The Best Festive Food and Drink: Our Recipes

When people in the UK think of Christmas, the first things that come to mind tend to be presents, brightly decorated trees and Santa. But without a doubt, one of the best things about the festive period is the food and drink - from pigs in blankets to Christmas pud and mulled wine.

If you fancy trying your hand in the kitchen this Christmas but can't decide what to make, check out our sumptuous suggestions below. 'Tis the season, after all!

Mince pie brownies

If you a) like mince pies and b) like brownies then boy have we got the recipe for you! These delicious bakes combine the best of both worlds, stay fresh for days AND are easy to make.

Ingredients

To make a batch of 16 brownies, you will need:

• 185g unsalted butter, cubed

• 185g high-quality dark chocolate, chopped

• 85g plain flour

• 40g cocoa powder

• 3 large eggs

• 275g golden caster sugar

• 6 mince pies

• icing sugar

Start by melting the butter and chocolate in a bowl placed over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted, then leave to cool. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, line the base of a shallow 20cm square tin with non-stick baking parchment and sieve the flour and cocoa into a medium bowl.

Next, whisk the eggs and sugar until thick and creamy, which should take 3-8 mins. Add in the cooled chocolate mixture, then gently fold together using a figure of eight motion until the mixture is dark brown - try not to knock out all the air! Sift in the cocoa and flour mixture and continue gently folding until the mixture goes from looking dry and dusty to looking fudgey.

Spoon a little mixture into the prepared tin, then add the mince pies, whole. Pour over the rest of the mixture, ensuring it goes between and over the pies, then pop in the oven for 25 minutes. If the brownie mixture is very wobbly in the middle, it’s not quite done, so bake for another 5 -10 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin, then dust with icing sugar, cut into squares and tuck in!

Gingerbread stars

These brilliant biscuits can double as Christmas tree ornaments and are perfect for baking with kids.

Ingredients

To make a batch of gingerbread stars, you will need:

• 100g salted butter

• 3 tbsp golden syrup

• 100g dark muscovado sugar

• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 1 tbsp ground ginger

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 225g plain flour

• 50g icing sugar

Heat the butter, syrup and sugar in a pan until melted, stirring occasionally, then set aside to cool.

Mix together the bicarbonate of soda, ginger, cinnamon and flour in a large bowl, then pour in the butter and syrup mixture and stir to combine. Next, use your hands to bring everything together and form a dough. Place the dough on a sheet of baking parchment paper, shape into a rectangle and lay another sheet of parchment on top. Then roll the dough out to a thickness of ½cm, place on a baking sheet - leaving the parchment in place - and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.

Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and line a large baking sheet with more baking parchment. Remove the dough from the fridge and cut out star shapes (or whatever shape you prefer) using a cookie cutter, then place them on the lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Leave to cool completely on the baking sheet.

Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with 1-2 tbsp water and decorate the biscuits with the icing using a piping bag fitted with a thin nozzle. To use as tree ornaments, simply cut out the middle, thread with ribbon and get hanging!

Eggnog latte

As far as we're concerned, a good proportion of Christmas drinks ought to be rich, sweet and delicious, and nothing fits the bill better than this cheeky delight.

Ingredients

To make one eggnog latte, you will need:

• 35ml espresso

• 100ml milk, steamed and whisked until frothy

• 150ml eggnog

• a pinch of nutmeg 

• a pinch of ground cinnamon

Begin by pouring the espresso into a large mug, then top with most of the frothy milk, then the eggnog. Stir, add the rest of the milk and sprinkle with the nutmeg and cinnamon to serve.

To make frothy milk, either heat the milk gently in a pan while whisking or, if you have one, use a coffee machine.

Here's to a Merry Christmas!

Whatever Christmas has in store for us all this year, there's nothing to stop you making sure yours is a tasty one with a bit of home cooking. And to make sure your coffee requirements are all taken care of, our mobile vans will be out and about throughout the festive period - to find your nearest van and have some top quality coffee delivered to your door, click here.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Coffee Lovers

With only a few weeks left until Christmas, it's time to start frantically racking your brains for gift ideas for your nearest and dearest. 

While we can't come up with suggestions for all your family and friends, we can help you find some excellent gifts for the coffee lovers in your life, whatever your budget. Try these on for size.

Travel French Press Coffee Maker Set

Travel mugs are old news - if you want coffee on the go, you need a travel french press! Simply add ground coffee and hot water, seal the lid and hit the road. Then, when you're ready for a drink, press down on the plunger and hey presto - hot coffee with all the aromas and flavours of a freshly pressed cup.

With a spill-proof lid, a non-slip grip and double insulation to keep your brew hot for hours, this is a game-changer. Order yours here.

Aerolatte Milk Frother

Every coffee fan needs a milk frother and not only does this jet-black, stainless steel version include a stand, it also creates frothy milk in under 20 seconds and is good for approximately 150 uses before the batteries will need changing.

Buy one here.

Prepaid Cafe2U Gift Card

If one of your family is a regular Cafe2U customer, make his next few visits free by picking him up one of our prepaid gift cards. Better still, if you pre-pay for five coffees, you'll get the sixth one free! To get your eager festive hands on one, get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U barista here.

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.

Best Bonfire Night Bites

If you're attending a party to celebrate Bonfire Night this year, you'll need something warm to get you through the cold, dark evening. And after 18 months of restrictions and lockdowns, why not push the boat out with some of these indulgent recipes?

Honey mustard hot dogs

A sweet, sticky twist on a delicious Bonfire Night staple that will keep you warm, fill you up and can be eaten on the go. If you don't eat any hot dogs on November 5th, you're doing it wrong. 

Ingredients

To make four hot dogs, you will need:

• 50g emmental cheese, grated

• 50g cheddar cheese, grated

• 3 tsp wholegrain mustard

• 1 tbsp honey

• 4 sausages

• 4 hot dog buns

Begin by cooking the sausages to the pack instructions, then heat your grill to high. Combine the cheeses, mustard and honey in a bowl. Split the hot dog buns, put a sausage in each and top with the cheese mixture, then place onto a baking sheet and grill for two minutes or until the cheese has melted. Best enjoyed next to a bonfire! 

Loaded jacket potatoes

Another classic of the Bonfire Night genre, jacket potatoes are as essential as sparklers. You can either prepare these at home or, better still, cook them by the bonfire.

Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 4 baking potatoes

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 100g Gruyère cheese, grated

• 100ml half fat crème fraîche

• 60g pack of good quality ham, cut into pieces

• 3 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced

Prick each potato with a fork and brush with olive oil, then wrap in tin foil and place near the edge of the bonfire (near enough that it will cook but not so close that it catches alight!) for 75 - 90 minutes or until soft. Alternatively, don't wrap the potatoes in foil and bake in an oven preheated to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6 for the same amount of time instead.

Slice each potato in half, being careful not to cut all the way through. Remove the majority of the flesh and place into a large bowl with the cheese and crème fraîche, then mix until combined and season to taste. Add the ham and most of the spring onions, stir, then spoon back into the potato skins and top with the remaining spring onions. 

Bonfire toffee

This treacle toffee is the perfect Bonfire Night accompaniment whether you're celebrating with a small group or a large crowd.

Ingredients

To make bonfire toffee, you will need: 

• 450g dark brown sugar

• 125ml hot water

• ¼ tsp cream of tartar

• 115g black treacle

• 115g golden syrup

Start by lining the base and sides of a medium-sized tin with non-stick parchment paper and then grease with a little oil. Next, put the hot water and sugar in a pan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves. DO NOT stir the mixture; if it needs moving around, tilt the pan instead.

Once the sugar has dissolved, add the remaining ingredients and a sugar thermometer. Bring to the boil until the temperature reaches 270/140℃, which should take approximately 30 minutes, then immediately pour into the tin and leave it to cool.  

Once cool, remove the toffee from the tin and break into chunks with a toffee hammer or rolling pin. 

Enjoy your Bonfire Night!

In addition to good food and good company, an evening spent standing outside in the cold also requires hot drinks, so get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U van here and let us deliver them direct to your bonfire!

Top Halloween Bakes

Halloween has become one of the UK's most eagerly anticipated days, one which is as beloved among kids eager to go trick-or-treating as it is with horror movie fans.

But if you aren't into witches or the occult, fear not - October 31st is about more than just scares; there's a whole host of hideously good, Halloween-themed recipes for you to make at home and either enjoy yourself or share with others. Here's how to make some of our favourites.

Toffee apples

The perfect Halloween treat, toffee apples are a guaranteed hit among kids and adults alike. Although they're easy to make, the use of hot toffee means this is a recipe for adults only!

Ingredients

To make 8 toffee apples, you will need:

• 8 red apples

• 400g caster sugar

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• 4 tbsp golden syrup

• red or black food colouring

• 8 lolly sticks

Begin by inserting the lolly sticks into the stalk-end of each apple until they're firmly in place, then put a large piece of parchment paper onto a chopping board.

Tip the sugar, lemon juice and 100ml of water into a large saucepan, bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar dissolves, being careful not to stir the mixture - instead, gently swirl the pan to move the sugar around.

Next, add the golden syrup and bubble the mixture, without allowing it to boil over, until it reaches 'hard crack' stage (when there is almost no water left in the pan) or reaches 150℃ on a sugar thermometer (if you're using one). To test if the mixture is ready, drop a small amount of the toffee into cold water. If it hardens instantly and is brittle when removed, it's ready; if it's soft, continue to boil.

When the toffee is ready, add some drops of food colouring, swirl to combine and turn off the heat.

Finally, quickly dip each apple into the toffee, tipping the pan to cover each one. Lift out, allow any excess to drip off, place on the parchment paper until cool and you're done! Ideally, these fiendish fruits should be eaten the same day.

Eyeball pops

Decorate these mini chocolate cake balls to look like eyes and you'll have a spooky Halloween treat nobody will say 'Boo' to!

Ingredients

To make 10 pops, you will need:

• 100g/4oz madeira cake

• 100g Oreo cookie

• 100g bar milk chocolate, melted

• 200g bar white chocolate, melted

• Smarties and icing pens to decorate

• 10 wooden skewers

• A small pumpkin - or similar - to stand the pops in

Start by breaking the Madeira cake and cookies into the bowl of a food processor, then pour in the melted milk chocolate and blend until combined. Tip the mixture into a bowl then divide into 10 balls and put them in the fridge for 2 hours until solid.

Next, push a skewer into each ball and spoon the white chocolate over the balls until covered. Stand the pops in the pumpkin, place a Smartie on each one while still wet and return to the fridge until the chocolate sets. Before serving, use the icing pens to draw a pupil on each Smartie and wiggly red veins on each eyeball. 

Halloween cupcakes

Your little terrors will love these sweet, spooky snacks which can be decorated to look like black cats, monsters or skeletons. As long as you don't eat them all yourself!

Ingredients

To makes 22 cupcakes, you will need:

• 200g butter, softened

• 300g golden caster sugar

• 200g dark chocolate, melted

• 2 eggs

• 250g self raising flour

• ¼ tsp baking powder mixed with 100ml boiling water

• 50g cocoa powder

• 200ml milk

• 1-2 tsp black food colouring (optional)

For the buttercream, you will need:

• 300g unsalted butter , softened

• 500g icing sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• black food colouring

For the decorations, you will need:

• a pack of Smarties

• black icing pen

• 1 pack mixed coloured fondant icing (you'll need pink, green, blue and white)

• liquorice and strawberry laces and other sweets such as jelly fangs and liquorice allsorts

• icing eyes

First, heat your oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then line two 12-hole cupcake tins with cases. Beat the butter and sugar until creamy, then beat in the chocolate and eggs until combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, milk and food colouring. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases and level the tops. Bake for 20 mins or until the cakes have risen. Leave to cool for 5 mins in the tin, then lift out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Next, make the buttercream. Beat the butter until soft, then stir in the icing sugar a little bit at a time. Beat in the vanilla and black food colouring, then transfer to a piping bag with a plain nozzle.

To make icing eyes, mix up a batch of fondant icing and pipe rounded blobs (for the eyeballs) onto parchment paper and leave to dry. Add pupils to the eyes with a small brush and black food colouring.

To make black cat cupcakes, pipe some black buttercream onto a cupcake and smooth with a palette knife. Pipe two ears by making a blob for each and pulling the icing bag upwards to form a point. Add two Smarties for eyes and use the black icing pen to draw a pupil on each, then add a triangle nose made of pink fondant icing and use strawberry laces to create whiskers.

To make monster cupcakes, cut circles of green or blue fondant to fit the tops of the cupcake and fix them in place with buttercream. Add eyes, noses and mouths made of sweets or use icing eyes.

To make skeleton cupcakes, cut out a skull shape with white fondant and fix in place with the buttercream.

Edible fake blood

The perfect addition to any Halloween recipe - including those listed above - edible fake blood looks disgustingly realistic and kids will love adding it to their scary treats.

Ingredients

To make edible fake blood, you will need:

• 1 tbsp cornflour

• 45ml cherry juice

• 250g glucose syrup

• red, blue and yellow food colouring gel

Start by mixing the cornflour with 1 tbsp cherry juice, then tip the mixture into a small pan with the glucose syrup and remaining cherry juice. Heat gently over a low heat, whisking well to combine, then remove from the heat.

Squeeze in a good amount of the red food colouring gel and stir well, then add a very small drop each of the blue and yellow food colouring gels and stir again. Continue to add little drops of food colouring, stirring well between each addition, until you reach your desired colour.

This recipe makes thick, gooey blood; if you want it thinner, simply stir in a little more cherry juice.

Happy Halloween!

If you're hosting a Halloween party this year or just want a hot drink to take with you trick-or-treating, we've got you covered - contact your nearest Cafe2U van here and we can provide all your coffee needs.

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.

Espresso Martini Brownies Recipe

Summer's been and gone, the nights are drawing in and winter's on its way - you'd be forgiven for feeling a little glum about things right now. But what October lacks in warm weather, it more than makes up for in awareness weeks, specifically National Chocolate Week and National Baking Week, both of which take place from October 14th-19th.

With that in mind, we set out to find the perfect do-try-this-at-home chocolate and coffee recipe to help raise the nation's spirits. And we think we've found it!

Ingredients

This simple recipe makes 16 decadent, grown-up brownies.

For the brownies, you will need:

• 185g unsalted butter, cut into cubes

• 185g dark chocolate, roughly chopped

• 3 large eggs

• 275g golden caster sugar

• 85g plain flour

• 40g cocoa powder

• 1 tsp ground coffee or espresso, mixed with 1 tbsp water

• 16 chocolate balls or truffles with soft centres - dark, white or milk chocolate or coffee-flavoured
  

For the espresso martini sauce, you will need: 

• 60ml freshly brewed very strong coffee or two shots of espresso

• 3 tbsp golden caster sugar

• 150ml double cream

• ½ tbsp cornflour

• 30ml vodka

Method

1. First, tip the butter into a heatproof bowl with the dark chocolate, then fill a small pan about a quarter full with boiling water and sit the bowl on top ensuring it doesn't touch the water. Put the pan on the hob over a low heat and stir occasionally until the butter and chocolate have melted. Remove the bowl from the pan and leave the melted mixture to cool to room temperature.
   

2. Preheat your oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a shallow 20cm square brownie tin with non-stick baking paper. Combine the eggs and sugar using an electric whisk until they are creamy and doubled in volume - this may take as long as 7-8 minutes depending on the power of your whisk. Pour the cooled chocolate mixture over the combined eggs and sugar, then gently fold together with a spatula until the two mixtures combine and the colour is a dark brown. Try not to knock the air out of the mixture as this will prevent the brownies from rising properly.
   

3. Sieve the flour and cocoa over the chocolate and egg mixture along with a generous pinch of salt. Gently fold the powder into the mixture along with the espresso and water. Mix until it resembles fudge then pour into the tin and use a spatula to ensure an even, level topping. Push the chocolate balls into the brownie at regular intervals.
   

4. Put the brownie mix into the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the top develops a shiny crust and the sides begin to come away from the tin. Remove from the oven.
   

5. To make the sauce, heat the coffee and caster sugar together to dissolve the sugar. Mix a little of the double cream with the cornflour then add to the pan with the remaining cream. Bring to a simmer and stir over a medium heat until it thickens. Add the vodka then turn off the heat. Serve each square of brownie with the sauce poured over.

Why not use our coffee in the recipe?

At Cafe2U, we use only the finest quality coffee and it's perfect for use in a recipe such as this. Find your nearest Cafe2U van here and let us bring some direct to your door!

Guide For The Coffee Confused

You won't be surprised to hear that we love International Coffee Day (ITC) at Cafe2U. An occasion designed to celebrate and promote the joys of our favourite drink, ITC was launched in Milan in 2015 by the International Coffee Organisation and has since become one of the most important days on the coffee-drinker's calendar.

How you celebrate is up to you but, let's be honest, it's definitely going to involve a few cups of the black stuff. But whether you prefer a standard latte, a sweet mocha or a punchy espresso, how much do you know about your coffee of choice? And how do you make it properly (ie according to baristas)? 

Let's find out…

How do you steam milk?

Before we start, one quick note: most of these recipes require steamed milk. To make it, you can either use a steamer wand, a French press or a coffee machine with a steamer attachment. If you don't have any of these, simply place the milk in a jar with a lid, shake until frothy then microwave uncovered for 30 seconds.

Espresso

Ah, the espresso. Where would we be without you? 

As the base for several other coffee drinks, including lattes and cappuccinos, the espresso is the most versatile coffee in the world and is the most common type of coffee in southern Europe, particularly in Italy, Spain and much of France.

Espressos are made by forcing nearly boiling water through finely-ground coffee beans, a technique that was perfected by Angelo Moriondo in Italy in 1884, when he developed the world's first coffee machine that controlled the supply of steam and water separately through the coffee.

Today, many coffee lovers have their own espresso machines at home, meaning making an espresso has never been simpler - just pop a pod in your machine and let it do all the work for you. For those without an espresso machine, instant espresso is also readily available; just combine a teaspoon of the coffee with ¼ cup of hot water, stir and enjoy. 

Latte

The UK's favourite coffee is a straightforward combination of espresso coffee and steamed milk, with the term 'latte' coming from the Italian 'caffè latte', which literally means 'coffee and milk'. Estimates suggest Europeans began mixing coffee and milk in the 17th century, but it wasn't until the latter part of the 19th century that the drink started to become a worldwide sensation.

To make a coffee shop-quality latte at home, make around 35ml of espresso and pour it into a cup. Next, steam 250ml of milk until it has 2-3cm of foam on top and pour it steadily on top of the coffee so the steamed milk lies on the coffee with the foamed milk on top of that.

Cappuccino

Another staple of the coffee world and one of the most frequently ordered, the cappuccino originated in Italy and was influenced by the Austrian 'Kapuziner', which was made with whipped cream and various spices. 

The drink spread to Italy in the early 20th century, where the recipe was altered and perfected, resulting in the cappuccino we know and love today, which comprises a shot of espresso with both steamed and foamed milk. Cappuccinos are essentially lattes with less steamed milk and more foam.

Making your own cappuccino at home is quick and easy. Simply heat a cup of milk in a saucepan over a medium heat until it bubbles but before it boils, then remove the pan from the heat and whip the milk with an electric whisk until it has 4-6cm of foam on top. Finally, make some espresso coffee, carefully pour the milk on top and enjoy!

Americano

A simple combination of an espresso and hot water, the Americano was born in Italy during World War II, when American G.I.s stationed there began mixing their espressos with hot water to dilute them to the strength to which they were accustomed back home. This is also the origin of the name, with 'Americano' literally meaning 'American'.

Making your own Americano couldn't be simpler - just make an espresso and top it up with hot water to taste (or add the water first and the coffee second if you're feeling adventurous).

Mocha

Also known as a mocaccino, the mocha is essentially a latte with added chocolate. Its name is derived from the city of Mocha in Yemen, which was the centre of the early coffee trade and home to the sought-after Moka coffee bean from which the first mochas were brewed.

Particularly popular around Christmas thanks to the sweetness of the chocolate, mochas can also be made at home and enjoyed all year round. To make your own, start by brewing 35ml of espresso and pour into a cup, then add a teaspoon of drinking chocolate and mix until smooth. Next, steam 250ml of milk until it has 4-6cm of foam on top and pour steadily into the cup.

Why not celebrate International Coffee Day with Cafe2U?

Making a coffee at home is one of life's great pleasures but nothing beats a hot cup made by an expertly trained barista. If you'd like a top-quality coffee delivered to your work or fancy picking one up while you're out and about, check out our Cafe2U location map here and find out where your nearest van is right now - whether it’s for ITC or any other time!

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.

Our Red Vans Are Going Green!

That's right - the nation's favourite mobile coffee company has become the first anywhere in the world to introduce an all-electric, totally emissions-free coffee van to its fleet of vehicles! Our new van launched earlier this week and can already be found serving customers.

Historically, our vans have been petrol powered with diesel generators powering the equipment. However, in 2019, we switched all the generators to emission-free lithium-ion batteries and are now in a position to begin moving away from petrol in favour of electric too. 

On the road to being the first carbon neutral coffee company

Our goal is to become the UK's first carbon neutral coffee company and to have an entire fleet of electric vans in the next few years - well ahead of the Government's ban on petrol and diesel vehicles, which doesn't come into effect until 2030. By changing the fleet to electric power, we estimate we'll save a whopping 12,672g of CO2 per year.

And that's not all. As well as boasting zero emissions, our new vehicle also features fewer moving parts and more effective brakes, meaning fewer replacement parts need manufacturing which reduces our greenhouse gas emissions further still.

To coincide with the unveiling of our first electric van, we've also launched a compostable paper cup to minimise our paper usage and our head office is currently in the process of digitising all its files ahead of a 2022 deadline to be completely paper-free. We've also switched from print to digital advertising and launched a new app to replace the old loyalty card system.

Our other existing sustainable practices

But doing everything possible to become more environmentally-friendly is nothing new for us - we've introduced several other sustainability initiatives in recent years, including the launch of a waste coffee grounds recycling scheme and replacing our plastic straws with paper alternatives.

Our Chief Executive, Martyn Ward, said: "Reducing our carbon footprint is absolutely vital to us and our customers so we're always on the lookout for new ways to become even more sustainable. We are delighted to be leading the way in the mobile coffee market with our new zero emissions coffee vans which are a world first.

"As well as being better for the environment, electric vehicles will enable our franchisees to access indoor events and emission-free zones, amplifying our pro-sustainability message even further. To be the world’s first is testament to the progressive nature of our brand and the hard work both our head office and franchisees put in each and every day."

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.

A Guide to Breakfast Bowls

As the saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, with approximately 89% of the UK enjoying it every morning, it's clear that the old adage is still as true as ever.

What has changed is what we're eating. Thanks to the rise of cafes serving healthy, vibrant breakfasts inspired by Australia and New Zealand, 'breakfast bowls' have become one of the most popular breakfast options, both outside the home and in our own kitchens.

Bursting with colour, breakfast bowls allow you to start your day with superfoods (nutrient-rich foods that benefit your health and wellbeing) such as kale, fresh fruit, berries, granola and quinoa. The idea is to deliver a meal that is both tasty and healthy, and that is quick to assemble. Here are some of our favourites for you to try at home.

Gluten free peanut butter and fruit quinoa

This delicious breakfast quinoa makes four servings of just 290 calories each that look amazing, taste even better and will keep you energised until lunchtime.

To make this recipe, you will need:

• 2 cups of water

• 1 cup of quinoa

• ¼ cup of apple juice

• 3 tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter

• 1 banana, chopped

• 1 small handful of strawberries or raspberries

• 4 teaspoons unsalted peanuts

Combine the quinoa and water in a saucepan, bring to the boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, then cook, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until the water is absorbed. Remove from the heat, then stir in the apple juice and peanut butter until combined. Stir in the banana.

Next, divide the mixture among four bowls and top with some of the strawberries/raspberries and peanuts. And enjoy!

Tropical Smoothie Bowl

Bring some sunshine to your kitchen table with this sweet, tropical, vegan blend that's packed with vitamins and minerals.

To make this recipe, you will need: 

• 1 small mango, cut into chunks

• 200g pineapple, cut into chunks

• 2 bananas

• 2 tbsp coconut yoghurt (not coconut-flavoured yoghurt)

• 150ml coconut drinking milk

• 2 passion fruits

• handful of blueberries

• 2 tbsp coconut flakes

• mint leaves

Put the mango, pineapple, bananas, yogurt and coconut milk in a blender, then blitz until smooth. Pour into two bowls and top with the passion fruit, blueberries, coconut flakes and mint leaves just before serving.

Vanilla-almond chia breakfast bowl

This bowl combines seeds, nuts, fruit and oats for a fibre-packed meal that will keep you fuller for longer.

To make this recipe, you will need: 

• 50g jumbo porridge oats

• 200ml unsweetened almond milk 

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt

• 25g chia seeds

• 150g of blueberries

• 25g flaked almonds

• clear honey

Mix the oats, almond milk, vanilla extract, yoghurt and chia seeds in a bowl and set aside for 20 minutes or until the oats have softened. Stir through half the blueberries, divide the mixture between 2 bowls and top with the remaining berries, almonds and honey (to taste).

Partner your bowl with the right coffee

Whichever breakfast bowl you decide to try, a cup of nutrient-packed coffee makes the perfect accompaniment and will help raise your energy levels further still. Find your favourite coffee at your nearest Cafe2U van here.

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.

How To Make Your Own Afternoon Tea

The English may be world renowned for talking about the weather but if there's one thing we're better at than complaining about the rain, it's enjoying afternoon tea. 

Invented in the 1840s, afternoon tea was originally designed as a mini-meal between lunch and dinner and typically consisted of sandwiches, sweet pastries or cakes, scones with cream and jam and, of course, plenty of tea.

Today, afternoon tea is usually enjoyed as an occasional treat at a restaurant or hotel. But with Afternoon Tea Week upon us, we've decided this is the perfect opportunity to encourage more people to host their own afternoon tea parties at home. So prepare your cake slicer, dust off the best china and read on for our top afternoon tea tips, inspirations and recipes.

The essentials

Afternoon tea should be twee and quintessentially British, so you'll need the following:

• A tiered cake stand to display the food and serve as your table's centrepiece

• Folded napkins

• Chinaware: a teapot, tea cups, cutlery and the aforementioned cake slicer. If you don't already own any, check out your local charity shops, which are often overflowing with such items. And don't worry if they don't match - the more kitsch the better!

Decorations

Decorating your kitchen or dining room is entirely up to you but, when it comes to afternoon tea, why wouldn't you go all out? 

All you need to do is dress your table with a tablecloth, ideally one with spots, stripes or a floral pattern, then string up some bunting. Again, spots and stripes are a guaranteed winner here but feel free to experiment with your favourite designs and colours.

Drinks

Most guests will probably opt for English Breakfast tea but offer a large selection to ensure everyone's catered for. Earl Grey, camomile, chai, herbal, fruit and peppermint teas are all perennial favourites.

Make sure you have milk/s, sugar and teaspoons already on the table when your guests arrive so you can pour them a cup as soon as they sit down; this will also allow them to help themselves throughout the afternoon.

Sandwiches

Of course, everybody's here for the sweet treats but that doesn't mean you can neglect the savoury side of afternoon tea. 

When making sandwiches, aim for around three different fillings - egg and cress, cucumber and prawn and coronation chicken are all classics of the afternoon tea genre - and be sure to cut them into triangles or slices before serving. You can find some great sandwich ideas here. 

For even more savoury variety, sausage rolls and quiches are also sure to please.

Sweets and cakes

It's no exaggeration to say that your tea party will live or die based on the quality of the sugary snacks you serve, so choose your menu carefully. Personally, we'd eat anything that was put in front of us but these Cafe2U-inspired recipes will satisfy even the pickiest treat aficionado.

Espresso brownies

Just because it's a tea party doesn't mean there's no room for coffee! These caffeinated delights are rich, decadent and best enjoyed with good company and a hot drink. 

Earl Grey teacakes

For a fancy twist on an old favourite, why not pick up some Earl Grey tea from your nearest Cafe2U mobile cafe and add it to the recipe for a unique flavour your guests will love? Check out the recipe here.

Coffee cake

Coffee cake has been among the UK's most popular cakes for decades and it's not hard to understand why. This one is delicious and easy to make using any number of our special Cafe2U coffee blends. Every party needs a cake so what are you waiting for?!

Scones

It's all been leading up to this. Regardless of how you pronounce the word 'scone'. Regardless of whether you put the jam or the cream on first. No afternoon tea party is complete without scones.

Remember to serve warm with plenty of clotted cream, jam and room-temperature butter on the table so your guests can help themselves. Strawberry is the most popular jam flavour at afternoon tea but don't be afraid to offer a broader selection if you see fit.

This classic scone recipe is easy to follow and serves eight people; if you prefer a fruit scone, we recommend giving this recipe a try.

Whatever sort of afternoon tea party you throw, your nearest Cafe2U van is always on hand to keep your cupboards fully stocked with all the teas and coffees you'll need. Find your nearest van here.

Setting Your Franchise Up For Success

The Tokyo Olympics are now well underway and, with double figures in the medals already, this is the best start for a British team in Games history - and the highest number of gold medals for Britain at this point.

With Team GB impressing from the start, we've taken a look at what we can learn from its sporting success and how it can be applied to our businesses to ensure we stay ahead of the competition.

Teamwork

If you've listened to the winning Olympians' post-event interviews, you will have noticed that almost all of them emphasise the importance of teamwork, with their coaches, trainers, nutritionists and families often receiving special praise. What you won't have heard is an athlete claiming their success was down to them and them alone.

At Cafe2U, we know that, just like athletes, our franchisees can't succeed without support, so, in addition to providing them with a support network to cheer them on, coach them and challenge them, we also provide them with a comprehensive four-week training course to ensure they have the skills necessary to hit the road as a qualified mobile coffee business owner.

From barista training to business processes training, our Franchise Development Managers are always there to help our franchisees reach the top of the coffee podium.

Confidence

Just like athletes need to believe in their own abilities, entrepreneurs must be bullish about their chances of becoming the best.

At Cafe2U, we assess potential franchisees to ensure our business is right for them, so when they start up their mobile coffee business, they can be confident that we have faith in them and will be there to cheer them on, no matter what.

In fact, we're so confident that our new franchisees will do a great job, we offer a £275 per day income guarantee during the early days of their franchise.

Passion

Why do athletes limit their calorie intakes and put their bodies through stress, pain and the risk of injury? Why are they constantly looking for ways to improve performance? Because they're passionate about what they do and they want to be the best at it.

The same is true of successful entrepreneurs. Setting up your own business is hard, stressful and demanding, and inevitably involves encountering obstacles. If you're not passionate about the thing you do, you won't be motivated to overcome those obstacles and you'll fail.

Fortunately, many people are incredibly passionate about coffee, including us. From our unique blend, which is sourced from some of the finest growing regions in the world and roasted by small batch coffee roasters, to the expertise provided by our barista trainer, passion goes into every cup of coffee you'll sell. 

Practice, evolve, improve

In addition to determination, drive and focus, practice is the most important weapon in an athlete's armour, and the same is true of Cafe2U franchisees. 

Practice enables you to learn and expand your skill set, two abilities that are vital for any successful businessperson. Cafe2U has been on the road for more than 17 years and, although we know the coffee industry like the back of our hand, we're constantly creating new avenues for growth and keeping up to date with new trends so we can ensure our franchisees have the latest equipment and are familiar with any new changes in the industry.

Our weekly newsletter also communicates new insights to our franchisees that help boost their bottom lines, whether it's news about new discounts that have been negotiated or ways to source weekend events. We believe there's no finishing line when it comes to improvement.

If you’re thinking about becoming a Cafe2U franchisee, find out more about the process here.

Olympic Games 2020 - Japan's Coffee Culture

While sake and tea are the drinks most commonly associated with Japan, the country is actually one of the largest consumers of coffee in the world. So when international travel is permitted again, what could a discerning coffee lover expect to find in the Land of the Rising Sun?

Drinking Coffee in Japan

Thanks to its famous work ethic, people in Japan have some of the longest working hours in the world, with some employees regularly working 80 hours of overtime per month. However, steps are now being taken to shorten the working week and this has had a profound impact on the country's coffee culture, with drinkers falling into one of two categories: those who drink in a hurry and those who sit and savour every last drop.

For those with time to relax, coffee is typically prepared in one of three ways: from an espresso machine, using the siphon method or using a coffee dripper.

Siphon method

While espresso coffee is much the same the world over, the siphon method is relatively unknown outside of Asia. Invented in the nineteenth century, it uses a vessel with an upper and a lower chamber. The lower chamber is filled with water while coffee grounds are prepared and placed in the upper chamber. The vessel is then placed on a hot surface, bringing the water to a boil and producing steam which forces hot water into the upper chamber, where it mixes with the ground coffee. The vessel is then removed from the heat and, as it cools, the brewed coffee is pulled back down into the lower chamber through a filter in the upper chamber.

Coffee dripper

A coffee dripper, on the other hand, is a type of pour-over coffee maker. Resembling an ordinary mug with a distinctive wide base and a hole in the bottom, coffee drippers are placed on top of an empty coffee pot and filled with a filter and ground coffee beans. Hot water is then poured slowly over the beans using a long-necked kettle, leaving a fresh batch of incredibly flavourful hot coffee in the pot below. Although there are many different types of coffee dripper, the Japanese Hario V60 is the go-to brand for coffee connoisseurs the world over, thanks to its sturdy design and wide range of sizes.

The siphon and dripper methods are particularly popular among coffee fans because they allow the flavour and strength of each batch to be brewed to their personal preference. However, it can take as long as ten minutes to brew the perfect cup using these methods, so time and patience are required.

Canned

For those in a hurry, Japanese coffee is usually enjoyed either from a can or an automated machine in one of the country's many convenience stores.

Invented in the 1960s, canned coffee is available hot or cold from the almost-five million vending machines populating Japan's streets, making it the go-to method for people on the way to work or rushing for an appointment. Black coffee and sweetened white coffee with milk are the two most popular types of canned coffee, while seasonal coffees are also popular. 

Cold-brew and iced

Cold-brew coffee - made by infusing ground coffee in cold water for several hours - and iced coffee - hot coffee served over ice - are also Japanese favourites. For those on the lookout for something quirkier, Japan's thriving latte art industry - where baristas create incredible designs in latte foam - needs to be seen to be believed!

Japanese Coffee Shops

One of the most popular types of Japanese coffee shops is the kissaten, or 'tea-drinking shop'. Quieter alternatives to traditional cafes, which sell alcohol and are often busy and loud, kissaten became popular gathering places for intellectuals and academics. Today, they are typically filled with people enjoying coffee at a leisurely pace and staffed by baristas who treat coffee making as a skill akin to brewing craft beer or producing fine wine.

Japanese Coffee Beans

Most Japanese coffee shops offer a large selection of beans for customers to choose between, with speciality coffees and blends from all over the world easily available. Better still, the selection changes regularly, so customers can experience a different brew every time they visit.

The Service Culture

Japan is world-renowned for its service culture and its coffee shops are no different. Delicious coffee is served in eye-catching mugs from beautifully presented trays carried by friendly, knowledgeable and impeccably dressed staff. The perfect coffee experience.

However you like your coffee, there are always new ways to experience it. Make a booking with your nearest Cafe2U van here and find a new blend to love from our range of quality coffees.

How to Make a Barbecue Coffee Rub

The long-awaited arrival of summer coupled with the long evenings getting warmer can mean only one thing: it's National Barbecue Week!

Running from July 2nd - July 11th to ensure two full weekends of BBQ brilliance, National Barbecue Week has been celebrated by hungry Brits since its inception in 1997. A lot's changed in the nation's approach to barbies in the last 24 years, with the types of foods being prepared high on that list. Burgers, sausages and kebabs will always be favourites but veggies, meat-free alternatives and unusual ingredients have all become commonplace at your average garden cook-out. 

One ingredient that continues to be overlooked, however, is coffee.

Although some may say that coffee and smoky meats aren't exactly obvious bed fellows, we beg to differ. And after you've tried our incredible Barbecue Coffee Rub recipe, we think you'll agree.

What is a Rub?

A rub is a mixture of spices and/or herbs that is applied to meats before cooking to add flavour. Unlike marinades, which need to be left covering food for several hours, rubs season meats quickly and are easy to prepare, making them perfect for impromptu BBQs. They also add texture and help give meats those delicious, dark crusts so beloved by barbie aficionados, especially if cooked at a low heat for a long time.

Why Use Coffee?

The first thing to say is that a coffee-based rub WON'T make your food taste like an espresso. It will, however, add a deep, rich, earthy flavour that enhances the savoury flavours already at play. Because coffee is highly acidic, it will also help tenderise your meat, making it juicier and less chewy.

Barbecue Coffee Rub Recipe

This rub can be used on any meat but works particularly well with beef. To make the rub, you will need:

• ¼ cup of freshly ground coffee

• Two tablespoons of brown sugar

• Two tablespoons of garlic powder

• Two tablespoons of onion powder

• Two tablespoons of cayenne pepper (this can be omitted if you don't like spicy food)

• Two tablespoons of paprika (normal, sweet or smoked)

• One tablespoon of ground cumin

• One tablespoon of kosher salt

Method

In a bowl, mix the ingredients together thoroughly. If you have one, transfer the rub to a shaker to make it easier to apply. Then pat your meat dry with a paper towel to remove as much moisture from its surface as possible.

If you want, you can add a binding agent - be creative here.

We love smothering beef, lamb or pork in French’s mustard or even a generous helping of Worcestershire Sauce! Next, apply the rub all over the meat. If you don't have a shaker, simply rub it in with your hands. How much you want to use is a personal choice but one tablespoon per pound of meat is a good rule of thumb. If in doubt, be generous!

Although the rub can be applied just before cooking, the longer it sits on the meat, the more tender and flavourful it will become. Try to apply the rub at least an hour before cooking; if possible, do it the day before.

Put the rubbed meat on a plate, cover it with cling film or tin foil and place it in the fridge until you're ready to cook. Any leftover rub can be stored in an airtight container and left in the fridge for as long as six months.

Finally, barbecue or smoke the meat as usual but remember not to use any oil as it will spoil the crust.

What Coffee Should I Use?

Again, this really comes down to personal preference but, as a rule, dark roasts give a more robust flavour, whereas light roasts are more subtle.

If possible, use freshly ground coffee as it tenderises the meat quicker and more effectively than beans which aren't freshly ground. Instant/pre-ground coffee granules also work well.

If you do opt for freshly ground coffee, use a medium grind. Finely ground coffee is not a good idea as it is smaller than most of the other rub ingredients, so it will coat the meat first and prevent the other flavours from coming through. Coarse ground coffee, on the other hand, is too big and won't stick efficiently to the meat.

So there you have it. When it's time to impress the guests at your next BBQ, just bring out the coffee!

At Cafe2U, we offer a wide range of quality bagged coffee beans - and our baristas will be happy to grind it for you to use - so find your nearest van here and book a delivery today.