Coffee is enjoyed globally and is widely accepted as among the most popular beverages in the world today. In the United States alone 400 million cups are consumed daily. Espressos are immensely popular in Europe and around 14 billion cups per year are consumed in Italy alone. These are staggering amounts, especially if you consider that the statistics of only 2 countries have been mentioned. Individuals from all walks of life love coffee, and office workers are no exception. Cups and mugs of this heavenly brew provide workers across the globe with the necessary boost and refreshing taste to get their morning off on the right foot. In today’s world of cell phones, email, text messaging and instant messaging, workers have become accustomed to working through many distractions. Most positions in a modern day offices involve a great deal of multi-tasking. Working on your computer, participating in conference calls and managing others are a sample of the multiple tasks that are expected out of today’s workforce. Many offices have gone out of their way to bring in specific services such as dry cleaners and day-care facilities to provide convenience, reduce stress and encourage their workers to focus on their jobs. A coffee service is another of these services which offices have leveraged in order to improve the work environment. Workers, who frequently consume coffee and tea, no longer have to worry about getting coffee throughout the day. Many office coffee services also offer water service and food service as well. Workers can rest assured knowing that these services will be available to them on a daily basis. Online Coffee Services Can Save your Business MoneyCompanies that supply tea or coffee to their staff members or clients are generally unaware of the hidden costs involved in the process. These costs include the time and money spent to shop for supplies as well as the time it takes for your accountant to record the yearly expenses. Businesses that do not have a coffee service or even a break room have to contend with staff members leaving the office to go to the nearest coffee shop for their favourite cup of coffee. This often leads to loss of production and a backlog of work. Making use of an efficient and reliable coffee service provider will put an end to all unnecessary expenses and time wasting activities. Staff members would no longer have to leave the premises, no more shopping for supplies. Besides all these advantages, coffee vendors offer a variety of quality coffees and teas to choose from as well as a range of bottled waters, sodas, snacks and sandwiches. Management and staff members can now enjoy their coffee at their desks while continuing with the job at hand. Freshly brewed coffee has an aromatic scent that will revive any soul that is about to die of boredom or fatigue, especially so if the coffee is supplied by the employer free of charge! In many cases, a happy worker is a productive worker and if it takes a delicious cup of coffee to do the trick then an online coffee service provider is a great solution. Service Offered by Coffee VendorsThere are many coffee vendors that provide coffee machines free of charge. The company only has to order a certain amount from the vendors to be granted this free service. The vendor then undertakes to keep in stock all the requirements needed by the various companies. Faulty equipment is immediately replaced or repaired. Many office coffee services have 24 hour service available to troubleshoot any problems that may arise, and non-scheduled deliveries if the office in question suddenly runs out of a particular item. Water filters are also changed on a regular basis and machine temperature checked. Coffee service providers also offer a free service trial and if it is not to your satisfaction, it can be returned without any obligatory charges.Ordering online is quick, easy and efficient. One of the first requirements of the company is to open an account with the service provider. An account or customer number is required each time an order is placed. Order forms will ask for the company’s name, manager’s name, e-mail address and street address of the company. The customer number must also be provided. The order form provides lists of all the available coffees and quantities that can be ordered. The orders can be in one cup quantities or in cases. The vast selection of teas and iced teas can also be ordered in boxed quantities. Cocoas, which include a wide variety of hot chocolate flavors, are in boxed quantities as well. Sugar, cream cups and lids will also be found on the list. Delivery options are made available as well. Order confirmation is usually done by phone.

For many individuals, coffee is a big part the day. The same can be true for many offices as well. Quality coffee and a reputable coffee service can really enhance a work environment. Depending on the amount of employees or the layout of the office itself, certain coffee services may be better than others. There is nothing like the aroma of freshly brewed ground coffee to lift the senses and breathe new life into a stagnant body. Why a coffee service provider is a good choiceA smile will instantly appear on your dial and a revitalised person will emerge after the first sip of the beloved brew. Coffee has been known to have this effect on coffee lovers and general consumers alike. It is the most widely consumed beverage in offices all over the world. Considering that Americans consume close to 400 million cups of coffee per day and the Italians 14 billion espressos per year (and increasing…) it is not hard to believe that the brew has become a huge part of the office routine. Having a fresh, decent cup of coffee readily available at any minute of the day does wonders for the morale of the staff members. Office managers should feel more confident that their staff can meet their goals if their favorite brew is at hand. It has been known that coffee drinkers tend to be more productive than non drinkers. Research has shown that they also have longer working stamina than their non drinking colleagues. Hiring a coffee service provider is a good choice as it will save the company time and money. Staff members will no longer have to leave the office for a quick sip and waste precious working time. Not all company policies are the same though and coffee breaks at many of these companies usually mean a cup of old coffee. Coffee service providers usually offer a vast selection of coffees as well as other beverages and snacks on a daily basis. This means fresh coffee any time, all the time. The only other snag that remains is for the manager to select a reliable and reputable coffee service provider that will deliver the goods.Hints and tips for selecting your coffee vendorChoose a vendor that will be able to satisfy all your needs in terms of affordable prices, good quality products and excellent sales service. This usually means having to shop around as coffee service providers tend to differ in their service offerings. Get quotes from various vendors to compare prices and products. Watch out for specifics such as how long the vendor has been in operation and valid client references as you are looking towards a longstanding and profitable business relationship. A refreshing, excellent brew is the main objective, so it would be a good idea to sample all the coffees available before deciding. Include all the office staff members in the tasting process. In this manner you will know exactly which beverages are preferred and by which company as well as the type of brewing equipment you will be using.One of the most important issues to look for beside the variety of coffees they stock is how quickly they respond to problems. The level of customer service that the company provides is very important as well. Emergencies tend to occur at times when you least expect it and a prompt service delivery eliminates unnecessary stress. Deliveries that are done regularly and on time are a requirement. Also check if they offer an online service as well as easy access to your personal account. You will be able to keep an eye on the account if a log-in and password is provided. Another issue to clear is to enquire if goods that are damaged or ruined may be returned or replaced and if cancellations or changes of orders are readily accepted. Notifications of any price changes should also be done well in advance.Other beverages and products to considerThere are many coffee vendors that offer food packages as well. These food packages can be ordered on a daily basis for staff members as well as the occasional conference or office party. Catering is done according to the number of staff members or conference attendants. The use of vending machines to dispense certain products comes highly recommended. Vending machines come in various types and can stock sodas, juices and water as well as hot beverages, snacks and sandwiches. There are machines available that can stock gourmet foods as well as confections. Frozen goodies are also an option. Vending machines should be checked and refilled on a daily basis. Sandwiches, gourmet foods and confections must be supplied fresh and old stock removed on a timely basis as well.

The beverage industry is a major money making enterprise with many competing advertising messages aimed at the consumer on a daily basis. All beverages including coffees, teas, sodas and bottled water are marketed around a major ingredient – caffeine or no caffeine. In the non-caffeine market segment, consumers will notice many terms used to describe the beverages such “decaffeinated”, “naturally decaffeinated”, and “caffeine-free”. As a general rule, beverages should only be considered “caffeine-free” if there was never any caffeine in the ingredients to begin with. This rules out all coffee beans and tea leaves because both contain caffeine in their unprocessed form. For coffee and tea lovers who do not want caffeine in their drink, they should pay attention to both natural variations in caffeine content of various teas and coffee (some have more and some have less) as well as the physical decaffeination process used to manufacture a specific coffee or tea product.

So far, there is no method of decaffeination that can remove 100% of the caffeine from coffee. The U.S. standard – which is, by the way, a “standard” and not a law – says that a beverage may be labeled “decaffeinated” if 97% of the caffeine content has been removed. Europe generally follows a higher standard which is closer to 99%, but still not foolproof. And beyond the manufacturers’ control, brewing methods and steeping times (length of time a tea bag is left sitting in your hot water cup) drastically affect the level of caffeine that you end up consuming.

Percentages are where thinking about the actual caffeine content of different types of coffee beans, roasts and teas can be useful. For example, Arabica beans normally contain roughly one-half the caffeine of Robusta beans. So whereas a Robusta brew may have 100 mg of caffeine and its decaffeinated equivalent 3 mg, the equal serving of Arabica brew would contain about 50 mg of caffeine and 1.5 mg in the decaf version. Teas also have naturally lower caffeine content than coffee – of any variety. Once you read about the industrial methods of extracting caffeine from a coffee bean, you may want to carefully consider the beverage products you choose.

Misleading Information

A web search of “coffee decaffeination” or “decaffeination processes” will produce many conflicting, confusing, uninformed/incorrect and sometimes purposely misleading results. With so many consumer dollars at stake, and the sordid historical origins of chemical decaffeination (more later) beverage producers do everything they can to reassure consumers that their beverages are safe and healthy. While there is a kernal of truth in most labels, decaf products labeled “naturally decaffeinated” and “water processed” are particularly misleading. The two methods and four agents of decaffeination help to explain why.

Direct vs. Indirect

Contrary to what you will read, there are both direct and indirect methods of chemical, water, carbon and liquefied carbon dioxide processing agents. The terms “direct” and “indirect” do not tell the consumer anything about whether or what kinds of solvents, chemicals or reagents are used to decaffeinate the product. Direct and indirect refers to whether the chemical, water or carbon dioxide solutions come into direct contact with the coffee beans. Indirect processing methods steam the beans, collect and condense the steam and then remove the caffeine from the condensed water by either solvents or carbon-based filtering – thus the beans themselves are not soaked in the solution. After caffeine is separated (by any of the above methods) from the coffee extract, the concentrated liquid containing coffee solids and flavors are soaked back in to the coffee beans. This is why many people claim that decaf has less taste or quality from unadulterated coffee.

Chemical vs. “Natural”

There are currently four types of decaffeination processes: 1) solvent based; 2) charcoal or carbon filtered; 3) “supercritical” carbon dioxide; and 4) triglycerides, a process developed within the last 5 years. All of these processes are performed on green coffee beans before they are roasted.

A point of clarification: you will read a lot about “water-based” processes, but every single method of decaffeination named above uses water in the process. One should therefore not assign any weight to the term “water processed” with one exception, which is the Swiss Water Process that is in fact a specific, patented carbon activated filter method.

Solvent based decaffeination is the earliest and most controversial way to remove caffeine from coffee or tea. Its inventor first used benzene as the separation agent. As benzene began to be recognized as a health hazard, it was replaced by TCE, another controversial industrial solvent. By the 1970’s and 1980’s, TCE was replaced by the chemical methylene chloride which has many advantages but is still suspected of having some carcinogenic risk. Today most processors use only ethyl acetate as a decaffeination solvent.

It is important to note that some producers claim ethyl acetate as “all natural” or “naturally decaffeinated” because the chemical compound does occur naturally in many fruits and vegetables. But the quantity of chemical required for industrial decaffeination means that almost 100% of the time, synthetically manufactured ethyl acetate is used. So far, there are no known health risks linked to the use of ethyl acetate in direct or indirect decaffeination methods.

Charcoal and carbon filtering processes were developed as a direct challenge to solvent-based methods. Using only water, coffee elements are extracted from the beans, filtered through carbon or charcoal to remove the caffeine, and then the extract is replaced back to the bean. The patented Swiss Water Process is touted as a superior method for preserving flavor, because it throws away the first batch of beans and uses the decaffeinated coffee extract to wash and filter the next batch of beans, and so forth. Basically the difference is they are not using pure water to filter the beans, they are using “flavor charged” water that is already saturated with flavor ingredients so only caffeine moves from the beans to the water. Thus there is no re-soaking or re-infusing removed flavor back into the coffee bean, because the flavor has not been removed.

Supercritical carbon dioxide fluid has both gas-like and liquid-like physical properties. You many have also heard of superheated or liquefied gas. Supercritical fluid fills the container like a gas, but can dissolve substances like a liquid – making it an excellent agent for separating an element such as caffeine from a coffee bean. The highly pressurized carbon dioxide is forced through the beans and penetrates deeply, dissolving up to 99% of the caffeine. The carbon dioxide residue evaporates from the coffee beans as they return to room temperature.

Any finally, the newest method of decaffeination uses triglycerides from spent coffee grounds to extract caffeine from raw coffee beans. The beans are soaked in a hot water solution to draw the caffeine to the surface of the beans. Then they are transferred to another container and immersed in coffee oils that were obtained from spent coffee grounds. The coffee oils contain triglycerides, which when heated for several hours at a high temperature, separate the caffeine – but supposedly not the flavor – from the beans. The beans are next separated from the oils and dried. The caffeine is removed from the oils, which are reused to decaffeinate another batch of beans.

All of these decaffeination processes adulterate the natural coffee bean in some way because they are extracting elements from the essence of the bean or tea leaf. While some methods claim to be better or safer than others, the processes are similar, and it can be tough for the consumer to discern which actual method is being used. Decaf drinkers should read product packages carefully and possibly contact the manufacturer to ask about which method they use.

Another alternative is again, just choosing a beverage with low caffeine content to begin with. Modify your intake and brewing methods to preserve flavor while lowering your caffeine exposure. One promising development for the future is the discovery of the enzyme that produces caffeine in the coffee plant itself. Scientists have discovered coffee varieties in Ethiopia containing a small fraction of the caffeine of traditional coffee. Further they are working on developing the enzyme into a commercial way to grow bioengineered, caffeine-free coffee. In the mean time, enjoy your coffee!

With the Keurig brand of coffee makers, the perfect cup of coffee is just one purchase away. The right coffee maker can be exceedingly difficult to find. “Gourmet” machines and blends are saturating the grocery store shelves, and each system seems to have its own set of flaws. Traditional one cup systems may not be able to make enough coffee to satiate your thirst and larger coffee pots have trouble putting out the high end quality that you so desperately desire, or are simply too expensive. Then there are the pots that are not too big, not too small, and they are capable of providing an excellent quality of coffee. These can be pricey, and to make many of these devices work you have to purchase hard to find filters and grind your own beans. Sure, if you are a real aficionado it may be worth the time. Time is of the essence for the average coffee drinker. The Keurig Coffee system manages to solve all of these problems, while leaving the consumer with the perfect blend of coffee.

The first problem solved by the Keurig coffee pot is the size of each cup. The Keurig coffee pots are one cup systems, but they are also capable of making your coffee in under a minute. While many systems may be capable of this feat, Keurig does it with no sacrifice to flavor. This allows the user to brew many cups of coffee in a short time despite the low capacity per brew. You can also adjust the cup size between eight and ten ounces, even in Keurig’s low-end models. Another issue that often relates to size and brand of coffee makers is finding filters and blends. While most high-end coffee makers make it difficult for the average consumer to get filters and grind coffee, the Keurig Company strives to make it easier.

Using a unique device called a “K-Cup” any individual can brew with perfection. Each “K-Cup” uses the perfect amount of coffee to give your cup a flawless taste. To some, this may initially sound like a bad idea because some may want to decide the extent to which they want to saturate their coffee with flavor. But these cups come in different sizes to allow you some freedom for preference. Another potential drawback to the “K-Cup” system is being restricted in brand and flavor. However, Keurig uses more than twelve different brands for their “K-Cups,” and within these brands, there are well over a hundred options in terms of blends. When you add to that the fact that each manufacturer of “K-Cups” (The many brands that Keurig subscribes to) offer different prices and purchasing limitations. Beyond that, you can even buy a reusable filter and grind your own coffee if you insist. K-Cups are available in many locations. For example, you can purchase K-Cups online or at your local grocery store. This makes K-Cups easy to obtain and it eliminates any hassle from brewing your next cup of coffee.

There are other aspects of the Keurig design that make their products stand out from the rest. First of all, they are designed for efficiency. No more constantly heating water in-between cups because the Keurig systems can keep cups heated over time. You may also find that clean up is very fast and easy with a Keurig pot. The design also avoids being ultra-modern or classical and therefore is aesthetically pleasing in a wide variety of decorative styles.

A final flaw that often occurs with gourmet coffee makers is an inability to be used in a wide variety of ways. The lack of feature diversity may reduce your desire to spend upwards of a hundred dollars on a coffee machine. If the machine can brew a good cup of coffee, you may be inclined to spend the money on the coffee machine. The Keurig systems do much more then just make coffee. “K-Cups” are manufactured by tea and cocoa makers as well. The ease and efficiency that this product provides in making these beverages makes it something that can be used to please the entire family in only minutes. Switching from coffee, to tea, to cocoa, to decaf and back to regular coffee is about as easy as changing the “K-Cup” around.

The Keurig Coffee systems also offer a wide variety of products. Brewers are available specifically for use in the home, the office and even in hotels. All of this goes along with the perfect size, efficiency, quality and versatility to make Keurig products perfect for even the most discriminating of coffee connoisseurs. When you are looking for a way to create an excellent cup of coffee, be sure to consider the Keurig coffee brewing system. You can make a high quality cup of coffee in a matter of minutes.

It was not that long ago that coffee came out of a tin and required nothing but a pot of boiling water to activate its essential properties, but our world has changed and people these days value quality and complex flavors. Today’s consumers want to choose their own brand of coffee beans sourced from exotic places like The Bahamas or Kenya. More than that, today’s coffee enthusiasts want to experience the full measure of creating a perfect cup, from the grinding of our own beans to the heady aroma that comes from a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

There are literally thousands of coffee bars in the world, identifiable by their aroma and the types of coffees that are available. With many beverages such as the extravagant cappuccino or flavored coffees to the no frills, straight up filter coffee. What they all have in common is that each order is freshly brewed.

At Home

It may not be possible to recreate a fully stocked coffee bar in our home, but everyone may agree that a freshly brewed cup of coffee first thing in the morning is not a luxury anymore, for many of us it is essential. Most homes boast a coffee machine designed to brew freshly ground beans. These machines usually work by allowing a slow drip of hot water to pass through ground coffee beans into a pot below. It does not use pressure to force the water through and this often results in the coffee getting cold while we wait for the cycle to finish. Many people find that it is just too time consuming to make a cup of coffee in this manner.

Senseo Innovation

That is why a new breed of coffee making machine is rapidly gaining popularity;

one that uses pressure. Senseo manufactures this coffee machine and it provides much innovation to the market of home coffee brewing machines. The Senseo Gourmet Coffeemaker pushes pressurized water through a pre-packed coffee pod. These coffee pods are packed with just the right amount of coffee, which allows for the best possible result.

Senseo allows you to brew one or two cups of coffee at a time. Brewing your cup of coffee with the Senseo Coffeemaker can be completed in a few simple steps. First, fill the water tank, followed by opening the lid and placing in your coffee pod. The last step is to switch it on and watch how your Senseo Gourmet Coffeemaker allows just the right amount of pressure and just the right amount of water to flow through the pod. In two minutes, you can have a perfectly brewed, hot cup of filtered coffee to kick start your day. However, it gets better: because of the pressurized system that is used by the Senseo Gourmet Coffeemaker; your cup of coffee should have a thick foamy layer on top as well.

The Practicalities

Senseo coffee pods are mess-free and require no expensive filters; they also ensure you are not left with coffee grounds at the bottom of your cup. Whatever your taste in coffee, Senseo coffee pods covers them all. You can choose from mild roast, medium roast, and dark roast, even decaffeinated.

Senseo Gourmet Coffeemakers have a ‘SensAuto-off’ switch, which turns the machine off after an hour, so you do not have to worry about accidently leaving the Senseo on. They are designed with removable parts that are completely safe in the dishwasher. Senseo offer accessories such as replaceable water tanks that make your coffee experience even easier.

Senseo Options

Senseo Gourmet Coffeemakers come in a one-cup option as well as the basic 1-2 cup option, each offer the same incredible basic functions. Senseo has another option available called the Senseo Supreme. The Supreme offers many added features for your convenience.

While still allowing the 1-2 cup option, the Supreme allows more control over how much coffee can be brewed and you can change the amount per cup, great if you have different sized coffee cups, or mugs.

The spout is different too – adjustable so that you can accommodate taller cups. The water tank has increased in size so that you do not have to refill it that often. There is also an LED indicator, which keeps you informed on the water levels.

Another added feature allows you to enjoy frothed milk without all the fuss. The Supreme has an integrated milk container, which includes a feature that froths the milk. This offers luxurious foam on top of your coffee. There is also a cleaning button that is designed to remove all milk residues from the machine.

The Senseo Gourmet coffeemaker is a beautifully apportioned, sleek, and modern coffee machine that can grace any kitchen counter. They are available in different colors to suit most tastes and can become a conversation piece in your home.

Coffee has gotten a bad reputation over the years. Between the negative attentions that it has garnered due to its caffeine content and a few misreported findings that hinted at health problems caused by drinking coffee, many people believe that coffee is not good for you.

The perception is that coffee is great for a pick-me-up but it can cause health problems down the road. Actually, not only is this generally untrue but drinking coffee has several health-related benefits. With the surge in popularity of gourmet coffees, it has been discovered that some of these gourmet roasts can actually have an even greater health benefit than standard coffee roasts.

Contrary to what was believed for many years, drinking coffee can actually be quite good for you, provided that it is done in moderation. Coffee beans tend to be quite high in antioxidants, and many gourmet coffees have even higher antioxidant content. Because gourmet coffees are usually more carefully roasted than standard coffees which will be powdered or freeze-dried, more of the oils that are rich in antioxidants will be preserved throughout the roasting process and make it in to your cup of coffee. These antioxidants have a variety of health benefits ranging from an improved immune system to healthier skin, teeth, and hair.

Though there are a number of artificial and non-dairy creamers available, many people still prefer to use milk, cream, or half-and-half for their coffee. Gourmet coffee shops tend to use real dairy products in lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffee drinks. By using real milk or dairy products instead of a non-dairy substitute you can gain the additional health benefits of milk and dairy when you have your coffee. This includes added calcium and fatty acids, with the calcium being good for your bones and joints and fatty acids helping to keep your brain healthy and your memory strong.

Various studies have found a number of health conditions that coffee can help to prevent. Some of the most prominent of these include serious health concerns such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and even some types of skin cancer.

In addition to the preventative effect that antioxidant-rich coffee can have when it comes to these conditions, some studies have even shown that drinking coffee every day can help to slow the progression of some of these diseases if they are already present and may even help to make other treatment options function better. This is not to say that coffee alone will cure these serious conditions, but there is a lot of evidence which shows that it can at least have somewhat of a positive benefit when it comes to both prevention and treatment.

Another condition that gourmet coffee can help to prevent has been getting a lot of attention due to a study released in 2007. A link has been found which seems to suggest that drinking coffee daily can greatly reduce the damage which is done to the liver by alcohol and that it can either slow or prevent cirrhosis of the liver both due to alcohol consumption and other causes.

At first it was considered to simply be the caffeine contained in the coffee that caused this effect, but a similar prevention was not noted among tea drinkers or others who had similar caffeine intakes; though the specific ingredient in coffee which causes this benefit has not been identified, it is clear that it is a coffee-specific compound and is most likely one or a combination of the antioxidants contained in coffee oil. Since gourmet coffee tends to contain a higher amount of these antioxidants it is likely that it will provide exceptional protection against liver damage.

Despite all of the warnings that have been given over the years about how the caffeine in coffee can cause excess stress on the heart and higher blood pressure, newer research has shown just the opposite; it is believed that the caffeine in coffee combined with a number of antioxidants can actually help to prevent some types of heart disease.

These implications of are of special importance to the elderly, as the study showed that individuals over 65 who regularly drank coffee were at a significantly reduced risk of heart disease than others who drank decaf coffee or no coffee at all.

Similar to many other things, coffee should be consumed in moderation. Even with all of its health benefits, gourmet coffee can still cause problems if it is enjoyed in too large of quantities or too frequently. However, provided that you do not overdo it, coffee can be a great part of your daily routine and can give you a health boost that you were not expecting.

Sometimes, what goes in your gourmet coffee can be as important as the coffee itself. In 1961 Nestle revolutionized the way we drink our coffee by introducing the world’s first non-dairy powdered coffee creamer. Borden’s followed not long after with Cremora, and powdered non-dairy creamer became a staple in many American kitchens.

In the mid-70s, Rich Foods introduced Coffee Rich non-dairy liquid creamer, marketing it as a creamy substitute for half-and-half for those who could not tolerate milk, or were avoiding dairy fats. Since then, things have not been the same. These days, half the dairy freezer at the supermarket is filled with non-dairy coffee creamers in a wide variety of brands and flavors, some especially created to accent gourmet coffee.

In 1980, a new player hit the supermarket shelves. International Delight made it easy to have delicious flavored coffees at home, without having to buy expensive flavored coffee. You could buy it in the dairy aisle in any one of three flavors: Irish Cream, Cinnamon Hazelnut or French Vanilla. Within months, Coffee-mate followed with its own line of coffee creamers, featuring Vanilla, Hazelnut and Irish Cream flavors. Since then, both companies have taken to introducing new flavors, limited edition flavors and holiday flavors on a regular basis. Take a look at what the major players in the coffee creamer market are offering.

Coffee-Mate

The first and still the biggest of the bunch, Coffee-Mate has expanded its line enormously over the past few years. Catering to their customers’ tastes, Coffee-Mate has even held contests to allow customers to choose their limited edition flavors (vanilla chai spice and coconut crème are the two most recent entries). Coffee-Mate now offers twenty different flavors, including:

Flavored

Amaretto, Chocolate Raspberry, Cinnamon Vanilla Crème, Coconut Crème, Crème Brulée, Vanilla Crème, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Crème, Toffee Nut, Vanilla Caramel, Vanilla Nut and Vanilla Chai Spice

Seasonal Flavors

Eggnog, Gingerbread, Peppermint, Mocha, Pumpkin Spice

Special Edition

Blueberry Cobbler, Pralines & Crème

However, there are many other differences between coffee creamers than just the flavors. Coffee-mate especially has introduced some innovations in packaging and in chemical makeup to enhance its brand. For those watching their fat and sugar intake, among the specialty coffee creamers made by Coffee-mate, are fat free and sugar free versions of many of its most popular flavors (in case you were wondering, all the Coffee-mate flavors have 0% trans fat). In addition, they offer coffee creamers in three different forms: powdered, liquid and the newest, concentrate – which comes in a very cool portion controlled pump bottle. Any cup of gourmet coffee will benefit from a specialty coffee creamer.

You can also buy Coffee-Mate in several different kinds of packaging. The standard liquid creamer needs to be refrigerated, but if you buy Coffee-Mate in individual serving size plastic cups (boxes of 50), you can keep them on the shelf. The powdered Coffee-Mate variety, which comes in most of the same flavors as the liquid (including fat-free and sugar-free), also does not require refrigeration.

Coffee-Mate comes in original, non-flavored versions, both liquid and powdered, and has recently announced that it will be introducing a non-dairy half-and-half in the near future.

International Delight

When International Delight introduced their portion-control liquid flavored coffee creamers, they launched an entire new category of food products. International Delight was marketed as a luxury, and it certainly tasted like one. International Delight is now available in nine different flavors, including fat free and reduced sugar versions of their most popular flavors. The International Delight flavors include:

Original Flavors

Amaretto, Cinnamon Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Irish Crème, Southern Butter Pecan, Vanilla Hazelnut, Vanilla Toffee Caramel and Hershey’s Chocolate Caramel

Fat Free Flavors

Fat Free Amaretto, Fat Free Cinnamon Hazelnut, Fat Free French Vanilla, and Fat Free Irish Crème

Reduced Sugar Flavors

Reduced Sugar French Vanilla and Reduced Sugar Hazelnut.

International Delight coffee creamer is available in pints, quarts and individual portion control sizes. The pints and quarts must be refrigerated, but the individual single portion cups can be stored on your cupboard shelf until they are opened. Similar to Coffee-Mate, International Delight is non-dairy and certified kosher, though both popular non-dairy creamers contain sodium caseinate, which is made from solidified milk.

If you happen to run a coffee service or offer gourmet or regular coffee in the break room at your office, providing a variety of flavored non-dairy coffee creamers is a great way to give your customers or employees a choice of flavors without having the make separate pots of coffee to satisfy every taste.

Starbucks. When you say the name, it automatically conjures up an image: an upscale coffee bar with light wood, glass and chrome. The invigorating and inviting aroma of brewed coffee and the café atmosphere has made Starbucks the best-known specialty coffee roaster and server in the world. Starbucks has done an excellent job of branding their company – it is the only coffee brand that is on the list of 100 most recognized brands in the world. What makes the Starbucks brand and the Starbucks coffee experience so ubiquitous that it ranks up there alongside Google, McDonalds and Coca Cola in name and brand recognition?Sheer size and Starbuck’s number of locations has something to do with name recognition and popularity. With over 16,000 shops worldwide, Starbucks is certainly one of the most visible brands in the world. However, this is not a matter of the chicken or the egg – in order to become so visible, Starbucks had to start off with something special in the first place. It is that “something special” that defines the Starbucks coffee experience.The Third PlaceSince the opening of its first stores in Seattle, Starbucks has striven to be more than just a place where you buy coffee. Howard Schultz, company President and CEO, defined the atmosphere that Starbucks attempts to create when he said “We’re in the business of human connection and humanity, creating communities in a third place between home and work.”The Third Place concept informs the design of Starbucks shops. While coffee takes center stage, the design is meant to make customers comfortable. To further customer comfort and social interaction, most Starbucks stores mix upholstered chairs and sofas with hard-backed chairs around tables. Most Starbucks stores offer free electricity to their customers so that they can plug in their laptops and all U.S. Starbucks offer Wi-Fi access through AT&T. In addition, many Starbucks feature a well-stocked reading and game shelf to encourage customers to settle in and hang out with friends for a while.The Coffee ExperienceMore than anything else, of course, Starbucks is about the coffee. The company started out as a premium coffee roaster, and they stayed true to their roots by serving nothing but excellent coffee. As of early July 2008, Starbucks announced that they would be changing the way that coffee is made and served in their stores around the world in an effort to provide the best coffee experience possible. The changes will be rolled in across the U.S. by the end of 2008, and include a commitment to grind and brew many coffee varieties to order, as well as to discard any coffee that has been brewed for more than thirty minutes.In order to enhance the coffee atmosphere, Starbucks employees are requested to avoid wearing strong perfumes that might interfere with the coffee aroma, and nearly all Starbucks around the world are non-smoking indoors. The preservation of the coffee-centric atmosphere was the reason that Starbucks abandoned its short-lived foray into serving breakfast sandwiches. According to some sources, the smell of the breakfast sandwiches overpowered the coffee aroma, making the coffee cafes smell like diners – an image that the company does not want to present.All About the CoffeeThe Starbucks coffee experience extends to brewing your own Starbucks coffee at home. The coffee roasts that Starbucks have chosen for sale are those that best reflect the rich coffee flavor and aroma of your local Starbucks. Those roasts tend to lean heavily toward darker roasts, because it is easier to maintain consistency of flavor across batches when roasting darker. Darker roasts also tend to be more ‘coffee’ flavored than lighter roasts, which allow the variations of region and season to be more readily apparent. Since 2000, the Starbucks coffee experience has also included feeling good about your coffee choices. That’s the year that Starbucks started selling its line of Fair Trade Certified coffee. As of 2005, Starbucks was the largest single buyer of Fair Trade certified coffee in the world, buying over 11.5 million pounds of FTC coffee – about 10% of the entire U.S. volume of Fair Trade sales. The amount accounted for about 6% of the company’s total coffee buying for that year. While some activist groups pressure Starbucks to increase the percentage of Fair Trade coffee that it offers for sale, company spokespeople point out that they pay above market price for coffee and that they also deal with many small growers who can’t afford the cost of Fair Trade certification.The Starbucks Coffee ExperienceThe Starbucks coffee experience can be summed up in just a few words: great coffee in comfortable surroundings served by an attentive staff and produced by a company that cares about our world. With great tasting drinks and a commitment to creating a fun atmosphere, it is no wonder why Starbucks has become a household name.

Being able to brew your own coffee at home is a great way to get the pick-me-up that you want with the convenience that you need, but if you do not drink a lot of coffee then you could end up making too much with a traditional coffee maker. Single-cup coffee makers are available, but many people shy away from them because they worry that they simply may not work as well as larger coffee makers or that they cost more than they are worth. There are affordable single-cup solutions to help you make the coffee that you want at home, without sacrificing the quality of your coffee or having to settle for a second-rate coffee maker; you simply have to know where to look and what to look for.

Brookstone’s Stainless Steel Single-Cup Coffee Maker

Combining functionality with style, Brookstone offers a single-cup coffee maker that should not break the bank. For under $40 you get a stylish coffee maker that goes well with almost any décor, packed full of features that can help you to enjoy a perfect cup of coffee with very little effort on your part. The Brookstone stainless steel single-cup coffee maker comes with a travel cup, a permanent mesh filter. This eliminates the need for a disposable filter. It also features a coffee scoop that is the perfect size so that you can fix exactly one cup of coffee. The double-walled stainless steel construction ensures that your coffee stays hot while also making sure that your Brookstone coffee maker is not going to break.

Hamilton Beach JavaOne Pod Brewer

Pod brewing is a popular option for single-cup coffee makers, but many pod-brewing coffee makers are prohibitively expensive. The Java One pod brewer from Hamilton Beach offers the convenience of pod brewing without the cost, as it can be purchased for $30 or less. You should not have to worry about keeping up with filters, since the coffee pods that the JavaOne uses contain all of the coffee grounds within a sealed filter pod so that you can brew your coffee and then throw the pod away. Your coffee brews quickly, and you can clean up your JavaOne coffee maker just as quickly once you are finished. Though you are limited to the coffee blends that are available in Java One pods, everything from Columbian decaf to French Roast and even Earl Gray tea are available in pods.

Keurig Mini Brewing System

Weighing in at the higher end of the “affordable” spectrum, the Keurig Mini Brewing System costs just under $80 (though this price includes 10 of the Keurig K-Cup coffee portions as well.) Using the Keurig Mini Brewing System, you can heat eight ounces of water in around three minutes, letting you brew a single cup of coffee in very little time. The Mini Brewing System uses Keurig’s patented K-Cup portion system, eliminating the need for filters; you simply place one of the K-Cups (which are about the size and shape of a coffee creamer package) into the coffee maker and start your brew cycle. The coffee maker penetrates the K-Cup’s lid and begins brewing the coffee inside of it, and you can simply throw away the used K-Cup once your cup of coffee has finished brewing. Cleanup is easy, and the Mini Brewing System is compact enough that you can take it with you when travelling or store it easily at home.

Black & Decker Cup-at-a-Time Coffee Maker

If you are looking for an economy single-cup coffee maker, the Black & Decker Cup-at-a-Time coffee maker is the way to go. Available for under $20, the Cup-at-a-Time may not have all of the advanced features of some of the other single-cup coffee makers on the market but it can still brew a good cup of coffee. The permanent mesh filter can be used by itself or in conjunction with disposable cone filters, holding enough coffee grounds for making a single cup of coffee. The Cup-at-a-Time coffee maker requires you to supply your own cup, but it accepts any cup with an 8-ounce to 12-ounce capacity. The coffee maker can also be used to brew hot water for tea, hot cocoa, and other items such as instant noodles and single-serve soups.

Many people enjoy brewing coffee, but traditional coffee makers sometimes brew more than you want. This is the main advantage of choosing a one-cup coffee-brewing product. The one-cup system allows you to brew just enough coffee for your morning pick-me-up. There are many products to choose from which all have their own set of features. When choosing a one-cup coffee brewer, you should take into consideration the price and which features you are looking. Although it is expensive, the Keurig Mini Brewing System is feature rich and it can create the perfect cup of coffee that you would expect.

Suzanne Bradley is a freelance writer who writes about style and living, often offering suggestions about certain brands of products to try such as Keurig.