Recent content by CCCRoaster

GMR? You may as well just license Starbucks for use in your cafe. At lease GMR makes some pledges of sustainability. There are a ton of better choices. Find a local roaster and buy from them. Support someone in your community who will take an interest in your success.

Andrews right on here no one will tell you that your coffee is terrible. There are a ton of shop owners who just simply think that if they buy an espresso machine that they can make a espresso based drink. Hell most will just buy the cheapest machine they can find. There is a local shop here...

Matt, Where are you located. If you're near Chicago you're welcome to come by our shop. I'd love for you to try my coffee and we can talk about equipment selection, I've got some local connections for reconditioned equipment and can offer you our insight. Jason

Andrew, Welcome Where are you looking to open a shop? Cups and consumables are all available through the major food service guys like Sysco, US Foodservice, or a bunch of smaller regional players. Where you start to see gaps in service on the local level are for the specialty items...

We sell all sorts of different "Cause" coffees our goal is 100% socially and environmentally sustainable coffees, we don't see a big difference in sales based solely on the certification. I think its more the popularity of the origin and hopefully the TASTE.

There are tons of different/special offerings at the higher end brokers. You could make a full time job of just tasting from one or two brokers that you like/trust. Unless you have the time and money to travel to origin and develop relationships with farmers, and keep in mind that it may take...

We are having a pretty good start, sales are up form last year although I still feel like we should be selling more whole bean and gift items. We decided to do a bunch of gift boxes with a bunch of lower priced but not cheap options. I think we are missing sales opportunities.

I have a Primo PRI-21, I have been happy with it and recived good service from primo whenever there has been a problem. I have to say Terry at Ambex will have my future business, he is a class act and is always helpful to anyone who asks.

Just because there isn't doesn't mean there should be. I just did an opening with a woman who wanted to do a coffee and snack shop, in her first week she has done 85% sandwiches and food items. She will be wonderfully successful in her location but I think will be working much harder for a lower...

A good consultant should save you more than they cost and over time make you a lot of money. I will tell you that the land owner should pay for the hookups, that type of thing is a major improvement to the property. You need to pursue it as your business will open the door to further...

We really like the AeroPress I sell a bunch of them in our shop our customers love them. The one thing I would like is a reusable filter for it. I actually do rise and reuse the paper filter a few times. The coffee tastes better after you "season" the filter once or twice.

Re: 10 second rule We do Latte art on every cup we serve. There is no reason that if workflow is correct that a shot would sit too long before the milk is started to pour. Shot time is a guide, it just so happens that a correctly pulled shot should come out between 20-30 sec. but a 20-30 sec...

Cheryl, Figuring out why there is such a difference between starbucks is really central to your success as a cart owner. Understanding what a great shot of espresso is and how that impacts your drink quality is so importiant. Drink quality and consistency is curcial to a shop. Do your homework...

Thanks, The water temp was set low on the machine. I brought it up to 1.3 and things are running better. I really am liking the machine the build quality vs. the Elektra is amazing. The Elektra looks like it was designed in the 70's in comparison. It's amazing how easily new cafe owners are...

Elpugdiablo: If I can't figure the problem we will swich to 3 14g baskets, I was just hoping to increase effiency buy being able to pull shots for a large in one step. Also when the triple basket is tuned correctly it delivers an outstanding shot. Huge long lasting crema and great flavor.