Pancake Day 2024.

With Pancake Day just around the corner, what better time to share this amazing coffee pancakes recipe?!

Hands up who loves pancakes?

Pretty much the entire UK? Thought so….

Taking place on Tuesday, February 13th, Pancake Day is the opportunity to eat as many pancakes as you like completely guilt-free that we've all been waiting for for almost exactly a year.

But this time around, instead of sticking to your tried-and-tested old pancake recipe, why not liven things up a bit with this sensational recipe for coffee pancakes?

Coffee pancakes recipe.

Tasty? Check.

Suitable for coffee lovers? Check.

Easy to make? Check!

Ingredients.

To make four coffee pancakes, you will need:

• 250g plain flour

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp salt

• 250g buttermilk

• 1 large egg

• 2 tbsp instant coffee granules

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled

First, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl, then set aside.

In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, egg, instant coffee, and cooled, melted butter with a whisk. Then, use a spatula to add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix to combine.

Preheat a large, non-stick frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Once hot, ladle 1/4 of the batter into the pan and spread to approximately a 5-inch diameter. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until bubbles begin to form on the top of the batter, then flip the pancake and cook for 1-2 minutes more. 

Repeat with the remaining batter and serve hot - ideally with a cup of good coffee!

Celebrate Pancake Day with Cafe2U.
Even though we're slaves to pancakes just like the rest of you (don't deny it!), our devoted mobile baristas will still be out on the roads on Pancake Day, so you can still have your favourite coffees delivered direct to your home or office. Get in touch with your nearest van to place an order here!

From Bean to Cup: How is Coffee Made?

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

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

Where did coffee come from?

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

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

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

The production process

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

Farming

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

Processing

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

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

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

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

Milling

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

Exporting

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

Roasting

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

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

To the cup from our baristas

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

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

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

The Best Iced Coffee Recipes

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

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

#1 Classic cold brew

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

All you need is:

• 50g of ground coffee

• Ice Water

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

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

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

#2 Dalgona iced coffee

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

• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar

• 2 tbsp. instant coffee

• 2 tbsp. cold water

• Ice, for serving

• Milk, for serving

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

Then pour the cold milk into two glasses.

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

Check out the full recipe here.

#3 Coffee ice cubes

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

• Brewed coffee

• An ice cube tray

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

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

#4 Cinnamon and vanilla iced coffee

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

You need:

• 1 and a 1/2 cups ground strong coffee

• 8 cups water

• Ice

• 2 teaspoons vanilla cinnamon syrup

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

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

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

You can find the full recipe here.

#5 Vietnamese ice coffee

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

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

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

You can find the full recipe here.

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

Our Top Five Alcohol and Coffee Beverages

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

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

#1 A famous one

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

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

• 2 tbsp double cream

• 150ml freshly brewed black coffee

• 50ml Irish whiskey

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• Chocolate shavings

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

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

#2 A french connection

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

• 1 oz brandy

• 1 oz amaretto

• 4 oz black coffee

• Whipped cream

• Shaved almonds

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

#3 A taste of the Caribbean

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

• 1 oz rum

• ½ oz amaretto

• 6 oz coffee (hot, black)

• Whipped cream

• Shaved almonds

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

#4 A little chillier

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

• ½ oz Baileys

• ½ oz Kahlua

• ½ oz vodka

• ½ oz rum

• ½ oz tequila

• Cold brew or iced coffee Ice cubes

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

#5 A classic

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

• 65ml vodka

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

• 75ml freshly brewed espresso

• Coffee beans

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

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

Vanilla Ice Cream Day Recipes: A Selection of the Best

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

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

Let’s begin with the classic

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

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

How about something homemade?

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

• 300ml/10fl oz double cream

• 175g/6oz condensed milk

• 2 tbsp instant espresso powder

• 2 tbsp espresso liqueur (or coffee liqueur)

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

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

Something to cool you down…

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

• 3 medium scoops vanilla ice cream

• 1 cup of ice

• 1 cup of chilled brewed coffee

• ½ a cup of milk

• 2 tbsp of syrup

• Whipped cream (optional for topping off)

• Cocoa powder (optional for topping off)

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

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

Perfectly Pair Your Coffee With Cake

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

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

Biscotti

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

Croissants

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

Doughnuts

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

Muffins

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

Chocolate Cake

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

Tiramisu

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

Banana Bread

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

Scones

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