Starbucks is now offering free Wi-Fi Internet to customers

Recently McDonald’s made it’s Wi-Fi Internet service available free in around 12,000 locations in the United States.  This trend is has been growing over the last few years, and now Starbucks has decided to go in on the deal in its locations in the United States and Canada.

Starbucks hopes to encourage patrons to stay longer and purchase more products through offering free Wi-Fi.  Over the last year coffee sales have been way down as the economy has driven consumers to make their own drinks at home.  As a result Starbucks has had to close down a large number of its smaller stores.

The free Wi-Fi service at Starbucks is welcome to customers who utilize various venues to operate their own ventures.  Those who just want to visit for coffee and socializing are concerned they may not have a place to sit as tables are taken for long periods of time.

Many coffee shops already offer free Wi-Fi, including Borders, Tulley’s, and various locally owned businesses.  While there may be less seats available in certain locations, the company could increase its product sales and keep customers coming back for more.  It doesn’t look like free Wi-Fi will be going out of style anytime soon.

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Espresso

A nice creamy cup of espresso begins by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee.  It may then be used as a base for many specialty coffee drinks or enjoyed as is with a lemon rind to rim your cup.

Espresso has more caffeine per typical 30ml (1 fluid ounce) cup than other beverages.  Compared to a 6 ounce cup of drip coffee it has about half of the caffeine.

In Italy espresso bars provided a place for socialization with the advent of growing urbanized areas.  Local authorities controlled the price of espresso with the understanding that it would be consumed standing, hence the “stand-up” café.

Due to the equipment that was needed to make espresso they were only available in cafes or restaurants with the machines.  The domestic espresso machine was popularized in the 1970’s but was still large, expensive and required a bit of know-how to use them.  In recent years the espresso machine has evolved through the introduction of the coffee pod concept.

The origin of the word is debatable but it has been said it means “pressed out” or similar to the English word express meaning a quick coffee. 

Express can also mean to squeeze the flavor from, espres can refer to the speed of a train and espresso can mean especially for someone. 

The first espresso machines the Bezzera and Pavoni from 1906 took 45 seconds to make a cup of espresso, one cup at a time, “just for you”.

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African Coffee Art

January 26, 2010 – This limited release blend comes from Eastern Africa grown by specially trained farmers, trained by Peet’s coffee buyers.  It will be available in stores from February 15 through March 31 in its initial introduction to the market.   Peet’s Uzuri African Blend will then become a part of their regular offering starting March 3 at Peet’s Cafes.

In Swahili Uzuri translates to mean excellent or beautiful and was the name chosen by the farmers who grow the beans.  The beans come from farms in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania and are considered some of the finest in the world.

In this region of Africa the farmers live in extreme poverty, they typically earn less than $2.00 a day.  Through the non-profit TechnoServe Coffee Initiative and Peet’s working together trained farmer’s in these countries can generate higher incomes.  Peet’s is very proud of the sustainable industry they are a part of which offers an estimated 30 percent more to the farmers for their crops.

Uzuri’s flavor is bold, smooth, and aromatic with undertones of dark berry and will be available in 12 ounce bags at supermarket chains and in Peet’s coffee houses.   It’s been eight years since Peet’s has added a new blend to their line, sounds delicious.

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