My Coffee Shop Layout – What Works and What Doesn’t
February 22, 2012 | 
Author Your coffee shop layout is a big part of determining whether or not any coffee business you plan to start up can become a successful, thriving business. In fact, it can be the difference between profit and loss.
While you might be thinking about the economics of your coffee shop layout, you also want to be thinking ergonomics for staff and customers alike!
Ergonomics is the study of human movement and interaction with machines. Imagine a coffee shop layout where those in a queue are constantly having to move and re-adjust as people trying to sit down with their drinks shuffle through and around them, carrying laptops and bags. It will be awkward and uncomfortable for those in the queue and those who want to settle down and enjoy the ambience of your shop. I have been in places like this – I wasn’t keen to return. One of the keys to successful coffee shop layouts is something that can filter your customers to where they want to go quickly, easily and comfortably.
Something similar also applies for your workplace for staff. If staff must move and be at pains not to bump into one another you are increasing their stress and decreasing how efficiently and quickly they can serve and sell. This kind of coffee shop layout is guaranteed to limit your earning potential!
Finally, tables and chairs are also a challenge. While you want something that fits in with your overall design concept, you also want something that allows people to feel they have their own personal space, where they can breathe out and relax a little. Again, think about how you can funnel people and avoid that “bumping into” factor.
If you are thinking about coffee shop layouts, bear these factors in mind and you will avoid some very basic mistakes that will damage your bottom line.
Are Keurig Coffee Makers Or Tassimo Coffee Makers Better?
Which of the popular coffee maker pods should you choose? The two most popular options are Keurig coffee makers and Tassimo coffee makers. They provide similar functionality but there are several differences between the two brands that can help you make your decision.
It’s important to note to begin with that you can’t go wrong with either of these two choices. Both companies are very highly rated and the people who buy them are almost always thrilled with their decisions. So the choice between a Keurig and a Tassimo isn’t life or death, it really comes down to personal preferences.
Keurig Coffee Makers
Keurig has at least six different main models that run the gamut in terms of price range and features. The good news is that even the cheapest models, coming in at around $60 or $70 produce the same great coffee in the same quick time as the more expensive models.
The differences lie in style, design and the size of the water reservoir, as well as intended use. For example, they have a model designed specifically as an office coffee maker that is built to be rugged and withstand a constant bombardment of uses.
The coffee maker pods for Keurig are called K Cups. Keurig produces their own wide range of flavors and tastes. In addition, they have partnerships with many popular coffee manufacturers. You can get your Keurig K Cups with Caribou Coffee, Green Mountain, Newman’s Organics, Emeril’s and many others.
Tassimo Coffee Makers
Tassimo has their machines made by both Bosch and Braun. There are less total models available and while there are cheap options, on the whole they are a bit more expensive than what Keurig offers.
However, they are extraordinarily fast. With a Tassimo you can make your coffee in under a minute from start to finish, offering extreme convenience and ease of use. Another benefit to the Tassimo brand is that their coffee maker pods come in Starbucks coffee flavors. No other pods offer Starbucks, so if you’re a fiend for them and want to indulge at your home or office, than it makes sense to go and get a Tassimo.
The bottom line is that both Keurig coffee makers and Tassimo coffee makers are extremely easy to use and produce great coffee. With Keurig you will have more choices in terms of the coffee that is available and the models. With Tassimo you will be able to enjoy Starbucks coffee in less than a minute. Both brands are popular and loved by those who use them.
Posted in Coffeee Spresso Makers Articles | 
Tags: Better, coffee, Keurig, Makers, Tassimo | 
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Espresso Coffee – How to Make an Excellent Espresso at Home
Espresso is strongly brewed coffee made by forcing steam and hot water
through darkly roasted and finely ground coffee beans. The aroma of
espresso makes it especially hard for many coffee lovers to resist.
Coffee aficionados the world over know that a shot of excellent
espresso is crucial to making a good cup of coffee. There are a
variety of espresso machines in the market that can produce great
tasting espresso.
So how do you make a great cup of espresso? Here are the basic steps:
1. Remove coffee ground residue of the previous shot in the shot
holder before using the espresso machine to make a new cup of
espresso.
2. Have adequate ground coffee ready and place it in the grinder hopper.
3. Release seven grams of the ground coffee into the shot holder,
making sure that you get a full pull as you do so.
4. Using a hand tamper, even out the coffee grounds. Tamp only once
and do not twist the tamper as you tamp the coffee grounds. By doing
this, you are assured that the hot water and steam will evenly extract
the coffee. You can also correctly gauge the pressure if you use a
hand held tamper to pack down the coffee grounds as well as remove
excess coffee grounds from the shot holder.
5. Secure the shot holder in place and lock the espresso machine
handle so that water does not leak as it passes through the coffee
grounds at a high pressure.
6. Position a warmed up espresso cup under the the espresso machine’s
coffee holder spout. Start the espresso machine. Keep an eye on the
the color and consistency of the brew coming out of the spout. In 15
to 20 seconds, you should have about 1.5 ounces of freshly brewed
espresso in the cup.
Making a well-brewed cup of espresso does take time and practice. The
presence of a creamy honey-colored foam called crema that is about a
quarter of an inch thick sitting on the coffee‘s surface is a sign
that you have successfully made an excellent cup of espresso. And if a
teaspoon of sugar can rest on the crema, you can probably consider
yourself an espresso guru!
The crema is the result of several important factors: the coffee
blend, fineness of the coffee ground, extraction time, water
temperature and amount of coffee used. You achieve a perfect cup of
espresso every time if you can consistently attain an optimum mix of
these factors.
* Most espresso aficionados will agree that the coffee blend should
include some Robusta beans.
* Several reasons could account for a dark color of crema: too much
coffee grounds may have been used; the coffee grounds were packed too
hard and too tightly in the shot holder, resulting to a longer
extraction time of the coffee; the coffee grounds used was too fine;
or too much water was used.
* There are several reasons, too, for less crema: the coffee used may
not have been enough; the time it took to extract the coffee may have
been too short since the coffee used was coarsely ground; there was
not enough water to pass through the coffee; the coffee grounds were
packed too lightly in the shot holder; or the water that passed
through the coffee was not hot enough.
* If the espresso machine, shot holder or cup is cold, it may affect
the amount of crema produced.
Espresso can be served as it comes out of the espresso machine or it
can be served in a variety of ways. In fact, many of the specialty
coffee drinks today has espresso as their base. Some of the specialty
coffee drinks that have a shot of espresso include macchiato (espresso
topped with foamed milk), espresso con panna (espresso topped with
whipped cream), cappuccino (espresso with milk and foam), café latte
(espresso with milk, but without the foam), mocha (espresso blended
with milk and chocolate syrup) and Americano (a “weakened” espresso
made by adding warm water).
How to Start a Profitable Home Tutoring Service
Starting a home tutoring service is a small business that does not require much start-up costs or training. Essentially, this service is an excellent business for stay-at-home moms who love to deal with children and make some money on the side. Apart from that, this home business provides time flexibility as the tutor would only need to spend a few hours each day on tutoring. Of course, more classes can also be scheduled according to personal preferences.
In fact, a tutoring business can be conducted either within the comfort of the tutor’s home or at the home of the students. This essentially eliminates the need to pay for rental costs of any kind, with the only cost being transportation costs and the time spent on the classes.
Start Up Costs and Financing Sources:
Starting a tutoring business does not require much in start up costs. In fact, the bare essentials that you need to purchase are pencils and paper as well as some books, all of which will cost you less than $20.
Pricing Guidelines for Service:
Tutors normally charge between $15 and $40 an hour for their services. Rates are dependent on the subjects and the levels that are being tutored as well as the location where the services are offered. Naturally, services offered in larger cities will cost more.
Advertising and Marketing:
Advertising and marketing your tutoring service is one of the most crucial steps in order to ensure success in your business. In fact, there are many ways in which tutoring services can be marketed. The first thing that you should do is to create a profile for yourself. List down your credentials, including the details of your degrees as well as any previous tutoring experience that you may have. Apart from that, other teaching related experience such as peer tutoring while at the university may also help in building a strong profile.
Next, think about which area of study that you are interested to teach as well as the specific age group. Most tutors specialize in specific subjects like Arithmetic or History, while others may deal with just elementary students.
Once you have your resume all ready, you are then ready to approach the schools to market yourself. Inform any school teachers that you know about your expertise, experience and the services that you are offering. This is as many parents enquire with school teachers on where they can send their children for tutoring, which makes teachers the best people to promote you. Alternatively you can also approach the school counselor or principal about your services, as they may be constantly seeking tutors to recommend to the parents of children with problems in their studies.
The next thing you can do is to stick a small ad on bulletin boards located in stores around town. You can find these boards in laundromats, convenience stores and supermarkets. Some parents may notice your ad and call you up for a tutoring engagement. Apart from that, you can even design a nicely printed flyer, highlighting your services and credentials as well as your contact information and send them out to mail boxes within your area.
Another thing that you could do is to contact a local home school group in your location. Many parents of home schooled children require tutoring in certain subjects and may be seeking tutors for this purpose.
Recommended training, experience, or needed skills:
A tutor does not necessarily need to have a degree in teaching in order to be qualified for tutoring. However, teaching experience will help in building a profile, as parents will be more confident with your abilities. Furthermore, as a tutor, you need to seek out the latest syllabus and texts which are being used in classes so as to ensure that what your teaching is aligned with the current education system.
Additionally, a visit to the library could help in obtaining lists of books specifically on tutoring your areas of focus. Furthermore, you will be able to find a wide variety of material to present to your students in class from within the local library. You may even obtain creative teaching and tutoring ideas that will help draw the attention of your students during class.
Income potential:
The potential earnings from a home tutoring service are really dependent on the efforts and the commitment of the individual. If more time were allocated to tutoring, then more income will be generated.
There have been tutors who have successfully made an annual income of $10,000 to $15,000 tutoring just 20 hours a week from home.
Target market:
Students from Elementary Level up to High School
Success tips:
One of the factors influencing the success of a home tutoring service is the level of education and guidance that has been provided to the students. Usually, this is measured by the results attained by the students. Once a student scores an ‘A’ in a subject area that he or she has been poor in, your effective tutoring work will travel quickly by word of mouth as parents will make good recommendations to other parents. In fact, word of mouth is the channel that facilitates rapid growth in your business.
How to Start a Greeting Cards Home Business
Do you like to create pictures and designs, or writing? Do you love to look at the greeting cards in your local stores? Then a greeting cards home business could be for you. This is a business with incredible growth, and income potential. It also gives the greeting card home based business owner several options in the business itself.
A greeting card home business opportunity can have you doing only one part, such as drawing or writing. This same business can be selling e-cards or cards sold in stores. It could also entail purchasing a territory from a larger card distributor.
The first step in how to start a greeting card company is to decide what part of the greeting card business you want to focus on. As a freelance greeting card artist, you would focus only on designing cards for other companies. There are costs associated with this option and could include the purchase of a computer and graphic art software if you don’t already have these items.
If you decide to be a freelance greeting card writer, your home based greeting card business would focus on only writing the phrases to be used on greeting cards. For this, you only need a computer and quick turn around time.
Of course, you can always freelance as both a writer and artist. To get jobs you must contact companies to see if they are in need of freelancers. They pay from $50 an assignment to several hundred dollars per assignment. However, until you build up a portfolio of samples, and sometimes even after, jobs can be hard to find.
Another option is to purchase a vending route from a larger greeting card company. This route becomes your way of starting a greeting card company. You are required to keep current clients stocked in cards, replace old cards with new ones and get new clients to build your income. You have start up costs that can run from several hundred to several thousand dollars in inventory. However, when you take the cards to the clients, you receive your payments right then.
If you want to start your own line of cards, your greeting card business plan would focus on all aspects of greeting card businesses. You will design and write each greeting card inside and out. Your creative freedom would not be hindered by someone telling you what they want. You would make all the decisions and it would truly be your greeting cards business.
Being a greeting cards home business owner would make the internet your best marketing tool. You wouldn’t be able to compete with larger greeting card companies, so you will want to create a special niche for your cards on the web and in small local stores.
This option requires research before beginning the creation of cards for your greeting cards home business. You will need to price printing services and software. Once you have these ready, you can being creating. Go ahead a start creating cards, but at the same time, think of a name for your greeting cards home business and create a website.
Websites are very easy to create, depending on the provider you decide on. Research domain name registries and web site providers. The more web pages and information you want to provide will influence the charge of the web site. A greeting cards home business web site should be able to be effective without many extras at first. The extras can come later.
Once your website is ready, put pictures of your cards and ordering information into it. If you create the web site yourself or pay someone else to do it, make sure the site is search engine optimized. This will bring more people to your greeting card web site and start selling your cards.
Since some people like to hold cards and feel their quality before purchasing, it may be best to have your greeting cards home business web site offer one free card, or one free sample package per household. This gets your cards on the market and helps drive customers to your web site. Also, consider creating a special “Thank You” card that you personalized by you for all inquiries and orders. This is another way to let people know the quality of your cards.
Have the cards printed as the orders come in to the web site. Offer personalized cards to increase sales. Make sure you have plenty of designs for each category. You want your greeting cards home business website to look full, but not cluttered.
You now know several of the options available to start your greeting cards home business. Now all you have to do is to decide which is the best option for you. This business can grow to be as large or as small as you want it.
Starting an Arcade Business – It’s Fun, Entertaining, and Profitable!
You should consider Starting an Arcade Business for public entertainment if you enjoy entertaining and amusing people! You can set your cash registers roaring by providing loads of interactive games, computer games, video games and all kinds of electronic amusement amenities.
This is a fun and family entertainment business. Youngsters and young adults just want to chill out and get their adrenaline pumping and amusement arcades are just the environment. If you are looking for self-employment options that will earn you a stable and profitable income you need to consider the arcade business. Before Starting an Arcade Business you need to check out the local zoning laws.
Estimated start-up costs:
$10,000 to $50,000.
Financing Sources for Starting an Arcade Business:
Bank & Credit Union Loans
Angel Investors
Business Plan needed when applying for loans
Marketing Methods and Tips:
Remember that you are competing with home versions of all these games. For that reason you need to do something to draw them to your Arcade rather than remaining at home to play. Think up some catchy name for your arcade business. One way to draw customers is by offering exciting, fabulous and unique prizes on winning particular games!
Advertising :
Place ads in local newspapers
Yellow Page advertising
Local Radio Stations
Distribute flyers at local clubs, super markets, etc.
Internet website
Essential Equipment:
Vending machines for food, candy and soda
Coin or Token Change Machines
Tables & Chairs
Arcade Games of all types and varieties
Recommended Training, Experience, or Needed Skills:
You don’t require any kind of formal or professional training for Starting an Arcade Business. It would be helpful to have some technical knowledge on repair and upkeep of the games. However, you can outsource for repairs and upkeep. Basic business skills would be helpful, but you can learn from books or business plans you can purchase.
Income Potential:
The income potential is dependent upon a good location. If you locate the arcade properly, you can make upwards of $100,000 a year. Without a proper location you will probably have little chance of success.
Target Market:
The biggest target markets for your arcade business are kids, teens and young adults.
Success Tips:
The biggest success tip for any arcade business amateur would be to promote your gaming parlor in a big, big way. You have to employ clever business and marketing techniques to attract customers. After that word of mouth will work the best.
You need to create the perfect ambiance that will help youngsters and their parents to have fun and relax! Revamp your arcade décor from time to time including the latest games and exciting prizes!
Posted in Coffeee Spresso Makers Articles | Tags: Arcade, Business, Entertaining, Profitable, Starting | No Comments »
The New Health Food – Organo Gold Coffee
Coffee, for most people is the morning staple. Many people need a morning dose of caffeine to get up and get going. How do you pick your coffee? Do you buy the cheapest, the most expensive, somewhere in between? Why don’t you pick your coffee as you pick the other staples in your pantry? Pick the healthiest coffee. Coffee, healthy? Yes! OrGano Gold Coffee is a healthier coffee alternative.
What is OrGano Gold Coffee? This is the only coffee that contains 100% pure organic ganoderma lucidum. According to reishi.com, Ganoderma lucidum is a red mushroom known for its medicinal purposes. This mushroom has been known for 4000 years for its ability to promote well-being and health. Ganoderma is known in China as the “mushroom of immortality.”
The health properties of Ganoderma are widely known and have been praised for many years. This red mushroom is known to help build immune systems. A strong immune system is essential for good health. Ganoderma lucidum will help ward off opportunistic infections such as viruses, the common cold, and the seasonal flu.
Ganoderma lucidum is also known to oxygenate the body. Increased oxygen to the brain helps with mental capabilities and flexibility. With increased oxygenation to the brain, people think clearer and can problem solve better. Increased oxygenation of the muscles improves physical capabilities. While working out you have an increased endurance. Ganoderma lucidum also increases stamina. So not only does ganoderma lucidum improve your endurance but it helps you to continue a task longer. This red mushroom helps to propel you through your daily activities with less fatigue.
Finally, the mushroom is a chock full of natural antioxidants, at least 150, which fight free radicals. These antioxidants will certainly improve your health. Why take a separate supplement when you can get antioxidants in your coffee? No need to worry about remembering to take an antioxidant supplement. So while you drink OrGano Gold’s Coffee you are improving your health.
Taste is important when it comes to your morning cup of coffee. This coffee tastes great! This premium coffee is a blend of 100% Arabica coffee beans and the Ganoderma mushroom. There is something for everyone and the coffee comes in single serving packets. There is no need to make a huge pot of coffee that might become bitter over time. Have your coffee when you want it.
Have your coffee how you want it. There are three types of single serving packets of OrGano Gold Coffee. The first type of coffee packet is OrGano Gold Gourmet Black Coffee. This coffee is a blend of Arabica coffee beans and certified organic Ganoderma lucidum. The second type of single serving coffee packets is OrGano Gold Gourmet Latte. This latte includes Arabica coffee beans, certified organic Ganoderma, creamer, and organic sweetener. The third type of single serving packets is Gourmet Mocha. This mocha includes Arabica coffee beans, certified organic Ganoderma lucidum, and fine cocoa. OrGano Gold Coffee is a great healthy choice for your coffee fix.
How to Start a Paper Shredding Business
Paper Shredding Business Opportunities are blossoming up everywhere because in recent years, privacy concerns and new policies have forced companies all over the country to invest in paper shredding services. Large corporations and small are in need of shredding services.
Even in many homes, people have purchased small, trash can sized paper shredders for mail and receipts. Most businesses will not be able to shred the material they have by purchasing one of these same machines. First, the small machines are not capable of the volume. Secondly, companies in general are downsizing staff and it is unlikely that they are going to pay someone to feed documents into a tiny shredder all day.
That is where you come in. Investing in a paper shredding business now is like buying a gold mine. The list of documents the Federal Government says must be destroyed is getting lengthier everyday. Every time you sign a document, be it a job application or a credit card receipt, there is a time limit that the receiving company has to hold that document. After that time limit, they are required by law to destroy, or shred, that document.
Large corporations can take in thousands of signed resumes’ a year. Restaurants and retail outlets that have not gone to electronic signature devices can have thousands of credit card receipts a month. Think of all the banking records that come due for destruction every week. Now think about the amount of tax documents that need to be rotated and destroyed every year. These are just a few examples of the growing necessity of paper shredding businesses for confidential document destruction.
Mobile shredders are a fantastic investment, as the shredding device is built into the back of a large truck trailer for onsite paper shredding. This allows the shredding company owner to go to the client for onsite shredding. Companies spend thousands of dollars warehousing these documents that often get kept years past their required time because no one wants to deal with all that paper. Mobile paper shredding would allow you to go directly to their warehouse or storage facility. Clients will appreciate not having to pay someone else to have all of this information brought to you.
Even in this electronic age, there are still things that will be in paper form. Recorded documents and legal papers are still required to have pen and ink signature. Many companies are even having computer components such as hard drives and floppy disks shredded for security purposes. The federal government requires such stringent privacy laws due to identity theft and fraud, that nearly any document with a name and address on it must be destroyed after a certain period of time. This continuing process virtually guarantees that a confidential paper disposal service would thrive in the right hands.
Time limits for document destruction will play in your favor as well. Nearly every set of documents has a different holding date. For example, resumes and cover letters have a hold date of one year, if the applicant was not hired. Hired applicants can have part of their file destroyed in three years, for example, the application and some privacy statements. Corporations as well as individuals are required to keep tax records on file for three years. Companies that process financial data, such as banks and paid tax services, will always have documents that are in need of destruction. This gives you the perfect opportunity for a home employment paper shredding business.
Things to consider when thinking about a paper shredding business will depend on what type of service you wish to offer. Having a fixed location where people can bring their records to you for destruction is one idea. However, it is worth considering purchasing a mobile shredding unit in addition to this or even as the sole business operation. Mobile paper shredding will allow you to be even more flexible to your clients needs.
The demand in this industry will only be growing in the coming years as laws and policies change. It is clear that this is a growing enterprise. Be it on site shredding with a mobile shredding unit, or a permanent paper shredding location, you can be sure that there is a public in need of this critical service.
How to Start an Errand Business in Your Spare Time!
You may not be interested in learning How to start an Errand Business right now but that is likely because you are not familiar with just how easy this business is to start up and operate. Simple things like grocery and gift shopping, waiting around for the cable guy, and even taking back movies are all things that we have to do anyway, so why not get paid for it? With more and more people busy with their careers and complaining about having more time than money, there is a growing market for people looking to learn how to start a errand business and real money to be made.
Estimated start up costs:
So long as you have reliable transportation, a cell phone, and some basic office supplies to fill out and create invoices for customers, you have all the essential supplies needed to own an errand business. There are starter kits available to you for less than $50 that can set you up with all the materials you will need to prepare professional looking invoices and keep track of your expenses. Other than that, learning how to start an errand business might involve some “seed money” in the beginning to cover miscellaneous expenses required to complete errands.
Pricing Guidelines:
Pricing guidelines are only limited by what your market can bear for the services you offer. Many professional errand services charge by the hour for their time while some prefer to set up monthly or even annual packages so that they get more money up front. On average and depending upon the service, someone learning how to start an errand business can expect anywhere from $15-35 per hour for their services for most residential customers. But, if you can break into the office support services market, then learning how to start an errand business can really turn into a profitable endeavor.
Recommended experience, skills, training:
Having the ability to prioritize tasks and organize your time are probably the most essential skills to this job. As with any business owner, however, you will need to market yourself and your company to people so any kind of sales or marketing background will be very useful. Some general business and accounting courses will prove handy when dealing with the financial and administrative tasks inherent to any business.
Marketing tips:
Success tends to breed more success and that is precisely the way your errand service will grow. As you network and build your reputation, so too will your ability to charge more. In the beginning, word-of-mouth advertising will be what makes or breaks your business. But, you may find it useful to advertise your services and company in the classified ads and be sure to print and distribute business cards every place you go.
Financing sources:
With relatively no start up costs to really speak of, securing financing is not really necessary when learning how to start an errand business. However, you may want to try starting out on a part-time basis as the going will be slow in the beginning and you may still need the income from another job to pay the bills until you get things rolling.
Income Potential:
The income potential for those owning an errand service really goes up if you can manage to break into the office support services market. There are people looking for workers with office skills to just come in and help them once a week or even once a month and they are willing to pay top dollar for this limited time. For people just looking to help others with their groceries and errands around the house, it is nothing for someone learning how to start an errand business to make $35-40,000 a year doing the things that they would normally do for free anyway!
How to Get Real Free Starbucks Coupons
Starbucks coupons are very popular and there have been some fake coupons circulating the internet. In order to tell if your coupon is fake you can look for a few things:
There should only be one Starbucks logo.
The counterfeit coupons say redeemable at participating locations and the word participating is misspelled.
The real Starbucks coupons say “not valid if reproduced”.
To get free Starbucks coupons, you can register at their official website and give them your email and real address. You will receive coupons in the mail!
Another way to get Starbucks coupons is to buy a Starbucks Gift Card with any amount of money on it. $5.00 or $200.00 and then go to the Starbucks website and register your gift card by entering the number on the card and you will receive a coupon for a free drink. You will also receive other perks like free vanilla added to your drink, etc.
Starbucks “buy certain number of drinks get one drink free” is in the works thanks to suggestions by customers.
If you need coupons for drinks sold in grocery stores or coffee beans, just look for the coupon machines next to the products. You can also check newspapers, and product packages for coupons.
Discount Starbucks gift cards are available under face value or you can trade your unwanted gift card for a Starbucks gift card.
Coupons are also available for sale at a discount and the savings are pretty significant this way.
Enjoy your Starbucks and good luck finding coupons!