Coffee and Recycling: How Cafe2U is Making a Difference in 2022

Taking place from October 17th - 22nd, National Recycling Week 2022 is Recycle Now's flagship event which sees governments, waste management companies, retailers, organisations and the media coming together to encourage the public to recycle as much as possible.

Managed by climate action group WRAP, Recycle Now is a charity that works across the globe to promote recycling, re-use, sustainability and waste minimisation, to great effect; National Recycling Week 2021 resulted in 82% of people saying they'd changed their behaviour as a result of its content.

How sustainable is the coffee industry?

The short answer is: it's hard to know for sure. Coffee is big business on an international scale, involving growers, roasters, importers, packagers, retailers, baristas and more. As a result, working out the impact on every inch of land used to grow coffee plants or the carbon footprint of every journey involved in transporting coffee worldwide is nigh on impossible.

The good news is that sustainable coffee itself (i.e. coffee that is certified as organic, fair trade or Rainforest Alliance as it has been sustainably grown and marketed to meet various social, environmental and economic standards) is becoming more prominent as more consumers actively seek it out.

How can we all make the coffee industry even more sustainable?

There are several ways. These include:

Recycling coffee grounds

Normally, used coffee grounds are thrown in the bin, where they end up as landfill or in an incinerator. But did you know they can be recycled?

That's right, you can give your latte a second life by using used coffee grounds to:

• repel insects. Simply put the used grounds in a bowl outside and burn them like incense. The grounds are very potent and will drive pests away in no time.

• make fertiliser. Sprinkling used grounds - which are packed with key nutrients - on the soil surrounding your plants will encourage them to grow quicker.

• help compost heaps. By adding some used grounds to your compost heap, you'll improve its structure and attract worms, which speed up the process by turning food scraps into compost.

• eliminate smells. A handful of used coffee grounds in your fridge will absorb food odours and ensure your meals taste like they should.

• clean your pans. A couple of spoonfuls of used coffee grounds are abrasive enough to clean the dirtiest of pans - just apply the grounds to a cloth and get scrubbing! Remember to check a small area of the pan first to make sure the grounds don't stain the surface though.

At Cafe2U, we let customers take our used grounds away for free during our annual Green Coffee Fortnight and we've also launched an innovative coffee grounds recycling initiative which sees waste coffee grounds being recycled into biofuel pellets to power biomass boilers, significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Using reusable or compostable cups

By switching to reusable coffee cups, you'll help reduce plastic waste.

Most disposable coffee cups are thrown away and end up in landfill because they have a thin plastic lining which makes them difficult to process for recycling. Reusable coffee cups, on the other hand, will last for years if properly cared for. Even when they reach the end of their lifecycle, most can then be recycled and some are even made of recycled materials. 

We do our bit by periodically giving away our reusable cups for free with certain purchases and we've set up a recycling scheme for customers who still use disposable cups. We also offer compostable cups which can be composted or recycled, reducing waste and ensuring fewer items are sent to landfill.

Avoiding plastic straws

Like disposable coffee cups, plastic straws can't be reused and usually end up in landfill. By using recyclable paper straws, you can play your part in reducing the amount that literally ends up going up in smoke.

At Cafe2U, we're replacing plastic straws with biodegradable paper alternatives to reduce the company's carbon footprint as we speak!

Having your coffee delivered emission-free

If you get your coffee delivered to your home or workplace, make sure you use a company that only uses electric vehicles - like us! 

Yep, we were the first mobile coffee company in the world to introduce a fleet of all-electric, totally emissions-free coffee vans. By changing the fleet to electric power, we estimate we'll save a whopping 12,672g of CO2 per year.

Do your bit for Recycling Week 2022

While all these ideas are good news for the environment, they will only be successful if people adopt them, so why not support our efforts and help us reduce our carbon footprint by picking up a reusable or compostable cup next time you visit your local Cafe2U van and, if you could use some, take some of our used grounds away with you. You'll be helping us help the planet!

Find your nearest Cafe2U van here.

The Importance of Franchisee Wellbeing

Taking place from October 10th - 14th, National Working Life Week 2022 is designed to give employers and employees the chance to focus on wellbeing at work and the importance of a healthy work-life balance. 

It's no secret that although running a franchise can be extremely satisfying, it’s also hard work, which can be tiring and pressurised at times. As a result, taking care of their own wellbeing can sometimes get pushed down franchisees' 'to-do' lists. So how can we try to make sure this doesn't happen?

Become familiar with the warning signs

Everyone gets warning signs when they need to slow down or take a break. Physically, the signs often include headaches, aching joints or not sleeping well. Emotionally, they might present themselves as low moods, mood swings or feeling demotivated or constantly on edge.

It’s important to be aware of what your indicators are so that you can do something about them. You can’t eradicate every source of pressure so instead of feeling stressed about things over which you have no control, try to focus your energy on things you can.

Take time off

Nobody can - nor should they attempt to - work constantly, so taking time away from running your franchise is vitally important. As well as being good for your mental health, making time to do things you enjoy often enables you to get a clearer perspective on issues within your franchise too.

Sleep, eat and exercise

It can be easy to fall into unhealthy habits when running a franchise, especially in the early days, and failing to get enough sleep, eat well or exercise are among the most common. 

If you find yourself skipping meals, working through your breaks or replying to emails late in the evening when you could be relaxing or doing some exercise, it's time to reassess your habits and work-life balance. While these things may happen from time to time, it's important not to let them become your usual way of working or you increase your risk of suffering burnout.

Be realistic

As a franchisee, you will naturally want to give your clients the best service possible. But there's a fine line between wanting to accommodate customers and over-promising, with the latter often resulting in you having to sacrifice your wellbeing in order to deliver. 

If you find yourself regularly over-committing, it's time to question whether you're taking too much on. And remember the old mantra 'It's better to under-promise and over-deliver.'

How Cafe2U looks after its franchisees

At Cafe2U, looking after our people is of paramount importance, which is why we provide all our franchisees with all the training and ongoing support they need. By ensuring our expert advice and experience is always available to them, it makes it easier for them to deal with any issues that may arise and increases the likelihood of their wellbeing being suitably catered for.

We let our franchisees know that we're right behind them and happy to provide assistance, whether it's practical or emotional. We're always here if they need a chat or some moral support.

Furthermore, becoming a franchisee gives people the opportunity to take control of their work destiny by giving them the autonomy to make their own decisions on a huge variety of issues, including where, when and for how long they work each week, giving them a flexible job that fits in with their lifestyle and improves their work-life balance, which improves their mental health.

If you're interested in investing in a Cafe2U franchise, click here for more information.

Get Ready For The World's Biggest Coffee Morning 2022

It's nearly that time of year again, when coffee and charity bring people together to help fight cancer and enjoy some good food and coffee while they're at it.

We're talking, of course, about The World's Biggest Coffee Morning 2022, Macmillan Cancer Support's incredibly worthwhile fundraising event that helps raise money for people living with cancer. 

If you're interested in taking part, here's how to do so.

When is the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning 2022?

Although you can host an event whenever you like, this year's event officially takes place this Friday, September 30th.

How Do I Take Part?

Taking part is easy. Simply sign up here and, in return, you'll receive a free Coffee Morning fundraising kit that includes everything you need to play host - or hostess - such as bunting, balloons, a table cloth, collection box and more (a plastic-free version of the kit is also available).

All you have to do after that is choose a date and location for your coffee morning, send out some invitations and stock up on coffee, other hot drinks and tasty treats that you can sell to your guests. You can host your event anywhere you like but at home, on your driveway (weather permitting!) or in a room at a local village hall are traditionally the most popular options.

Then, once your event is over, simply collect all the donations you've raised by selling food and drink to your nearest and dearest and send them to Macmillan.

Why take Part?

As a charity that relies on donations, taking part in The World's Biggest Coffee Morning helps raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and allows it to provide care and support to people affected by cancer.

All the money raised goes to Macmillan, meaning your donations could pay for vital telephone services, cancer information booklets, mindfulness sessions for patients or to train a person affected by cancer to become a Cancer Support Course facilitator.

Last year's Coffee Morning raised more than £11m, so the bar's been set pretty high for 2022!

Cafe2U - Happy to Help

If you're hosting an event and would like one of our friendly and highly-trained mobile baristas to make your guests' drinks, why not book one of our vans to come and handle the coffee duties for you?

As well as top-quality coffee, they'll even provide additional hot and cold drinks and a range of food and snacks!

You can find your nearest Cafe2U van here.

Financing Your Franchise

As regular readers of our blog will know, joining the franchising industry remains a good financial option despite the cost-of-living crisis. But there's no getting away from the fact that some people who want to become franchisees simply can't afford to do so right now.

If you fall into that category, what options are available to you? We take a fresh look.

Angel investors

A term originally used to describe the wealthy patrons that funded Broadway shows, today angel investors provide capital across almost every industry. Put simply, they are wealthy people looking to invest in businesses that will earn them a profit.

Angel investors could invest anything from £1 up to hundreds of thousands - or even higher - so there's a good chance that there's one looking to invest the sort of amount you're after, whatever the figure.

To secure funding from professional angel investors, you'll need a solid business plan and an intricate knowledge of your business that you can explain in simple terms to someone who may have no prior knowledge of the franchising industry. Of course, you'll also need to be comfortable and confident discussing the numbers - how much investment you're hoping for, what your predicted turnover is and how that translates to profitability.

Fortunately, preparing a solid business plan is relatively straightforward when the business is a demonstrably profitable franchise with an already-established reputation but don't be fooled - preparation is key as you'll need to impress any potential investors, who might also be considering investing in numerous other businesses.

If you're interested in becoming a franchisee and think an angel investor would help you achieve your dream, you can find out more information here.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding provides a platform for anyone to pitch an idea and anyone to invest in it.

Although successful pitches may result in a handful of investors investing large sums, most typically see several investors contributing a relatively small amount. For example, in America, a new smoothie company recently raised more than $1mil with approximately 5,000 investors all investing around $100 each.

Anyone interested in crowdfunding should remember that if the campaign fails to meet a minimum investment, all funds are returned to investors, so would-be franchisees need a plan to market their fundraising campaign as heavily as possible.

If this sounds like a route you're interested in exploring, check out Shopify's list of the 10 best crowdfunding websites here.

Friends and family

Quite possibly the oldest, easiest and most reliable method of securing funding for a franchise opportunity is turning to the bank of mum and dad, so if you have family and friends with enough savings to help you get your franchise off the ground, don't hesitate to ask them. 

The worst case scenario is they say no. But if they can afford to help out and are looking for an investment opportunity, the fact that they know and, hopefully, believe in you could help you raise the capital you need quicker than you imagined.

Cafe2U - the franchise for you

If you're interested in investing in a Cafe2U franchise, click here for more information. We can assist in arranging finance and your personal investment can be as low as £15,000 subject to status.

Why Cafe2U Is The Green Option For Franchisees

Launched in 2017, Clean Air Day is an annual event designed to focus public and political attention on the UK's air pollution problem. Most of us don't realise the severity of the issue but air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health the country faces, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths attributable to long-term exposure every year.

Fortunately, the good people at environmental charity Global Action Plan are here to raise awareness of the issue among the general public by encouraging everyone from NHS trusts, schools and local authorities to businesses, government departments and community groups to organise their own events and help get the country talking about the extent of the problem and what we can do to combat it.

As a mobile coffee franchise with a fleet of nearly 100 vans, you might think our business would be responsible for more than its fair share of air pollution. However, that couldn't be further from the truth.

We know how important it is to the planet - not to mention consumers and potential franchisees - to be an environmentally-friendly company and that's why we're on a mission to become the first carbon neutral coffee company in the UK. Here are just a few of the ways we're going about it.

Electric vans

We recently replaced the diesel generators in our fleet of vehicles with lithium-ion batteries, immediately reducing our emissions from in-van generators to zero. Then we went one step further and launched an all-new fleet of 100% emission-free electric vehicles. By switching from petrol powered to electric vans, we expect to massively reduce our CO² emissions over the coming years.

Furthermore, our electric vans have minimal moving parts and more effective brakes, so fewer replacement parts need manufacturing, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions even further.

Recycling

We offer our customers the opportunity to recycle their paper cups to slow the rate at which new disposable cups are produced, as well as a coffee grounds recycling initiative to counteract the 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions which are generated by the 500,000 tonnes of coffee waste disposed of in the UK every year.

The initiative sees waste coffee grounds being recycled into biofuel pellets to power biomass boilers, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping keep the air cleaner.

Going digital

These days, we're almost completely paper-free at Cafe2U.

All files at head office have been digitised and we've done away with traditional loyalty cards and physical pamphlets in favour of an app which allows our customers to receive news, offers and updates digitally instead, massively reducing the amount of paper we use and helping keep more trees in the ground where they help remove pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO²) from the atmosphere.

Help us make a difference

It's great news that so many organisations are doing everything they can to combat air pollution and become as green as possible and we all owe the organisers of Clean Air Day 2022 a huge debt of gratitude for raising awareness of the issue.

However, it's clear that a lot more work still needs to be done if we're to eradicate the problem of unclean air in the UK once and for all and we need everybody pulling in the same direction if we're ever going to make it happen.

If you're interested in investing in a clean, green franchise like Cafe2U, click here for more information.

For more information on Clean Air Day, click here.

Celebrating National Biscuit Day 2022

Unless you've been living underground, you'll be aware that a hugely important and patriotic event to honour one of the finest, most respected and internationally beloved British institutions ever is taking place in just a few days' time.

We're talking, of course, about National Biscuit Day.

That's right, May 29th is National Biscuit Day. A time to reflect. To bow down in awe at the altar of these delectable delights. To buy - or bake - as many guilt-free biscuits as you like.

We're also aware that another important occasion is taking place over the next week or so, as Her Majesty the Queen celebrates 70 years on the throne with the Platinum Jubilee. In honour of both events, and because we know that she definitely has a sweet-tooth, we've taken it upon ourselves to rank what we imagine would be the Queen's favourite biscuits to enjoy with a coffee.

The best biscuits to have with a coffee (if you're the Queen)

5. Custard Creams

Due to the importance of upholding her image, there are certain things the Queen can't be seen to enjoy and, due to the mess it would make if she spilled it, one of those things is custard.

Patient, reliable, uplifting and good for any occasion, Custard Creams and Her Majesty have a lot in common. We're convinced she'd find room for them on her biscuit menu more often than not.

4. Chocolate Hobnobs

One of the UK's most popular biscuits, Hobnobs are knobbly, dense and oaty, which means they're an excellent choice for people who like to dunk their biscuits in their coffee. What could be better? Covering them in chocolate, of course!

Yes, while classic Hobnobs may be a little unrefined for the Queen's royal palate, Chocolate Hobnobs are a whole different story. It's easy to imagine Her Majesty settling down to enjoy a hot brew accompanied by a whole plate of them and savouring every indulgent bite in preparation for a busy evening entertaining foreign dignitaries.

3. Jaffa Cakes

Their spongy consistency may make them impossible to repeatedly dunk into a hot drink, but the orange to chocolate to biscuit/cake ratio is absolutely perfect and the chocolate is exactly dark enough to bring out the best in a top quality cup of coffee. After a long morning spent waving at strangers, a light but filling Jaffa Cake is the perfect snack to assuage Her Majesty's hunger without spoiling her lunch.

And yes, we know they're not technically biscuits and blah blah blah. The fact is they're the best of both worlds: cake-like but biscuit-shaped. On this occasion, we're claiming them for Queen, country and Team Biscuit.

2. Chocolate Fingers

As a notorious chocoholic, eating Chocolate Fingers is probably always high on Queen Elizabeth II's 'to-do' list.

Their beauty is how easy they are to eat, both literally and figuratively - they're small enough that HRH could eat several in one sitting without feeling overfull and so moreish that even if she was full, she'd probably still find room for a few more. The fact that they're sleek and easy to munch on the go means they'd also be the perfect treat for Her Majesty to pop in her handbag so she has a quick snack available at all times.

1. Milk Chocolate Digestives

Over the years, HRH has become extremely adept at hiding her boredom. A parade here, a speech there, it's all in a day's work for Her Majesty, which is why you never see her yawning or losing her concentration while on official business. Behind closed doors, however, it's impossible to imagine her standing for a boring biscuit with her afternoon coffee.

Enter the Milk Chocolate Digestive.

Where plain Digestives are boring, Milk Chocolate Digestives are fit for a fit Queen. Are they tasty? Chocolatey? Dunkable? Moreish? Light but filling? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.

Quite simply, Milk Chocolate Digestives are the royal standard of biscuits and, as such, you can guarantee they're never out of stock in the royal biscuit jar.

Why not enjoy a Cafe2U coffee this National Biscuit Day?

If, like the Queen, you'll be eating a biscuit or two this Sunday, we have the coffee to pair them with. Find your nearest Cafe2U van here and let us deliver it direct to your door, then let us know if you agree or disagree with our royal biscuit selections - or have any other suggestions - on our social media channels.

Sustainability and the Coffee Industry

Taking place once a year, National Vegetarian Week encourages the public to switch to a vegetarian diet for a week in order to reduce carbon emissions, protect endangered wildlife and increase awareness of the benefits and pleasures of a meat-free lifestyle.

As our beloved coffee beans are already vegetarian-friendly, you might be wondering what this has to do with Cafe2U. What you might not be aware of are the steps we've taken to reduce our impact on the environment so, inspired by National Vegetarian Week, we've decided to round-up some of the ways in which we've made our business as sustainable as possible.

Offering customers sustainable products

To help alleviate the problem of disposable coffee cups, we offer our customers reusable Keep Cups. It is estimated that over 600 billion disposable cups are used and discarded to landfill globally every year. By using long-lasting cups which are made from durable, environmentally friendly materials, we're helping reduce the number of paper cups being used by the coffee industry.

We've also stopped using disposable paper cups altogether and replaced them with fully compostable cups instead. As well as requiring less carbon to produce, compostable cups reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and don't produce toxins when they break down, significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. We've replaced all our plastic straws with biodegradable paper alternatives too.

Recycling

As well as offering a paper cup recycling scheme for customers who still use disposable cups, we've also launched a coffee grounds recycling initiative to counteract the 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions which are generated by the 500,000 tonnes of coffee waste disposed of in the UK every year. The initiative sees waste coffee grounds being recycled into bio-fuel pellets to power bio-mass boilers, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Going digital

In the last few years, we started doing away with paper. All files at head office have now been completely digitised and we've done away with traditional loyalty cards and physical pamphlets in favour of an app which allows our customers to receive news, offers and updates digitally instead, massively reducing the amount of paper we use.

Our partners and suppliers

We recently switched to an ethical and sustainable sandwich manufacturer to increase the range of products available to our customers. Real Wrap Co is the first food-to-go manufacturer in the world to achieve certified carbon negative status, meaning it removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it generates. It does this by supplying sandwiches in sustainable packaging which is plastic-free, 100% recyclable and sends zero waste to landfill.

We also have a long-standing partnership with a multi-certified ethical coffee roaster which uses traditional harvesting methods and cultivates long term relationships with its producers, buying from them year after year and paying sustainable prices significantly higher than the Fair Trade minimum.

Our vans

The most important sustainable change we've made in the last few years has been to our fleet of nearly 100 vans. First, we replaced their diesel generators with lithium-ion batteries, immediately reducing our emissions from in-van generators to zero. 

Then, in August 2021, we launched an all-new fleet of emission-free electric vehicles. By switching from petrol powered to electric vans, we expect to reduce our CO² emissions by a staggering 12,672g CO²/km per annum over time.

In addition to boasting zero emissions, the new vehicles are also silent, helping to combat noise pollution, and feature fewer moving parts and more effective brakes, meaning fewer replacement parts need manufacturing, reducing greenhouse gas emissions further still.

What plans do you have?

We're always looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint so we think National Vegetarian Week is a great idea and one we're firmly behind. If you're planning to go meat-free this week or have any other great sustainable ideas, let us know on our social media channels!

Why Franchising Remains a Good Option Despite the Cost of Living Crisis

As a result of the ongoing cost of living crisis, many people are experiencing financial worries and, if you're one of them, launching a business is probably the last thing on your mind.

However, if you've ever considered joining the franchise industry, here are a few reasons why doing so today could actually be a smart idea.

It's a Reliable Business Model

Franchisors enable franchisees to operate under an established brand with an existing customer base. This means that buying a franchise is both comparatively low-risk and, with 93% of franchisees in the UK running at a profit, potentially lucrative. 

Needless to say that, during a cost of living crisis, these are two of the most desirable characteristics a new business venture can possibly have.

You Receive Training and Support

By investing in a franchise instead of starting your own business, you will receive all the necessary training from the franchisor before your business opens, as well as access to ongoing support from the franchisor and other franchisees.

When you start your own business, you're essentially on your own, so having your franchisor's expert advice and experience to help you become established and deal with any issues further down the line is invaluable and increases the likelihood of your franchise being successful.

It's Easier to get Funding

In the eyes of the banks, franchises are generally considered to be a less risky route to business ownership, even when the economy is suffering. This means that, so long as you have a robust business plan in place, receiving the funding you need to get your franchise up and running can be reasonably straightforward.

There's Less Competition

When the economy is booming, more people are emboldened to take a risk on a new business venture. However, when finances are being squeezed, people are much less likely to take the plunge. This means that if you decide now is the right time for you to buy a franchise, you'll be competing with far fewer other new businesses than you would be than if the economy was booming, increasing your chances of cornering the market in your chosen industry.

Consumers Aren't Going Anywhere

Even with a significant proportion of the population currently having less disposable income, there are certain products and services that people just can't do without. This means that, as long as you do your research and pick a franchise that operates in an industry which consumers regard as essential, there will be a guaranteed market for you to tap into.

You're Motivated

If the cost of living crisis is negatively impacting you, you'll naturally be more careful with your money and investments so, if you decide now is the time to buy a franchise, you'll have an incentive and be even more motivated to make sure it's a success. 

Cafe2U Franchise Opportunities

Our CEO, Martyn Ward, gives his thoughts on why investing in a Cafe2U franchise could be right for you despite the cost of living crisis.

"At Cafe2U, we have a robust and proven business model. We do everything possible to equip new franchisees with all the tools they need to make their business a success, from training and support, to organising networking events with other franchisees, providing them with exclusive areas in which to operate and helping them advertise their business to drum up interest before it launches and ensure it gets off to the best possible start.

"What's more, we know for certain how effective our approach is - despite the UK's financial issues, our mobile vans set a new sales record just last week! For anyone questioning whether a business such as ours would continue to be profitable in the current climate - there's your answer.

"Consumers love good coffee come rain or shine and it is becoming increasingly apparent that there is still a large market for it despite the cost of living crisis - where people might previously have treated themselves to a pair of shoes or a new jacket, they're now treating themselves to a top-quality coffee instead to reduce their outgoings while still getting a well-deserved pick-me-up.”

If you're interested in investing in a Cafe2U franchise, click here for more information.

Best Coffee Pranks For April Fool's Day

The 1st of April is better known as April Fool's Day, the day on which it is entirely acceptable to play practical jokes on your nearest and dearest with total impunity.

Although not an officially recognised national day, April Fool's Day is bound by a couple of inflexible rules. The first is that the person playing the prank must expose their actions by yelling "April fool!" at the recipient once the deed has been done. The second is that all pranking must stop at noon; anyone playing a prank after midday is considered the April fool themself.

With a number of excellent coffee-centric April fool's pranks having been played over the years, we thought it was only right to present our favourites to you today. If you're reading this before 12:00, feel free to try them out on anyone in the vicinity - as long as you're sure they can take a joke!

The Not-so-sweet Tooth

It's not big and it's not clever but it is funny and it is effective. We're talking, of course, about the old sugar-for-salt switcheroo.

Yep, if you regularly make coffee for someone who likes a sugar or two in theirs, simply substitute the sugar for salt, then get out of the blast zone as they take a big, glorious gulp and try not to spray it back across the room when their taste buds realise what's going on. 

An oldie but a goodie, this classic prank is a jokers dream as it requires no forward planning apart from ensuring you have some salt. Just be prepared to make your victim a fresh cup afterwards to make amends.

The Wet Shirt

Perfect if you're collecting a takeaway order from your local coffee shop for an office full of people, all the ‘Wet Shirt’ requires is a pen or pencil to make some holes in a disposable cup. 

Simply select a victim out of those who have ordered an iced coffee, then make holes all the way around their cup, just above the fill line. As soon as they take a drink, the cold brew will spill out of the holes and into their lap, leaving them just stunned enough for you to make your escape before they realise what's happened

The Fake Spill

This sneaky prank involves making a fake coffee spill using paint and glue, then positioning it on your colleague's desk to make them think someone's knocked a fresh cup all over some of their treasured possessions, like their laptop or a stack of important paperwork.

Although this practical joke requires some forward-planning and additional materials to pull off, trust us, it's worth the effort. All you'll need is a coffee cup, some brown paint, PVA glue and greaseproof paper - check out this video tutorial to find out exactly how it's done.

The Prankless Prank

Sometimes the worst thing you can do to somebody is psychological, like making them believe you've played a trick on them when you actually haven't. In this case, all you have to do is wait for someone to take their first sip of coffee, then shout "April fool!" to convince them that their brew has been tampered with (which it hasn't). 

If you're a particularly good actor, they'll refuse to touch another drop and spend the rest of the morning on edge wondering what you're going to do next. This fine line between anticipation and mild anxiety is what April 1st is all about!

The joke's not on you!

That's right - we may enjoy a joke at Cafe2U but we take our coffee extremely seriously, so we'll be out and about on April Fool's Day as normal, delivering our top quality coffee wherever it's needed most. Contact your nearest van here.

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Irish Coffees

Known across the world as Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th is the day on which Irish culture and heritage are celebrated in all their glory in commemoration of Saint Patrick, Ireland's foremost patron saint.

Saint Patrick was an Irish bishop who was kidnapped by Irish raiders and forced to work as a shepherd, during which time he found God. Tradition has it that God told Patrick to escape and head to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home to Ireland. Upon his return, Patrick converted thousands of pagan Irish to Christianity, carving out the religious path that Ireland would follow for centuries to come.

Despite his death on March 17th, 461 A.D, his legend continued to grow and, in the 17th century, his death date was made an official Christian feast day observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others.

Today, despite only being officially recognised as a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world. In fact, it's celebrated in more countries than any other national festival, with revellers typically enjoying public parades, traditional Irish music sessions, the wearing of green clothing and, of course, a glass or two of Irish beer, cider or whiskey. 

It's with the latter that we're concerned today.

According to legend, the first Irish coffee was created in the winter of 1943 by Joe Sheridan, a chef at Foynes Port near Limerick. During World War II, as the last port of call for seaplanes east of the Atlantic, Foynes became one of the largest civilian airports in Europe.

One evening, Chef Joe decided to make a warming drink with a kick for a group of weary passengers whose plane had been forced to return to Foynes midway through a journey. Not only did his combination of coffee, cream and Irish whisky go down a storm with the travellers, it went on to become one of the most popular alcoholic drinks of all time and one which is still enjoyed as an indulgent end-of-meal drink today and particularly on St. Patrick's Day.

So how do you make the perfect Irish coffee at home?

Irish Coffee Recipe

The saying goes that on St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish. If that's the case, there's no excuse for not giving this recipe a go this week. 

Ingredients

To make an Irish coffee, you will need:

• 2 tbsp double cream

• 150ml freshly brewed black coffee

• 50ml Irish whiskey

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• pinch freshly grated nutmeg

• mint syrup (optional)

Start by lightly whipping the cream until it starts to thicken, then set aside.

Next, pour the hot coffee into a mug then add the whiskey and sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then float the cream on top by pouring it carefully over the back of a spoon held just above the surface of the liquid. Gradually raise the spoon as you pour until the entire layer is floated.

Finally, sprinkle with the nutmeg and serve hot. Add a dash of mint syrup for a green finish!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Our mobile baristas will be on the road as usual this St. Patrick's Day so, if you fancy making an Irish coffee and need some coffee delivering to your doorstep, contact your nearest Cafe2U van here and we'll do the rest. Sláinte!

The Top UK Franchising Trends

It's no exaggeration to say that the UK franchising industry is in rude health. Recent figures have revealed that it's both one of the most profitable in the country and one that is growing exponentially - in 2001, it contributed £5bn to the UK economy; today, that figure stands at £15bn, an increase of 200% in fewer than 20 years.

Following another positive year in 2021, in which the industry recovered impressively from the difficulties of the COVID outbreak and subsequent lockdowns of 2020, there's every reason to believe that 2022 will be another positive one for franchisors and franchisees alike. 

But what are the secrets of the most profitable franchises' success? We've highlighted some of the trends being adopted by them below.

Franchising Trends 2022

Before we get into the details, the first thing to mention is that all the current trends are geared towards growth. If 2020 was about survival and 2021 was about making a comeback, 2022 looks set to be the year when the most successful franchises consolidate and expand their businesses. 

This is how they'll be doing it:

By appealing to the growing number of prospective franchisees

As a result of the franchising industry's ongoing success and the fact that more than 50% of franchisees are now declaring an average turnover in excess of £250,000, interest in franchising is at an all-time high. Add in the fact that would-be investors are eager to make up for lost time when it comes to changing careers post-COVID and it's not hard to see why many people believe 2022 is set to be a year of major franchise growth.

So with an ever-growing pool of franchisees to attract, franchisors will be going all out to ensure they have the materials and systems in place to make their businesses as appealing as possible by creating strong marketing plans, installing expert franchise development teams and refining - or even completely redesigning - their websites.

By investing in public relations

This follows closely on from the previous point and offers significant benefits to those who can afford it.

Simply put, hiring a public relations (PR) company helps franchises communicate with the public or a specific target audience, increasing awareness of its image and improving its reputation and profile by positioning it as an expert in its field.

Although PR works hand-in-hand with marketing and advertising and has the same goal of securing the customers and sales necessary to increase the franchise's profitability, it differs from both by earning consumers' attention, rather than paying for it. To put it another way, adverts tell people how great your franchise is; PR convinces people to talk about how great your franchise is.

With growth at the top of franchisors' to-do lists, expect to see more and more of them adding PR teams to their pay-rolls.

By becoming more sustainable

With awareness of climate change and the threat it poses at an all time high, it has never been more important for organisations to reduce their carbon footprints and become as sustainable as possible. And, with prospective franchisees, employees and consumers all increasingly unlikely to deal with any company that isn't explicitly environmentally friendly, ensuring your franchise is as sustainable as possible has become non-negotiable if you want it to succeed.

While this is a trend which has been gaining traction for many years, 2022 is likely to be the year when record numbers of businesses become greener than ever, with shifts towards going paper-free by digitising records, using recycled/recyclable/reusable products and materials wherever possible and installing long-lasting LED light bulbs among the most common initiatives.

At Cafe2U, we're introducing zero emission electric vans to our fleet of vehicles, with the aim of becoming the UK's first carbon neutral coffee company.

By strengthening key relationships

Important in any year, strengthening relations with internal teams, other franchisees, suppliers and consumers is perhaps the most important trend for 2022.

Having reestablished key relationships in the aftermath of the pandemic, solidifying and strengthening them to ensure stability and repeat customers will almost certainly hold the key to business growth over the coming months.

Franchise Opportunities with Cafe2U

With the industry stronger than ever, now is the perfect time for people interested in investing in a franchise to leverage the strength of the industry and begin their journey towards becoming a franchisee.
At Cafe2U, our franchisees receive all the training and equipment they need to get their business up and running, as well as ongoing support, marketing advice and an exclusive area in which to operate. To find out more about our mobile coffee franchise opportunities, click here.

Lattes, Camera, Action: The Most Iconic Coffee Moments in Movies

Following the unveiling of this year's BAFTA nominees - and with the shortlist for the Oscars due next week - we've been thinking about the best coffee scenes in our favourite movies.

From European art house films to Hollywood blockbusters, coffee has always been one of the most popular ways of setting a scene or defining a character, so we had plenty to choose from. 

Read on to discover our top 5…

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Everybody with even a passing interest in movies knows about Breakfast in Tiffany's, from Audrey Hepburn's little black dress to 'Moon River' and all the other iconic moments in between.

One such moment takes place in the very first scene. In it, socialite Holly Golightly exits a yellow New York taxi and makes a beeline for the window of luxury retailer Tiffany & Co. to gaze at the jewellery inside while drinking from her takeaway coffee cup.

While we'll never know how many people were inspired to pick up a coffee to go as a result of the film, one thing's for sure - drinking coffee has never looked cooler.

Pulp Fiction

Coffee features throughout Quentin Tarantino's black comedy/crime drama masterpiece, with two scenes standing out in particular. In one, Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta's characters try to distract attention from one of their misdeeds by complimenting their unhappy friend on the quality of his coffee, to no avail - he's the one who buys it; he already knows how good it is.

Even more famous is the opening scene in which a couple of armed robbers discuss plans to hold up the same diner in which they're currently drinking bottomless coffees with their breakfasts. All together now: "Everybody be cool, this is a robbery!"

Don't be alarmed though - drinking coffee doesn't increase your chances of becoming a career criminal.

Coffee and Cigarettes

Let's face it, you'd be pretty annoyed if you bought a ticket for a film called Coffee and Cigarettes and it didn't have anything to do with the black stuff!

Filmed before smoking was outlawed in cafes, this low-key classic is a collection of short films about people meeting up for, you guessed it, coffee and cigarettes while discussing an enormous array of topics, such as Paris in the '20s, caffeine popsicles, the cult of celebrity, acoustic resonance and many more. 

With an incredible cast including Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Steve Buscemi, Steve Coogan and members of hip-hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan, this film is all the proof you need that catching up for a chat with a friend over a good cup of coffee is the cure to many of life's ills.

Thor

When Thor, the God of thunder, is cast out of his kingdom and forced to live among mere mortals on Earth, he soon realises he's going to have to get on board with some human traditions if he's going to fit in with his new surroundings.

Under the watchful eye of a caring scientist, Thor tries his first sip of coffee while visiting a local diner and is instantly hooked, loudly proclaiming his love for it before getting carried away, smashing his mug on the floor and demanding more. We know how you feel, big guy.

The Usual Suspects

If you've seen Bryan Singer's Oscar-winning thriller/crime/whodunnit classic, you'll already know exactly which scene we're talking about. And if you haven't seen it, go and watch it before somebody spoils the ending for you!

The film concerns a weary, coffee-fuelled U.S. Customs agent's attempts to uncover how a ship with nearly 30 people on board ended up on fire in a dock in LA by interrogating one of its only survivors. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that a mysterious criminal overlord is behind the whole thing but it's not until the final scenes that the agent figures out the kingpin's true identity.

As he finally puts two and two together, he freezes and drops his latest cup of coffee to the floor in disbelief, all in glorious slow motion. While it's a shame to see a good cup of joe go to waste, there's arguably never been a more iconic coffee scene in the history of cinema.

What are your favourite coffee scenes in films?

Like most people, we love a good movie but let's face it, our expertise is in coffee, not cinema! If we've overlooked one of your favourite coffee scenes, let us know on our social media channels and we'll be sure to give it a watch on our next movie night.

The Best Cakes To Have With Coffee

Everybody knows that hot drinks and biscuits are among the all-time great combos and easily up there with the likes of strawberries and cream or fish and chips. But for some reason, the combination of hot drinks and cakes is far less celebrated, despite both items being sensational.

With the latest season of The Great British Bake Off coming to an end later this month, we thought it was high time someone turned the spotlight on the best cakes to enjoy with a hot drink. Luckily, we know a thing or two about coffee and the best things to enjoy with it, so we've compiled a list of the best cakes to pair with a steaming hot brew.

8. Banana bread

Don't worry, it's ok to admit to liking banana bread again - enough time has passed since everyone started chain-baking it at the start of the first lockdown. Putting social acceptability aside, there's no getting away from the fact that banana bread goes beautifully with a cup of coffee, with both accentuating the others' sweetness to perfection.

7. Vanilla sponge

Traditional and tasty, the vanilla sponge is among the most popular cakes ever created. It's the hint of vanilla that makes this such a good option to enjoy with a cup of coffee and if you ever need a safe bet to make ahead of a tea party, look no further. 

Ironically it's the vanilla sponge's 'play it safe' approach that counts against it in this instance; there are so many cakes to choose from these days that coffee enthusiasts want something a little more exciting with their drink.

6. Blueberry cake 

A cake that has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so, blueberry cakes (or muffins - they're just small cakes, after all) are sweet and juicy, enhancing the natural sweetness of coffee while also offsetting its acidity. Through no fault of its own, however, blueberry cake lacks the richness required to really bring out the best of coffee, so sixth place it is.

5. Cardamom cake

Carda what now?!

It doesn't matter if you've never heard of it, you really need to try it. Cardamom has an aromatic smell and a mild, mint-like taste that works perfectly in a cake, especially one that you're enjoying with a coffee. Trust us, the combination is sublime!

4. Lemon drizzle cake

A bit of a controversial choice in some circles due to its strong flavour, lemon drizzle cake is so light, it's arguably the most moreish cake ever devised and deserves its place on this list for that reason alone. If you don't think lemon and coffee belong together, think again.

3. Madeira cake 

Another criminally underrated gem, madeira cake is a soft, buttery masterpiece. It's strength lies in its mild flavour which enables it to enhance the taste of your favourite coffee without distracting from it. Try it once and you'll be hooked for life.

2. Carrot cake

Now we're talking. Rich and delicious, with incredibly Roger moreish icing and, if you're lucky, chopped nuts, carrot cake is essentially several cakes in one. What makes it so good with coffee are the spices, especially cinnamon and ginger, which are among the most popular additions to a cup of coffee. Welcome to cake heaven.

1. Chocolate cake

No list of the greatest cakes to have with a coffee would be complete without chocolate cake, which combines two of the greatest pleasures known to mankind (chocolate and cake). Sweet, rich and gooey, anyone who has ever enjoyed a mocha knows how delicious the combination of coffee and chocolate is. Resistance is futile.

Whichever cake is your personal favourite, pairing it with one of our quality Cafe2U coffees is guaranteed to make it even better - find your nearest van here to make a booking.

Cafe2U’s Pumpkin Spice Special!

For many people, autumn is their favourite time of year, with the colder weather giving them the ideal excuse to stay indoors and keep toasty, or to head out and enjoy a warming coffee on the go.

But even if you prefer the hot days of summer, autumn still has plenty to offer, thanks to the incredible amount of tasty treats you can make from the season's unofficial mascot, the humble pumpkin.

We've picked out some of the best recipes for you to try yourself.

Pumpkin spice latte

You didn't think we were only talking about food recipes, did you?!

Alongside gingerbread lattes, pumpkin spice lattes are one of the UK's favourite seasonal hot drinks and what better time to enjoy one than over autumn?

Ingredients

To make pumpkin spice lattes, you will need:

• 750g pumpkin

• ground cinnamon

• ground ginger

• ground nutmeg

• 30ml espresso or strong coffee

• 250ml milk (any variety)

To begin, you will need to make some pumpkin puree. Peel and seed your pumpkin, then cut into evenly sized cubes. Place the cubes in a steamer or colander over a pan of simmering water for 10-15 minutes or until soft, then mash and leave to cool.

Once cool, put two teaspoons of puree into a large heatproof glass or mug and stir in the spices and coffee. Next, heat the milk in a saucepan over a low heat until steaming and frothy. Pour into the glass or mug and spoon over the froth. Stir to combine, dust with more cinnamon and voila - the perfect warming, aromatic drink to enjoy on a cold autumn evening.

Pumpkin cake

If you thought the only autumnal treat worth shouting about was toffee apples, think again - this pumpkin cake recipe is a guaranteed showstopper. 

Ingredients

To make the pumpkin cake, you will need:

• 300g self-raising flour

• 330g light muscovado sugar

• 3 tsp mixed spice

• 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 175g sultanas

• ½ tsp salt

• 4 eggs, beaten

• 200g butter, melted

• the zest of 1 orange

• 1 tbsp orange juice

• 500g (peeled weight) pumpkin flesh, grated

For the frosting, you will need:

• 200g pack of soft cheese

• 85g butter, softened

• 100g icing sugar, sifted

• the zest of 1 orange

• the juice of half an orange

First, preheat your oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, then butter and line a 30 x 20cm baking tin with parchment paper. Put the flour, sugar, spice, bicarbonate of soda, sultanas and salt into a large bowl and stir to combine. Next, beat the eggs into the melted butter, stir in the orange zest and juice, then mix with the dry ingredients until combined. Stir in the pumpkin, then pour the batter into the tin and bake for 30 minutes or until golden and springy to the touch.

To make the frosting, beat together the cheese, butter, icing sugar, orange zest and 1 tsp of the juice until smooth and creamy, then set aside in the fridge. When the cake is done, cool for 5 mins then turn it onto a cooling rack. Prick it all over with a skewer and drizzle with the rest of the orange juice while still warm. Leave to cool completely.

Quickly beat the frosting to loosen it, then, using a palette knife, spread over the top of the cake. If you’re making the cake ahead of time, keep it in the fridge then take out as many pieces as you want 30 mins before serving - the cake should make approximately 15 portions.

Pumpkin spice cookies

If you don't manage to lay your hands on a pumpkin this autumn, or your kids use it as a jack-o'-lantern, don't worry - this cookie recipe uses an easy-to-make spice mix instead of pumpkin. And you'd never know the difference!

Ingredients

To make pumpkin spice cookies, you will need:

• 300g plain flour

• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 tbsp cornflour

• 1-2 tsps pumpkin spice mix

• 115g unsalted butter

• 100g brown sugar

• 100g granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 200g white chocolate chunks or chips

• 100g orange M&Ms

To make the spice mix, you will need:

• 3 tbsps ground cinnamon

• 2 tsps ground ginger

• 2 tsps ground nutmeg

• 1.5 tsps all spice

• 1.5 tsps ground cloves

Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4, line two large baking trays with parchment paper, then prepare the spice mix by adding the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, all spice and cloves to a bowl and whisk until even. Add the plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and cornflour and whisk until combined.

Next, carefully melt the butter and add to a bowl, then add the sugars and whisk for two minutes. Add the vanilla and the egg and whisk again until combined. Add in the flour mixture, M&Ms and chocolate and beat well until the mixture resembles cookie dough.

Finally, using a cookie dough or batter scoop, scoop the dough out in even portions, roll them into balls, place on the baking trays and cook in the oven for 10-13 minutes. Once cooked, leave the cookies to cool for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely and serve.

Check out our new autumn drinks range

We're big fans of autumn at Cafe2U, as it's the perfect opportunity to beat the cold with a steaming hot cup of coffee. And that's why we've launched a limited edition range of autumn drinks! To find out what your local Cafe2U van has to offer, get in touch with them here.

S'more Than Meets The Eye

Every year at Cafe2U, we introduce a special, limited edition item to our drinks menu to help get the nation in the mood for bonfire night - s'more flavoured coffee. 

Despite their enduring popularity in America, s'mores are a bit of an unknown quantity in the UK, with most people having heard of them but relatively few people ever eating them. Not us though, we love a s'more and we think it's about time the rest of the country did too. 

So here's everything you need to know about where they come from and how to make them.

What is a s'more?

S'mores are a sweet, chewy Stateside snack that have been around since the 1920s and consist of one or more toasted marshmallows and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers (American digestive biscuits). 

The tasty treat became popular thanks to American scout groups, who were among the first to experiment with cooking the marshmallows over a campfire instead of in a kitchen.

The name s'mores is a contraction of the phrase 'some more', in reference to most people's inability to only eat one at a time. As in: "Can i have some more?"

Although Americans enjoy s'mores all year round, in the UK they are regarded as a seasonal treat that are typically enjoyed around bonfire night, when there are more opportunities to cook them over an open flame.

How do you make s'mores?

If you want to make your own s'mores, the good news is that they're extremely quick and easy to make. 

Ingredients

To make eight s'mores, you will need:

• 16 digestive or Rich Tea biscuits 

• 16 chunks of milk chocolate

• 8 marshmallows

If you are cooking over a campfire/bonfire, place a marshmallow on a wooden or metal skewer and hold it over the fire, rotating frequently, until it is golden brown and the inside is gooey. If you prefer your marshmallows dark brown and charred, simply leave over the fire for an additional 30 seconds.

Next, assemble your s'more. Put one biscuit on a flat surface with a chunk of chocolate on top, then add the cooked marshmallow, another chunk of chocolate and top it all off with another biscuit. Eat it sandwich style for maximum enjoyment!

Alternatively, if you are making s'mores at home, simply assemble your s'more as above but without cooking the marshmallow, then wrap the whole thing tightly in tin foil and place in an oven pre-heated to 180℃ for two minutes until the marshmallow and chocolate begin to melt.

One of the best things about s'mores is that no two are the same, so feel free to experiment with different types of biscuit, marshmallow and chocolate until you find your favourite combination. Substituting the chocolate for chocolate spread works well too.

Would you like to know s'more?

At Cafe2U, we've been big fans of the s'more for many years and we're sure that after just one taste you will be too. To order one of our incredible s'more flavoured coffees, simply contact your nearest Cafe2U van here.

Cafe2U's Green Coffee Fortnight 2021

Now in its third year, Green Coffee Fortnight is an annual event designed by Cafe2U to raise awareness of environmentally-friendly practices in the coffee industry and encourage more people to adopt sustainable coffee drinking habits. This year's event will take place from Monday, September 27th, until Sunday, October 10th.

To celebrate, we're running down the new environmentally-friendly initiatives we're adopting at Cafe2U.

Compostable paper cups

You may have seen that we've already kicked off this year's celebrations by unveiling the world's first all electric coffee van, which will help reduce our CO2 emissions and carbon footprint. But that's not all - to help minimise our paper use, we're also launching a range of compostable paper cups.

Compostable cups are biodegradable, so they can be composted or recycled, reducing waste and ensuring fewer items are sent to landfill. And with people in the UK drinking approximately 95 million cups of coffee every day, we need to convince consumers to move away from single use cups as soon as possible.

Our new compostable cups are available from your local Cafe2U van now.

Reusable cup giveaway

Everybody likes something for nothing so, for the duration of Green Coffee Fortnight, we're giving our incredible reusable cups away free with certain purchases!

Please note this offer varies depending on your location so find your nearest Cafe2U van here and get in touch to find out how you can claim your reusable cup.

Coffee grounds recycling scheme

Throughout Green Coffee Fortnight, we're giving customers the opportunity to take our used coffee grounds away with them absolutely free.

Normally, used coffee grounds are thrown in the bin, where they end up as landfill or in an incinerator. However, neither option is good for the environment, which is why we want to let more people know that they can also be recycled, reducing harmful greenhouse gases and giving your latte a second life.

Used coffee grounds have a number of uses, including:

1. repelling insects. Simply put the used grounds in a bowl outside and burn them like incense. The grounds are very potent and will drive pests away in no time.

2. making a useful fertiliser. Sprinkling used grounds - which are packed with key nutrients - on the soil surrounding your plants will encourage them to grow quicker.

3. helping compost heaps. By adding some used grounds to your compost heap, you'll improve its structure and attract worms, which speed up the process by turning food scraps into compost.

4. eliminating smells. A handful of used coffee grounds in your fridge will absorb food odours and ensure your meals taste like they should.

5. cleaning your pans. A couple of spoonfuls of used coffee grounds are abrasive enough to clean the dirtiest of pans - just apply the grounds to a cloth and get scrubbing! Remember to check a small area of the pan first to make sure the grounds don't stain the surface.

Going paper free

Switching to compostable paper cups is just one part of our move towards becoming completely paper free by 2022. 

In addition to the paper cups, we're also:

• digitising all our files at head office

• switching from print to digital advertising, and

• doing away with the old loyalty card system in favour of a digital version accessible via the Cafe2U app.

We need your help!

Supporting our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint is easy - simply pick up a reusable or compostable cup next time you visit your local Cafe2U van and, if you could use some, take some of our used grounds away with you. You'll be helping us help the planet!

Find your nearest Cafe2U van here.

Beat The Work Blues With Coffee

You can't put a price on waking up on a Monday morning and feeling good about going to work. For most people, work is part of daily life so being miserable between 9:00 and 5:00 every weekday is the last thing you want.

Luckily, in 2015, two women started Happy Office, a company that helps employers increase happiness in the workplace to benefit their employees and from that excellent idea came International Week of Happiness at Work - a week-long event designed to spread happiness among employees all over the world.

Taking place from September 20th-26th, your employer (or company) can sign up to take part here. Popular events include putting on happiness breakfasts at the start of the work day or arranging runs/walks to boost positivity.

Another stalwart of the working day is coffee, which famously gives drinkers an energy boost and makes them more alert. But can it also make you feel happier?

Coffee improves your mood

Yep, it's true - coffee has been scientifically proven to increase wellbeing and brighten your mood.

When you drink coffee, caffeine blocks the receptors in your body that cause tiredness, forcing it to release chemicals which improve your mood and make you feel happier. 

By stimulating the central nervous system, coffee can also act as an antidepressant. In a 2011 Havard study, people who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had a whopping 20% lower risk of suffering depression. Incredibly, two cups of coffee a day has also been shown to reduce the risk of suicide by 50%.

Coffee helps build work relationships

Everybody needs friends and, given the amount of time you spend with them, work friends are especially important.

Regular coffee breaks are the perfect opportunity to interact with your colleagues and form better relationships with them, which in turn helps create a happier work environment. Including newer members of staff in coffee break chats is a great way to help them settle in and feel more comfortable in their new role too.

Coffee is good for your body

Having a healthy, happy body is as important as having a positive mindset and coffee is among the best things you can ingest. 

Because coffee is high in antioxidants (substances that protect your cells), regularly drinking it can help reduce the risk of: 

• cancers

• suffering a stroke

• Parkinson's disease

• Type II diabetes

• Alzheimer's disease

• dementia 

Coffee has even been shown to reduce the risk of premature death by 25% compared to non-coffee drinkers. 

Furthermore, it is a popular performance enhancer among athletes because of its ability to help them exercise for longer by improving endurance and increasing muscular strength. It can also help you lose weight by boosting your metabolism and increasing fat burning, while some studies also suggest caffeine could reduce your appetite and help you eat less. And if you're happy in yourself, you'll be happier at work.

Why not have great coffee delivered to your work?

Whatever you do this International Week of Happiness at Work, ensuring there is plenty of coffee to go around your employees and colleagues is an excellent way to kick things off. At Cafe2U, our mobile cafes are available to bring our top quality coffees to offices all over the UK and you can find your nearest one here.

The World's Biggest Coffee Morning 2021

Macmillan's Coffee Morning is one of the UK's most important and popular fundraising events, bringing people together to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat while raising donations for the charity. With Coffee Morning 2021 taking place later this month, we want to show you how you can get involved.

When is Coffee Morning 2021?

This year, the event officially takes place on Friday September 24th but you can host your own event any time.

Why take part?

As a charity that relies almost entirely on donations, taking part helps raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, enabling it to continue providing care and support to people affected by cancer. This year, many cancer sufferers have reported feeling more anxious and scared as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, so there's never been a more important time to support the cause.

How do I take part?

Taking part is easy - simply sign up here on the official website and they'll send you a fundraising kit to ensure you have everything you need, including decorations, recipe ideas, a collection box and event posters.

Next, select a date and location for your coffee morning, invite your guests, and stock up on hot drinks and/or cakes to sell them. If you're hosting an event at work, remember to book a meeting room - or similar - that's big enough to allow social distancing to take place too; if you're uncomfortable in social situations right now, you could even host a virtual coffee morning with friends and family over Zoom.

Then, after the event, all you need to do is collect all your donations and send them to Macmillan.

Where does the money go?

Every penny goes to Macmillan to help them care for people with cancer. Your donations could pay for vital telephone services, cancer information booklets, mindfulness sessions for patients or to train a person affected by cancer to become a Cancer Support Course facilitator.

How Cafe2U can help

If you're hosting a large event or would just like a professional barista to make your guests' coffees, why not book one of our mobile cafés to come and handle the cappuccino-making duties for you?

Our baristas are trained to provide excellent customer service and to deliver the finest quality coffees, food, snacks and hot and cold drinks. You can find your nearest Cafe2U van here.

Weird and Wonderful Coffee Stories

Coffee has been around for such a long time that almost everyone knows a little something about it - that it (probably) originated in Ethiopia, that it's the most traded commodity in the world apart from crude oil, that it keeps you alert and so on.

But with such a long history, you'd think everything there is to know about coffee would already be common knowledge.

Not so. The story of the world's most popular drink has more than its fair share of unusual chapters and we're going to take a look at some of them here.

People will go to great lengths to make the tastiest coffee

Typically, coffee is prepared by grinding coffee beans which then have hot water poured over them. Typically, but not always... 

One of the most expensive and sought after coffees in the world is Black Ivory Coffee from Thailand, which sells for as much as $1,100 per kilogram and $50 per cup in some establishments. But why is it so expensive? Because it's made from elephant dung, of course!

Yes, believe it or not, the coffee's incredible taste is the result of feeding coffee beans to elephants, then recovering them from the elephants' dung once they've been 'processed'. The elephants' digestive juices fermenting the berries is what gives the coffee its delicious taste and, we're not going to lie, we'd definitely try a cup. Probably best not to try this one at home though.

Fantastic filters

Until roughly 100 years ago, if you were lucky, your coffee filters were made of cloth; if you were unlucky, you made use of whatever was to hand, such as a sock. However, even if you could afford cloth filters, they had a tendency to over-brew the coffee and make it taste bitter, so a new solution was required.

Enter Melitta Benz, a German homemaker. Fed up with disappointing coffee, she took a page from her son's school book and filtered her morning brew through it. Delighted with the results, Melitta patented her invention and the paper coffee filter brewing system was born.

The Catholic church had to stop coffee being outlawed

It wasn't just alcoholic drinks that used to be prohibited - in the 16th century, coffee was banned in Europe.

The drink first reached European shores - Venice, Italy, to be precise - from Arabia. European travellers were already aware of coffee and described it as mysterious and intoxicating, which resulted in European Catholics, who were wary of the drink's perceived Muslim background, decrying it as 'the bitter invention of Satan' and having it outlawed.

Luckily, Pope Clement VIII was on hand to calm the situation down and decided to sample a cup for himself. On tasting it, he proclaimed that it was a Christian as well as a Muslim drink and that it would be a sin to let only pagans enjoy it. Following the Pope's approval, coffee began to spread across Europe and the rest, as they say, is history.

Top quality, convenient coffee

At Cafe2U, we love making coffee. And while you're welcome to sift through elephant poop to make coffee which needs to be filtered through a sock and/or risk being banned by the church, we think contacting your nearest Cafe2U mobile barista here and buying a coffee from them is much easier.

Summer Iced Coffee Recipes

When the sun comes out and the temperature soars, caffeine lovers often find themselves facing a conundrum - what should I drink when it's too hot for coffee?

The answer, of course, is iced coffee!

Cool, refreshing and delicious, iced coffee's popularity has grown steadily in recent years and the drink is now a summertime staple throughout the UK. It's also easy to make and tailor to your own tastes, so refill your ice tray and we'll explain how it's done.

Basic iced coffee

Iced coffee can either be poured hot over ice or served already chilled. If you're attempting the latter, start by making a cup of strong black coffee, then allow it to go completely cold. Pour it into a blender, add a quarter of a cup of milk, two handfuls of ice and syrup - if using - then blend until smooth and serve in a tall glass.

If you usually add sugar to your brew, remember it doesn't dissolve easily in cold liquids, so you'll need to add it to the coffee before it cools or swap it for a sugary syrup. And don't worry about it being too strong as the ice will dilute and weaken the coffee.

Coffee lemonade

If there's a drink that symbolises summer better than lemonade, we've yet to try it. Combining it with a hit of caffeine results in a refreshing drink you'll want to make every time the sun's out.

Making coffee lemonade couldn't be simpler. Just combine cold black coffee, ½ a cup of orange juice, ⅓ of a cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, ⅓ of a cup of honey and two handfuls of ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve in a tall glass half filled with more ice cubes and enjoy!

The sweet treat

When the first ingredient is ice cream, you know you're onto a winner!

Put a scoop of your favourite ice cream into a tall glass, cover it with cold black coffee, add another scoop of ice cream, then finish with a dash of sparkling water to make the whole thing fizz. 

For an even greater sugar fix, thread your favourite jelly or gummy sweets onto a toothpick and lay across the mouth of the glass.

Peanut butter iced coffee

Okay, peanut butter isn't traditionally associated with summer, but trust us, this rich, creamy recipe will quench your thirst and cool you down in no time.

To make, simply combine peanut butter, Nutella and cream in a saucepan, then heat gently while whisking until the mixture is melted and smooth. Leave it to cool in the fridge, then pour into a blender alongside the black coffee and ice and blitz until foamy. 

At Cafe2U, we love experimenting with new flavours and ingredients all year round. Find your nearest Cafe2U mobile barista for more details and be sure to ask about our summer range.