It’s Not About the Coffee (reposted from 10.23.2008)

On many previous occassions, I have written about my love for not only coffee, but for the written word – I love reading books.  While I fully use the internet for just about everything possible, I still buy books – that’s right…I still buy books…off Amazon.com and have them delivered to my office.  I so look forward to receiving that brown cardboard box with it’s treasures, I can hardly wait to open it and begin reading my latest purchases.

As a real estate trainer and instructor, I am in front of rooms of real estate agents, many of them under a lot of pressure today to keep their business running during tough economic times.  I congratulate them for taking the time “on their own dime” to get better educated and prepare themselves for today’s market. I also take the opportunity to share with them my latest reading treasure(s) – I bring along a copy of my book for them to peruse on their breaks, but more importantly, I call their attention to how this particular book offers insights that transcend to their business.

I am delighted with the response to my latest “treasure” – Howard Behar’s It’s Not About the Coffee – 10 Principles of  Personal Leadership from a Life at Starbucks.  These 10 principles apply to us all and judging from the feedback from some of my students, is very relevant to our real estate business or any business for that matter. Do yourself a big favor, get a copy of this treasure for yourself.

Caffeine Trivia 04.27.13

“Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love.” – Turkish proverbs

Caffeine Trivia 04.26.13

Coffee history moves to Europe: European travellers to the Near East brought back stories of the unusual dark black beverage. By the 17th century, coffee had made its way to Europe and was becoming popular across the continent. Opponents were overly cautious, calling the beverage the ‘bitter invention of Satan.’ With the coming of coffee to Venice in 1615, the local clergy condemned it. The controversy was so great that Pope Clement VIII was asked to intervene. Before making a decision however, he decided to taste the beverage for himself. He found the drink so satisfying that he gave it Papal approval.

Despite such controversy, in the major cities of England, Austria, France, Germany and Holland, coffee houses were quickly becoming centers of social activity and communication. In England ‘penny universities’ sprang up, so called because for the price of a penny one could purchase a cup of coffee and engage in stimulating conversation.  By the mid-17th century, there were over 300 coffee houses in London, many of which attracted patrons with common interests, such as merchants, shippers, brokers and artists.

Many businesses grew out of these specialized coffee houses. Lloyd’s of London, for example, came into existence at the Edward Lloyd’s Coffee House.

Source: National Coffee Association of USA

Caffeine Trivia 4.24.13

Baby’s “Death By Coffee”

Do you crave coffee or its eye-opening aroma? Either way, I’ve got the coffee bean supreme pleasure palace for you! I personally love both by trying creative combos and couldn’t imagine getting my morning started without savoring the flavor of every tantalizing drop.

Baby’s Coffee Key West is an icon and God-given birthright to all naturalized Conchs and residents of the Florida Keys. The aromatic aroma alone as you walk  through the door is reason enough to pull into the parking lot! This is NOT a Starbucks with wireless internet and their own CD rack of piano & violin concertos… although there are a few tables to sit as you sip some morning joe or lathered latte grande.

Do your nose a flavor… sorry, I meant favor (or did I)  and browse through row-after-row of bagged beans letting your nostrils take in each and every potent filled packet. Just as amusing are the names given to each of the aromatic packets of your morning must-haves. The most ingenious by far is the lethal combo called “Death By Coffee” as seen below being sniffed by my brother’s  ‘Queen of the Bean’ coffee Contessa.

So when that morning mocha madness hits you, remember, I’ve got your cure. You can find this java juggernaut of the Florida Keys at Mile Marker 14.9 on US-1 South. I promise your nose will thank you!

       This post from Shoestring Weekends post

Wow – That’s a Lotta Joe!

Just read an article: Industry experts credit a handful of diverse factors driving coffee’s escalating popularity. The most cited is the growth in hot-selling home-brewing gadgets, with single-serve coffee makers leading the pack. Other strong factors: gourmet offerings, coffeehouses with hip appeal and health benefits.

Experts credit coffee’s new-found image as healthy for driving up sales. Coffee, caffeinated or decaffeinated, may help extend the lives of people who drink it daily, according to researchers at the National Cancer Institute.

Men who drank two to three cups a day had a 10 percent chance of outliving those who drank no coffee, while women had a 13 percent advantage, according to the 2012 study.

Source: USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/09/coffee-mania/2069335/

 

Caffeine Trivia 4.22.13

Thank you Starbucks ~ Happy Earth Day 2013!

Caffeine Trivia 4.21.13

Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 20,891 stores in 62 countries, including 13,279 in the United States, 1,324 in Canada, 989 in Japan, 851 in China, 806 in the United Kingdom, 556 in South Korea, 377 in Mexico, 291 in Taiwan, 206 in the Philippines, 171 in Thailand and 10 in India.

In 2007, the company opened its first store in Russia, ten years after first registering a trademark there.  On January 3, 2013, Starbucks announced it would open a store in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in February 2013.

Caffeine Trivia 4.20,13

6 years ago today…6 years ago today not only did I climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower – I had, what remains to this day, THE best cup of coffee that I have ever drank…anywhere in the world.  viva la différence!

I Love Paris in the Springtime

Good morning readers of The Caffeine Chronicles ~ In honor of a very special day tomorrow, April 20th I am republishing my very first blog post: I Love Paris in the Springtime.  April 20th 2007 was the day that I drank THE best cup of coffee I have ever had in my life…it’s remains the best cup of coffee ever.  April 20th 2007 was also the day that I realized one of my personal dreams: the climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower! I hope you will take a step back in time and indulge me with a reprint of my very first blog…first blog of any kind!

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When I told my friend Henry about my new blog, Caffeine Chronicles, and how bad the coffee was in Spain….he immediately responded that’s why I loved Paris so much.  You guessed it, the best coffee I’ve ever had was in Paris…everywhere in Paris. 

They have something very similar to cafe con leche…they call it Cafe Creme…but to the tenth power.  My first introduction to Cafe Creme’s taste and kick came very shortly after arriving in Paris on the morning of April 20th, 2007.  Yes, I remember the date.

I was on a business trip to Paris – participating in an incredible real estate expo.  Lynda and I were on the same flight from Miami (this is same Lynda that referred me to the Preciosos Hotel in Madrid with the Starbucks down the street) and she agreed to go with me to the Eiffel Tower before we started to work at the expo the next day.  It was great to have Lynda go with me because she speaks French…I do not…and she’s been to Paris before.You see, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower is one of the things on my list of 50 things I have to see or do before I die.  I composed my list of 50 when I turned 50.  In fact, three things on my list were accomplished during my trip to Paris (more on that later).

It was cold…very, very cold standing in line with all the other tourists waiting to buy a ticket.  My decision was to buy a ticket to go to all three levels, culminating at the top.  This was huge, considering I have a fear of heights.  My heart raced all the way to the first level, but I stayed on the lift.  My heart never beat harder going to the second level platform.  There we had to get off, walk up two flights of stairs (metal grating) and get into a small elevator that would take us to the top….a glass elevator.  I did not know that a person could survive when their heart and stomach relocate to their throat.

It was worth it!  What an absolutely incredible 360 degree view of Paris.  I can honestly say, it took my breath away, not from fear, but from the sheer beauty of this city.  There was also a bonus…a coffee shop at the top.  I had my “first” cafe creme and unbelievable pastry called a pan du chocolate (pardon my spelling).  The coffee was fabulous, rich, dark and very strong with the sweetest tasting milk that I’ve had.  I was hooked.

Only one other of my fears needed to be overcome that day while I was conquering my fear of heights, very nicely, thank you very much – my fear of birds.  There were pigeons everywhere and they were bold.  They are used to being fed by vistors to the top and they approach you.  I’m talking right up to your feet.  I had to throw small bits of my pan du chocolate some distance away from me just to get them away, far away from me.  But these were smart pigeons, they saw the hand that was feeding them and demanded more.  Sorry, but my fear stems from a flock of pigeons that desended upon me at a young age at Miami’s Bayfront Park…..just like the movie “The Birds”.

Needless to say, it was one item on my list of 50 that exceeded my expectations.  It also had that bonus…my first Cafe Creme.

Later…..

Caffeine Trivia 04.13.13

The rarest coffee in the world is Jamaica Blue Mountain. That particular coffee is sold in only a few stores in the United States. Only 800 bags, or 100,000 pounds, are produced each year.