Upper Midwest Gourmet

Heard the latest? Seems like the “Big Guys” are slugging it out to see who can stay on top by offering “low priced” coffee (i.e. Starbucks bottom-less 8 ounce $1.00 cup of coffee testing), or calling there new coffee offerings “Premium Blends” (i.e. McDonald’s Dark Roast). Now even major Donut chains are jumping in the mix. Who next, Mercedes Benz? 

Come on now! Do they really think that the “True” coffee enthusiast is that unintelligent? Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with getting a cup of coffee out of sheer convenience, but when you truly need a GOOD cup of coffee, who better to trust then your locally owned independent coffee shop?

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Upper Midwest Gourmet and Flamenco Organic Coffee Company would like to congratulate the following cafes for receiving the “Golden Cup Award,” which is a certificate of coffee brewing excellence!

• Flamenco Organic Coffee Co. – Minneapolis, MN
• Mae B / MaeBean Coffeehouse – Hartley, IA
• Munkabeans & Sunshine Cafe – Hopkins, MN
• Sisters Sludge – Minneapolis, MN
• Velvet Bean – Hinkley, MN (Inside Grand Casino) 
• Zoomski’s Coffee Shop - Little Falls, MN

These cafes have a commitment to quality and proven their ability to brew coffee according to the standards prescribed by The Specialty Coffee Association of America.

Please visit these cafes for an amazing coffee experience!

Please Contact Us if you would like your cafe to be “Golden Cup Certified.”

Congratulations to Gloria and her staff at Zoomski’s Coffee Shop in Little Falls, MN for receiving the “Golden Cup Award,” a certificate awarded for coffee brewing excellence by the SCAA!

Please check out the most recent ad in their local paper announcing their award.

Please visit Zoomski’s to experience excellent coffee and Contact Us if you would like to learn how your cafe can get “Golden Cup Certified!”

Well, it’s tax season and time to turn the 2007 displays. We have batch freezers,  blast freezers, pastry displays and gelato displays that we are offering at unbeatable prices. One batch freezer is our demo machine and everything else is brand new and haven’t even had power cords put on them yet. This will be the lowest price offers we’ve ever done on showroom displays so if you’re interested, please give me a call and I’ll quote you a price. I can’t list the prices here but if you wanted to get into gelato or upgrade your current equipment, this is all on a first come first serve basis, once the showroom pieces are gone, everything is back at new to order pricing. You will never ever get new equipment at this price again so don’t wait too long. Cheers, David Showroom Equipment:

1 SLM 8 pan unit is also available with broken glass side panel. If you want to repair the glass you can get an amazing deal on this new display. (remember, be reasonable, you’ll save thousands of dollars on these pieces but we’re not selling them below cost a starter gelato setup will still run between 15 – 25k depending on what you pick)

Happy New Year!

Check out our newest Brewsletter!

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 from all of us!

Another interesting article about Starbucks.  For those of you who haven’t heard, Howard Schultz is back to try and save the franchise.  I’ve been telling people for the past few years, “by adding super automatic espresso machines Starbucks conceded to serving a consistent but mediocre product and opened the door to inexpensive chains like McDonalds and Dunkin Doughnuts” and Schultz re-affirmed my position in his first press release on why he’s returning. 

Click the link for the full story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22544023/

Closing a few stores will be a big wake up call but hopefully in the long run they do survive.  Starbucks is still an important cog in the Specialty Coffee Industry.  If you missed my blog about Starbucks being your neighbor a few weeks ago, please scan back and have a look.

Cheers,

David

This is a quick reminder for those that have tried ordering Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares, Marich Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans, or any of our other chocolate confections that we offer and was told, “due to heat and the the chance of product melting that it is too risky to ship.”

Now is your time to order!

It is definately a great time to stock up on your chocolate confections without worrying about them being ruined/melted in shipping.

Please Contact Us or Order Yours today!

Hi Coffee Lovers.  It’s about 3 degrees outside with a -15 wind-chill!!! Brrrrrr.  I wanted to take a quick moment to thank you all for your business over the last 15 years.  Without you I wouldn’t be sitting here sipping a delicious hot mug of Organic Coffee.  I hope you all had a fantastic 2007 and that 2008 will be even better. Here is a link to and interesting article about why the small independent coffee shop shouldn’t fear, but should embrace Starbucks.  I hope you all take something positive from it that you can use in the years to come. http://www.slate.com/id/2180301 

Thanks again for all your support.  All of us here wish you a very Happy, safe and healthy New Year! 

Cheers,  David and the Beanheads