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Helping the local cafe

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  • tasadam
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    All good points and thank you for the input.
    Whats in my mind is the thought of taking a standard sheet, well formatted with introductory letter and explanation, with me when I have a coffee.
    If the coffee is not so good and I can get talking to the head barista / manager / whatever, ask them if they are interested in learning about better coffee, present the sheet, then hopefully point them in the right direction.
    With the guy in the town I went to where this topic started, I am prepared to offer him all the advice I can then if he needs to know more, either he will already know (he claims he sends his staff off to coffee training), or hopefully I can find out who or where in Tassie can offer such training.
    With other cafes, what I would like to achieve is letting them know there is so much more to what could be in the cup, if they were interested in taking the time and steps to learn.
    Im no coach / trainer, as I pointed out, I have only stepped in front of a commercial machine a couple of times. Im no mug either, I can see where things are going wrong, particularly when they are as obvious as a silly plastic tamper about a cm smaller than the basket.
    Its just an idea.
    If a suitable introductory letter and list of questions could be put together, perhaps we snobs can all use it to give to some of the cafes that we think deserve a wake up call.
    Links to places where they could go for further help would be good. Where to buy beans, where to learn to flush the machine properly, things like that,

    Leave a comment:


  • GregWormald
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Im afraid I think the list of questions is likely to put nearly everyone "off-side" with you. Without a personal contact, this sort of stuff is most peoples nightmare of advertising.

    If you are prepared to offer the training, then the only question they need to answer is "Are you ready to make more money from better coffee?"

    Greg

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Its good for the rose garden thou den! ;D

    Leave a comment:


  • Dennis
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Originally posted by 53577168686D72656A040 link=1264727371/38#38 date=1265176380
    Oh i was thinking he was questioning whether he was paying too much for coffee
    Even $10kg is too much if its no good. ;D

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Oh i was thinking he was questioning whether he was paying too much for coffee.......and whether they were locked in or are able to explore unknown( to them) options.......maybe you den

    cheers

    Leave a comment:


  • Dennis
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Originally posted by 1410362F2F2A35222D430 link=1264727371/36#36 date=1265156876
    but did he mention supplying beans?
    Hi Warren, I understood this may be a possibility from the following questions. If there is no intention to supply coffee, then these questions would be irrelevant.

    Originally posted by 3722302227222E430 link=1264727371/31#31 date=1265109578
    Are you locked in to one coffee bean supplier?
    What price do you pay per kg for roasted beans?
    How many KG of beans per day / week do you grind and sell?
    Cheers!

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Originally posted by 0E2F242423394A0 link=1264727371/35#35 date=1265151020
    Hi Adam

    From the list of questions you have already it sounds like you might intend providing training and coffee.  Rather than give you another wad of questions you can ask, how about answering some likely questions from cafe owners who may have a genuine interest.  After all, if they take the time to respond, theyll expect you can deliver!

    I use 30kg a week.  What can you give them to me for?
    I like a strong, caramel finish.  What coffee do you have that will give me this?
    Who else do you supply?
    Do you have a destoner?
    Do you supply free on loan equipment?  How about umbrellas, aprons, t-shirts, sugar, etc.?
    Can I come and visit your roastery?
    I think my machine is running hot.  Can you show me how to reduce the temperature?
    The water flow from the group head on the right hand side of my machine runs faster than the left.  Whats happening?
    Are the burrs on my grinder OK?
    My wife works in the shop and makes coffees.  She only drinks tea and customers avoid ordering coffee when shes on.  What do you recommend?
    What milk should I be using?
    The shop gets really hot at night and particularly in Summer.  What options do I have to keep the coffee from going off?
    If I send 4 staff to do your training how much will it cost?
    What are your credentials?
    Will they be able to do latte art by the end of the training?

    Ive been asked every one of these questions and plenty more.  

    Good call Den........all very good points from someone who knows, but did he mention supplying beans? he might have i just cant see it.....

    cheers
    warren

    Leave a comment:


  • Dennis
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Hi Adam

    From the list of questions you have already it sounds like you might intend providing training and coffee. Rather than give you another wad of questions you can ask, how about answering some likely questions from cafe owners who may have a genuine interest. After all, if they take the time to respond, theyll expect you can deliver!

    I use 30kg a week. What can you give them to me for?
    I like a strong, caramel finish. What coffee do you have that will give me this?
    Who else do you supply?
    Do you have a destoner?
    Do you supply free on loan equipment? How about umbrellas, aprons, t-shirts, sugar, etc.?
    Can I come and visit your roastery?
    I think my machine is running hot. Can you show me how to reduce the temperature?
    The water flow from the group head on the right hand side of my machine runs faster than the left. Whats happening?
    Are the burrs on my grinder OK?
    My wife works in the shop and makes coffees. She only drinks tea and customers avoid ordering coffee when shes on. What do you recommend?
    What milk should I be using?
    The shop gets really hot at night and particularly in Summer. What options do I have to keep the coffee from going off?
    If I send 4 staff to do your training how much will it cost?
    What are your credentials?
    Will they be able to do latte art by the end of the training?

    Ive been asked every one of these questions and plenty more.


    Leave a comment:


  • maheel
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Originally posted by 3227352722272B460 link=1264727371/31#31 date=1265109578
    So I modified my document and printed it out, recommending he read it,

    explaining very concisely my good intentions and not meaning to insult but promising he would not regret it if he took the time to read and act.


    Then I handed him the document, he still had my business card (a good sign), so he attached it, and I wished him well and left.
    Ill come back here and update if theres any news.
    I know you have good intentions I just think you need to tread carefully.

    with the above underlined statement why is it that nearly every time someone says to you "i dont want to hurt / insult / anger / upset you, BUT......."

    it nearly always insults, angers, upsets, hurts you......

    as others have said you need to give people the positives of your ideas 1st. Many people have different motivations. It might be more customers, more money, better quality product or something else.

    Its a fine line your walking, heres hoping it for the best
    Leeham

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    How long do you leave beans in the hopper, do you empty hopper at end of trade?

    do you grind on demand or fill the doser

    machine maintenance regime?

    how much coffee gets delivered each time, how frequent is delivery, is coffee going stale in storage at your premise?

    do you know how to pour a long black? ;D

    few more i could think of.......

    Leave a comment:


  • martybean
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    I would add, Do you know how long to pour a shot of espresso? or what makes a good shot.

    Leave a comment:


  • tasadam
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Well, work had unexpectedly taken me near to where this place is, so I thought, what the heck. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. So I modified my document and printed it out, recommending he read it, explaining very concisely my good intentions and not meaning to insult but promising he would not regret it if he took the time to read and act. Then I handed him the document, he still had my business card (a good sign), so he attached it, and I wished him well and left.
    Ill come back here and update if theres any news.

    In the mean time, I got to thinking, at the lack of coffee educators here in Tasmania, I thought I might start by getting a list of questions together for a questionnaire sheet to take to cafes and see what info I can get out of them.
    Bear in mind, Ive only stood behind a commercial machine a couple of times and operated one once (this once above).
    Things I can think of, off the cuff -
    How often do you clean your steam wand?
    How often do you back flush?
    Do you have a metal tamping tool?
    Can anyone at your establishment perform latte art?
    At what temperature do you steam the milk until?
    How often are the milk jugs cleaned?
    Are you happy with the coffee you make and serve?
    Are you genuinely interested in improving the coffee you serve?
    Are you locked in to one coffee bean supplier?
    What price do you pay per kg for roasted beans?
    How many KG of beans per day / week do you grind and sell?
    Do you know the date at which the beans you use were roasted?
    How long has it been since your grinder was empty of beans?

    Can someone else throw in a heap of questions?

    I might then print them out and take them to some coffee shops and see if they want to contact me. What the heck, might be something in it for me other than the feelgood of doing my bit to improve the standard of coffee around here.

    Leave a comment:


  • martybean
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    What you say about the food is so true Thundergod, we recently went down to Gippsland for chrissy holidays and had breaky, at Mum and Dads favourite Cafe.
    The food was good old fashioned Sunday breaky eggs, bacon, toast thick cut and tomato $15 it was pretty good.But when we placed our order the barista asked if we would like a coffee "he said WE ONLY use Lavazza Beans for our coffee" I replied with a polite NO!

    Leave a comment:


  • GregWormald
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Originally posted by 4B6F666665655F4B6F736D6F000 link=1264727371/28#28 date=1265082534
    In most establishments coffee is just another stock item they sell
    And if its not up to scratch, I want that item to come under the "not suitable for the purpose claimed" clause. >

    Take it back and get a refund.

    Greg

    Leave a comment:


  • Koffee_Kosmo
    replied
    Re: Helping the local cafe

    Originally posted by 7F435E454F4E594C444F2B0 link=1264727371/27#27 date=1265082230
    What Im getting at is those that care, like we do, will take the feedback well.
    To others, a coffee is just another stock item they sell.
    This represents my view as well

    In most establishments coffee is just another stock item they sell

    KK

    Leave a comment:

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