Upper Midwest Gourmet

The newest flavor from Umpqua Oats oatmeal is a total hit!

Everyone loves the addition to Umpqua Oat’s already great selection of flavors.

Raspberries, Strawberries, Blackberries, and Pecans and awesome oatmeal! YUM!

Need a display or point of sale items?

Just ask us about your options next time you order!

(For pricing or additional product information, please Contact Us. Thank you.)

We are really excited to finally have this awesome delipaste flavor in stock.

It can be used to make blackberry gelato or sorbetto and can even be used in pastry and savory applications as well!

(For pricing or additional product information, please Contact Us. Thank you.)

Brand New Iced Teas from Numi Organic

BERRIED TREASURES – Delicious and fruity, this brilliant ruby Fruit tea blends dried hibiscus, currants, pineapple, apple, cherries, and bananas. Its naturally sweet taste makes it a true gem.

HIGH MOUNTAIN BLACK – The finest black iced tea made with single-estate, whole leaf, organic black tea leaves, bursting with rich flavors. It brews to an amber liquor low in astringency and clean on the palate.

CLASSIC BLACK – Organic and Fair trade brisk black tea brews a smooth flavorful glass.

CITRUS GREEN – Organic and Fair trade smooth green tea infused with a refreshing lemon zest.

TROPICAL SUNSET – Organic and Fair trade black tea blended with exotic fruits for a tropical flavor.

(For pricing or additional product information, please Contact Us. Thank you.)

There’s nothing quite like the nutty, syrupy sweetness of a good porter.  There’s nothing quite like the soft sweetness of  hand-crafted gelato. So, imagine if you will combining this two fantastic flavor sensations into one delightful frozen treat.

Lo and behold, Moka Porter Gelato made with Town Hall Brewery’s Porter and an assortment of Fabbri delipastes.

A match made in heaven.

For more information on this gelato experimentation at Fat Lorenzo’s see my full blog post.

It’s never too early to start thinking about the next trade show.

That is why we are already telling everyone now that we are in booths 100/102/104 at Chicago Coffee Fest in June 2012.  We will be making gelato on a Carpigiani Coldelite batch freezer and displaying in one of the new Ciam Pozzetti display cases.  We will definitely be serving our award-winning Flamenco Organic Coffee along with a ton of other great products for you to check out and sample.

Here are the basics:

When – June 8th-10th 2012

Where – Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

Registration Information

Early Bird is $20 per person if registered by Sunday, 5/20/2012. $30 per person after that.

Onsite Registration Hours: Trade Show and educational Classes
Friday & Saturday: 7:00am to 4:30pm
Sunday: 7:30am to 3:30pm

Show Hours:
Exhibition Hours:
Friday & Saturday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday: 12pm to 4:00pm

Educational Training
Friday & Saturday: 8:00am to 6:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am to 4:00pm

If you have any questions about the trade show, please Contact Us.

I have been seeing a lot of St Patty’s inspired recipes floating around the internet and photos like this one (from thecupcakeblog) have inspired me to give one such cupcake recipe a try tomorrow.

I will be taking home some Ghirardelli sunrise cocoa to aid in my adventure.  Below is the basic recipe I will follow. I’ll let you know how it goes.

• 1 cup chocolate stout
• 1 cup (8 ounces) butter
• 3/4 cup Ghirardelli Sunrise unsweetened cocoa
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• ***Irish Cream Frosting***
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 4 to 6 tablespoons Irish cream liqueur

(For pricing or additional product information, please Contact Us. Thank you.)

Yes, it’s that time of year again when the trade shows begin. We are exhibiting in a couple of them that we would love to invite you to attend.

Our first show of the year is the Wisconsin Restaurant Expo being held in downtown Milwaukee on March 12-14th. That’s a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday show. We have been exhibiting at this show for over 10 years now and will have our usual spot on the floor with a 20 foot end booth. This year we will be highlighting our Flamenco Organic Coffees, Dr Smoothie 100% crushed fruit smoothie mixes, Mozo Chef shoes, Cappuccine, Big Train and a host of fine products from Amoretti including flavoring syrups, 100% fruit smoothie mixes, Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar and Martin mixes. We will have many other items on display as well including a 2 group espresso machine. We would love to see you there this year so stop by for an espresso, smoothie or martini (maybe all 3 mixed together!). We have a limited amount of FREE passes for Wednesday the 14th. Please contact us if that is a day you can make it.

Go to http://www.everythingfoodservice.org for more info on this fantastic show.

The second show of the year for us is Coffee Fest Chicago being held at the Navy Pier Convention Hall. This show is on June 8-10th (Friday-Sunday). We will have another 20 foot booth there highlighting many of our products including Flamenco Organic Coffee and are hoping to have a full display of Gelato on hand. For more info on this show and to register to attend, please visit http://www.coffeefest.com for more details.

Please stay tuned for more details on this show as we comprise them.

Hope to see you at one or both of these shows. We love to meet with our customers rather it may be the first time, or an annual routine. We truly appreciate your continued business and support and feel these show are a way for us to convey that to you.

Feel free to contact us for any further information on either of these shows.

What a winter we have had this year! It’s either been the worst or the best, depending on your perspective. We hope that the warmer than usual weather has helped business for everyone.

The weather will be turning even warmer, though, which means cold drinks like iced espresso drinks, cold press coffee, smoothies, frappes, iced tea, and lemonade are going to really start picking up. It also means that those of you that are making gelato will start to see some serious sales increases.

We have used this winter to make some serious improvements around here with a focus to better serve you, and want to let you all know again how much we appreciate your business!

Please check out our newest Brewsletter – Volume 46 – Winter 2011/12

Also, please go to the Brewsletters Page on our website to download and read previous Brewsletters. They contain lots of useful information!

Enjoy and thanks again from all of us at UMG!

Upper Midwest Gourmet and Flamenco Organic Coffee Company will be in booth 748 for the 2012 WI Restaurant Show.

Where: Frontier Airlines Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Booth 748)

When: March 12th-14th (11am-5pm Monday, 10am-5pm Tuesday, 10am-3pm Wednesday)

Here is a link to the show for more information: WI RESTAURANT EXPO

If you would like more information or possibly a FREE pass to the show please Contact Us.

See you there!

Perfect for straight espresso shots and now available for purchase.

Mention these new demitasse cups when ordering your 

Matador, Balls of the Bull, or Black Lotus Flamenco Espresso 

and get a set of (2) FREE with your order as our Holiday gift to you!

Only valid on orders made before 01.01.12.

(For pricing or additional product information, please Contact Us. Thank you.)

How about Holiday Coffee Bags (1lb) with your own personalized photos or pictures?

You choose the image, message, and type of coffee!

We make the label, roast the coffee, and ship it to you to be given as a great and thoughtful gift!

It’s that easy!

This is a great way to share the amazing Flamenco Organic coffees with your family and friends…

Simply email label@umgcoffee.com your family or holiday photo, with message and coffee/roast you would like to give and we can design and create a beautiful personalized label for you!

We do request that you order at least 1o / (1lb) bags per order.

Please Contact Us with any questions.

Happy Holidays from all of us at UMG!

What an amazing Fall it has been so far! Warmer than usual temps have really made for some great weekends and good business for all. 

The weather is turning cold though which means hot drinks likes coffee, espresso, steamers, chai tea, apple cider, hot cocoa, and hot tea are all going to really start picking up. 

Also, those Umpqua Oats Oatmeal bowls are going to be the perfect option for your customer looking for a warm, hearty breakfast or lunch on these chilly Autumn days.

Please check out our newest Brewsletter – Volume 45 - Fall 2011

Also, please go to the Brewsletters Page on our website to download and read previous Brewsletters. They contain lots of useful information!

Enjoy and thanks again from all of us at UMG!

 Want a great new menu item for Fall? How about a milk chocolate bar in a cup? In Italy they are famous for their ‘sipping chocolate’ bars. My wife’s first stop in Bologna is always for one of these decant 3 oz cups of super thick and decadent sipping chocolate. We have a fabulous liquid sipping chocolate that simply needs to be warmed and served and your customers will think they’ve died and gone to chocolate heaven. Want to make your own from scratch? We can help you with that too, just give your salesperson a call today.

As the days grow shorter, the nights grow longer, and that first cold snap hits the air, two things are certain. Fall is coming and apple cider season is upon us. Cider has long been a staple of the fall and winter seasons and is also a profitable coffee alternative for any menu board. To ensure a successful cider season, Upper Midwest Gourmet has compiled the following list of five tips that will help boost your sales and please your customers.

1. In-store Promotion is a Must

Due to the seasonal nature of cider, customers must be informed of its availability as a menu option. Highlighting cider drinks as specials, putting up a counter sign and table tents, or even advertising can be used to get the word out. These promotional materials should not only bring awareness to the avid cider drinker, but will also help tap into the nostalgic demand of regular coffee drinkers.

2. Steam + Cream = Green (It Almost Rhymes)

Rather than simply handing over a basic mug of cider, it helps to add some ambiance to the preparation. Using the steam wand on an espresso machine to churn the mug of cider will not only make it frothier and release its aroma, but it will also make the drink more special for the customer. The more special a drink is, the more you can charge for it. Another nice value-adding touch is to top the mug with a dollop of whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

3. Get Creative

Along similar lines, the more unique a drink is, the more you can charge for it. By creating signature drinks you can differentiate yourself from the other players in town. By adding orange rind, ginger, or any other final touches of your choice, you can create excitement for your seasonal offering. “Hey Jill, I hear Café XYZ is doing their ginger twist cider again. Bring the kids… and your wallet!” (Ok that was cheesy but you get the point)

4. Suggest Food Pairings

What better way to increase the average customer’s order than by selling complimentary products together. Cider will pair very well with scones, pies, pastries, and other baked goods. As long as you’re offering a cider special, why not also offer a “cider and slice of apple pie” special.

5. Reduce Waste (Warning: Shameless Plug for the Mountain Cider Company)

Cider can sometimes be a handful because of the refrigerator space it requires and the fact that it spoils within a week. By throwing away bad cider you are throwing away profits. This may tempt some to buy those powdered cider packets you see in the grocery store. Here at the Mountain Cider Company we refer to that as “chemical water”. Instead, we suggest you use the Mountain Cider Company’s all natural Hot Spiced Apple Cider concentrate. Our cider is just like what you would get from the orchard only it has been spiced and boiled down, giving it a shelf life of a year and a half without any preservatives. Even after our jugs are open they maintain shelf stability without having to be refrigerated. If you prefer to make cider in batches, a container of our cider can be reheated daily for a week without losing its flavor integrity. Talk about cider made easy!

So there you have it, five surefire tips for getting the most out of your cider season. We love to hear how our customers use our products, so if you have any other good tips feel free to let us know.

Get them while they’re hot, Sweet Maria is mixing up seasonal batches of Pumpkin Spice Biscotti from now through Thanksgiving.

Each of Maria’s yummy Pumpkin Biscotti  are topped with a luscious cinnamon sugar.

You can mix a dozen in with any assorted case of Sweet Maria’s.  You know you want one!