Sit back and relax with your favourite beverage!

I love the month of May. I love watching the flowers as they emerge from hibernation after a long and cold winter, and I love the opportunity to thank my mother for everything she has done for me over the course of my life!

And 10 years ago, it was also the month that I ventured out of the corporate world and into the world of retail! The last 10 years have been a tremendous adventure. I have met so many wonderful friends and customers over the years, have had the opportunity to work with terrific colleagues and suppliers who helped me along the way, and I feel I have truly become part of this wonderful community -- the place I not only work, but call home!

As I celebrate this business milestone, I welcome you to drop by the store from May 8th to May 10th and take advantage of storewide anniversary specials, and I encourage you to take some time to smell the flowers -- enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or espresso, spend some time with your mother, and have a look at some of the great Kitchen Toys and products we are showcasing in this issue.

With my humblest appreciation for your support and friendship during these past 10 years, I remain,

Coffee Facts

The “coffee break” was said to have originated in the late 1800s in Stoughton, Wisconsin by the wives of Norwegian immigrants.

Coffee is the world’s second most popular beverage (water is #1), with over 400 billion cups consumed annually.

The term “coffee break” was introduced by the Pan American Coffee Bureau in 1952, as part of an ad campaign urging consumers to “give yourself a coffee break...and get what coffee gives you.”

Tea Time Trivia

• According to Emily Post “if the tea is of any size from 20 upwards, the table is set in the dining room and two intimate friends of the hostess pour tea at one end, and chocolate at the other”.
• A tea pot should be placed on the table with the spout of the teapot facing the hostess or pourer.
• The correct way to eat a scone is to break off bite-size pieces, then spread it with a small amount of jam or butter. If Devonshire or clotted cream is served, dab onto your scone after the jam.
• Sugar cubes are the preferred way to serve sugar; if using granulated sugar, be certain not to use the serving spoon to stir the tea in your cup.
• When serving tea with lemon use lemon slices NOT wedges. Never add lemon with milk since the citric acid from the lemon will cause the milk to curdle.
• A proper teacup is traditionally 3.25”- 3.75” in diameter, 2” - 2.5” deep, and is properly served three-quarters full.

Krups Espresso Makers

Building on a 160-year tradition of excellence, Krups blends flawless performance, distinctive design and easy-to-use features in a remarkable range of coffee and espresso-cappuccino machines and accessories.

I was thrilled to be invited to the Canadian unveiling of the brand new Krups Espresseria line of espresso machines. These machines are truly works of art, and take espresso brewing to a whole new level!

Making a great cup of coffee or espresso involves using the finest roasted beans, the ideal grind, pure-filtered water and the right combination of heat and pressure for your preferred brewing method. The result: a perfect cup of traditional drip coffee or a perfect café-quality espresso, which in turn can be used to make a perfect cappuccino or latté. Krups intelligently designed, precision-engineered machines make the process seamless.

Introducing the new Krups Espresseria XP7230

The new Krups Espresseria Automatic machines offer push-button access to barista-quality espresso in your own kitchen! The moment you place fresh beans in the built-in burr grinder, innovative Krups technology is at your command -- from the water purification system to the exclusive Thermoblock technology which ensures each cup is brewed at an ideal 92°C.

For the connoisseur, the exceptional styling, design and engineering of the Espresseria Automatic series epitomizes beauty, simplicity and perfection!

Our best-selling Krups Espresso Machine - XP4050

The Krups XP4050 is one of our most popular selling espresso machines. Perfect for making quality espresso, cappuccino and latté, it features a Thermoblock heating element to ensure optimal temperature and pressure for perfect espresso extraction, a removable stainless steel drip tray, convenient built-in storage for filter accessories, and a 32- ounce removable water tank.

Easy push button programming allows you to customize size and strength of espresso and control steam and hot water functions. The patented auto-cappuccino system allows for foolproof frothing of milk, and the filter holder features 3 interchangeable premeasured inserts that hold a single, double or ESE pod.

Krups XP4050 - $299.99 each