Coffee's On!

The turning back of the clocks by an hour always means we are heading into November. November means a number of things, depending on who you talk to: cold weather, dark nights, warm fires, and for anyone who works in retail, it signals the start of the busy holiday season.

It's at this time of year that we must remind ourselves to not get too carried away with the freneticism that often accompanies the season, but rather focus on the important things that really matter: family, friends and good times with the ones we love.

Sometimes when life gets busy, there's nothing better than taking a few minutes to sit down with a good cup of coffee. This month we celebrate coffee culture. We've provided a quick guide to coffee "lingo" so that you feel right at home when you visit your neighbourhood cafe, as well as a few of our favourite recipes to enjoy with your next cup of coffee. We've got lots of coffee and espresso machines in stock, to bring that cafe feeling into your own home, as well as a great selection of coffee blends and accessories.

Looking forward to seeing you this holiday season and sharing a cup of coffee with all of our friends! Coffee's on!

Warmest regards

Culinary Events & Cooking Classes

Friday, November 20th
Downtown Orangeville's Moonlight Magic Celebration - store open until 10pm.
Join us for samplings by Fat Boys BBQ and a hot beverage, with donations to the Orangeville SPCA.

Saturday, November 21st
Beginning at 5:30 pm
Downtown Orangeville's Santa Claus parade

Thursday, November 26th
5:00pm to 8:00pm
Zwilling J.A. Henckels knife sharpening clinic

Saturday, November 28th
11:00am to 3:00 pm
In-store demonstration showcasing Saeco's espresso machines.

January 16th, 2010
2:00 pm -- The Millcroft Inn & Spa
The Millcroft Inn’s Executive Chef Roberto Fracchione will be demonstrating Staub Cookware at the Millcroft Inn Culinary class. Meet the Vice- President of Staub and receive special pricing and vouchers!

Details >

Did You Know?

• Canadian coffee drinkers drink an average of 2.6 cups of coffee per day.
• According to the Coffee Association of Canada, 20% of Canadians drink their coffee black, 7% with sugar only, 33% with cream or milk only, and 40% drink their coffee with both dairy and a sweetener.
• Daily consumption of coffee varies across Canada, with a high of 70% in Quebec, to a low of 53% in Atlantic Canada.
• Approximately 60% of adults in Ontario, 67% in the Prairies and 61% in BC drink coffee on a daily basis.
• The first Parisian cafe opened in 1689 to serve coffee.
• The first espresso machine was created as a prototype in France in 1822.
• The first commercial espresso machine was manufactured in Italy in 1906.
• In Greece and Turkey, it is considered proper etiquette to serve coffee to the oldest person at the table first.
• Raw coffee beans soaked in water and spices are eaten like candy in many parts of Africa.
• A coffee klatch (or klatsch) is a casual social gathering for coffee and conversation.

Talea Espresso Makers from Saeco

The Talea line of espresso makers from Saeco allow you to make cafe quality espresso coffee in your own kitchen. The sleek, contemporary styling, space saving design and ease of operation takes all the work out of brewing a perfect cup of espresso. The adjustable serving options allow you to pick the type of beverage you want to brew (coffee, espresso, long coffee), the intensity of the coffee, your preferred cup size, the fineness of the coffee grind, the temperature, and even the height of the drip tray (to accommodate mugs of various sizes).

The steam function and frothing wand dispense the perfect supply of steam through the swiveling spout -- great for preparing cappuccinos, lattes and other milk based beverages, or press the hot water button and the wand dispenses heated water for tea and other hot beverages.

Saeco Talea Espresso Makers -- from $1400.00 each

Nescafe Dolce Gusto from Krups

It has never been easier to produce a high-quality, coffeehouse calibre drink experience in the convenience of your own home. No muss, no fuss -- everything you need to make hot or cold drinks are contained in the easy-to-use capsules.

Featuring the exclusive Krups Thermoblock technology that heats the water fresh every time, in less than one minute.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto - $199.99

Keurig One Cup Coffee Brewer

The Keurig one-cup coffee brewer allows you to brew a fresh cup of your favourite hot beverage, one cup at a time, in less than one minute.

No grinding, no measuring, and no mess! With the push of a button you can enjoy a wide variety of Timothy's coffees and teas (including herbal and chai teas) any time of the day or night.

Keurig B60 Brewer - $159.99

Enjoy your favourite beverage - one cup at a time!

The Keurig single-cup brewing system uses a special package for coffee, tea and hot cocoa called K-Cup portion packs. Each KCup is an airtight, mini-brewer that locks out oxygen, light, moisture and humidity while locking in freshness and flavour. From the Kitchen to the Table carries a full line of K-Cup varieties at competitive prices.

Boxes of 24 K-Cups starting at $16.49/box

A Guide to Coffee Lingo

Cappuccino consists of equal parts espresso, steamed milk and milk froth. Can be garnished with spices or powdered cocoa.

Dry Cappuccino is a cappuccino with a small amount of milk and no steamed milk. Cafe Latte is a single shot of espresso with steamed milk (there is no frothed milk in a cafe latte). Traditional ration is 3 parts milk to 1 part coffee.

Cafe au Lait is similar to a Cafe Latte except it is made with brewed coffee instead of espresso, generally in a ratio of 1 part milk to 1 part coffee.

Mocha is a latte with chocolate syrup added (also called Cafe Mocha).

Americano is a single shot of espresso with 6-8 ounces of hot water added. Cafe Macchiato is a shot of espresso topped with steamed milk, of a velvety smooth texture. Ratio is approximately 80/20.

Espresso is a highly concentrated coffee that is brewed by forcing very hot (but not boiling) water under high pressure through a coffee that has been ground to a very fine consistency. Because of the high concentration of coffee, espresso is usually measured out in small shots, rather than large cups.

Try some of our favourite baked goods -- perfect with your next cup of coffee!

Some of the finest coffee you’ll ever taste!

Ashanti Coffee is grown in the beautifully rich red soils of Zimbabwe. The coffee cultivars have been chosen for the quality of beans, the ‘cup’ they produce, and last but not least for their vigour. Ashanti coffee is roasted in Thornbury, Ontario to ensure freshness and quality.

$6.99 (1/2 pound) or $13.99 (1 pound)

Coffee & espresso made easy!

Create your own coffee bar at home with recipes for over 30 different coffee drinks, including cappuccino, latte and macchiato. This handy book also provides tips on how to foam your own milk, and recipes for homemade syrups and other sweet treats to accompany your coffee drinks.

$10.95 each

When you’re on the go -- we have coffee to go!

This classic travel mug by Trudeau is strong and functional and perfect for a mug of coffee, tea or hot chocolate on the go! Guaranteed leak-proof, the “perfect drink” lid allows you to drink from anywhere on the rim. The double-wall insulation provides for 2 hours of heat retention. 5 year warranty.

Holds 16 ounces. $28.95 each