Posted by Cindy Thomas on Sun, Feb 28, 2010 @ 03:47 PM
Buying coffee online can be a daunting task. How will it taste? What will the aroma be like? And, most importantly, will I like it? Granted, you can’t taste the coffee, or, even smell the coffee, but there are ways to shop for coffee online that can guarantee success.
First , identify your personal coffee palate – do you prefer the sweet taste of a light or medium coffee blend? Or do you enjoy the rich texture of a bold coffee blend? Choosing the right beans and the right roast for you can amplify your coffee experience and brighten your mornings. Hopefully, this article will give you some ideas of where you are in the coffee taste spectrum.
Second, know your coffee bean origins – It’s important to understand where the coffee beans come from in order to determine the right beans for your particular palate. If you enjoy a more mellow and light cup of coffee – consider beans from Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala. If you prefer a deeper, medium coffee – consider beans from Columbia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Panama, Peru, and Tanzania. If your coffee preference is for a bold flavor – consider beans from Indonesia, Kenya, and Mexico.
Third, know your roasts – There are many different coffee blends and roasts. But, in order to simplify the process so that you can begin to identify and experiment with different roasts, color can be used as a baseline. A lighter roast is usually made up of light brown beans. In a medium roast, the beans are usually roasted to medium brown color. In a bold roast, the beans are roasted to a dark brown, almost black.
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Light
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Medium
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Bold
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Beans (origins)
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Brazil
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
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Colombia
Ethiopia
Honduras
Peru
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Indonesia
Kenya
Mexico
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Roasts
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Light brown beans
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Medium brown beans
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Dark brown beans (almost black)
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General definition of roast levels:
Light Roasts – Light, bright roasts that are not too intense, and are full of coffee flavor.
Medium Roasts - Well-balanced roasts with plenty of body and deeper coffee tones.
Bold Roasts – Full-bodied roasts with deep flavor undertones - never over-powering
Sometimes, the most popular coffee blends and roasts can be a bit more complicated than the simple information described above. Many coffee blends are made from a mixture of beans from different origins and different roasts. But you can still make informed choices. For example, High Point Coffee Breakfast Blend is representative of a light roast; our Magnolia Blend is categorized as a medium roast. Espresso and French Roast coffee blends are always going to be bold and full-bodied.
Once you’ve identified where your coffee taste-palate lies, you can feel good about shopping for coffee online. Still need more information? Click here to download a copy of our “Free Coffee Guide”.
Remember: the right bean and the right roast always lead to the right coffee (for you).
Posted by Cindy Hofmeister-Thomas on Tue, Feb 16, 2010 @ 02:55 PM
Looking for a high-profit, easy-sell, eco-friendly fundraiser for your school, your PTA, your church, your sports team, your scout troop, your karate studio, your dance studio, etc.? When the gift wrap, candy and cookie dough fundraisers begin to lose their luster –think coffee! In fact, here’s six reasons why you should consider participating in a coffee fundraising program.
- Coffee fundraisers are simple.
No catalogs , no minimum orders, no advanced purchases required. Just a sales sheet, easy delivery, and very happy customers. For more information, visit our Fundraising Page.
- Coffee is an every day item. Virtually every household, office and business buys and drinks coffee. Second only to oil, coffee is the one of the most valuable commodities in the United States. More than 50% of Americans drink coffee daily – three to four cups each. Americans love their coffee.
- Coffee has a stable shelf life. No worries about coffee being out-dated when delivered to the end customer. Especially, if the coffee is purchased from a small batch roaster who can customize a blend for your organization and guarantee freshness. Issues with expiration dates will be minimal to non-existent.
- Coffee fundraisers are profitable. Bulk coffee from a small batch roaster will be reasonably priced, and, very profitable for your group to sell.
- Coffee fundraisers are fun. Most coffee fundraising programs will place your organization’s logo on the packaging for that added customized feel.
- Coffee fundraisers are good for the environment (very green). Look for providers who sponsor Coffee Kids™ and support products and business practices that foster sustainability including the Rain Forest Alliance and FairTradeUSA.org.
Ready to consider a coffee fundraising program? Click here for a place to begin.
Posted by Cindy Hofmeister-Thomas on Wed, Jun 24, 2009 @ 02:50 PM
The best way to learn and understand the different characteristics(acidity, aroma, body and flavor) of coffee beans is to experience them. Thebest way to experience them is to participate in a coffee cupping, or coffeetasting with High Point Coffee.
High Point’s aim is to introduce you to what cupping is, why wecup, how we cup and some of the more commonly used terms and evaluationmethods.
People in the trade will have you believe that coffee cupping is ascience, an exact art requiring a lot of expertise. To some extent this can betrue, but this should not put off the enthusiast from enjoying it too. It canbe very simple (and enjoyable) and there are no right or wrong answers. Yourpalette may pick up hints of a taste that the most season cupper would not, aseach person can find different things in the cup.
What is cupping? Cupping is a method of evaluating differentcharacteristics of a particular coffee bean. Cupping allows us to compare andcontrast coffees against each other, and allows us to get a betterunderstanding of each coffee. Its importantthat you so use the same method each time as this can have an effect on theresults, so if cupping is being used as a comparison / evaluation tool thenuniformity is key.
Why cup? We cup coffees to understand their basic tastes.This can help us understand where different coffees could be slotted intoblends not only for this brewing method but all other methods too. It alsomakes us look at coffee in its basic form and appreciate some of its finerpoints. As already said it's a fantastic evaluation tool for something thatchanges from farm to farm, region to region, country to country and crop tocrop.
So what are you looking for…
Fragrance of dry grounds: Does it smell fresh? Does it smell stale? Overroasted? Under roasted?
Fragrance of wet grounds: Aroma: what's there? The water mixing with thecoffee and oxygen will produce a more intense smell than with the dry grounds
Acidity / Liveliness: Acidity in coffee can be a welcome attribute, orit can be a most unwelcome one. In one form it can give liveliness andfreshness to the flavor. In another form it can appear as sourness. Coffeewithout acidity is lifeless. Coffee with too much or the wrong sort ofacidity can be unpleasant, even sour. If the acidity is unpleasant, pleasant,fresh, sour, or whatever - make a note.
Body: Body is a description of the fullness and richness of the feel ofthe coffee in your mouth.
Flavour / Depth: What's there? This is the fun part. Is therechocolate? Fruit?
Finish: What does the coffee leave in your mouth whenyou have finished? Aftertaste is a very important part of the cup.
Do not be intimidated by people that try to impress you with someabstract description of a coffee. This is more of a romantic tribute to acoffee rather than a reality. Cupping coffee should be fun and interesting, butnot a contest of who is more articulate. On the other hand, your descriptionshould be more substantial than a reiteration of a textbook definition of acoffee.
Posted by Thomas Blanche on Tue, Feb 24, 2009 @ 01:17 PM
High Point Coffee hopes to see business perk up with office service
By Blake Fontenay (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
For a company that once seemed bent on world domination, Starbucks Coffee Co. has taken a good scalding lately.
Last month, the company announced plans to cut 6,700 jobs, close 300 stores, sell one of its corporate jets and scale back store openings as part of a cost-cutting effort.
Matthew Craig/The Commercial Appeal
High Point Coffee employees Stepjen Noble (right) and Jason Elder keep customers filled at the Union Avenue shop. High Point is pleased with the nine shops it operates, but is shifting its focus to office service, which is a big market for coffee consumption.
STORY TOOLS
The store closures follow a year in which Starbucks closed more than 600 stores, including 10 in the Mid-South.
To add insult to injury, in McDonald's current advertising campaign, the fast-food restaurant chain seems to be poking fun at Starbucks' somewhat pretentious image. Meanwhile, Starbucks has been experimenting with unconventional new business ventures that have some investors scratching their heads.
All of which might seem like good news for High Point Coffee, the Oxford, Miss.-based coffeehouse chain that operates four locations in the Memphis area.
In fact, High Point is making plans to dramatically increase its business.
Just not in the direction one might expect.
High Point president Thomas Blanche said the company has no plans to open more coffeehouses in the Memphis area -- or anywhere else, for that matter.
That decision is partly based on the frigid business climate.
"For us, the economy has driven sales down," Blanche said. "We're going through tough times, like everybody else."
But High Point is also going through a fundamental shift in its business plan.
Instead of waiting for customers to visit one of High Point's shops, the company is focusing on selling coffee to the places where they work.
"We started the office coffee business in November and the response has been phenomenal," said Blanche, who said High Point has already picked up "several hundred" office accounts in that time span.
According to information compiled by the National Automatic Merchandising Association, there's a hot market for office coffee service.
Between 2002 and 2007, NAMA reported that the office coffee business posted a 53 percent revenue gain -- with another 36 percent gain projected over the next five years.
Blanche said people drink more coffee at their offices than any other place except their homes.
Blanche said High Point doesn't plan to close any of the nine shops it operates now. Besides generating revenue, Blanche said those shops give High Point exposure that can help win other types of business.
In addition to the office coffee business, Blanche said High Point is selling coffee to other coffeehouses.
And Blanche said the company may branch into grocery store sales at some point in the future.
As for Starbucks, despite its recent troubles, Blanche isn't expecting his giant competitor to shrivel up and die.
Matthew Difrisco, executive director for Oppenheimer & Co., a financial firm that monitors Starbucks stock, agreed.
"They made the mistake of over-expanding, which they've corrected to a certain degree with the recent store closings," Difrisco said.
Although Starbucks is trying some new strategies, including selling instant coffee and value meals in its stores, Difrisco said that is not a sign of desperation.
Rather, Difrisco said, Starbucks is looking for incremental ways to increase its sales revenues.
"It happens with every business," Difrisco said. "They're searching for a new platform."
-- Blake Fontenay: 529-2386.
High Point Coffee
Founded: 2002
Headquarters: Oxford, Miss.
Store locations: Nine total, including four in the Memphis area and two in Oxford
Employees: 45
Web site: brewhighpoint.com
Posted by Thomas Blanche on Tue, Feb 24, 2009 @ 01:08 PM
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For more information, contact:
Thomas Blanche
President
High Point Coffee
Phone: 662.791.9791
E-mail: thomas@brewhighpoint.com
High Point Coffee Enters Office Coffee Market
December 2, 2008
OXFORD, MS-specialty coffee roaster High Point Coffee Distribution, LLC announced today it has acquired Coffee & More, a premiere Mississippi office coffee service company. The company formerly owned by VendaSnack Services, will now be named High Point Office Coffee Services (HPOCS, Inc.). The aquisition establishes a route for High Point to venture into a new line of coffee sales by providing office coffee service in North Mississippi as well as the greater Memphis and Jackson, MS markets.
"HPOCS, Inc. allows us to penetrate new markets, markets which are the second leading venue for coffee consumption in the US. Our relationships with office coffee customers will be direct, and branding can be achieved at a much lower cost," said Thomas Blanche, CEO of High Point Coffee.
Rich Thomas, vice president and general manager of HPOCS, Inc., will oversee the company's office coffee services division. "We are very excited about offering a Mississippi roasted coffee coupled with home-style service," he said.
Thomas's expertise in office coffee service, will enable High Point to provide a complete and consistent coffee program for any size office. Additionally, through its "first to market" distributor program, the company will expand office coffee services through independent distributors. HPOCS, Inc. will operate its new office coffee service division from its headquarters and 8,000 square foot roasting plant in Oxford. Additionally, fractionally packed coffee will be processed and distributed from its Oxford roasting facility to service its office coffee customers. The terms of the deal includes a substantial customer base of North Mississippi businesses and creates opportunities for High Point to partner with new distribution networks. The company will offer reputable equipment, installation and maintenance as well as a wide variety of specialty coffees, cappuccino, teas, water, and allied products.
About High Point Coffee:
High Point Coffee Distribution, LLC is an Oxford, MS based branded and private label coffee roaster and packager of specialty coffees from around the world. Consumers can find High Point Coffees - including varietals, organic, fair trade and estate coffees - on-line, at retailers, offices, and grocers throughout the mid-south and in select metropolitan areas. Blanche is the owner of High Point Coffee Distribution and has partnered with Rich Thomas, and Joel Edlin of VendaSnack, Inc. to launch HPOCS, Inc.
For more information, visit http://www.highpointofficecoffee.com/ , http://www.brewhighpoint.com/ , http://www.highpointcoffee.biz/ , and email thomas@brewhighpoint.com . ###
Posted by Thomas Blanche on Tue, Oct 07, 2008 @ 09:36 AM
High Point Coffee is a well regarded, established company in the specialty coffee field that began as a single coffee shop in Oxford, MS in2002. Since 2003, High Point Coffee has been roasting its own blends and distributing across the country. With a focus on quality, we import “genuine specialty coffee” which represents the top 10% of coffee harvested each season.
A natural growth strategy has led us into office coffee services. With more than 20 years of experience, our office coffee staff can provide a turn-key program for the workplace from free installation and maintenance of your coffee maker and water filtration systems, to delivery of the coffee and supplies needed to satisfy your personal needs. To learn more about our coffee services go to www.highpointofficecoffee.com
Posted by Thomas Blanche on Tue, Sep 30, 2008 @ 09:13 AM
Thank You Memphis for Voting High Point Coffee Best Local Coffeeshop.
Click here to view the Article
Posted by Rich Thomas on Thu, Aug 07, 2008 @ 08:56 AM
Experience the best tasting cold-brewed iced coffee in Memphis!
iced-coffee-article.doc
Posted by Rich Thomas on Mon, Jul 07, 2008 @ 09:25 AM
High Point Coffee has been roasting coffee since 2002!
Click to read about us. striving-to-be-cream-of-the-crop.jpg
Posted by Cindy Thomas on Mon, Apr 28, 2008 @ 05:35 PM
The first High Point Coffee Dodgeball Challenge, held Saturday, April 12 at Germantown Athletic Club, was a great success!
Ten teams from around the area came out to play for a good cause — Playhouse on the Square — and helped High Point Coffee raise more than $7,200 for Playhouse.
Thanks to all the teams that participated and to the spectators who came out to cheer them on. Congratulations to our first and second place teams — The Ladykillers and Hit for Brains.
First Place - The Ladykillers
Second Place - Hit for Brains