International Coffee Day 2020

International Coffee Day is here - a day that brings together coffee lovers across the globe. It’s also a day to support the millions of farmers who provide our coffee and whose livelihoods depend on it.

This year ​International Coffee Day​ is celebrating the entire coffee ecosystem​ and the connections that coffee allows us to make around the world. Here, we’ve taken a closer look at this important event on the coffee calendar and have detailed a few fun facts about it.

Celebrating ICD internationally

At Cafe2U we have come up with some creative ways you can get involved in the international aspect of the day - like these phrases so you can order coffee all over the world:

““Puis-je avoir un café s’il-vous-plaît?” (French)”

““¿Me puede dar un café por favor?” (Spanish)”

““Kann ich bitte einen Kaffee haben?” (German)”

““Posso avere un caffè, per favore?” (Italian)”

““Posso tomar um café, por favor” (Portuguese)”

You can find more translations in this ​blog​, including phrases in Russian, Chinese and Arabic.

Who drinks the most coffee in the world?

Now that you’ve got your language skills up to scratch let’s take a look at where the most coffee is consumed around the globe: (from ​Atlas​, per capita)

1. Finland
2. Norway
3. Iceland
4. Denmark
5. Netherlands
6. Sweden
7. Switzerland
8. Belgium
9. Luxembourg
10. Canada

We certainly think the UK needs to start catching up!

How you can celebrate ICD 2020 with Cafe2U

Cafe2U delivers coffee up and down the country and if you want to enjoy this day with the perfect cup of coffee, you can book one of our mobile coffee vans to bring our award-winning menu of delectable coffees and food to your workplace or event.

Whether it’s an industrial estate, office block or a 10k run, our mobile cafés can provide everything you need to celebrate International Coffee Day.

Top Five Best Autumn Coffee Recipes

Now that summer has officially ended it’s the perfect time to share five of our best autumn coffee recipes!

From spiced classics to underrated treats, dive into this list and find your new favourite coffee drink that you can make from home as the weather gets colder and the nights draw in - just be sure to make sure you let us know how you get on!

#1 Pumpkin Spice Latte

A well-known classic and one of the most popular drinks for this time of year. Here’s the ingredients that you will need:

• 1 1/2 tbsps of sugar

• 2 tbsps of pumpkin puree

• 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

• 1/2 cup (4oz / 115g) brewed coffee

• 1/2 cups (4oz / 115g) milk

Once you’ve collected your ingredients, add them all to a saucepan.

Stir all of your ingredients in the pan until they simmer and then take your pan off heat and pour into a mug.

Then, decorate your drink with freshly whipped cream and a sprinkles of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon. You can find the full recipe with instructions ​here​, as well as a ​video​ showing you how to do it!

#2 Homemade Iced Maple Latte

This one can be made with or without ice - it’s up to you!

Let's start with the ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk

• 1-2 cups of ice

• 1 1/2 cups of coffee or espresso, at room temperature (if you want a warm latte, you can leave your coffee warm and omit the ice)

• 2 tbsps of pure maple syrup

In a jar with a lid, pour milk and shake vigorously back and forth for a minute, until foamy. Take off the lid and microwave for 15 seconds. Fill two large glasses with ice (optional).

Pour coffee evenly between the glasses. Drizzle in maple syrup between two cups.

If you like your lattes on the sweeter side, use a more maple syrup per cup.

Using a spoon, hold back the foam and pour a little milk into each glass. Then, take spoonfuls of the foam to add on top of the latte. Stir to combine and then it’s all yours to enjoy!

You can find the full recipe ​here.

#3 Gingerbread Spiced Coffee

This is a sweet, indulgent, warming drink for those who want a change from hot chocolate.

Let’s get stuck in with the ingredients for serving six:

• 175g of black treacle

• 4 tbsps of dark brown soft sugar

• 1⁄2 a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger

• 3⁄4 of a teaspoon of ground cinnamon

• 1.5l of hot brewed coffee

• 250ml of single cream

• 100g of whipped cream

• 1 teaspoon of ground cloves

In a small bowl, mix together the black treacle, dark brown soft sugar, bicarb, ginger and cinnamon until well blended.

Cover all of this up and then refrigerate it for at least 10 minutes.

Add about 60ml of coffee to each cup, then stir in a tablespoon of the spice until dissolved.

Fill the cup to within an inch of the top with coffee. Stir in single cream to taste, then garnish with whipped cream and a light dusting of ground clove. Then you’re all set to enjoy your creation!

You can find the full recipe ​here​ with images and instructions.

#4 The Mocha

Treat yourself with a Mocha this autumn - we have found a recipe where you don’t even need a machine! Alternatively you can always order a mocha from your nearest Cafe2U van!

Here’s the ingredients to make a homemade mocha:

• 1 cup of milk

• 1 tbsp of cocoa powder

• 1 square of dark chocolate baking bar or 1 tbsp of dark chocolate chips for decoration

• 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder or instant coffee

• 1 – 2 tbsp(s) of sugar

Firstly, heat your cup of milk over a pan on medium heat. Then your milk should start steaming, when this happens add your cocoa powder to the mix.

Now you can add your chocolate sprinkles or choc chips.

One of the final things to do is add your espresso powder into the mix. Once it’s all mixed pour into a mug and add some sugar!

You can find the full recipe ​here​ with pics!

#5 Red Velvet Latte

Not only is this latte appealing to the taste buds, but it’s probably the most visually appealing one on our list so far. A coffee that blends a delicious taste of vanilla and chocolate, here’s the ingredients you’ll be needing:

• 1 cup of whole milk

• 1 tbsp of sugar

• 3 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chunks

• 1/4 tsp of red food colouring

• 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup of freshly brewed coffee

Put your milk and sugar into a medium sized saucepan. Bring your mix to a simmer on medium heat, keep stirring to dissolve the sugar in.

Remove your pan from the heat. Stir in the chocolate until it melts. Then add in your food colouring, coffee and vanilla - mix altogether.

Then your creation should be ready to serve - make sure you serve it up warm as that’s when it tastes the nicest!

Those are just a few of the recipes that you can enjoy this upcoming autumn and into winter! Let us know how you get on trying to make all of these delights, send your creations in via our social media channels.

How to Get Involved in the Macmillan Biggest Coffee Morning 2020

Every year Macmillan invites people all over the UK to host a Coffee Morning in order to raise money for those living with cancer.

The official date for the 2020 World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Friday 25 September, but you can hold yours whenever and however you like – even if you’re not in the same room as your guests - with virtual parties and events now possible!

Here, we’ve explained more about how you can get involved and how Cafe2U could help make it a Coffee Morning to remember!

How do you sign up?

You can sign up on the ​Macmillan website​, when you sign up you'll get a free fundraising kit full of goodies to help you organise and prepare for your event. In the kit, you’ll receive bunting, cake decorations, recipes, stickers, a collection box and loads more to make hosting your event a breeze.

You can also sign up to host a social distanced event, a video call or take on the Coffee Morning Challenge. This will see you put your lockdown fitness to good use and support people living with cancer via a run, walk or cycle, before raising a mug to someone you love at the finish line.

Getting your event safely set up

If you are hosting your event in person be prepared to follow government guidelines and make sure you are social distancing.

If you are having your event at your workplace or somewhere similar, find the best place to host - that could be in a conference room, break room or somewhere else in your office with enough space for social distancing. If the weather is good you could also host your event outside and make the most of a coffee morning in the sun.

How Cafe2U can help you with your Coffee Morning

You can hire or book a Cafe2U mobile café to supply the drinks for your Coffee Morning, simply find the nearest driver to you and get their information on our website. We always aim to match our customers’ needs, so if you have any special requests we will try our best to deliver - find out how we can help ​here.​

10 Creative Ways to Reuse Old Coffee Grounds

It’s always good to recycle, but did you know your old coffee grounds could have a number of other uses?

As ​coffee experts​, we’ve put together this article to show you how coffee grounds can help you around the house with everything from cleaning your clothes to sorting bad smells.

Take a peek into the list below and find out why you will never throw your old coffee grounds away again!

#1 Neutralising odours

Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which helps eliminate foul-smelling sulfur gas from the air when it’s combined with carbon. That basically means that coffee can help absorb and get rid of the bad odours.

This can make the foods in your fridge smell better and neutralise the odours - just place a bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge or freezer, this should solve the problem of bad smelling foods.

One of the most creative uses of the coffee grounds is creating DIY air fresheners. You can fill old socks with the coffee grounds and tie them off to make portable air fresheners!

#2 Helping remove dirt

Place a few teaspoons of grounds on a thin cleaning rag and use to scour away grease and grime. Just make sure not to use it on ceramic or other dishes that stain easily.

Coffee grounds can also be used as an abrasive cleaner - they can help sanitise and remove buildup on sinks, cookware, grills and other surfaces around the house!

#3 Tenderise your meat

Coffee contains natural acids and enzymes, making it especially effective at tenderising meat. It's those acidic tones of coffee that go well with the savoury flavours of meat.

The reason why coffee is great for BBQ, whether ground or brewed, is because it acts like a spice.

#4 Freshen your clothes

What you need to do is add a fresh pot of coffee and its grounds into your load of brown washing - make sure it’s dark colours only.

The coffee will help stain materials and keep dark colours looking fantastic!

#5 Clear up acne

Coffee is known to treat acne as it can exfoliate the skin. Caffeine in the coffee can tighten skin, smooth puffiness, fight free radicals and help fight cellulite and acne. It firms the skin thereby reducing the cellulite and plumps your skin, adding a healthy glow to it.

So fear not if you struggle with acne, coffee grounds could be your solution to clearer skin!

#6 Remove build up from your hair

As mentioned earlier coffee helps exfoliate your skin, massaging coffee grounds into your scalp while in the shower will help remove product build-up and help stimulate hair growth.

So next time you’re in the shower make sure you have your coffee grounds equipped and ready!

#7 Keeps your pets safe

After washing your cats and dogs, you can add one or two cups of coffee grounds into their fur - make sure you rinse afterwards. This will help kill fleas and make your animals fur soft and smooth.

Importantly though make sure your pet doesn’t eat the coffee grounds - as caffeine can be dangerous to animals!

#8 Clean your fireplace

While coffee grounds won’t do all the work when cleaning your fireplace they sure will help!

Scatter the used coffee grounds over the ashes to weigh them down and prevent the huge clouds of smoke that often arise when performing this tricky task. Sprinkle a layer of damp grounds over the ashes before sweeping them up.

#9 Repel insects and pests from your garden

Coffee grounds can help repel mosquitos and other annoying insects such as wasps and bees. Coffee grounds contain a strong smell but it's even stronger when they are burned - this smell can help keep pets away.

#10 Fertilise your garden

Mix your old grounds with dead grass clippings, brown leaves, or dry straw to neutralise some of the acidity, then spread them around your plants.

Do you have any other tips for reusing coffee grounds? Be sure to let us know on our social channels!

Back to Work: How To Get Your Office Coffee Caffeine Fix

With many people in the UK returning to the office, you may be wondering how you’ll be able to get your coffee fix. You may have been sticking to hot drinks from your kitchen whilst working from home, but you needn’t worry as Cafe2U are on hand to provide you with the delicious coffee you deserve.

In this guide you can find out exactly how we can help. What’s more, we’ve also explained the benefits of drinking coffee and how it improves your work performance.

Benefit One: It keeps you on the ball

You may need to be more alert now that you’re back in the office, and a morning coffee certainly helps. Coffee is a known stimulant that helps boost your nervous system and keep you focused.

As well as this it can help keep your energy levels up, and it can improve your overall mood helping you deal with anything that comes your way through the working day.

Benefit Two: Improves productivity

It’s easy to get Monday and office blues on your return, but a cup of Cafe2U coffee will get you back on track.

Having a routine of getting an early morning coffee can set you up for the day - Caffeine blocks adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes you tired and less alert - meaning you are more alert after you’ve had a coffee. So it’s surely the right way to get your day started!

Benefit Three: Coffee is social

Coffee breaks are the perfect time for staff to interact and form close working relationships.

Enjoying a coffee break can be the perfect fuel for employees to improve the social atmosphere, even a little chat around one of our vans can improve your mood. It can also help settle any new staff members or people that are slightly nervous about returning to work!

Benefit Four: It contains nutrients

Coffee contains several important nutrients, including potassium - which helps muscle growth and your nervous system. Coffee also contains magnesium, this helps support your immune system. So you don’t have to feel guilty enjoying a delicious Cafe2U coffee!

Where can I get a Cafe2U coffee?

If you’re back in your place of work - or still working from home for that matter - Cafe2U is ready to serve in a few easy steps:

• You can find a van that’s nearest to you or your workplace here.
  

• You can book one of our mobile coffee vans to bring our award-winning menu of delectable coffees and food to your workplace or event. Whether it’s an industrial estate, office block or a 10k run, our mobile cafés can provide the services you need for a well-deserved break.
  

• You can then order whatever drink you prefer and get yourself back in the right frame of mind for work.

We also hope you have a safe return to work if you are going back and make sure you reward yourself with a Cafe2U coffee!

From Bean to Cup: How is Coffee Made?

Nobody knows exactly how or when the UK’s favourite caffeinated beverage was created and there are many legends around its discovery and incarnation.

In this guide, we will look into coffee's mysterious origins, coffee production and Cafe2U’s delicious coffee blend.

Where did coffee come from?

The coffee that is now grown worldwide can supposedly trace its roots back to the ancient coffee forests of the Ethiopian plateau. It was there that a goat herder allegedly discovered the potential of these incredible beans, when he noticed his goats were so energetic they didn’t want to sleep after eating the berries from a certain tree.

The goat herder reported this finding to the Abbot of the local monastery, who made a drink with said berries and found that it kept him alert through his evening prayers.

Word of this energising drink spread quickly east as the legend of coffee began its journey around the world.

The production process

The coffee we enjoy each day has gone through a lot before it arrives in our cups - from the time they are picked, these magic beans go through a long process to ensure they reach their full flavour potential:

Farming

At Cafe2U we use 100% traceable, grade 2 beans from micro-lots. The coffee seeds are planted in large, shaded nursery beds until they are strong enough to be permanently planted. Farming a micro-lot gives the farmer more contact time with the crop, as there is typically only one harvest every year.

Processing

Once the coffee has been picked, processing must begin quickly to prevent spoilage. Coffee is generally processed in one of two ways:

• The Dry Method: the freshly picked cherries (beans) are spread out on a large surface to dry in the sun.

• The Wet Method: the cherries are put through a pulping machine to separate the skin and pulp from the bean.

If the beans have been processed using the wet method they must be dried to 11% moisture so they can be stored correctly - these dried beans are known as “parchment coffee.”

Milling

The beans are then sorted and polished - generally, they are sorted by size, weight and colour. Defective beans are then removed from the final batch.

Exporting

Milled beans, or green coffee, are now loaded into jute or sisal bags for shipping to roasting facilities.

Roasting

Roasting the beans turns green coffee into the brown aromatic beans we enjoy every day. Most roasting machines maintain a temperature of 550 degrees Fahrenheit.

When the beans reach an internal temperature of around 400 degrees they begin to turn brown and the caffeoyl, a fragrant oil locked inside the beans, emerges - this process is called pyrolysis and produces the flavour and aroma of coffee that we all love so much.

To the cup from our baristas

After such a long journey our baristas are trained to get the very best out of our fabulous beans - the way the coffee is ground, poured and served is what makes Cafe2U’s coffee so great.

Our baristas are trained to deliver a consistently high-quality coffee experience from their mobile coffee vans. They weigh each coffee to one-tenth of a gram out of the grinder and time each shot to get you the perfect Cafe2U coffee every time.

If you would like to learn more about more coffee simply follow this link.

The Best Iced Coffee Recipes

Our summer drinks range is back and we’ve got plenty of tasty options to keep you cool on those hot summer days.

However, for when you can’t get your Cafe2U coffee fix, we’ve put together a list of five of our favourite iced coffee recipes for you to make at home and enjoy yourself.

#1 Classic cold brew

An ice cold coffee is a refreshing way to kickstart the day, and it’s really easy to make at home.

All you need is:

• 50g of ground coffee

• Ice Water

Simply put 400ml of cold water into a large jug and add the coffee grounds, but do not stir the mixture straight away. Instead cover and leave for 24 hours.

After this, gently stir the mixture and pour it through a funnel or sieve lined with coffee filter paper (or a sheet of kitchen paper) into another large jug - this concentrate will keep in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

To serve, dilute 1 part cold brew with 2 parts still or sparkling water (or to your taste) and serve with lots of ice. Find the full recipe here.

#2 Dalgona iced coffee

Dalgona coffee is the perfect indulgent drink to enjoy in the summer! Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar

• 2 tbsp. instant coffee

• 2 tbsp. cold water

• Ice, for serving

• Milk, for serving

Simply whisk the coffee, sugar and water in a bowl for approximately five mins until the mixture is thick and fluffy with stiff peaks - this is easily done using an electric whisk but can be done by hand.

Then pour the cold milk into two glasses.

Divide the coffee mixture in half and spoon evenly on top of the glasses - serve and stir thoroughly before drinking.

Check out the full recipe here.

#3 Coffee ice cubes

This one is almost too easy - use your leftover brewed coffee and you’re on to a winner, you’ll need:

• Brewed coffee

• An ice cube tray

To start, let your already brewed coffee cool to room temperature, then pour the coffee into ice cube trays and freeze - use in place of ice cubes in your favourite cold coffee beverage.

You can find the full recipe and example of how these little beauties can look here.

#4 Cinnamon and vanilla iced coffee

This one is super refreshing and perfect for people with a sweet tooth.

You need:

• 1 and a 1/2 cups ground strong coffee

• 8 cups water

• Ice

• 2 teaspoons vanilla cinnamon syrup

Add the coffee grounds and water to a large pitcher and stir - cover and let it sit at room temperature overnight for up to 12 hours. Strain mixture through a coffee filter, discard the leftover coffee grounds and store the coffee in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

Fill a large glass with ice cubes - add coffee, vanilla syrup, and milk/cream (to taste.)

Stir to combine, taste and adjust milk/cream and/or vanilla cinnamon syrup as needed.

You can find the full recipe here.

#5 Vietnamese ice coffee

This popular drink from Vietnam only requires three ingredients, water, milk and coffee (of course).

Place the coffee grounds in a heat proof container and slowly pour boiling water over the grounds in a circular motion to evenly saturate - do not stir. Line a coffee cone with a paper filter and place the cone over another heat proof container.

Slowly pour the steeped coffee through the filter, allowing all the liquid to drip through completely, discard the filter and coffee grounds and stir the condensed milk into the coffee until well blended. When you are ready to pour, serve the coffee mixture in a chilled glass or cup.

You can find the full recipe here.

We hope you enjoyed this list and have a good time making these drinks whilst the weather is nice - make sure you also share your homemade concoctions with us on our social media channels.

Our Top Five Alcohol and Coffee Beverages

With pubs back open in the UK, we thought we’d share some of our favourite alcohol and coffee combos - the best of both worlds.

Take a look at our top five alcohol and coffee beverages and their recipes below:

#1 A famous one

Possibly the most popular drink containing alcohol and coffee - The Irish Coffee.

This drink is a perfect end of dinner treat, and it’s so easy to make:

• 2 tbsp double cream

• 150ml freshly brewed black coffee

• 50ml Irish whiskey

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• Chocolate shavings

Simply fill your mug with hot water and let it sit for two minutes. Pour out the water and add 1 tsp of light brown sugar. Pour in your coffee to dissolve the sugar and add your whiskey.

Top off the coffee with cream, gently pouring it over the back of a warm spoon to form a thick layer. Garnish with chocolate shavings and enjoy. You can find the full recipe here.

#2 A french connection

You will adore the Cafe Amore - the perfect combination of amaretto and coffee. It’s so good, and so easy to make. All you need is:

• 1 oz brandy

• 1 oz amaretto

• 4 oz black coffee

• Whipped cream

• Shaved almonds

Simply combine the brandy, amaretto and coffee, top with whipped cream and add your almonds. You can find the full recipe here.

#3 A taste of the Caribbean

Don’t put the amaretto away just yet, this time we’ll add a little rum to make a classic Caribbean coffee cocktail. All you need is:

• 1 oz rum

• ½ oz amaretto

• 6 oz coffee (hot, black)

• Whipped cream

• Shaved almonds

Simply combine the rum and amaretto, add your coffee and top with whipped cream and almonds.

#4 A little chillier

For those of you after something a little more potent, the Long Island Iced Coffee is the one for you. Essentially, you’re replacing the tea in a Long Island Iced Tea with coffee and adding some cream liqueurs. All you need is:

• ½ oz Baileys

• ½ oz Kahlua

• ½ oz vodka

• ½ oz rum

• ½ oz tequila

• Cold brew or iced coffee Ice cubes

Combine all of your ingredients in a cocktail shaker with one cup of ice, shake vigorously, pour and enjoy - you don’t have to use everything listed, make your own variation if you want a little less booze. You can find the original recipe here.

#5 A classic

We’ll finish off with a classic - the espresso Martini. The perfect way to perk up your evening and an ideal after dinner drink. All you need is:

• 65ml vodka

• 75ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlua or Tia Maria)

• 75ml freshly brewed espresso

• Coffee beans

This should be enough for two people - put the vodka, coffee liqueur and freshly brewed espresso into a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Using hot espresso helps to create a creamy head on the cocktail. Mix for 30 seconds until it's chilled and top with a couple of coffee beans. Find the full recipe here.

Let us know which one you make at home on our social media channels! You can also check out our coffee menu here if you’d prefer to stick to a more traditional brew!

Vanilla Ice Cream Day Recipes: A Selection of the Best

Vanilla Ice Cream Day is fast approaching and with the hot weather arriving, we have decided to combine two of our favourite treats - ice cream and coffee.

Dive into our list of recipes, from affogato to homemade ice cream, below!

Let’s begin with the classic

The affogato is a classic summer dessert that can be made easily. You can enjoy this treat with little to no preparation. You will need to get a scoop (or as many scoops as you would like) of ice cream and then pour shots of espresso over the ice cream. That’s it!

With this being so simple you should think to spruce it up! Add sprinkles or a flake to your ice cream, make it that extra bit special on a hot day! You can find a recipe and examples here.

How about something homemade?

No churn coffee ice cream is the way to go and can be simply made like an affogato! You will need:

• 300ml/10fl oz double cream

• 175g/6oz condensed milk

• 2 tbsp instant espresso powder

• 2 tbsp espresso liqueur (or coffee liqueur)

Whisk all of these ingredients together and wait until a soft peak forms. Then you should have a coffee coloured mixture.

Once you have said mixture, freeze for six hours or overnight and you should have a coffee masterpiece. You can find the recipe, ingredients and a video of how to make this ice cream here.

Something to cool you down…

If you’ve got a blender this is the ideal summer drink! A coffee frappe is a perfect solution to the hot weather. A true coffee treat, you will need:

• 3 medium scoops vanilla ice cream

• 1 cup of ice

• 1 cup of chilled brewed coffee

• ½ a cup of milk

• 2 tbsp of syrup

• Whipped cream (optional for topping off)

• Cocoa powder (optional for topping off)

Then all you need to do is blend all these ingredients together and you will have made yourself the perfect ice cream coffee drink! Follow this method for the best possible results!

Those are just three ways you can celebrate Vanilla Ice Cream Day! Let us know how you are incorporating ice cream into your coffees this week! Look back at all of our other previous recipes and coffee blogs for more tips!

Perfectly Pair Your Coffee With Cake

Coffee is fast becoming the world’s favourite drink - we enjoy it to get us going in the morning and as a pick me up throughout the day. Some people like it black, some people like milk, some like a flavoured syrup and some even like it ice cold. But whatever your preference, we don’t put much thought into what food goes well with a tasty brew... so we thought we’d take a crack at it.

Check out the list below for our favourite coffee and cake pairings!

Biscotti

Perhaps the most popular baked good to enjoy with a coffee, the biscotti comes in many flavours. Generally, you will find almond biscotti in most coffee shops, but don’t miss out on other flavours like cherry or chocolate. Perfect for dunking, we recommend pairing your biscotti with a full-flavoured espresso.

Croissants

Plain, with butter, or jam, these classic french pastries are the perfect breakfast snack. They can be enjoyed with any coffee but why not go for the classic french combo and enjoy your croissant with a cafe au lait.

Doughnuts

Why not go nuts for doughnuts - a classic pairing, coffee and doughnuts are a perfect combo. Whether you go glazed, holed or filled, you can go wrong with pairing your doughnut with a delicious Cafe2U latte.

Muffins

Whether you like blueberry, lemon or triple chocolate, you can’t go wrong with a muffin. These fabulously fluffy baked treats pair perfectly with a velvety smooth flat white.

Chocolate Cake

Perfect with a cappuccino, a rich, moist chocolate cake will never disappoint. But if you are looking for something a little more indulgent for dessert, why not pair your cappuccino with a chocolate lava cake.

Tiramisu

The indulgent coffee-flavoured Italian dessert, Tiramisu, is an all-time dinner party classic. So if you are looking for something a little more adult to pair with this wonderful dessert you can’t go wrong with an Irish coffee.

Banana Bread

A favourite fruit loaf, banana bread is mouth-wateringly moist and matches magically with a chocolatey mocha.

Scones

Not just for tea, fruit scones can be perfectly paired with, well, any coffee really! If you have any suggestions for a perfect coffee and cake combo let us know on our social media channels - if you are looking for a little inspiration check out our full range of coffee and cakes ​here​.

Father’s Day BBQ Tips and Recipes - with a Coffee Twist

Father’s Day is here and hopefully, if the weather is kind, it will be the perfect time to dust off the BBQ and start making some delicious meaty meals as a treat for our dear dads.

To help, we’ve shared some of our favourite BBQ tips and recipes - with a Cafe2U twist using our coffee expertise. From a specially made coffee BBQ sauce, to one of the best coffee rubs around that could take your Father’s Day BBQ to the next level!

New to the BBQ?

To start with the basics first… if you’re wanting to surprise your dad with a BBQ but aren’t sure about cooking on them - you can find the perfect tips for handling and preparing foods here.

In addition to this, here’s some of the basic utensils that you will need to properly tackle the grills:

• Spatula

• Grill mitts or oven gloves

• Long handled tongs

• Meat thermometer

• Cooking tray

• A comedy BBQ apron (not essential but it’s always a good laugh)

Rubs and Sauces

While it’s obviously fine to just grill the meat as it is, you can accentuate the flavour with marinades, sauces and rubs. Here’s one of our particular favourites:

Coffee BBQ Sauce

This homemade coffee rub is ideal if you want to add a little spice to your meat.

Coffee rub is wonderfully versatile and it’s perfect for almost all meat but especially beef. It can be made in just ten minutes and you can find the recipe here.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with other ingredients that aren’t included in their recipe - like rosemary, ginger, or nutmeg.

A Classic

This recipe shows you all the methods on how to make the perfect grilled burgers - from the shape, mixing and what you need to include to make a showstopping pattie. It’s the expert's guide to the best burger and a classic that can make any BBQ.

Something a Little Different…

If you’re looking to be indulgent and want something a bit different to really push the boat out - we recommend these bacon-wrapped cheese hot dogs. A simple and fun idea that incorporates the flavours from a cheeseburger and a hot dog - you can make these on a grill or a smoker and it’s a recipe that doesn’t require too many ingredients!

We hope you enjoy a relaxing Father’s Day using some of these recipes and in particular the coffee BBQ tips - make sure you share some of your Cafe2U inspired BBQs and your coffee creations with us on our social media channels!

Coffee Cupcake Recipe

Here at Cafe2U, we know coffee and cake… and we LOVE cake nearly as much as we do our coffee! So to celebrate the Alzheimer’s Society National Cupcake Day on Thursday 18th June 2020, why not give this delightful coffee cupcake recipe a go?

This will give you the best of both worlds!

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 140g golden caster sugar

• 140g butter

• 3 large eggs

• 140g self-raising flour

• 2 tbsp instant espresso mixed with 1 tbsp water

• A few chocolate-coated coffee beans to decorate (optional)

For the icing:

• 200g butter

• 200g icing sugar

• 2 tsp instant espresso mixed with 1 tbsp water

• 50g plain chocolate, melted

Method

1. Heat the oven to 170c/150c fan/gas.

2. Line 2 bun tins with fairy cake cases (18 in total).

3. Beat the sugar with the butter until light and creamy. 

4. Beat in the eggs, one by one, adding 1 tbsp flour at the same time. 

5. Beat in the rest of the flour and add your espresso.

6. Spoon the batter into the cake cases and bake for 17 mins, swapping trays after 12 mins.

7. Cool on a wire rack. 

8. To make the icing, beat the butter until pale then gradually beat in the icing sugar.

9. Beat in the espresso and melted chocolate.

10. When the cakes are cool, swirl the icing on top.

11. Enjoy - and send us a picture of your finished cupcakes!

The Brewtiful Game: The First Cafe2U Coffee Cup

With national sport on hold for the time being and the coming weekend’s FA Cup Final postponed indefinitely, we’ve decided to create our own competition celebrating the ‘brewtiful game’ with some of our most popular coffees and hot drinks!

This Friday and Saturday will see some of the world’s best cafe beverages battling it out to be crowned champions of the inaugural Cafe2U Coffee Cup.

We will be pitting the qualifying hot drinks against one another on our Instagram and on our Facebook page, giving you the opportunity to vote for the drink you believe should progress from the quarters to the semis and ultimately the much-coveted Cafe2U Coffee Cup final.

In other words, which Cafe2U hot drink favourite truly is the world’s best? Will it be a grande final for your favourite, or will it be a tough result to swallow for others? You decide!

The Fixtures

After much deliberation from the Cafe2U pundits, we’ve created the perfect blend of head to heads that should stir up a great deal of excitement!

Here’s the tasty fixture list:

Friday 22nd May - Quarter Finals

Flat White vs. Chai Latte
KO: 9:15 am
Managers: STEAve Bruce, Rafael Bean-itez

Tea vs. Hot Chocolate
KO: 9:30 am
Managers: Nuno Espressito Santo, O-latte Gunnar Solskjaer

Mocha vs. Cappuccino
KO: 9:45 am
Managers: Marcocoa Silva, Carlo Ancelatte

Latte vs. Americano
KO: 10:00 am
Managers: Nigel Tea-rson, Jose Mour-tea-nho

Semi-finals

TBC vs. TBC
KO: 4:00 pm

TBC vs. TBC
KO: 4:15 pm

Saturday 23rd - Final

TBC vs. TBC
KO: 3:00 pm

Egg-citing Recipes and Bakes for Easter 2020

With more people staying at home this Easter, now is the perfect time to don your apron, grab your rolling pin and prepare some tasty seasonal treats.

From nice and easy comfort food to wonderful cakes and meals, we’ve provided you with some of our favourite Easter recipes.

Easter Nest Cake

Why not get your long Easter weekend started with an egg-ceptional Easter cake? Easy to make and perfect for young children. Take a look at the recipe here, then simply add your favourite chocolate eggs to fill up the nest. 

Vegan Easter Lemon Sponge Cake

For an alternative taste this Easter, why not give this vegan lemon cake a go? This show-stopper is perfect for people who want to avoid eggs and dairy but still want to indulge a little. This cake will take about an hour to make and looks fantastic, see for yourself here. 

Easter Simnel Cake

Whip up this traditional fruit cake as a Bank Holiday treat. Traditionally made on Mother’s Day, this light fruitcake can now become an Easter Sunday mainstay. It takes only 30 mins to prepare and 1 - 2 hours to bake, but trust us, it’s worth the wait. You can find the recipe here.

Easter Breakfast

It wouldn’t be Easter with cracking into some Easter eggs. So why not get a little creative and have yourself a breakfast to tantalise your taste buds - follow this link for homemade maple, nut and seed granola in an Easter egg bowl! 

Egg-squisite Easter Coffee

As coffee experts, we recommend you treat yourself to some Easter-themed coffees that are perfect for the long weekend. From a ‘Marshmallow Bunny Mocha’, to a ‘Chocolate Bunny Breve’ and an Amaretto coffee for the adults, you can find these and many more luxury coffee ideas here. 

We hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing Easter weekend and make sure you share some of your Cafe2U inspired bakes with us on our social media channels! 

Cafe2U Conference Review 2020 | Cafe2U

Last Saturday this year’s Cafe2U Conference was held at the Coffeesmiths Collective HQ in London. The impressive venue was the perfect backdrop for our annual event and gave all our teams a chance to meet, mingle and celebrate another fantastic year.

The event also provided the opportunity to showcase the major projects we have been working on since last year's Conference, specifically:

• The brand refresh

• The new Cafe2U App

• Our new electric power generated Cafe2U vans

The Day Itself

As guests arrived, they had the opportunity to see one of our new battery-powered vans which featured our refreshed branding, and enjoy a cup of coffee - expertly made by Dumo and Richard of Coffeesmiths and Jon Skinner of Cafe2U.

Goodie bags were also handed out - which included complimentary Cafe2U branded tops and umbrellas - just before our CEO Martyn Ward kicked off the Conference with his opening speech. After giving a warm welcome to guests, Martyn went on to discuss the key messaging for 2020, declaring how we need to get ‘back to basics’ and refocus on doing what we do best. 

After Martyn’s speech, three workshops were run for our franchisees:

• An expert coffee-making skills class run by Dumo and Richard

• Appoly gave a live demonstration of the new Cafe2U app

• Guided tours of the new van

After this, the attendees had more opportunities to chat before the day was rounded off with a dinner and our awards ceremony at a local Italian restaurant.

Our Award Winners

We’d again like to pass on our huge thanks and congratulations to everyone in the Cafe2U family for their efforts this year and in particular to the following award winners:

Special Recognition

• Abi Ward - Cafe2U Castle Donington - in recognition of her charitable work through the year

• Sean Friedberg in recognition of his contribution and input to trialling battery power in Cafe2U vans.

Franchise Partner of the Year

• Matthew and Kelly Harrison - Worthy winners of this award, who can enjoy a trip for two to Vienna.

Outstanding Achievement Award

• Gary and Rachel Wilson - Cafe2U Bristol North 

Supreme Bean of the Year Awards

• Dan Elsey - Cafe2U Chesterfield West

• Gary and Jo Bonnick - Cafe2U Ashford

Most Improved Franchise Award

• Ian Esslemont - Cafe2U Guildford 

• Andrea Whitaker - Cafe2U Waterlooville

Barista of the Year

• Angela Bakun - Cafe2U Merton

• Runners up were Eduardo Calatayud and Jay Huang

Cafe2U Highest Grossing Single Event

• Tony and Carol - Cafe2U Milton Keynes Central

Cafe2U Top Launch of the Year 

• Awarded to FDM Mustafa Dol - Cafe2U Ashford launch 

Cafe2U Sets Out 2020 Vision

2019 marked an important year for Cafe2U. Not only were we officially recognised as the UK’s number one mobile coffee franchise, we were also listed in the country’s top 20 franchises overall. However, 2020 is set to take things to a whole new level.

Firstly, we will be investing heavily in our green credentials, building on the ongoing research into recyclable cups and our recent trial of moving from diesel to battery power. We are determined to lead the way in the field and with 2020 set to feature our third annual ‘Green Coffee Week’, it will be a key focus for us in the year ahead.

Secondly, we are excited to be launching our customer app. This investment is directly for the benefit of our franchisees, allowing them to engage with their customers like never before. The app will alert customers to where they are and notify them when they are arriving, feature a digital loyalty card and also allow customers to see the latest offers and drinks available. Delivering this state-of-the-art technology is just one part of the tools we develop to make our franchisees’ businesses so successful.

In 2020, we will also be rolling out a brand refresh for Cafe2U, taking the look and feel of everything, from website to cups to uniforms, to the next level. We have worked with a team of design experts to ensure our brand represents where we are as business in 2020, leading the way in both the coffee industry and franchising as a whole.

Our mobile coffee shops will continue to serve award-winning coffee to their customers, supported by our market-leading customer service throughout 2020. With our developments and dedication to push Cafe2U forward as a business, we will offer franchisees support like never before. 2020 is set to be a landmark year for the business which will be 15 years old - but we won’t just stand still - the best is yet to come.

Christmas Coffee Bakes

There is only one thing that can make Christmas even better… FOOD! That’s why we have selected our favourite Christmas coffee bakes to share with you, our amazing customers:

Christmas Coffee Cake

This Christmas Coffee Cake is the perfect addition to your Chrimbo brunch. We recommend that you prepare this cake the night before, so you can enjoy Christmas day with your family and this gorgeous cake.

https://joythebaker.com/christmas-morning-coffee-cake/

Espresso Martini Christmas Pudding Recipe 

A creative twist on a Christmas favourite! It takes a bit of time to make, but it is definitely worth it. This is a grown-up treat for the holidays.

https://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/recipe_directory/m/espresso-martinichristmaspudding.html

Cranberry Coffee Cake

Cranberry sauce is one of the main components of a Christmas roast, and with this recipe, you get to enjoy the nations favourite Christmas condiment in a coffee cake - the perfect way to get you in the festive mood this holiday season! 

https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/cranberry-coffee-cake/

Coffee Chocolate Crinkles

These crinkles are a perfect way to end Christmas day or a wonderful after-dinner treat! 

https://www.abakershouse.com/coffee-chocolate-crinkles/

Gingerbread Latte Cake 

Probably our favourite on the list, this Christmas showstopper is flavoured with fragrant spices and a gentle hint of coffee. Add some decorative edible Christmas trees on top to really impress your guests!

https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/cakes/gingerbread-latte-cake

So there you have it, just five of our favourite Christmas coffee bakes for you to make this festive season. And if you are looking for any last-minute Christmas gifts, make sure you purchase a Cafe2U eCoffee Cup and our very own coffee blend. 

Make sure you share your Christmas bakes with us on our social channels and have a very Merry Christmas!