Top Health Benefits of Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the United States and for a good reason. While coffee and other mild stimulants should always be used in moderation, coffee also has a number of benefits that you can take advantage of on a daily basis. Here we have the top health benefits of coffee.

Top Health Benefits of Coffee

So if you’re wondering whether it’s worth spending the money on a commercial coffee maker for your restaurant, then take a few minutes to think about how you and your customers can benefit. These top health benefits are just the beginning.

Increasing Immediate Energy

Regular coffee is a source of caffeine. Caffeine is technically a drug that behaves as a mild stimulant. As a result of drinking coffee, you can expect your energy levels to perk up within an hour. Of course, to avoid a crash, it’s also important to eat a healthy meal that will provide more gradual energy as the caffeine wears off.

Correlation to a Lower Risk of Type II Diabetes

We need further studies, but preliminary research suggests that each cup of coffee you drink per day translates to a roughly 6% reduction in the risk of developing type II diabetes. In controlled scenarios, specific elements in coffee have shown the ability to affect the function of beta cells and insulin sensitivity.

A Useful Weight Management Tool

There have been a few studies that suggest regular coffee intake may affect the way we store fat and may promote gut health. Both of these changes seem to correlate to a slightly lower body fat percentage in the average coffee drinker. When in comparison to people who do not regularly consume coffee.

Of course, black coffee proves most effective with this approach. Does your coffee-based drink of choice has higher sugar or saturated fats? Then your coffee habit could also have the opposite effect. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, you will still need to follow a reasonable diet and exercise routine.

Decreased Risk of Depression

Caffeine is a stimulant, which may be the reason it is associated with a slightly decreased risk of depression. However, this could be a double-edged sword. If consumed to the point of creating caffeine dependence, caffeine usage could have the opposite effect when you don’t have easy access to caffeine.

Fortunately, caffeine dependence isn’t usually associated with drinking a few cups of coffee per day. It typically takes quite a lot of caffeine from multiple sources to achieve that effect. With that said, do you regularly experience headaches as a result of skipping a caffeine boost? Then you may want to taper back a little.

May Decrease the Risk of Liver Damage

Much of the research surrounding the benefits of coffee require further corroboration. But the research into coffee’s ability to decrease the risk of liver disease is well-supported. People who have risk factors for liver disease may directly benefit from regular coffee consumption.

Coffee Could Potentially Increase Your Lifespan

There exists a lot of scientific research focused on the interactions between caffeine and our major systems. The research is well-funded due to popular curiosity and economic interests. With that said, much of the research into the interactions between coffee and our bodies is positive and can be replicated.

Evidence from these studies suggests regular, moderate coffee consumption may have positive health benefits for your:

  • Brain
  • Heart
  • Gut
  • Pancreas
  • Liver

As a result, it is fully possible that coffee may be linked to increased overall longevity when additional factors are accounted for.

The health benefits of coffee clearly aren’t the only reason to include coffee on your restaurant menu. But it is clear that they don’t hurt. If you would like to learn more about providing a coffee service to your patrons, Southern California Beverage Company can help.

Share this post: Share on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee

As coffee lovers, we could spend pages waxing poetic over how to make the perfect, painstaking brew. However, for a busy restaurant, cafe, or bar that simply isn’t practical. It’s time to talk about coffee pragmatically.

Making the Perfect Cup of Coffee

Let’s look at what elements you can put together to create the best cup of joe without locking one employee in place for 5-10 minutes at a time to serve just one customer. In the end, all you really need is the right coffee, the right machinery, and clean water.

The Right Coffee

Investing in high-quality fair-trade coffee doesn’t have to break the bank. Most major coffee brands have boarded the fair trade train, ensuring that the people who produce and harvest your coffee beans are appropriately compensated. Among these brands, you can find every variation of roast and flavor, offering ample opportunity for you to find just the right coffee(s) for your establishment.

In addition to choosing fair trade coffee beans, always opt for whole bean coffee. As long as you store your coffee beans in an airtight container, you will be able to use them for about a month without losing much flavor. By comparison, ground coffee rarely holds its flavor for more than a day or two even when properly sealed. Choosing whole bean coffees offers higher quality and better shelf-life, so it’s a win-win situation.

The Right Machinery

To make the perfect cup of coffee without turning it into a laborious enterprise, you will need three primary components.

Burr Grinders

To grind whole bean coffee, you will need a burr grinder. Blade grinders are a bit cheaper, but they chop the beans rather than evenly grinding them down. A burr grinder crushes the beans, which helps to express their full flavor profile. It’s a must for anyone serious about making quality coffee. In many cases, one grinder is enough. However, a cafe may want to have two, so one of them can be designated for decaffeinated coffee.

Commercial Coffee Makers

To serve a room full of under-caffeinated guests, you’ll need machinery that’s up to the task. Commercial coffee makers make that part easy. They are typically drip-style coffee machines, which offer a relatively fast and effective brew.

When you’re shopping for commercial coffee makers with Southern California Beverage systems, always look into the brew speed and the temperature of the water. Ideally, you want the brew to take about five minutes and the water to be between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.

A Built-in Water Line Complete with Filter

You can always filter your own water using a filtered jug, but this can be time-consuming when you’re busy. Purchasing a commercial coffee maker that connects to your water line and includes a built-in filter is just easier on a daily basis. Whichever way you decide to do it, just make sure you’re exchanging your filters as suggested by the manufacturer.

Clean Water

As stated above, hot, filtered water is absolutely essential to properly brewing coffee. If the water is below 195 degrees Fahrenheit, then it is unlikely to activate the grounds properly, resulting in less flavorful coffee with a more bitter taste. If the water is unfiltered, then minerals and other impurities will alter the flavor profile of your coffee.

In the long run, your filtration system can’t provide clean water for you without a little help. Depending on your manufacturer’s instructions, parts of your coffee making machinery will have to be cleaned every day, while others may only need monthly cleaning. Sticking with these prescribed cleaning schedules ensures that your coffee will be as safe and delicious as your patrons deserve.

Share this post: Share on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

What Customers Want in a Coffee Shop

Coffee culture is about more than getting a jolt of caffeine in the morning. In fact, it’s about the holistic experience created by carefully sourced ingredients and the perfect atmosphere. That is why the most successful coffee shops invest in making their spaces almost therapeutic in nature. So what do customers want in a coffee shop?

What Customers Want in a Coffee Shop

Friendly staff, comfortable lounges, and a perfectly poured espresso are a triple threat when it comes to making your coffee shop competitive. So let’s take a quick look to see what small but meaningful changes you can make and how SC Beverage company can help to make your coffee shop dreams into a reality.

Upgrade Your Ingredients

Great coffee is what keeps customers coming back for more. Therefore, you might want to revisit where you source your ingredients if you’re struggling to compete. Pay careful attention to where you’re getting your beans and make sure you’re grinding them fresh every day. You might also consider upgrading the syrups that you use most frequently.

Use Area Rugs

Panel flooring feels sophisticated and is relatively easy to clean. However, adding an area rug here and there is low traffic areas can help to make your coffee shop feel welcoming and comfortable. They are especially useful for visually dividing different lounge areas from one another.

Clean Your Equipment Regularly

In order to make high-quality coffee, your commercial coffee makers have to be cleaned regularly. The coffee pot and filter should be cleaned at least once a day, but every piece of commercial beverage equipment should be thoroughly cleaned in and out at least once a week. Without a proper cleaning schedule, the flavor of your coffee will be altered by whatever additives remain in the system.

Opt for Earthy Tones

Use earthy tones in your paint and décor to create a comfortable space. Greens, in particular, are commonly associated with a calming effect. When paired with darker wood and brown furniture, a well-designed coffee shop can feel like a journey back into a safe, suburban version of nature.

Make the Origin of Your Coffee Known

Given the environmental and economic effects of poorly sourced coffee, it makes sense that customers want to know where their coffee comes from. A simple blackboard can be used to highlight one of your select coffee beans, where it comes from, and the relationship your supplier has built in the community.

Choose Comfort

A few hard chairs can be paired with tables for those who want to work as they sip away, but the majority of your seating should be as cushy as possible. If you’re on a budget, second-hand furniture can be re-stained and reupholstered with relative ease in a handy family member’s garage.

Lower the Lights

Bright white lights are the opposite of comforting. Instead, opt for light fixtures that offer a warmer glow. This will allow your customers to settle in for a cozy cup or two of their favorite brew.

Bring in Books

The ideal coffee shop feels like the private library most of us will never have. If you really want to upgrade the look and cozy feel of a coffee shop, then install a bookshelf. For bonus points, you can introduce a “leave a book, take a book” system. This allows avid readers in your area to swap their favorite reads and build community around your store.

Add Plants

Plants provide oxygen and reduce air pollution, all while making your store feel like an ideal arboretum. A few succulents can be kept near your windows for added atmosphere, and you can literally forget to water them for weeks without them dying.

Play Music

Music is the final key to making the ideal coffee shop for your customers. You can create a playlist yourself. Or use an ad-free subscription to one of the many apps available to provide your guests with some low-volume, relaxing tunes to help maintain their flow.

Share this post: Share on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

The “How to” Guide to Opening a Coffee Shop

Opening a small business is equal parts exciting and terrifying. There is just so much to learn, and half the time you don’t even know what questions you should be asking. You have to juggle the legal and economic requirements of legally running a business while offering your customers the experience you always dreamed of, so it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive about your newest endeavor. Here’s our guide to opening a coffee shop.

Fortunately, you have more resources at your fingertips than you realize, and local governments genuinely want to see you succeed. That puts a lot of power at your back, which you can utilize in the early stages of development as long as you’re clever and determined. Let’s talk frankly about what you need to do to get your coffee shop started and how to keep it going.

Figure Out the Legal Requirements First

The first step in our guide to opening a coffee shop isn’t the most glamorous. But, there is no point in putting together a business plan or a shop design until you understand the local statutes that govern small businesses in the area. The required permits will shift slightly from place to place, so your first step is to contact the Small Business Administration to find out what is necessary for your business to operate in your local area. Once you have an idea of the costs of these permits and any required legal fees, you can factor this into your business plan’s budgetary aspect.

Create a Polished Business Plan

Your business plan is an all-purpose document. It serves to summarize your vision and ability to turn it into a reality. It must function as a guide to how your business will succeed. And it is the document that potential lenders will almost certainly ask for. Although you and your lenders understand that the business plan will evolve with the business, you should design it to reach five years into its existence.

A good business plan should include your target demographic, a review of your competitors, a sample budget, financial projections, and established goals. For the most utility, you should have two versions of this document. One version should be a one-page summary that you can easily hand out to potential investors, while the other should be a lengthier document that goes into more detail.

Furthermore, it should look professional. A great concept and a solid budget won’t be enough if investors never get past the first page. To increase the production quality of your business plan, consider hiring a freelance graphic designer to give it some polish before taking it in. This is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your chances of early success if your numbers are solid.

Pay Attention to Aesthetics

To be successful, you will need foot traffic and a façade that invites new customers inside. Come up with a design and unique aesthetic that will draw people in. And enlist the help of a commercial realtor to find the location that best fits your design and demographic needs. Fortunately, whether you’re going for trendy, cozy, or something in between, creating the right aesthetic and offering a high-quality product doesn’t have to sink your budget. When it comes to furnishings and décor, you should always shop around for the best balance to make sure what you pay is going to return on your investment.

Don’t Skimp on Product or Equipment

Your catchy slogan and warm lounge may bring people in. But it is quality coffee that will keep them coming back for more. Look for fair trade beans that consistently brew delicious coffee and make sure that your commercial coffee makers are up to the task. At the end of the day, it will be your ability to find a balance between cost and quality that will truly make your coffee shop a success. SC Beverage is here for all your needs, from water filters to beer fountain machines.

Share this post: Share on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

The Top Coffee Trends to Adopt in 2020

Although older Americans were more than satisfied with any run-of-the-mill coffee, millennials and Gen Z are pretty picky when it comes to their favorite brews. The result is that an increasing majority of potential customers are looking for delicious, unique, and ethically-produced coffee. In response to demand, 2020 coffee trends are emerging.

To compete in the foodservice industry, you have to offer a wider variety of beverages on your menu. Incorporating specialty coffees with customizable flavors is one of the best and easiest ways to please your customers without having to worry about the additional licensing required to serve beer, wine, and liquor. Unfortunately, if you aren’t a coffee drinker yourself or you prefer a more straightforward coffee experience, then it may be difficult to identify what 2020 coffee trends are capturing the palettes of your target audience.

It Starts with Location

More than ever, people want to know where their food and drink come from. This is especially true with coffee, given its complex history regarding colonialism and continued economic exploitation. Therefore, it is essential that you invest in brands that are guaranteed Fair Trade. To explain the additional cost to your customers, include a detailed description of where the coffee is grown. Even add the particular processes that make it unique on your menu. In most cases, the brand will already include this on their packaging.

Ditching Milk and Cream

Although fewer Americans add sweetener to their coffee, they aren’t drinking it black. Instead, coffee drinkers are opting for milk alternatives and natural flavors to customize their experience. Initially, coconut and almond milk were center stage, but industry experts are noting a rapid rise in oat sales that indicate oat milk may be the new fan favorite. To keep guests happy, you should offer at least 2-3 options to help them enjoy their gourmet drink.

Although it may be more complicated to include on your menu, cascara is another natural flavor to watch. Cascara is the dried husk from a coffee cherry. It adds a subtle sweetness to any drink and comes naturally packed with antioxidants. Given the parallel spikes in coffee and health food culture, including cascara coffees and teas, it is a great way to finish off your gourmet coffee bar.

Ice is Always Nice

The global community may find the American obsession with ice-cold drinks odd, but there’s no denying the truth of the matter. As a society, we like the vast majority of our beverages filled to the brim with ice. It was only a matter of time before iced coffee took over the American market.

Now, iced coffee and cold brew coffee remain two of the most popular ways to serve our favorite caffeinated beverage. Both of these options are easily made. Especially in a busy restaurant where it can be challenging to keep fresh, piping hot coffee available at all times. Keeping iced coffee or cold brew on the menu will give your staff a break during peak times. Even more, it also gives your customers options they’ll love.

Bringing Coffee to Your Customers

These three easy steps show your customers that you have invested in providing a superior experience. If you wish to, you can certainly take this a step further by investing in espresso equipment and training staff in its use. However, the three core trends listed above require no specialized equipment or training other than your standard commercial coffee system.

By offering sustainable beans, multiple milk alternative options, and an iced option, you can participate in the most popular 2020 coffee trends with minimal additional investment. If you are considering purchasing your first commercial coffee system or need to upgrade your current system, contact SC Beverage to learn more about our high-quality options for commercial coffee makers.

Share this post: Share on FacebookShare on Google+Tweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn