company.  Think about training new barista on steaming the perfect milk, tamping and pulling a consistent espresso shot, or helping your management team with scheduling hours. The main points to go within a process document is as follows:

Description of What Needs to be Done

Making a process begins with writing out the steps. A straightforward text editor or even Microsoft Word might be used for this. Make sure that every tool you use is simple to operate as well as customizable so that you may add to your notes and make adjustments as you carry out the activity.

reviewing training documents

How it's Done 

After you've listed all of your steps, consider how much time and effort each one requires to complete. If a task appears like it would take too long or be too difficult, perhaps it could be streamlined or simplified so that things go more smoothly the next time.

Who Does It and When They Do It

It's important to assign roles and responsibilities to ensure that everyone knows what they need to do and when they need to do it. Assign the following roles:

Creating a Template for Tasks

Further streamlining your process involves developing templates for the various jobs. This template should be a thorough, well-organized checklist outlining each action that must be taken. This checklist can be used as a reference and training guide for each stage, ensuring that nothing is missed or forgotten.

pouring latte art

Here are some key points to consider when creating your template:

  1. Be specific: List out each individual step involved in the process, making sure to be as specific as possible. This will ensure that no detail is missed and that each step is carried out properly.
  2. Assign roles and responsibilities: As was already discussed, it's crucial to specify who will be responsible for what at each stage of the process. To ensure that everyone is aware of who is in charge of what, make sure to include this information in your template.
  3. Incorporate deadlines: Establish time schedule for every stage of the procedure, taking into consideration any interconnections or potential setbacks. This will assist in keeping the procedure organized and on time.
  4. Make it adaptable: Your template ought to be adaptable enough to take into account modifications or upgrades to the procedure. To keep the template current and relevant, make sure you check and update it frequently.  After implementation, pay attention to the feedback provided by the individuals carrying out the task regularly. They might find a more effective approach to get the same outcomes.
  5. Consider various teaching styles: Not everyone learns and adapts to new process techniques in the same way. To help ensure the activity is being carried out as you had anticipated, be willing to share your notes, as well as to add images, videos, and hands-on teaching.
  6. Follow-up: It often takes a person 2–4 weeks of practice before they fully comprehend and can perform it consistently. Following up, redirecting and frequent mentoring will help this process become a new everyday activity.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, documenting your processes is vital to running a successful cafe. It offers clarity, helps avoid errors, and ensures that everyone is aware of what has to be done when it's time to start their shifts. By following the procedures provided in this article, you may develop a well-documented process that is repeatable and predictable.  Whether you're creating a new product or service, training new employees, or just trying to streamline your daily operations, having a documented process in place can help you achieve your goals more efficiently and effectively. 

 

Elevate Your Office Coffee | Nespresso, Keurig, Espresso or Bean to Cup?

From Nespresso, Keurig, espresso, bean to cup and batch brewers, there are plenty of options to choose from.  You're in luck if you want to sip on a delicious cup of coffee at work. Finding the ideal coffee brewing system for your office has never been simpler thanks to the huge selection of options available today. More than merely keeping workers awake, providing excellent coffee in the workplace can boost morale and productivity. We'll talk about the advantages of serving premium coffee in the office and how it may affect your workers' productivity in this blog post.

Colleagues. Colleagues having lunch together and discussing something

Why should I provide good coffee for offices?

First of all, offering excellent coffee to your team demonstrates your appreciation for them. Employees may feel exhausted, nervous, and exploited due to the stressful nature of the workplace. Making your staff members feel appreciated can start with implementing a fantastic office coffee programme. Also, it can help them feel more at ease and less intimidated in the workplace.

Coffee is naturally social, so you may use it to help your staff members get to know one another. Encouragement of social interaction can raise staff morale, particularly if it is low.

Happy employees

The benefits of frequent breaks. 

Second, taking regular breaks actually increases productivity. When they take multiple short breaks during the day, people are more productive. Coffee and a mid-day break go hand in hand. Taking pauses throughout a lengthy workday can benefit employees' mindsets. By dividing big work into manageable chunks and interspersing them with breaks, you can complete them more quickly. When tasks are given in this manner, employees believe they can complete the project.

Also, providing excellent coffee will discourage your staff from leaving the workplace to get a cup, which can waste time.

cappuccino at desk

Does caffeine make office workers more efficient?

The breaks that come with coffee are mostly responsible for its productivity advantages. Yet, caffeine makes your brain more attentive than it would be otherwise. Most office workers arrive at work exhausted from lack of sleep brought on by stress and commute. When seated at a desk, workers are more inclined to nod off, therefore caffeine helps prevent this.

But, it's crucial to keep caffeine consumption to two cups each day. A crash brought on by too much caffeine prevents workers from being productive.

Are there Health benefits to coffee?

High-quality coffee might be a health advantage when served at work. Antioxidants are found in recently roasted coffee that has been roasted within the past two weeks. Strong anti-aging and disease-prevention abilities are possessed by antioxidants. They lessen the body's oxidative stress brought on by free radicals. If you reside in a large city with air pollution, increasing your diet of antioxidant-rich foods is advised.

Great coffee generally tastes wonderful without the need for excessive sugar and milk, making it a healthy, if not risk-free, beverage.

taking a coffee break

Which coffee should I choose?

When choosing coffee, look for crowd-pleasing tasting notes. The majority of coffee drinkers prefer chocolatey, smooth, nutty flavours over bright, fruity flavours. I recommend choosing a local high-quality brand of coffee, such as a specialty coffee roaster. By choosing a local brand, you can support your community, and the coffee will be fresh.

What’s the best way to offer office coffee?

There are numerous ways to provide excellent coffee for offices, depending on your budget. You can spend your money on a premium drip coffee maker if you have a reasonable spending limit. Get a quality drip coffee maker; cheaper models don't produce quality coffee. Delicious coffee is produced using drip machines like the Technivorm Moccamaster. Also, you'll need to spend money on premium coffee beans, which you may get from a nearby coffee roaster.

office coffee machine

Also, you might want to think about contacting Office Coffee Service (OCS) businesses if you're searching for a simple and convenient way to supply coffee to your office.  OCS companies specialize in providing equipment and services tailored to meet the specific needs of employees and your specific offices, making it easy for employees to enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee at any time.

At Fratello Coffee, we work closely with numerous OCS companies throughout Western Canada, and we can connect you with a provider that offers our high-quality coffee products. This way, you can enjoy the convenience of having your office coffee needs taken care of, while still enjoying the exceptional taste and quality of Fratello Coffee.  Get in touch with our wholesale team, and drop us a line at .

 

 

Want Great Espresso? Start with Tamping your Espresso Correctly

How you tamp your espresso can have a huge impact on the flavour of the coffee. If you did everything else right but your espresso is tasting sour or running poorly, your tamp could be the culprit.   Read more to learn tips on tamping your espresso correctly and consistently. 

Tamping espresso

When you’re leading a team of baristas, it can be common for everyone to have different ways of tamping. There are lots of wrong ways to tamp espresso, and baristas can carry these bad habits for years. 

Poor tamping is not just an issue of flavour–it’s also a health and safety issue. Tamping can cause repetitive strain injuries over time, a condition more commonly known as “barista wrist” in the industry.

Luckily, it’s easy to learn how to tamp espresso properly and fix any mistakes. We’ll walk you through all the dos and don’ts of tamping espresso. But first, we’ll take a look at why we tamp coffee in the first place.

espresso tamper

What happens if you don’t tamp coffee?

Tamping coffee is when you apply downward pressure on coffee using a tamper. 

If you try to brew a portafilter with loose grounds, the water will move through the coffee instead of brewing it. As a result, you’ll get a watery, under extracted, sour espresso. Coffee that hasn’t been tamped has a lot of pockets of air, and the water finds an easy way to exit. 

Tamping removes these air pockets from the coffee. This helps the water move more evenly throughout the whole puck. All it takes is one loose spot on the puck for the water to find this weak spot and rush through it. This is known as “channeling.”

What are some examples of poor tamping?

Here are some common ways that tamping goes wrong. 

If you tamp at an angle and the puck isn’t parallel to the portfiler, the water will go to the lowest point. Water is always looking for the path of least resistance. Instead of brewing the whole puck, it will only brew the low part. To make sure your tamper is parallel to the portafilter, use the ring inside the portafilter basket as a guide.  

Holding the tamper incorrectly can have an impact on the flavour. Avoid holding the tamper like an ink stamp with your hand gripping the handle only. This can cause coffee grounds to jump out of the basket and cause an uneven tamp. Instead, wrap your fingers around the base of the tamp while applying downward pressure.

Tamping a mountain of coffee grounds won’t result in a level coffee bed. You’ll get a flat surface with bevelled edges–a perfect weak spot for the hot water. After grinding your beans into the portafilter, give the portafilter a good tap on the side. This helps the process along by settling the bed of coffee.

After tamping your espresso, there will usually be some loose grounds floating on the sides of the puck. The barista’s common instinct is to knock the portafilter to get the loose grounds in the middle so they can tamp again. But knocking the side of the portafilter can crack the puck, causing channeling, and it also damages your equipment.

Instead of knocking, place your tamper on top of the puck again, and spin the tamp with no pressure. This will make those loose grounds on the side co-operate. 

Barista tamping espresso

How to tamp espresso the right way: Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to tamp espresso properly.

  1. Grind your coffee into your portafilter. Once ground, tap it against the side of your hand (or on the tamping mat) to help level out the coffee bed.
  2. Place your portafilter on the tamp mat. Turn your body so that your dominant hand side is parallel with the bar counter. Place the tamper evenly on the bed of coffee so it’s parallel to the ring in the portafilter basket. Push straight down firmly until you meet resistance. (If your portafilter has a splitter, make sure the splitter is off the tamp mat. This prevents the splitter from breaking off.)
  3. If there are any loose coffee grounds, place the tamper back on. Without applying any pressure, spin the tamper to settle the loose grounds. 
  4. Brew your espresso. Easy!

Espresso tamping

How hard should I tamp?

In the coffee industry, it’s agreed upon that 20-30 lbs of pressure goes into a proper tamp. You don’t need to tamp incredibly hard to achieve this. Tamp until you feel the coffee stop. 

It can be easy to get tired at the end of the day and tamp lighter as the day goes on. Be aware of this, and try to keep a consistent tamping strength throughout the whole day.

Tamping safety

The trick to avoiding strain on your wrist is keeping it straight while you tamp and engaging your shoulder and your arm. Lifting your elbow at a 90 degree angle makes it easy to keep your wrist straight, and makes the power come from your arm.

Which is the best espresso tamper?

The most important thing when looking for a tamper is finding one that fits your portafilters. The tamp should spread to the very edges of the basket, ensuring a smooth, uniform tamp. If the tamper is too big, it simply won’t fit; if the tamper is too small, you’ll create air pockets around the edges and cause channeling. 

For newbie baristas who don’t know how hard to press, click tampers are a great option. They make an audible clicking noise once 30 lbs of pressure have been pushed into the coffee puck. 

naked portafilter

How do I know if I’m tamping correctly?

You can tell a lot about how well (or poorly) your coffee is running just by looking at your spent coffee pucks. If you see any air pockets or obvious signs of the coffee spilling over the edge of the basket, your tamp could be the issue.

If you’re still not sure, try to look at the bigger picture. Brew a shot of espresso, dilute it with some water, and taste it. If the coffee tastes unpleasant and has an edge, try again. If it tastes acceptable, or even good, you’re on the right track!

Tamp champ

Tamping isn’t complicated; it’s actually remarkably easy. But unfortunately, there are a lot of bad habits out there that seem to be contagious. Baristas learn by watching other baristas, picking up on their habits without knowing whether they’re right or wrong. But it’s not their fault–if they don’t receive the proper training, how can they be expected to do a good job?

As a cafe manager or owner, it’s up to you to set standards and catch any bad habits before they get out of hand. By teaching correct tamping, you improve your coffee, retain your customer base, and keep your team safe.

Looking for more tips to improve your espresso game? Check out our previous blog post about degassing coffee for better tasting espresso. And, if you need more support, book a consultation with us, and drop us a line at . 






How to Brew a Perfect Espresso

There’s nothing worse than going to a renowned coffee shop only to receive an espresso drink that’s bitter and undrinkable. Poorly made espresso-based drinks are more common than you might think. Even the best beans, espresso machine, and grinder can’t guarantee a good espresso.  Follow these tips to ensure greater consistency in perfect espresso shot every time.  

Slayer Espresso

A big challenge for cafe managers and owners is getting their large team of baristas to make good-tasting espresso. A lot of newbie baristas don’t know what to look for when dialing in espresso and lack the confidence to calibrate it.  This is why we offer complimentary ongoing training and consultation for our wholesales clients.

By putting certain practises in place, you can show your whole team how to pull a perfect shot of espresso. First, we’ll show you how to lead an espresso tasting session with a team of baristas. Then, we’ll show you how to ensure the espresso is always running well.

The building blocks of good espresso

It may sound obvious, but you need to start with great coffee and great equipment to make great espresso. Make sure you have all of these in place first before you troubleshoot your espresso.

Make sure to source roasted beans from a high-quality, specialty coffee roaster. They should have an emphasis on ethical sourcing, meticulous roasting, and freshness.

A high-quality espresso machine with enough pressure and stamina is crucial for great espresso. We recommend the Slayer espresso machine, which was produced by the fine folks here at Fratello!

A good espresso grinder allows you to micro-adjust the grind setting. It should have a timed doser to provide consistency. We recommend Mahlkonig espresso grinders. 

If you have all of that already, let’s get into it!

coffee grinder

Leading an espresso tasting with your team

It’s always a good idea to do an espresso tasting session with your team. This allows you to answer any questions and try different espresso shots side-by-side for comparison. When guiding your team through a tasting, here are some common things to look for.

While not all coffees have a sweet profile, you should aim for a sweet shot. Sweetness is detected on the tip of the tongue. Unlike an unpleasant sour flavour, you’re looking for a sweetness akin to fruit or sugar.

A good shot of espresso should never taste unpleasantly bitter or sour. You can assess this more broadly when you try the espresso by asking yourself, “Is this pleasant?” “Is this acceptable to serve?”

Bitter and sour notes can be part of the inherent flavour profile of the coffee, like rich cocoa and lemon. Don’t get confused by desirable flavour attributes. 

Get your team familiar with the flavour wheel. It’s not cheating to fill your head with all the possibilities of what coffee can taste like. It helps your team by giving them a vocabulary to describe coffee.

TIP: It’s easier for newbie baristas to taste coffee that’s cooled down and/or diluted with a bit of water.

cappuccino

Creating an espresso calibration system

After you’ve done your initial group tasting session with your team, it’s time to create a calibration system.

The best way to calibrate espresso is by tasting it and adjusting it as needed. However, most newbie baristas won’t have the skills or the confidence to do this. This method also takes more time, and when you’re trying to move a lineup, it isn’t practical. A calibration system is easy-to-follow, keeps your coffee tasting great at all times, and doesn’t disrupt your flow.

Not all coffee is the same, but as a general rule of thumb, there’s a certain espresso recipe to follow. When it comes to brewing parameters for espresso, you want to start with a dry weight of 18 grams, a wet weight of 36 grams (ie. actual brewed espresso), and a brew time of 28-30 seconds. If you brew your espresso and it doesn’t fit within these confines, you can tweak the dose and the grind setting of the coffee.

perfect espresso

How to pull a perfect shot of espresso, step-by-step:

  1. Pop the basket out of the portafilter, and zero it out on a digital scale. Grind your beans from your timed espresso grinder, and weigh it. If it weighs below 18 grams, increase your dose by a few milliseconds. If it weighs above 18 grams, decrease your dose. Don’t worry if you’re off by 0.5 grams.
  2. Once you have the right weight, evenly tamp your espresso with 30 lbs of pressure.
  3. Have a timer ready to countdown from 30 seconds. Grab a clean shot glass or mini metal pitcher, place it on the scale, and zero it out.
  4. Place the scale and the glass under the group head, and begin brewing your espresso. Immediately start your 30-second timer. 
  5. At the 30-second mark, stop the shot and read the wet weight on the scale. If the wet weight isn’t 36 grams, make some changes and start over. If the wet weight is below 36 grams, make your grind coarser. If it’s above 36 grams, make your grind finer.

Make sure to post the espresso parameters (ie. dry weight, wet weight, brew time) where staff can see it. Have your team calibrate the espresso several times a day: once first thing in the morning, at mid-morning, and in the afternoon. For accountability, you can set up a checklist on a marker board, and have staff initial their calibrations.

Other factors affecting espresso flavour

Getting the right dose and weight is important when making good espresso, but it’s not the only thing to be aware of. Other things greatly affect the flavour of espresso. Here are some common factors:

Make sure your team is tamping properly. An uneven tamp or a cracked puck can result in uneven extraction, and thus, a sour, undrinkable espresso. Check out this video to make sure your team isn’t committing any tamping faux-pas!

 

The temperature and humidity in your cafe can instantly change how your espresso pours. If the weather suddenly changes from rainy and cold to sunny and warm, recalibrate your espresso.

A dirty espresso machine can make your coffee taste off if you’re doing everything else right. Make sure your team is cleaning the espresso machine and portafilters every night with Cafiza. Additionally, make sure your team is wiping the portafilter baskets with a dry rag between espressos. Have them purge the group heads between pours, too.

Fratello Coffee

Give it your best shot

Espresso can be intimidating for new baristas who lack skills and confidence. You can’t expect them to know everything right off the bat. The more effort you put into standards and procedures, the more likely it is that your team will get on board.

It doesn’t take long to gain a reputation as a no-fail, sure-shot espresso bar. Before long, your customers will notice, and they’ll be lining up for more. So do a little planning, schedule that espresso tasting with your team, and knock it out of the park!

We know that espresso can be a complicated beast. With decades of experience in the specialty coffee world, we have all the tools to make your cafe a success. Book a consultation call with us by emailing us at . We’re here to help!





Nicaraguan Finca Limoncillo tasting at Analog Cafe!

Join us Thursday August 25th between 4pm-6pm as we kick off our Thursday coffee tastings at Analog Cafe at the Calgary Farmers Market!

This weekend we are tasting our fresh crop arrival Nicaraguan Finca Limoncillo Java coffee brewed three different ways: Single Origin Espresso, Cold Brew and on our Hario V60 Pour Over bar! Each method lends its own character to the coffee and brings forward a variety of flavors in the cup.

This will be a casual tasting and we will prepare samples of each method as people come to Analog. Please don't be shy and ask questions! We look forward to starting to offer regular tasting and classes at Analog Cafe each Thursday. Look forward to seeing you there!

Read more about Russ Prefontaine's trip to Nicaragua and the farm we are working with directly to bring this coffee to you.

Nicaraguan Java Natural coffee card Fratello Analog cafe

Holiday gift ideas for the coffee lover!

Happy Holidays from Fratello Coffee Roasters! We love enjoying great coffee all year round here at Fratello, and hope you do to.  At Christmas time why not pay special attention to the coffee lover on your list (that is usually most people on the list) and treat them to some great gift ideas from Fratello.

Here is our list for you. Lots of great coffee, some popular and really neat by-the-cup brew methods and tools for the home or professional Barista are all great options! Any questions call or email us and we would love to help.

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