Bewley’s Coffee Standards

Coffee is our passion. We’ve been sourcing and roasting our world famous blends for well over a century. Maria Cassidy, our Barista Manager, offers some expert advice on coffee preparation for coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and corporate or institutional caterers.

1. Vital Ingredients

It goes without saying, but the most important step in making a perfect cup of coffee is the first one – choosing the best quality espresso blend. Then make sure your coffee is fresh and ground to order. And lastly because most people mix in milk, don’t skimp on cheap milk products – you’ll taste the difference.

2. Sourcing

A great espresso is always a matter of taste and that varies round the world. When sourcing a coffee supplier, it’s important to attend a tasting to ensure you are happy with the blend of espresso that will be used. For Bewley’s, a great espresso is more than just taste; it about a great body, a caramel coloured oily thickness and a natural sweetness undercutting the strength and bitterness, topped of course by a thick crema to introduces the flavour.

3. Coffee Storage

Coffee beans stored in their bags in a cool dark environment will remain in a good condition for up to ten months. Once opened, coffee should be used within 24 hours to ensure maximum freshness and taste.

4. Maintenance

We cannot understate the importance of keeping the coffee machine clean and in optimum working condition. Espresso machines are like cars and they need to be looked after on a regular basis to ensure consistency is maintained and a great espresso is delivered every time. A dirty coffee machine will ultimately taint your espresso and leave a bitter taste.

5. Equipment And Ambiance

A coffee shop is a place of refuge – an escape from the hectic commotion of the high street. So when choosing a coffee machine and indeed your shop’s ambiance, aesthetics are as important as functionality. Create the illusion of theatre and let the performance of the barista takes centre stage.

6. Coffee Menu

Beverages like Cappuccino, Latté, Mocha, Hot Chocolate, Americano and Espresso are gaining popularity as people are becoming more coffee aware and beginning to experiment. Syrups can be used to add flavour to Lattés and even Cappuccinos but do not appeal to many purists and can often taste too sweet for Irish palettes. Keep your menu simple and of a high quality, focussing on really good espressos and perfectly steamed milk. Also, examine the market to see who will be your main customer base; students love hot chocolate for example, while office workers often prefer espresso based drinks.

7. Crockery

It is very important that you take into account the type of crockery you use. For World Barista Championship standards, cappuccino cups must be 6floz or below and espresso cups 3floz or below. The shape of espresso cup must also be considered, a ‘V’ shape base allows for a better crema because coffee swirls around when it hits the cup. Lattés are usually served in a tall glass with a handle, which differentiates them from cappuccinos.

8. Barista Employment

Employing a fully trained Barista gives you an advantage over your competitors as people now expect quality coffee prepared by experts, regardless of the type of establishment. Bewleys offer ongoing training to all our customers to ensure your Baristas are kept up to date with new developments and techniques. A Barista should be well presented, outgoing and possess excellent customer service skills. The technique in coffee preparation can be studied and practiced but communication and interaction skills need a degree of natural flair.

Coffee Commandments

• Thou shalt not use stale coffee.
• Thou shalt not grind coffee in advance.
• Thou shall ensure that you serve perfect espresso every time, with a rich golden crema.
• Thou shalt not serve bubbly frothy cappuccinos, only silky smooth milk.
• Thou shall treat your espresso machine with tender loving care.
• Thou shall always smile and greet your customers to keep them coming back.

Free Coffee Audit

To arrange a free coffee audit or mystery audit of your hot beverage solution, please send an email to Maria and her team: customercare@bewleys.ie