Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With Our Tasty Irish Coffee Recipe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So how do you make the perfect Irish coffee at home? Let's take a look…

Irish coffee recipe.

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

Ingredients.

To make an Irish coffee, you will need:

• 2 tbsp double cream

• 150ml freshly brewed black coffee

• 50ml Irish whiskey

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• pinch freshly grated nutmeg

• mint syrup (optional)

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

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

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

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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

How To Make The Most Of National Picnic Week 2023

With summer officially getting under way in just a few days (on Wednesday, June 21st, to be precise) and National Picnic Week now upon us too, it's time to start making plans for that most British of summer traditions - going to a green open space to eat lunch outdoors, on a blanket!

But what constitutes the perfect picnic experience and how can you make sure yours is as enjoyable as possible? We take a look.

Food and drink

Food and drink is central to any picnic and the key thing to remember here is - keep it simple. Classic selections like sausage rolls, pork pies, Scotch eggs, sandwiches and pre-made salads should form the basis of your picnic - along with sweet treats like chocolate rolls or Viennese Whirls - as all are tasty, small, inexpensive and/or easy to make. 

They're also easily transportable in picnic baskets, tupperware boxes or Mason jars, all of which will also help keep spillages to a minimum.

Simplicity is key when it comes to drinks too. Don't be tempted to take multiple exotic ingredients so you can make your own cocktails; instead, stick to a small selection of cordials, plenty of water and a fizzy option like lemonade or ginger ale. Unless you know for sure the weather is going to be hot, it's worth taking a thermos or two of tea or hot chocolate as well.

If you want to take coffee with you on your picnic - and who wouldn't? - the best way to ensure you have a wide selection of barista-quality brews available is to contact your nearest Cafe2U van here and let us bring some straight to your blanket!

Keep an eye on the weather

Although the UK's weather is always susceptible to changing at the drop of a hat, there's no excuse for not checking the forecast in the lead up to your picnic so that you can at least try to plan accordingly.

If there's a chance of rain, take umbrellas and waterproofs; if it's going to be hot, don't forget the sunblock and wide-brimmed hats!

Take cushions and pillows

There's no need to lug heavy tables and chairs around on a picnic - simply chuck some throw pillows and old cushions in your car boot and you'll be able to fashion everyone a spot where they can relax comfortably in no time.

Don't forget utensils

Many picnics have come undone due to a lack of cutlery, so remember to take plenty of everything, including napkins. You could even take an old plant pot, vase, jug or small bucket to use as a practical utensil holder!

Remember to take a chopping board

Especially useful when kids are present, chopping boards are as great for cutting food on as they are for serving food off. Just remember to also pack wipes or paper towels so you can clean it afterwards!

Pick a good spot

Picnics should be relaxing so do some research before heading off and try to find a green location that has plenty of shade and isn't right next to a busy road. If you'll have kids with you, choosing somewhere with plenty of open space or that is close to a play area is a good idea too.

Clean up when you're finished

Nobody likes litter - or litterers - so take a couple of bin bags with you, chuck all your rubbish in them before you leave and place them in public bins or take them with you to dispose of when you get home.

No coffee, no picnic!

With the weather forecast for the coming days looking pretty positive at the time of writing, we imagine we'll be making plenty of trips to parks and fields across the UK over National Picnic Week. 

If you'd like us to take care of your picnic's coffee requirements, you can contact us here.

How To Get Your Franchise Summer Ready

As the temperature rises and the days get longer, now is the perfect time for Cafe2U franchisees to gear up for a successful summer season. With people craving refreshing and energising beverages, this is the perfect opportunity to attract new customers and boost your sales. In this blog, we'll explore some essential tips and strategies to ensure your franchise is ready to thrive during the summer months.

Give your menu a summer twist

To cater to the summer crowd, it's important to introduce new and enticing offerings like iced coffees and frappés to your menu. Experiment with seasonal flavours, like strawberry, and don't forget to offer non-dairy milk alternatives to cater to a wider range of dietary preferences.

Invest in equipment and supplies

Ensure your van is equipped with the necessary tools to handle the increased demand for chilled drinks. Stocking up on cups, straws, napkins, and any other supplies you'll need to serve your customers efficiently during busy summer days is a must!

Enhance your outdoor setup

Make your van a destination for people seeking respite from the heat. Create an inviting and comfortable outdoor seating area with umbrellas or awnings to provide shade. Set up some tables, chairs and cosy seating options to encourage customers to relax and enjoy their drinks, as well as to attract passers-by.

Embrace social media

Leverage the power of social media platforms to promote your franchise during the summer. Share enticing photos and videos of your seasonal offerings and engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Run contests and offer special discounts or giveaways exclusively for your online followers to increase your online presence and drive foot-fall to your business.

Collaborate with local events and businesses

Summer is the season for festivals, concerts and outdoor gatherings, so why not partner with local event organisers or nearby businesses to establish collaborations? Not only will this increase your visibility, it will also provide an opportunity to connect with a broader customer base.

Offer mobile ordering

To cater to customers who demand convenience above anything else and help you tap into new markets, be sure to make the most of the mobile ordering options that are available through the Cafe2U app and online platform.

Here's to another successful summer!

Preparing your franchise for summer requires a combination of thoughtful planning and creativity but, by keeping your focus on providing exceptional customer experiences and staying ahead of the competition, there's no reason your mobile coffee business can't thrive over the splendid summer months ahead.

How to Hold the Perfect Garden Party for the King's Coronation

On May 6th, the UK will come together to celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and, to commemorate this momentous occasion, a series of celebrations have been organised across the country.

If you fancy hosting your own event, why not gather your friends, family and neighbours together for a Coronation celebration of your own? Here are our top tips for ensuring your celebration is a right royal success.

What to serve

The easiest way to ensure there's plenty of food to go round - and stop you having to spend all day in the kitchen - is to ask your guests to bring a dish. 

The most popular items for garden parties consist of traditional finger foods like quiches, sausage rolls, cucumber sandwiches and egg and cress rolls but let's face it, if it's tasty, somebody will eat it, so really anything goes.

If you're planning something more formal, potato salads, giant pork pies and classic Victoria sponges are the way to go. 

When it comes to drinks, nothing says 'royal celebration' like a jug of Pimms, packed full of fruit and fresh mint leaves. This recipe from BBC Good Food is a great place to start. 

Wine and champagne are also fool-proof options, while soft drinks should be provided for non-drinkers and anyone under 18. And with the UK's famously unpredictable weather, you'll definitely want to have a range of hot drinks ready to serve!

Seating

As the host, you'll need to provide seating and tables, so dust off any that have been sitting in your garage or shed and give them a good clean a few days before the event.

If you need more than you have, you can either ask your guests to bring their own or do a quick Google search for companies that hire out garden furniture in your area and arrange to borrow some for a day or two.

Decorations

Nothing gets people in the mood for a party like colourful decorations and accessories, so get creative by hanging bunting between trees and around tables, and attaching red, white and blue bows, balloons and ribbons to chairs. Union Jack flags are essential too!

You can also bring tables to life by decorating them with vases, jars or milk bottles filled with flowers picked from your and your guests' gardens.

It's also important to get the party started by having a sound system ready to play music; if possible, set up a TV so your guests can watch the Coronation taking place in real time too.

How Cafe2U can help

Whether you're hosting a Coronation garden party for dozens of people or a small do exclusively for your nearest and dearest, why not book one of our mobile cafés to come and handle the coffee-making duties for you?

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

Barista Tips: Things To Consider When Making A Latte

First of all, a disclaimer - if you want consistently great, coffee-shop quality lattes, you're going to have to pay your local barista a visit. The fact of the matter is that while teaching yourself how to make a decent latte at home is definitely worth the effort, it's unlikely to be better than one made by a qualified coffee professional.

But should you let that put you off learning how to make your own lattes? Definitely not. With our handy hints, you'll be enjoying delicious home-brewed lattes in no time.

How to make a latte

Ingredients

Although lattes are essentially just espressos with milk, making them well is easier said than done.

To make the perfect latte, you will need:

• a large mug

• 18g ground espresso (or one espresso pod)

• 250ml milk

Start by making around 35ml espresso, then pour it into your mug.

Next, steam the milk with the steamer attachment on your coffee machine until it has around 2-3cm of foam on top. Hold the jug so that the spout is about 3-4cm above the cup and pour the milk in steadily. As the amount of coffee within the cup increases, bring the jug as close to the surface of the drink as possible. Aim to pour into the centre. 

Once the milk jug is almost touching the surface of the coffee, tilt to speed up the rate of pour. As you accelerate, the milk will hit the back of the cup and start naturally folding in on itself to create a pattern on the top.

Once all the milk has been poured, your latte is ready to drink! We recommend serving it alongside breakfast, brunch, lunch… or a sweet treat at elevenses!

Latte2U

At Cafe2U, not only can we make an excellent latte, we can even bring it to your door, regardless of where you are. To arrange a delivery from your nearest van, click here.

Pancake Day 2023: How To Make Pancake Art

Tuesday, February 21st, is Pancake Day, a sacred day for most Brits who celebrate their love for the fluffy, round treats by eating as many of them as possible.

An incredibly versatile snack, pancakes can be enjoyed sweet or savoury, big or small, open or rolled up. They can form the basis of a meal or be served after dinner as a dessert. To cut a long story short, they're brilliant.

As the origins of Pancake Day (or Shrove Tuesday, to give it its rightful name) can be traced all the way back to the 15th century, surely we know everything there is to know about pancakes by now? Well, maybe not. For there exists a phenomenon known as pancake art, which is exactly what it sounds like - an art form that involves creating works of art out of pancakes.

If the opportunity to make super tasty pancakes while simultaneously unleashing your artistic potential in the kitchen sounds like your idea of a good time, read on for some of our favourite recipes that you can try at home!

Confetti pancakes

Bring colour to your pancakes with this simple yet fancy recipe. Matisse and Rothko would approve!

Ingredients

To make six pancakes, you will need:

• 300g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tbsp caster sugar

• 2 medium eggs

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 300ml milk

• hundreds and thousands

• vanilla ice cream

• fresh fruit of your choosing 

Start by tipping the flour, baking powder, sugar and two teaspoons of hundreds and thousands into a large bowl with a small pinch of salt, then crack in the eggs and whisk until smooth. Add the maple syrup and milk while whisking.

Next, heat a splash of oil and a small knob of butter in a non-stick frying pan until sizzling. Add a spoonful of batter and cook until bubbles start to form on the surface, then flip and cook the other side. Serve with sliced fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream. If that's not colourful enough, add a sprinkle of hundreds and thousands as a final flourish!

Unicorn pancakes

Stepping the difficulty up a notch, this adorable design is tricky but worth it in the end!

Ingredients

To make six unicorn pancakes, you will need:

• 300g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tbsp caster sugar

• 2 medium eggs

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 300ml milk

• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

• hundreds and thousands

• white chocolate stars

• ice cream (optional)

• fresh fruit (optional)

• gel food colouring - 4 different colours is best

• 3 piping bags

Start by tipping the flour, baking powder, sugar and two teaspoons of hundreds and thousands into a large bowl with a small pinch of salt, then crack in the eggs and whisk until smooth. Add the maple syrup and milk while whisking.

Next, divide the mixture into three bowls. Mix one tablespoon of cocoa powder into one batch and put in a piping bag.

Dip a skewer or clean paint brush into some food colouring and draw a line on the inside of another piping bag from bottom to top, repeating a few times with different colours (pink, blue, green and yellow work well). Fill the piping bag with a batch of the pancake mix to create a rainbow batter. 

Put the remaining mix into the third piping bag, then snip the ends of each bag to create small nozzles.

Put a little sunflower oil in the base of a non-stick frying pan then warm over a low heat. Pipe the outline of a unicorn head into the pan using the cocoa mixture. Fill in the horn with the multicoloured batter, then use it to draw the unicorn's hair. Fill in the gaps with the plain batter, then increase the heat slightly and cook until everything has set. Once set, use a palette knife to carefully turn the pancake over and cook for another minute until the batter is cooked through. 

To make extra 'unicorn-y', scatter hundreds and thousands and white chocolate stars over a plate before placing your pancake on top. Serve with ice cream and/or fresh fruit if using.

You can use this method to make pancakes in any shape you like - other good options include bumble bees, llamas or lions!

Initials pancakes

Personalise your pancakes by making some in the shape of everyone's first name!

Ingredients

To make six ‘initials pancakes’, you will need:

• 300g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tbsp caster sugar

• 2 medium eggs

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 300ml milk

• 1 tbsp cocoa powder

Start by tipping the flour, baking powder and sugar into a large bowl with a small pinch of salt, then crack in the eggs and whisk until smooth. Add the maple syrup and milk while whisking.

Pour approx 75% of the mixture into one bowl and the remaining 25% into another. Mix one tablespoon of cocoa powder into the smaller batch and put in a piping bag. Fill another piping bag with the plain batter.

Next, lightly grease a non-stick pan, then pipe cocoa-flavoured batter into the shape of the first letter of your name. Remember to write it backwards, so it's the right way round when the pancake is flipped! 

Turn your hob to a low heat and allow the pancake to cook for a few moments, then completely cover it with plain pancake batter. When bubbles rise to the surface, flip the pancake over to cook on the other side until completely set.

Why not let Cafe2U provide the perfect accompaniment to your pancakes?

As much as we like pancakes (and we do, a lot!) we'd never let our love of doughy snacks stop us delivering top-quality coffee to wherever our customers need us most. Whether it's to your office or your doorstep, our mobile baristas will be out and about on Pancake Day as usual. Contact your nearest Cafe2U van here to find out more and arrange a delivery.

How to Bake Like a Pro

As a cursory glance at the viewing figures for Channel 4's Great British Bake Off will attest, people in the UK love a bit of baking.

With National Baking Week 2022 taking place from October 14th - 20th and a few more weeks of GBBO still to go, now is the perfect opportunity to improve your home baking skills with our handy how-to guide.

What is National Baking Week?

Launched in 2007 by a group of baking brands, National Baking Week encourages people of all skill levels to get in their kitchens and start baking!

While the ultimate goal is to make a tasty treat, there are plenty of other reasons to get your apron on, with baking well known for getting the creative juices flowing and positively stimulating the senses, both of which are great for boosting mental wellbeing. Baking also has meditative qualities, making it the perfect activity to help you unwind at the end of a busy day or over the weekend.

And if your baking skills aren't quite up to scratch, don't let that stop you. Just follow these hints and tips and you'll be a kitchen master in no time!

Stay positive

Confidence plays a key role in baking so try to approach every recipe with a positive mental attitude. Of course the odds of you creating a culinary masterpiece every time are against you but so what? Slightly undercooked cakes and biscuits with icing that hasn't properly set are still going to get eaten.

Practice makes perfect, so leave your doubts at the door and get cracking!

Stick to the recipe

Recipes are there for a reason - they tell you exactly how to make the thing you want to eat - so stick religiously to them, especially if it's your first attempt. Cutting corners by not weighing or measuring ingredients properly or adding extra ingredients on a whim is asking for trouble.

Wait until you're making consistently delicious bakes before you start tweaking the recipe!

Be patient

If the recipe requires the use of a mixer, it can be tempting to stick it on a high speed to hurry things along. This, however, is a bad idea - all that will happen is strands of your mixture will end up all over the sides of the bowl, reducing the amount you have to work with. Instead, keep things slow and steady; this has the added benefit of allowing more air into your mix, which will make the finished product lighter and fluffier.

Waste not, want not

Got some mixture left in your bowl? Go get it! Plastic spatulas are perfect for scraping out every last drop and when you've gone to the effort of making a dough or mixture, you should try to incorporate as much as possible.

Pick the right bowl

Just like sticking rigidly to a recipe, it's important to use the correct type of bowl when baking, so get to know your options. The last thing you want is to realise mid-bake that the bowl you've chosen is too small to fit all your ingredients or too big to sit on top of a saucepan without the bottom touching the boiling water inside it!

Pay attention

Don't get distracted when baking. Watching, listening, smelling and touching are the keys to success!

Cafe2U goes great with a bake!

Whatever you'll be baking this National Baking Week, it's guaranteed to taste even better when paired with one of our coffees. 
Contact your nearest Cafe2U van here and we'll bring some of our top quality blends straight to your door!

How To Promote Happiness In The Workplace: Featuring Coffee!

In the UK, working 40 hours per week is a common practice and with so much of our time being spent at work, it's important that we're happy while we're there.

For employers, this means doing everything they can to keep morale among their employees as high as possible, as having happy workers leads to more creativity and productivity in the workplace. With every worker having different wants and needs, however, this is easier said than done. 

Fortunately, September 19th-25th is International Happiness at Work Week 2022, a week-long event designed to spread happiness among employees the world over. So what are some of the most effective ways to improve morale among employees? We take a look.

Prioritise work-life balance

Employees’ work-life balance plays a big role in their happiness at work. By allowing people greater balance and flexibility between their work commitments and their family and personal lives, they will be less stressed and much happier.

To improve the work-life balance of their employees, employers can:

• Offer flexible working options and allow workers to work remotely where appropriate.

• Encourage them to take breaks and disconnect.

• Conduct regular reviews of employees’ workloads to ensure they're not trying to do too much at once.

• Increase support options for parents.

Build a positive work environment

Positive work environments constantly come up as one of the most desirable factors for workers so building a positive work environment that excites employees will make them happy to come to work and less likely to quit.

The keys to building a positive work environment are transparency and open dialogue as these ensure employees can discuss anything, preventing issues from being bottled up and negative feelings from thriving. They also stop employees from feeling the need to compete with each other and instead increase the likelihood of them encouraging and uplifting each other.

Setting aside time for workplace safety training, helps employees understand how the company functions and makes sure nobody is made to feel marginalised.

Another easy way to make the workplace a positive environment is to smile more! Smiling is a sign of positivity and one of the easiest ways to convey happiness and positive energy. And, of course, happiness is contagious, so smiling will make others happier too.

Reward hard work and celebrate successes

Employees feel happy when they receive praise for their hard work and their efforts are recognised, so make time to reward noteworthy achievements by:

• Taking employees out for a meal or to take part in activities like bowling, either after work or during working hours.

• Encouraging managers to hand out positive feedback.

• Bringing treats into the office.

However, acknowledging an employee's hard work or achievement doesn't have to be a grand gesture. One of the simplest and most gratefully-received rewards is a simple 'thank you'. Saying 'thank you' can go a long way - something employers often forget.

Ultimately, recognising employees for their efforts plays a significant role in how employees perceive their workplace and how they feel about their work.

Get them some coffee!

As well as being scientifically proven to increase wellbeing, brighten your mood and make you feel happier, coffee also helps build work relationships by giving employees the perfect opportunity to interact with each other over a coffee break, creating a happier work environment in the process.

Coffee is also high in antioxidants which are good for your body and help reduce the risk of a host of ailments including cancer, strokes and diabetes.

Why not have great coffee delivered to your work?

Whatever you do during International Happiness at Work Week 2022, 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.

Best Days Out For Coffee Lovers for the August 22 Bank Holiday Weekend

Most bank holiday guides encourage people to head to a beach, theme park or site of historical interest, and while all these are all fine suggestions, they're not necessarily how a coffee aficionado really wants to spend their long weekend.

Fortunately, the UK is home to a large number of roasteries that allow visitors to go behind the scenes of their operations with tours, cupping sessions, workshops and more. Naturally the top-notch on-site cafes are well worth a visit too!

If this sounds like your cup of tea coffee, read on for some of our top roasteries to visit this August 2022 bank holiday weekend.

92 Degrees

If you take a trip to Merseyside this bank holiday, a visit to 92 Degrees should be high on your to-do list.

The incredible smell of straight-from-the-drum coffee coming from 92 Degrees' roastery/coffee shop draws in coffee lovers, intrigued tourists and members of the local community every day. Make a bee line for the on-site brew bar to sink the popular house blend or sample the latest single origin releases at one of the regular cupping sessions.

Although 92 now has five branches across the UK, its story began in Liverpool so that's the venue we think you should prioritise visiting.

92 Degrees, 11 Summers Rd, Liverpool. L3 4BL.

Roost Coffee and Roastery

This North Yorkshire-based, family run business sits within a Grade II-listed carriage house alongside several other artisanal food and drink producers in Malton, aka the food capital of the north, overlooking some truly breathtaking hills and valleys. And trust us, it's every bit as good as it sounds.

Offering a huge selection of single-origin beans and freshly roasted coffees, which can be sampled as espresso or pourover on one of its super comfortable leather sofas while the roaster gets to work in the background, Roost is the definition of 'a feast for the senses'.

Roost Coffee and Roastery, Unit 6, Talbot Yard, Yorkersgate, Malton, North Yorkshire. YO17 7FT.

UE Coffee Roasters

For an out-of-the-ordinary roastery experience, make tracks to UE on the Cotswolds/Oxfordshire border where you can watch the team bronze beans on a traditional wood-fired roaster, learn more about the process by booking a class at the in-house training school or take part in one of their regular events.

You can also just stop by for a browse and brew at the UE coffee lab, of course. Coinciding your trip for when one of their pizza nights or latte-art throwdowns is on is also highly recommended!

UE Coffee Roasters, 11a - 11b Windrush Industrial Park, Linkwood Road, Witney, Oxfordshire. OX29 7HA.

Williams & Johnson

Of course, there's excellent coffee to be had over the border too and our Scottish friends will be pleased to hear that Edinburgh's Williams & Johnson is well worth a visit.

An artisanal roastery-cafe hybrid, W&J's offers a warm welcome to customers interested in watching the proprietors roasting and preparing carefully chosen beans to produce delicious, single-origin coffees which can either be enjoyed in the stunning setting of the roastery itself or taken away for a walk by the Water of Leith river.

Williams & Johnson, 1 Customs Wharf, Edinburgh. EH6 6AL. 

Enjoy your bank holiday!

Whatever you decide to do this bank holiday weekend, we hope you have a great time. If you can't make it as far as a roastery, you can contact your local Cafe2U mobile barista to have some top-quality coffee delivered to your home right here instead.

How to Create and Host the Perfect Afternoon Tea Party

There are few things more quintessentially English than enjoying a post-lunch treat with a hot drink so it's no wonder the nation is currently counting down the days until National Afternoon Tea Week 2022.

Taking place every second full week in August - from the 8th to the 14th this year - National Afternoon Tea Week celebrates and promotes afternoon tea by encouraging cafes, restaurants and hotels to offer discounts and special offers to entice as many punters as possible to join in the fun.

But that doesn't mean a good afternoon tea can't be enjoyed at home. In fact, if you can't make it to your favourite eatery to get involved with National Afternoon Tea Week 2022, it would be downright rude - bordering on treasonous - not to make something to mark the occasion from the comfort of your kitchen. While you're at it, why not invite some friends over for an afternoon tea party? Here's how to throw one fit for a king without breaking the bank.

The basics

Afternoon tea is a twee affair so you're going to need a tiered cake stand to use as a centrepiece, alongside a teapot, teacups, cutlery and at least one cake slicer for serving, plus a patterned tablecloth, napkins and lace doilies.

If you don't have any of the above, fear not because charity shops are a goldmine for inexpensive chinaware and homeware, so head into town and get bargain hunting!

Arrival drinks

Preparation is key so make sure milk and sugar are already set on the table so your guests can have a brew asap. Obviously you'll want to serve traditional English breakfast tea but offer a few more exotic options to add variety to your soirée - Earl Grey, fruit, chai and camomile are all worth considering.

With another heatwave predicted for the coming days, serving iced tea or coffee to help keep your guests refreshed is another good idea. So long as nobody's driving, you could add a dash of your favourite booze to the recipes too. Pimm's goes great with iced tea while any coffee liqueur will give an iced coffee a cheeky kick. 

Food

Classic afternoon teas comprise a tier of sandwiches, a tier of cakes, a tier of scones.

Sandwiches

If you're making your own, prepare the fillings in advance, then assemble just before your guests arrive to prevent your sandwiches becoming soggy. 

Pick whatever fillings take your fancy but remember to factor in any vegetarian or vegan guests before you buy your ingredients. As a general rule of thumb, egg and cress, ham and mustard and smoked salmon and avocado are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Just remember to cut them into triangles before serving!

Cakes

Small portions are key when it comes to afternoon tea, so bake a generous amount of little cakes and add some pretty decorations before serving. 

There are plenty of ideas and recipes available online but for something special that's not too tricky to make, why not give these lemon and lavender fondant fancies a go?

Lemon and lavender fondant fancies

To make 16 fondant fancies, you will need: 

• 175g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

• 250g caster sugar

• 3 large eggs

• 100g full-fat natural yoghurt

• 275g plain flour

• 1 ½ tsp baking powder

For the butter icing, you will need: 

• 1 tsp dried lavender, plus a little to decorate

• 100g butter

• 100g icing sugar

• the zest of 1 lemon, plus a little to decorate

For the fondant icing, you will need:

• 8 tbsp apricot jam, sieved and heated in the microwave until runny

• 1kg pack fondant icing sugar

• yellow and purple food colouring

First, heat your oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3, then grease and line a 20cm square tin with parchment paper. Put the butter, sugar, eggs, yoghurt, flour and baking powder into a large bowl and beat until smooth, then pour into the cake tin and smooth the top. Bake for 45 mins until risen and golden, then leave to cool for 10 mins in the tin. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Next, grind the lavender to a powder with a pestle and mortar. To make the butter icing, beat the butter and icing sugar together until pale and fluffy, then divide the mixture into 2 bowls. Add the lemon zest to one batch and the lavender to the other, then mix each to combine. Transfer the icings to 2 piping bags.

When the sponge has completely cooled, remove the top to give yourself a flat surface. Flip the cake over so the flattest side becomes the top. Carefully trim off the edges, then cut the sponge into 16 squares. Brush the top and sides of each sponge square with a little jam. Pipe a small dome of butter icing onto each sponge, 8 with lavender icing and 8 with lemon. Chill the cakes in the fridge for at least 1 hour.

Sieve the fondant icing sugar into a large bowl, then add enough water to make a thick but pourable icing. Spoon a little into a piping bag to use later. Divide the remaining icing into 2 bowls and dye one batch yellow and the other purple.

Remove the sponges from the fridge and transfer to a wire rack. Spoon a little icing over each sponge (purple for lavender, yellow for lemon). Use a small palette knife to spread the icing down the sides of the sponge to completely cover each one. Leave to set for 30 mins, then cover the cakes with a second layer of icing to give a smooth surface. Drizzle the white icing over the cakes and decorate with a little lemon zest and lavender buds. Leave to set for 1 hr at room temperature before serving.

Scones

Let's face it, scones are what most people think of us when they hear 'afternoon tea', so here's how to make 8 delicious fruit scones.

First of all, you will need:

• 350g self-raising flour, plus more for dusting

• ¼ tsp salt

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 85g butter, cut into cubes

• 3 tbsp caster sugar

• 175ml milk

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• squeeze of lemon juice

• 100g sultanas

• beaten egg to glaze

• jam and clotted cream, to serve

Begin by heating your oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the flour into a large bowl with the salt and baking powder, then mix. Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the sugar.

Next, pour the milk into a jug and heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds until warm. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for a moment. Put a baking sheet in the oven.

Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and sultanas and combine quickly with a cutlery knife. Dust a little flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it’s smoother, then pat into a round about 4cm deep.

Take a 5cm cutter and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. You may need to press what’s left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four.

Brush the tops with beaten egg, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray and bake for 10 mins until risen and golden on the top. Eat warm, with as much jam and clotted cream as you can handle!

Afternoon teas taste better with Cafe2U!

We may be better known for our premium coffee but we also do a great line in teas. Whatever you're serving for National Afternoon Tea Week 2022, your nearest Cafe2U van is never far away and always happy to deliver anything you need direct to your door. Contact your local van here.

How to Create the Perfect Picnic

Summertime and al fresco dining go hand-in-hand so, if you're the sort of person that enjoys eating outdoors, you'll be delighted to hear that National Picnic Month takes place from July 1st - 31st. 

A celebration of grabbing a blanket, friends, family, food and drink and heading to your nearest open space, picnics are the perfect way to enjoy lunch, while away a lazy afternoon or unwind after work. And with a whole month's worth of opportunities officially ahead of us, the time to start planning your perfect picnic is right now! Here's how to do it.

Food and drink

The most important part of any picnic is, of course, the food and drink, and the trick with both is to keep things simple. Sandwiches, pork pies, sausage rolls and flapjacks are all picnic staples because they're small, simple and tasty but you can take whatever you fancy. This article from Sainsbury's has lots of great recipe ideas if you fancy making your food instead of buying it.

When it comes to drinks, it's a good idea to take both hot and cold options. Water, fruit squash and lemonade are all safe bets, while coffee, tea and hot chocolate can be easily made ahead of time and kept warm in thermoses. 

Alternatively, if you want fresh, barista-quality coffee at your picnic, get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U van here and let us bring some straight to your blanket!

Transport food in jars

Utilising sturdy Mason jars to keep your food in will prevent spillages and make moving food between cars and blankets a doddle. Salads, sides, condiments and even desserts all work brilliantly.

Don't forget a chopping board

Especially useful when kids are present, chopping boards always come in handy on picnics, both for cutting food into smaller portions and for using as a serving tray. Just remember to also pack wipes or paper towels so you can clean it afterwards.

Take utensils

Sounds obvious but many a good picnic has been spoiled by a lack of forks or spoons, so remember to take plenty of everything, including napkins. To stop anything ending up on the ground, a vase or milk bottle makes a handy utensil holder.

Pick a good spot

Each to their own, of course, but anywhere green, scenic and with natural shade that's also not too close to traffic is ideal. If you're picnicking with children, make sure there's plenty of open space for them to play in too.

Check the weather forecast

Nothing ruins a picnic like a sudden downpour so check the weather forecast before setting a date. If there's only one day you and your friends/family are free and the forecast looks wet, pack umbrellas, parasols or even a tent or two and you'll still be able to have fun.

Pack a good blanket

It's not a picnic without a blanket and while any will do, try and find one that provides cushioning, is easy to clean, waterproof and can be machine washed in case of any major spillages.

Take some pillows

Chuck a few throw pillows in the boot of your car et voila - comfy and easily transportable seating for you and your friends.

Clean up when you're finished

Nobody likes litter - or litterers - so take a couple of bin bags with you, chuck all your rubbish in them before you leave and place them in public bins or take them with you to dispose of when you get home.

No coffee, no picnic!

We've been looking forward to National Picnic Month 2022 for a while now and we expect we'll be making plenty of trips to parks and fields across the UK over the coming weeks. Contact us here if you'd like us to take care of your picnic's coffee requirements - we can't wait to see you all!

Gift Guide for Coffee-Loving Dads for Father's Day 2022

Dads are notorious for just buying themselves whatever they want, making it nigh on impossible to surprise them with a gift they'll actually like. 

But fear not because if one thing's almost certain, it's that your dad loves coffee and, if that is indeed the case, he'll be delighted to receive any of the coffee-related gifts we've rounded up below.

Great Wave of Coffee t-shirt

Based on the famous 19th century Japanese woodblock print by artist Hokusai, this cool and comfortable black cotton t-shirt will be your dad's new favourite item of clothing.

Perfect for wearing around the house or out and about, the design is timeless and the message is clear - I need coffee!

Coffee ice tray

If your dad likes iced coffee, he'll love this funky and functional coffee ice tray. 

Never again will he need to use traditional ice cubes to cool his drink - with this coffee ice tray, he'll have his own dedicated tray he can fill with coffee to make 'coffee cubes', ensuring his cups never get watered down when the ice cubes melt.

Reusable coffee cup

With environmental awareness at an all-time high, there's really no excuse for anyone to still be using disposable cups in 2022. Some people, though, are creatures of habit and if your dad's one of them, it's time to get him on-board with sustainable coffee receptacles.

There are loads to choose from but our favourite is this one from Circular & Co. Made from recycled coffee cups, it's not only incredibly sustainable but also extremely robust, with a leakproof design and several colour options. It's even dishwasher safe!

Espresso machine

If you decide to really push the boat out this year, nothing will excite a coffee loving dad more than a shiny new espresso machine.

As these aren't the cheapest items on this list, you'll need to choose your model carefully and we recommend this Dualit 3-in-1 Coffee Machine for its versatility. It allows for many options in terms of the coffee you can use (grounds, pods, capsules etc), so it's suitable for every household; it also looks great, doesn't take up much room and is built to last. And it comes with a handy milk frothing wand!

Prepaid Cafe2U Card

If your dad is a regular Cafe2U customer, make his next few visits free by picking him up one of our prepaid gift cards. If you pre-pay for five coffees, you'll get the sixth one free!

Get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U barista here.

Happy Father's Day from Cafe2U!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, we hope you all have a great day. Our Cafe2U vans will be on the road as usual to help you celebrate if you're out and about.

Best Coffee Cocktails

If you're the sort of superstitious person who won't walk under a ladder or open an umbrella indoors, the realisation that Friday the 13th 2022 is only a matter of hours away will probably have you trembling with fear. But on this occasion at least, there's no need to worry, because this Friday isn't just Friday the 13th… it's also World Cocktail Day!

A global celebration of the most fabulous and flamboyant of all drinks, World Cocktail Day takes place on May 13th every year to commemorate the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail way back in 1806.

In honour of this momentous day, we've picked out our top five coffee cocktail recipes for you to try at home. But first, some advice!

1) The key to good coffee cocktails is the coffee, so take the time to brew the best, richest coffee you can.

2) The following recipes are all extremely tasty but, in larger doses, caffeine + alcohol = headache, so please drink in moderation!

Black Russian

An all-time classic, Black Russians taste like fancy desserts and are guaranteed to give you an energy boost. Perfect as an after dinner drink, they're also incredibly simple to make. Okay, the recipe calls for coffee liqueur rather than actual coffee but let's not cut our delicious nose off to spite our face.

Ingredients

To make a Black Russian, you will need:

• 50ml vodka

• 25ml coffee liqueur

• ice

• 1 maraschino cherry

Just pour the vodka and coffee liqueur into a tumbler filled with ice and stir until well chilled, then add the cherry and serve.

Kentucky Whipped Coffee

Much as we enjoy an Irish coffee, this southern-fried variant is sweeter, smoother and enhances the coffee flavour, making it the perfect cocktail for true, moustache-twirling coffee aficionados.

Ingredients

To make a Kentucky Whipped Coffee, you will need:

• 4 tsp sugar

• 50ml bourbon

• 1 cup of fresh espresso coffee

• Double cream

Place the sugar and bourbon in a mug, then stir until thoroughly combined. Fill the mug with the coffee, then pour on a good dollop of cream via the back of a spoon to finish.

Dark Mint Dream Cocktail

For a refreshing twist on the coffee cocktail, this minty little number is chilled, indulgent and a dream come true for fans of iced coffee.

Ingredients

To make a Dark Mint Dream Cocktail, you will need:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup water

• 9 large mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish

• 1 1/2 fl oz white rum

• 1 fl oz espresso

• 1 fl oz heavy cream

• 3/4 fl oz mint simple syrup

• 1 fl oz club soda

• Whipped cream, for garnish

Start by making a syrup. Put the sugar, water and 5 mint leaves in a saucepan over a medium-high heat and bring to the boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and cover. Leave it to steep for 20 mins, then remove the mint leaves and allow to cool completely.

Next, place the 4 remaining mint leaves in a cocktail shaker and gently mash with a wooden spoon (or muddler, if you have one). Add the rum, espresso, cream and syrup, fill with ice and shake well. Pour straight into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Top with club soda, then garnish with whipped cream and the sprig of mint.

Café Royal

This low-alcohol drink is richer but less sweet than most other coffee-based cocktails, making it the perfect option for lazy afternoons spent in the garden.

Ingredients

To make a Café Royal, you will need:

• 15ml coffee liqueur

• 1 cup of fresh espresso coffee

• Whipped cream

• Cocoa powder

First, warm a coffee mug by filling it with boiling hot water. Leave it to sit for a few minutes, then pour the water out. Pour in the coffee liqueur and fill to within one inch of the top of the mug with the coffee. Top with the whipped cream and dust with cocoa powder.

Espresso Martini

No list of coffee-based cocktails would be complete without this British-born showstopper. First appearing in Soho in the '80s, Espresso Martinis are now so popular that London hosts an annual five-day festival to celebrate them!  

Ingredients

To make an Espresso Martini, you will need:

• 50g golden caster sugar

• ice

• 50ml vodka

• 25ml freshly brewed espresso coffee

• 25ml coffee liqueur

• 2 coffee beans

Begin by making a simple sugar syrup - put the caster sugar in a saucepan over a medium heat, pour in 25ml water, stir and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Meanwhile, put a martini glass in the fridge to chill

As soon as the syrup is cool, pour ½ tbsp into a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice, the vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso. Shake until the cocktail shaker feels cold in your hands, then strain into the chilled glass and garnish with the coffee beans.

Let Cafe2U come to your rescue this Friday 13th

At Cafe2U, the only thing that scares us is you running out of coffee, so our baristas will be out and about on the roads as normal on World Cocktail Day. If you're trying one of our recipes but need some top quality coffee to do it justice, contact your nearest Cafe2U van here and we'll deliver some right to your doorstep.

How to Get Involved with National Doughnut Week 2022

For those of us with a sweet tooth, choosing between sugary treats has arguably never been harder. Cookies, brownies, blondies, cakes, biscuits, chocolates, ice cream - where do you start?

In the doughnut section, of course!

That's right, tempting as all the other options may be, nothing beats a good doughnut. Whether sprinkled with sugar or covered with confectionery, doughnuts come in all shapes, sizes and flavours. And if you love doughnuts like we do, you're in luck because May 7th-15th is officially National Doughnut Week!

What is National Doughnut Week?

National Doughnut Week takes place every year and sees schools and businesses selling doughnuts to raise funds for The Children's Trust, the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury.

Taking part couldn't be simpler - anyone interested just needs to fill in an online form (available here) and you'll receive a goodie bag to help you prepare and promote your efforts. After that, you just need to make (or buy) plenty of doughnuts, sell them and send the proceeds to The Children's Trust.

What is The Children's Trust?

The Children's Trust runs a range of specialist care, education and therapy services for children and young people across the UK, including:

• Residential rehabilitation for children with an acquired brain injury

• Therapy-led support in the community for children with an acquired brain injury

• Special education for pupils with learning difficulties

• Transitional care for children who are technology dependent

• Palliative care

The Trust has helped countless families since its inception in 1984 and currently supports more than 1,200 children. As a charity, its incredible work is made possible by the support of the public and, with 100% of the funds raised during National Doughnut Week going straight into its pocket, every doughnut sold goes towards helping a truly fantastic cause.

How to make your own doughnuts

If you're planning to make your own doughnuts to sell, plenty of recipes are available online but here are a couple of our favourites - one for deep frying and one for baking.

Sugared doughnuts

Sweet, sugary and easy to eat on the go, these baked delights are impossible to resist.

Ingredients

To make 20 small doughnuts, you will need:

• 250g plain flour

• 1/2 x 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast

• 50g golden caster sugar, plus 50g extra

• 2 egg yolks

• 150ml milk, warmed

• 50g butter, melted, plus 2oz vegetable or sunflower oil, for shaping

Start by putting the flour, yeast, sugar and a 1⁄2 tsp of salt into a large bowl, mix, then make a well in the middle. Beat the egg yolks, milk and melted butter together, tip into the well, then bring together with a cutlery knife. Leave to stand for 10 mins, until the dough begins to firm.

Next, oil your work surface and your hands, then knead the dough for about 5 mins until it is smooth and springy. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and leave in a warm place for about 2 hrs or until doubled in size.

Knead the dough again, then shape into small balls and place on baking sheets, leaving plenty of space between each one. Cover again, then leave for 1 hr until risen. 

Finally, heat your oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 and bake the balls for 12-15 mins until risen. Melt 50g butter in a pan and put 50g sugar into a large bowl. Let the doughnuts cool for a few mins, then brush with butter, roll in sugar and serve warm.

Jam doughnuts

Soft and oozing with jam, these light doughnuts are perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

To make approx 20 doughnuts, you will need: 

• 500g strong white bread flour

• 60g golden caster sugar

• 15g fresh yeast, crumbled

• 4 eggs

• ½ lemon, zested

• 2 tsp fine sea salt

• 125g softened unsalted butter

• 2 litres sunflower oil, for deep-frying

• caster sugar, for tossing

• 300g jam for filling

Put 150g water and all the dough ingredients except the butter into the bowl of a mixer with a beater paddle. Mix on a medium speed for 8 mins then leave to rest for 1 min. Set the mixer to medium speed and slowly add the butter to the dough – about 25g at a time. Once it's all incorporated, mix on high speed for 5 mins until the dough is smooth and stretchy.

Cover the bowl with cling film and leave somewhere warm until the dough has doubled in size. Leaving the dough in the bowl, knock the air out of it, then re-cover and leave in the fridge overnight.

Remove the dough from the fridge and cut into 50g pieces. Roll each piece into tight bun shapes and place them on a floured baking tray, leaving plenty of room between each one. Cover with cling film and leave for 4 hrs. Fill your deep-fat fryer or heavy-based saucepan halfway with oil and heat it to 180C.

When the oil is heated, carefully slide the doughnuts into it using a floured pastry scraper. Do 2-3 per batch, depending on the size of your fryer or pan. Fry for 2 mins each side until golden brown, then remove from the fryer and place them on kitchen paper. Remember to keep checking the oil temperature - if it's too high, the doughnuts will burn; if it's too low they'll become greasy.

Once fried, toss each doughnut in a bowl of caster sugar while still warm. Then make a hole with a small knife in the crease of each one, anywhere around the white line between the fried top and bottom. Fill a piping bag with your favourite kind of jam (or custard!) and pipe into the doughnut until nicely swollen – about 1 tbsp per doughnut. Serve warm.

The best doughnuts to have with coffee

All this talk of doughnuts has got us thinking - which doughnuts go best with coffee? Obviously we had to find out! Here are our top three doughnuts to enjoy with a fresh brew.

3. Sainsbury's apple and raspberry jam doughnuts

Yep, sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees and if you refuse to go anywhere but specialist doughnut shops for your favourite snacks, you're definitely missing a trick.

These soft, lightly sugar-coated treats have the perfect ratio of jam to dough, ensuring you get plenty of the delicious jam with every bite. They go brilliantly with a cappuccino for a mid-morning pick-me-up and you can get five for £1!

2. Anything from Doboy Donuts

Sometimes you just want something simple and classic with your afternoon coffee. Sometimes, however, you want a massive glazed doughnut that's filled with cream and piled high with chocolate.

With a menu that changes each week, Doboy eschews subtlety in favour of banoffee pie doughnuts covered in whipped cream, Biscoff doughnuts stuffed with Biscoff cream and topped with vanilla fudge or bright pink Jammy Dodger doughnuts that have a whole Jammy Dodger sitting on top.

Probably not the place to go if you're on a diet but if it's a special doughnut you're after, look no further.

1. Krispy Kreme's original glazed doughnut

Grabbing a coffee and a doughnut for breakfast is as American as apple pie so it's no surprise that Krispy Kreme knows a thing or two about it.

These no-frills doughnuts are simply perfect. Light, flavourful, not too dense, not too chewy, seriously tasty and somehow made even better when paired with a flat white coffee. If you've never tried one, trust us, now is the time.

Happy Doughnut Week!

While doughnuts will obviously be the stars of the show over the coming week, there's a reason coffee and doughnuts are such a beloved combo. If you'd like one of our trained baristas to bring you - or your customers - a coffee while you man your doughnut stall, you can get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U van here.

Perfect Coffee Gift Ideas For Mother's Day

Mother's Day is here again so it's time to get your thinking caps on and try to find the perfect present for your mum.

But with flowers too obvious and chocolates no longer the treat they used to be, what should you buy? As is so often the case, the answer is caffeine-related - why not surprise her with one of the coffee-tastic Mother's Day gifts? 

Hand Grinder

For mums who like to roll their sleeves up and grind their own coffee beans, this mini coffee hand grinder is a must.

Light yet sturdy, easy to use, transportable and boasting a stainless steel finish, this grinder takes approximately one minute to transform beans into grounds, so your mum will feel like she's earned her brew by the time she's finished using it. 

Bean to Cup Coffee Machine

If you like to push the boat out on Mother's Day, this tasty little coffee machine from kitchenware specialist Lakeland could be just the ticket.

With touchscreen controls, built-in grinder and filter that allows it to take beans or grounds and a host of features including a 30-minute keep warm function and variable size and strength controls, this discreet coffee machine will enhance any kitchen with its contemporary design and delicious results.

Espresso Cups and Saucers

Every coffee drinker needs an espresso every once in a while and every espresso drinker needs some suitable cups. This cup and saucer set from Scandinavian company Nordic Nest is among the nicest around and your mum is guaranteed to love them.

Available in four different colours, the cups are stylish and sturdy, while the accompanying saucers are large enough to accomodate a wet teaspoon or, even better, a couple of carefully-stacked biscuits. Pick up a set here.

Coconut Coffee Liqueur

If there's one thing most mums love as much as coffee it's booze, so this coffee liqueur is sure to go down a treat on Mother's Day.

A delicious combination of coffee, rum, coconut and dark chocolate, this liqueur is fantastic added to a coffee for an after-dinner drink with a kick, served neat over ice as a cocktail or poured over vanilla ice cream as a dessert from the Gods.

A Prepaid Cafe2U Card

If your mum is a Cafe2U customer, why not pick up her tab for their next few visits with one of our gift cards? Better still, if you pay for five, she'll get the sixth completely free!

Get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U barista here.

Happy Mother's Day!

We'd like to wish a happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there. Our vans will be on the road as usual across Mother's Day weekend so get in touch if you need some coffee delivering and we'll bring it direct to your - or your mum's - door.

What Actually is a Cappuccino?

According to database company Statista, cappuccinos are UK consumers' second favourite type of coffee, with 48% of respondents picking one up when in a cafe or restaurant or on the go.

With so many being consumed every day, we thought it was high time we gave the foamy masterpiece some time in the spotlight.

Where Do Cappuccinos Come From?

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. Similar to a latte but with less steamed milk and more foam, cappuccinos comprise a shot of espresso with hot milk and a foamed milk topping. 

How Are They Made?

Although the methodology remains largely the same, cappuccinos do actually differ from country to country. 

For example, in Europe, the espresso is poured into a 150ml - 180ml cup - which usually has a handle - followed by a similar amount of hot milk, with foamed milk then added on top. In America, however, the cup tends to be significantly larger - approximately 360ml.

In Italy, the espresso/milk/foam ratios are stricter than in some other countries, with an authentic cappuccino comprising 25ml of espresso; the rest of the cup is equal parts milk and foam. The foam should measure at least 1cm in thickness. Elsewhere, however, you can expect your cup to be filled with ⅓ espresso, ⅓ milk and ⅓ foam.

Can You Make Them At Home?

Yes!

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!

Cappuccino2U

Making your own cappuccino is all well and good but let's be honest, nothing beats one which has been freshly prepared by an expertly trained barista. 

At Cafe2U, not only can we make an excellent cappuccino, we can even bring it to your door, regardless of where you are. To arrange a delivery from your nearest van, click here.

Valentine's Day Coffee Gift Ideas

Regardless of your relationship status, you're probably aware that Valentine's Day takes place on Monday, February 14th. If you're in a relationship and you've only just realised that Valentine's Day is just around the corner then a) you're welcome and b) don't panic - we've got some gift ideas that your significant other is sure to appreciate. Assuming they're a coffee connoisseur, that is! And if they're not, maybe it's time to reassess your life choices…

So read on to find out which coffee-related presents we're recommending this Valentine's Day.

Milk frother

For many people, the best coffees come topped with a glorious, thick, bubbly layer of foam. However, making coffee shop-quality foam at home is almost impossible without a good quality frother.

The good news is that a wide variety of them are available for home use these days and our favourite is Italian coffee company Lavazza's milkEasy frother. Not only does it produce fantastic results across its three settings, the milkEasy is also spacious without taking up much room on your kitchen side, quiet as a mouse and a doddle to clean. Brewtiful.

Coffee storage container

If your partner is a coffee lover, they'll almost certainly have a favourite coffee bean they like to keep a steady supply of in their kitchen. But getting hold of quality coffee counts for nothing if it isn't stored correctly, so why not pick them up a stylish storage container to help them keep their precious beans fresh by keeping them away from moisture, air, heat and light?

This stainless steel container from Coffee Gator is an excellent bit of kit, with a CO2 valve for freshness, a measuring scoop and, best of all, a date tracker to ensure the beans never go bad. It looks the business too and will have your other half wondering where it's bean all their life.

Something to read with their lunchtime brew

Having a coffee with friends is one of life's great delights but so too is enjoying one all by yourself, with nothing for company but peace, quiet, a couple of biscuits and a good book.

But if your significant other loves a good page-turner, finding a new one you're confident they'll enjoy can be a minefield. So what do you do? Get them a book about coffee, of course!

While there are literally hundreds to choose from, we had a great time reading Brian Williams' The Philosophy of Coffee. The brains behind the popular 'Brian's Coffee Spot' blog, this bright and breezy book takes a look at the culture and history of coffee in an accessible and entertaining way - perfect for a lazy afternoon on the couch. You can order a copy here.

Ceramic coffee cups

Something about fancy mugs just makes coffee taste better so what better way to say 'you mocha me so happy' this Valentine's Day than with a set of ceramic coffee cups?

These 320ml stacking mugs from Japanese company Kinto come in a range of colours, are the ideal combination of style and substance and are guaranteed to brighten up any coffee table. We're getting thirsty just looking at them!

A prepaid Cafe2U card

If your partner is a Cafe2U customer, you can pick up the tab for their next few visits with one of our gift cards; pay for five and they'll get the sixth completely free! Words cannot espresso how much they'll appreciate it.

Get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U barista here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We love a bit of romance at Cafe2U, so we hope everyone has a great time on Valentine's Day. Our mobile baristas will be out and about all day as usual so get in touch if you need a cup of the black stuff delivering to your door.

New Year, New Start: Become a Franchisee in 2022

Well over half a million people in the UK work in the franchising industry - circa 620,000 - and, in 2021, an astonishing 97% of franchisees turned a profit. Consequently, the number of people employed in the industry is expected to swell even further over the coming months.

If you're weighing up whether or not becoming a franchisee is the right move for you, it's important to remember that there's a lot more to becoming successful than just identifying an opportunity you like the look of and handing over your money. Here are a few things to consider before you take the plunge.

Make sure you can afford it

Different franchises have different costs but whatever franchise you're considering, you'll need enough money to cover both start-up and ongoing costs.

Before you begin trading, you'll need to pay an up-front franchise fee to the franchisor for the right to use its brand name, logo and business plan. It also usually covers training, support and marketing.

The average cost of buying a franchise in the UK is £15,000 but that figure varies enormously depending on the nature of the business. The start up cost for a home-based franchise, for example, will be much cheaper than for one that requires premises, specialist equipment and furniture.

An ongoing fee will almost certainly be payable too, such as a management or royalty fee to continue trading under the franchisor's brand. This will either be a fixed monthly fee or a percentage of your profits. You may also be expected to make regular contributions for ongoing promotion and marketing activity and, if you're required to sell the franchisor's products, you will also need to buy inventory.

Depending on the nature of the franchise, you may also need enough working capital to pay suppliers, staff, rent, insurance and utilities - as well as your own cost of living - in the interim before your business becomes profitable.

Be passionate about your business

This may seem obvious but if you're not really interested in the industry in which your chosen franchise specialises, walk away. Not only will your customers and clients quickly pick up on your lack of enthusiasm, resulting in reputational damage to your business, but you're also more likely to lose interest in it in the long-term, which could conceivably end up costing you a lot of money.

On the flip side, if you invest in a franchise you're truly interested in, your energy and passion for it will naturally come through, resulting in you offering a better product or service to your customers.

While the predicted earnings and the work/life balance being offered by your chosen franchise are important factors to take into account, if they're the only things that interest you about it, it's time to think again.

Do your due diligence

The only way to ascertain your new business' chances of success is to get out in the area in which you want to operate and do some market research. Does the local community have the right demographics for your business? Is it crying out for whatever you have to offer? Or are there already too many businesses offering the same services in the area? 

At this stage, being thorough and patient is vital, so resist the temptation to sign on the dotted line until you can answer these questions and more. The more time you invest before you buy a franchise, the better your return on investment is likely to be.

Customer service is vital

When you launch your new business, you ideally want it to gain a good reputation, fast. However, in the age of social media and online reviews, poor feedback from customers can quickly break a business, so you need to remain friendly, knowledgeable and professional at all times (the same goes for any employees).

If you can achieve this, not only will your customers keep coming back, improving your customer retention rates, it will also increase the chances of them singing your praises to their friends and colleagues. There's nothing better than free publicity, especially when it's positive!

Marketing and advertising are vital too!

Speaking of publicity, you'll need to spread the word about your new business before it launches - to build interest - and once it has launched, to ensure people know that you're there and what you have to offer.

Establishing a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are all advisable but putting up posters, making and delivering flyers and advertising in local newspapers are all effective ways of promoting your franchise too, especially if it isn't already a household name. 

Cafe2U franchises are available

Not only are they available, they're one of the best franchise options for 2022. In addition to a Mercedes-Benz Vito premium van and an exclusive area in which to operate, all our new franchisees receive all the training and equipment necessary to get their businesses off the ground. We also supply them with all the ongoing support and marketing advice they need too.

If you're interested in investing in a Cafe2U franchise, we can assist in arranging finance for you and your personal investment can be as little as £15,000. For more information, click here.

How Coffee Can Help Boost Your Fitness Regime

Getting fitter and doing more exercise are among the most popular new year's resolutions every year so, with this year no different, we've compiled some hints and tips to help you on your way.

Not only that, we've also investigated the role that coffee can play in your new year's fitness regime. With some people swearing by the benefits of drinking a cup before exercising and others advising against it, we've used all our coffee expertise to weigh in on the argument.

Read on to uncover our conclusion!

General Advice

Before we get started, it's important to remember that, when making changes to lifelong habits, you should make them small and incremental. 

Don't try to quit smoking, stop drinking and cut out all sugary foods in your first week of lifestyle change as this is likely to make you feel worse and make it much harder to achieve your goals. Make your targets achievable, take small steps and plan any lifestyle change over a sensible time period.

Safety First

Getting fitter may be about safeguarding your general health but it's easy to hurt yourself if you try to do too much too soon, especially if it's been a while since you last exercised or you're recovering from Covid or another debilitating illness.

One of the best ways to ensure you don't put too much strain on your body is to warm up before exercising and warm down afterwards. The NHS website has some excellent tips on preparing your body for exercise; check it out here. 

In addition to that, always listen to your body - if something hurts, stop exercising and contact your GP for advice. 

Exercise

When it comes to exercise, moderation is key. There's no point trying to do 100 press ups and a five mile run every day for the next month if you get out of breath every time you get off the sofa, so set yourself realistic targets, gradually increase the amount of exercise you do and you'll be feeling better before you know it.

And when it inevitably all seems like too much hard work and/or you aren't seeing the results you were hoping for soon enough, remember the first steps are always the hardest!

Start Small

With that in mind, there's no harm in starting with the sorts of exercises that don't feel like exercises at all. In fact, getting your body to exercise when you're not actually exercising is a great way to start getting healthier and is easily achievable.

The key is being more active day-to-day. If you work at a desk or regularly find yourself sitting down for long periods, set alarms on your phone and, when they go off, stand up and walk around for a few minutes or go and get a glass of water. 

Take the stairs instead of relying on lifts. Get off the bus one or two stops earlier than you need to and walk the remaining distance. You'll find you're burning off calories without working up a sweat or making yourself too tired for more vigorous exercise later on.

Set Challenges

A good way to stay focussed on fitness and keep yourself motivated is to set yourself regular, achievable challenges. Even if it's just walking 10,000 steps per day, each one brings you closer to a healthier you and you'll quickly build up your stamina, muscles and confidence and be ready to progress to more difficult challenges.

Do Some Cardio

Cardiovascular training (cardio) is any type of exercise that gets your heart pumping faster than usual. It can be done at home or in the office in as little as 15 minutes.

While running and cycling remain the most popular forms, there are an almost infinite number of cardio routines to choose from. Any combination of squats, press-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups, lunges and crunches will help improve your fitness and general health.

As with any form of exercise, however, everyone's ability is different. Plenty of advice is available online regarding what cardio exercises are best suited to your age and lifestyle, how to do them and how much rest is required between sets etc, so do a little research before you start to ensure you don't bite off more than you can chew. The NHS guide to exercise is a good place to start.

Train your Body to look Forward to Exercise

Don't worry, people who can't wait to exercise or hit the gym are in the minority; for most of us, the thought of working up a sweat to a strict schedule is something of a nightmare.

Fortunately, help is at hand. Research conducted by ScienceDirect has shown that, by combining an activity you actually enjoy with exercise, it is possible to trick your brain into looking forward to a workout. For example, if you enjoy listening to audiobooks, you should only listen to them while exercising. By only allowing yourself to enjoy them while working out, you will form positive associations with both and you'll find you have extra motivation to work up a sweat in no time.

Diet

Improving your diet is easier said than done but, with gradual changes and a little discipline, it is possible. Give these dietary tips a try and begin your journey to weight loss today.

Drink more Water

It may not be glamorous or exciting but water plays an important role in increasing physical wellbeing.

As well as boosting your metabolism - which speeds up the rate at which your body turns food and drink into energy - having enough water in your system helps it flush toxins out and enables your cells to regenerate quicker, reducing the risk of injury which could stop you from exercising while simultaneously improving your overall health.

Drink less Alcohol

At the opposite end of the scale, alcohol is bad for your metabolism and heart health and is full of calories, increasing your risk of gaining weight. If you regularly drink alcohol, reducing your intake will make it easier to lose weight and improve your general health.

Plan Ahead

Planning and preparing your meals ahead of time is a great way to help you stick to your diet, so plan what you're going to eat at least one week in advance - that way you can buy everything you need at the supermarket and ensure you're never out of stock of key ingredients.

By preparing your meals ahead of time, you can also take small portions of them with you to work or when you're out and about, meaning you always have healthy food available, which reduces your risk of snacking. Speaking of which…

Beware Snacks!

One of the biggest problems for people on a diet is getting a hunger pang, not having anything healthy to eat and eating a 'bad' snack, like a chocolate bar, as a result. Keeping foods that are low in calories close to hand will keep you full and reduce the likelihood of you resorting to off-plan sugary treats that you later regret.

Remove Temptation

Unfortunately, out of sight doesn't always mean out of mind - if you're on a diet and you know there's a packet of biscuits in the cupboard or tub of ice cream in the freezer, there's a pretty good chance you're going to end up eating it. 

To prevent this from happening, banish all the things you shouldn't be eating from your house as soon as possible. And be utterly ruthless!

Coffee and Exercise - a healthy combination?

In short, the answer is yes! A few years ago, Olympic athlete Mo Farah revealed that he drinks coffee every morning and in the hours leading up to a race and it clearly hasn't done him any harm!

However, there are pros and cons when it comes to drinking coffee before exercising. These include:

Pros

• Coffee stimulates your central nervous system, raising your heart rate and improving blood flow around the body, increasing your endurance.

• It also increases your metabolism, helping you burn fat quicker.

• Coffee is full of micronutrients that aid recovery and reduce muscle pain, minimising your risk of injury.

• It also boosts your alertness, helping you focus better and exercise more effectively.

Cons

• Drinking too much coffee before exercising can cause an upset stomach - the last thing you need in the middle of a workout!

• Additionally, too much coffee can actually cause fatigue, preventing you from exercising as much as you'd intended.

• If your brew is too strong, it can also cause dizziness.

As a general rule of thumb, drinking one or two cups of coffee one to two hours before exercising should benefit your workout. 

However, everyone is different so err on the side of caution to begin with and if you feel any negative side effects, wait until you've finished exercising before brewing a cup.

How Cafe2U can Help you Stay Fit

At Cafe2U, we offer a range of top quality coffees which can be incorporated into your diet as part of a healthy lifestyle. Contact your nearest van here to have some delivered to your door and see which one works best for your workout.

How To Make the Most of Your Christmas Leftovers

With Christmas here and sustainability higher than ever on our mission statement, we're using this blog to encourage everybody to reduce unnecessary waste this festive season.

One of the best and tastiest ways to do so is to ensure you're making the most of your Christmas dinner by reusing your leftovers to make more meals on Boxing Day and beyond. Here are some of our favourite Christmas leftover recipes -  after all, there's nothing like enjoying good grub with your lunchtime coffee!

Mega Christmas Sandwich

Perfect for those waking up on the 26th feeling a little delicate, the Mega Christmas Sandwich is as simple as it is filling. And the name alone tells you it's going to be good!

There's no preparation time or pre-cooking required for these bad boys, simply pile all the bits of leftovers that take your fancy between two slices of bread, find a spot on the sofa and you're all set. Any combination of meats, veggies, stuffing, cheeses, sauces and gravy work perfectly.

If you have any baguettes or loaves of bread lying around, these can also be utilised: either slice the baguette length ways to make an even bigger sandwich, or, if you're really, REALLY hungry, cut off ⅓ of the loaf of bread, hollow out a decent amount of the crumb (the fluffy, non-crust bit) and pack with leftovers. Pair with an espresso if you don't want to spend the rest of the afternoon asleep!

Turkey curry

In the UK, many of us regularly crave something spicy, so if you have any turkey left over from Christmas, this recipe is quick and easy to make and has your name written all over it.

Ingredients

To make a turkey curry for four, you will need:

• sunflower oil

• onion, finely chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, crushed or finely grated

• thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated

• 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

• 1 tsp cumin seeds

• 1 tsp ground coriander

• ½ tsp paprika

• ½ tsp ground turmeric

• ½ tsp garam masala

• 1 tbsp tomato purée

• 400g can passata or chopped tomatoes

• 1 tbsp mango chutney

• 100ml double cream

• about 600g leftover roast turkey, cut into large chunks

• chopped coriander, toasted flaked almonds, steamed rice and garlic naan breads, to serve

Begin by heating the oil in a casserole dish over a medium heat, then fry the onions for 10 mins or until golden. Add the garlic, ginger, chilli and all the spices and cook for 2 mins until the mixture looks like a paste. Stir in the tomato purée, passata/chopped tomatoes and mango chutney, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 mins.

Next, stir in most of the cream and return the mixture to a simmer. Add the turkey and keep simmering until the turkey is piping hot. Remove from the heat, pour in the remaining cream and stir. Top with the coriander and almond flakes and serve with the rice and naans. Eat in front of the pick of the movies on TV at that moment.

Cheeseboard mac and cheese

Cheeseboards are common around Christmas so, if you've got a load of odds and ends left over on Boxing Day, don't throw them away - stick them in a mac and cheese! This recipe is perfect for enjoying on a cold evening or over a coffee with friends at lunchtime.

Ingredients

To make a cheeseboard mac and cheese for four, you will need:

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 2 leeks, finely sliced

• 250g macaroni

• 40g unsalted butter

• 40g plain flour

• ½ tsp English mustard powder

• 650ml (1pt 2fl oz) milk

• 4 tbsp white breadcrumbs

• 150g of whatever cheese you have left

• Any leftover ham 

First, heat the oil in a frying pan with a lid over a low heat. Add the leeks, cover and cook for 15 mins or until tender. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, fan 170°C, then bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the macaroni for 10 mins until al dente. Drain and set aside. 

Next, make a roux by melting the butter in a pan, then adding the flour and stirring to make a paste. Cook, stirring continuously, for 2 mins, then add the mustard and gradually pour in the milk. Continue stirring until combined and smooth, slowly bring to the boil, then simmer for 4-5 mins, stirring regularly, until thickened. Add two-thirds of the cheese and stir to combine, then season with black pepper.

Pour the macaroni into a 1.5-2 litre ovenproof baking dish, add the leeks and any ham, then pour over the sauce. Mix well. Mix the remaining cheese with the breadcrumbs and scatter over the top. Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins until bubbling around the edges and serve immediately.

Merry Christmas from everyone at Cafe2U!

These recipes only skim the surface of what is possible when cooking with leftovers so don't be afraid to experiment with your meals in the days after Christmas this year. 

Our mobile baristas will be out and about as usual over the coming weeks, so you can still get in touch with your local van if you'd like some top quality coffee delivered to your door to help ease you through the morning after the night before.