In the planning for Kaffeine, I came across a book called 'Wake up and smell the Profit, 52 ways to maximise profit in your cafe business', by Hugh Gilmartin and Johnnie Richardson.
In that book, one of the things they listed was the importance of the five human senses. Taste, feel, sight, sound and hearing and how important it was that all of these five senses or addressed equally in a cafe. It struck me as a very valid and important point, and it is certainly something that we try very hard to achieve at Kaffeine.
For example, music in cafe has been a topic on twitter this week. Our music policy is to have a good background beat of music that also has a happy vibe to it, that is not obtrusive, too loud or offensive, that just blends in with the natural conversation, though does not make people talk louder to make themselves heard.
We are very passionate about our music here, and we create 'daylists' that start off slow and easy (7:30 am) and build though the day finally slowing again around 5 pm. Proper DJ sets really, but we have to create them for a 12 hour day, for 7 days of the week. It is not easy to do.
We also keep everything spotlessy clean and visually appealing(sight), bake lovely treats like ANZACS and chocolate brownies (smell and taste) and have decor that has a good (feel) to it.
Perhaps we would have achieved it anyway, without knowing that we were. But also now, when I go into any other hospitality business, from cafe to five star hotel, I reflect and think, are all my senses being evenly matched? Because if they are not, then I guess that business is really not up to standard.
Oh yum, I just read the menu. Blueberry muffins. Be quick, they will not last long.
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Blueberry muffins 1.80
Courgette and cheese savoury muffins 1.80
Raspberry friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Italian roast ham with red currants, brie, basil and spinach
Smoked salmon with dill, aioli, red onion, capers and spinach
French retro baguettes 4.50
Plum tomatoes with puttanesca, bufala mozzarella and spinach
Red onion jam with cheese fondue and rocket
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Organic free range chicken with chilli, coconut, fish and lime dressing, coriander and rocket
Red camargue rice with kumara, chantenay carrots, basil and orange
Cucumber spaghetti with pesto
Tart £4.00 or £6.50 with salad
Polenta with grilled vegetables, avocado and goats cheese
Friday, 29 July 2011
Friday, 22 July 2011
Week beginning July 25th - Community and Independent shops
In the planning and research for this business, it never occurred to me exactly how much a part of the local community a cafe such as Kaffeine can be. I am really proud to be able to walk down the street and say hello to so many people who are our customers. I am also very proud of the fact that we are able to bring people together within the cafe, that we bring more people to the area and that we have been able to bring a higher standard of cafe to the area, something I hope is of value for our other local retail businesses and also our local residents.
Much research has been done, and proven, that a good cafe can be a very, very important part of the fabric of a local community, and in this day and age of chains and identikit high streets, a much valued one.
I am approached quite often by real estate agents who have been instructed by their landlords to find a good quality cafe for their area. They do not want S*bucks or C*sta, they want an independent, who is promoting quality and style and I guess, also of importance, to be able to contribute to the adhesive thread of the community.
They say, 'we want a good independent who will drive quality and service and improve the value of our estate'. Interesting. Is it finally now that perhaps we small independents have some sort of power over the big chains in negotiating a leasehold?
Now that is something to think about. Perhaps I should have a word to Mary Portas.
PS. its pay day this week, so that means lamingtons, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Bring it on.
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Red currant and apple muffins 1.80
Feta and spinach savoury muffins 1.80
Apricot and Chocolate friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lamingtons 2.50
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Pesto, tomato, bufala mozzerella and rocket
Chorizo, roast red peppers, red onion, spinach and goats cheese
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, sage butter, tomato and spinach
Red onion jam with cheese fondue and rocket
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Baby Gem with cherries, pecorino, fennel and a lemon dressing
Red camargue rice with kumara, chantenay carrots, basil and orange
Courgettes with tabasco butter
Much research has been done, and proven, that a good cafe can be a very, very important part of the fabric of a local community, and in this day and age of chains and identikit high streets, a much valued one.
I am approached quite often by real estate agents who have been instructed by their landlords to find a good quality cafe for their area. They do not want S*bucks or C*sta, they want an independent, who is promoting quality and style and I guess, also of importance, to be able to contribute to the adhesive thread of the community.
They say, 'we want a good independent who will drive quality and service and improve the value of our estate'. Interesting. Is it finally now that perhaps we small independents have some sort of power over the big chains in negotiating a leasehold?
Now that is something to think about. Perhaps I should have a word to Mary Portas.
PS. its pay day this week, so that means lamingtons, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Bring it on.
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Red currant and apple muffins 1.80
Feta and spinach savoury muffins 1.80
Apricot and Chocolate friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lamingtons 2.50
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Pesto, tomato, bufala mozzerella and rocket
Chorizo, roast red peppers, red onion, spinach and goats cheese
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, sage butter, tomato and spinach
Red onion jam with cheese fondue and rocket
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Baby Gem with cherries, pecorino, fennel and a lemon dressing
Red camargue rice with kumara, chantenay carrots, basil and orange
Courgettes with tabasco butter
Monday, 18 July 2011
Week Beginning July 18th - One Tree Coffee
As you may know already, before Kaffeine, I worked at Lord's Cricket Ground, spending 3 and a half years there looking after all the casual catering staff.
This year we are back again, and this week in particular is the big one, the second Test, against one of the great all time teams with the most passionate and religious of supporters, India.
We are very lucky to have been invited back to help with their coffee offer this year and we are located in the premium outdoor dining area of the Harris gardens, just up the main driveway from the Grace gate entrance. However, it is open to the public, so anyone is welcome to come in and our prices are the same as Kaffeine.
We are known as One Tree Coffee, in reference to the one coffee tree that survived the trip from France to Martinique back in the 1800's.
We will be using Square Mile espresso on a la Marzocco Linea 2 group, but most exciting is that we will also be doing filter coffee, again with SQM, grinding our coffee fresh before extracting a maximum of 10 litres at a time through the Bunn boilers.
This especially is where we are getting a difference in the quality of the coffee compared to the bars and function areas where the MCC use Kenco pre ground. It really shows that with a bit of effort and understanding, the coffee offer can be so much better.
And it is this small step that I hope will soon be pushed across the ground, and even more so, that coffee fresh ground and put through a filter, whether it be a one cup V60 or a 10 litre boiler, can be really, really tasty.
Part of the reason we are at the ground is because they have listened to their customers, the members and the public, who have been demanding better quality coffee and now they have done something about it.
I only hope that more and more places and people will start to discover not just quality espresso, but quality filter as well.
Better quality coffee, demand it and it will come.
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Blueberry muffins 1.80
Kumara and Sweet Corn savoury muffins 1.80
Apricot and Chocolate friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Smoked salmon with dill, spinach, red onion and aioli
Welsh rarebit, mushroom and spinach
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, dijon, gherkin and rocket
Aubergine with sweet chilli, goats cheese and spinach
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Baby Gem with cherries, pecorino, fennel and a lemon dressing
Samphire with prawns, rocket, broad beans and pickle ginger
Broccoli with oyster sauce and chilli
Tart
4.00 or 6.50 with salad
Roasted red peppers with goats cheese and basil
This year we are back again, and this week in particular is the big one, the second Test, against one of the great all time teams with the most passionate and religious of supporters, India.
We are very lucky to have been invited back to help with their coffee offer this year and we are located in the premium outdoor dining area of the Harris gardens, just up the main driveway from the Grace gate entrance. However, it is open to the public, so anyone is welcome to come in and our prices are the same as Kaffeine.
We are known as One Tree Coffee, in reference to the one coffee tree that survived the trip from France to Martinique back in the 1800's.
We will be using Square Mile espresso on a la Marzocco Linea 2 group, but most exciting is that we will also be doing filter coffee, again with SQM, grinding our coffee fresh before extracting a maximum of 10 litres at a time through the Bunn boilers.
This especially is where we are getting a difference in the quality of the coffee compared to the bars and function areas where the MCC use Kenco pre ground. It really shows that with a bit of effort and understanding, the coffee offer can be so much better.
And it is this small step that I hope will soon be pushed across the ground, and even more so, that coffee fresh ground and put through a filter, whether it be a one cup V60 or a 10 litre boiler, can be really, really tasty.
Part of the reason we are at the ground is because they have listened to their customers, the members and the public, who have been demanding better quality coffee and now they have done something about it.
I only hope that more and more places and people will start to discover not just quality espresso, but quality filter as well.
Better quality coffee, demand it and it will come.
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Blueberry muffins 1.80
Kumara and Sweet Corn savoury muffins 1.80
Apricot and Chocolate friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Smoked salmon with dill, spinach, red onion and aioli
Welsh rarebit, mushroom and spinach
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, dijon, gherkin and rocket
Aubergine with sweet chilli, goats cheese and spinach
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Baby Gem with cherries, pecorino, fennel and a lemon dressing
Samphire with prawns, rocket, broad beans and pickle ginger
Broccoli with oyster sauce and chilli
Tart
4.00 or 6.50 with salad
Roasted red peppers with goats cheese and basil
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Week beginning - July 11th - Sunday's
Sundays for me have always been special. Sundays have always been the more fun, casual outings, no pretensions, while Saturdays were all about swanning about looking your best and dressing up. Not for me thank you.
In the 80's, it was all about going to the pub and having large quantities of alcohol and usually, because of hospitality hours, being able to stay out all hours as well.
In the 90's it was all about daytime clubbing. Anyone reading this who has been clubbing all day Sunday will understand, if you ever went to Sunnyside Up from 95 to 98, please say hello. Oh, and working in hospitality hours helped too!.
These days, especially in Winter, it is about Sunday roasts and a few bottle of wine. Friends, Mrs K and now baby Layla, perfect.
The other good thing? Especially in Australia and new Zealand and now more than ever, in the UK. Brunch, the papers and great coffee in a wonderful cafe where service and hospitality is the key.
Good thing then that Kaffeine, along with a growing number of other great cafes, are open on Sundays. We have now been open for about six weeks on a Sunday and while it is the quietest day of our week, it is becoming more well known.
We hope to see you in soon.
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Mountain Peach muffins 1.80
Four Cheese savoury muffins 1.80
Apricot and Chocolate friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Apricots with brie, spinach and pancetta
Welsh rarebit, mushroom and spinach
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, apple butter, gherkin and spinach
Bufala mozzarella with tomato, salsa verde and rocket
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Roast aubergine with honey mustard
Chicory, orange dates, manchego cheese, coriander
Chicken with chilli coconut, mango, coriander, baby spinach and lime and fish sauce dressing
Tart
4.00 or 6.50 with salad
Potato gratin with rosemary and garlic and mozzarella
In the 80's, it was all about going to the pub and having large quantities of alcohol and usually, because of hospitality hours, being able to stay out all hours as well.
In the 90's it was all about daytime clubbing. Anyone reading this who has been clubbing all day Sunday will understand, if you ever went to Sunnyside Up from 95 to 98, please say hello. Oh, and working in hospitality hours helped too!.
These days, especially in Winter, it is about Sunday roasts and a few bottle of wine. Friends, Mrs K and now baby Layla, perfect.
The other good thing? Especially in Australia and new Zealand and now more than ever, in the UK. Brunch, the papers and great coffee in a wonderful cafe where service and hospitality is the key.
Good thing then that Kaffeine, along with a growing number of other great cafes, are open on Sundays. We have now been open for about six weeks on a Sunday and while it is the quietest day of our week, it is becoming more well known.
We hope to see you in soon.
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Mountain Peach muffins 1.80
Four Cheese savoury muffins 1.80
Apricot and Chocolate friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Apricots with brie, spinach and pancetta
Welsh rarebit, mushroom and spinach
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, apple butter, gherkin and spinach
Bufala mozzarella with tomato, salsa verde and rocket
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Roast aubergine with honey mustard
Chicory, orange dates, manchego cheese, coriander
Chicken with chilli coconut, mango, coriander, baby spinach and lime and fish sauce dressing
Tart
4.00 or 6.50 with salad
Potato gratin with rosemary and garlic and mozzarella
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Week beginning July 4th - 2 Years ago
So it was, that two years ago this week, the builders started on Kaffeine. It had taken six months just to get the keys to number 66, as the leaseholder was still paying rent even though it was unoccupied, and now finally work had begun.
I was still employed by Marylebone Cricket Club but had given notice to finish on July 24th. We had just finished off the World Twenty/20 Cup in June and were about to go into the Ashes around July 15th.
So I would go to work at Lord's, and cycle down for architects or builders meetings on my lunch break or after work, while trying to organise equipment, staff, insurance and suppliers for the shop as well as the staffing for biggest Test Match in four years at the most famous cricket ground in the world.
Finally, on July 24th it was my last day and we opened Kaffeine a few weeks later on August 15th. It is safe to say, that I did not sleep for a week after leaving the comfort of a full time job.
And now look, here we are....
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Apricot muffins 1.80
Tomato, cheese and herb savoury muffins 1.80
Mango tea friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Apricots with brie, spinach and pancetta
Roast aubergine with goats cheese, sweet chilli and spinach
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, dijon, gherkin and spinach
Avocado, mozzarella, tomato, aioli and rocket
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Chicken adobo with camargue red rice
Roast kumara with pesto dressing
Green beans with peanuts, chilli, garlic and lemon
Tart
4.00 or 6.50 with salad
Courgette with cherry tomato, mozzarella and pancetta
I was still employed by Marylebone Cricket Club but had given notice to finish on July 24th. We had just finished off the World Twenty/20 Cup in June and were about to go into the Ashes around July 15th.
So I would go to work at Lord's, and cycle down for architects or builders meetings on my lunch break or after work, while trying to organise equipment, staff, insurance and suppliers for the shop as well as the staffing for biggest Test Match in four years at the most famous cricket ground in the world.
Finally, on July 24th it was my last day and we opened Kaffeine a few weeks later on August 15th. It is safe to say, that I did not sleep for a week after leaving the comfort of a full time job.
And now look, here we are....
Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00
Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70
Baked Treats
Apricot muffins 1.80
Tomato, cheese and herb savoury muffins 1.80
Mango tea friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60
Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Apricots with brie, spinach and pancetta
Roast aubergine with goats cheese, sweet chilli and spinach
French retro baguettes 4.50
Ham with gruyere, red onion, dijon, gherkin and spinach
Avocado, mozzarella, tomato, aioli and rocket
Salads £4.50/£5.50
Chicken adobo with camargue red rice
Roast kumara with pesto dressing
Green beans with peanuts, chilli, garlic and lemon
Tart
4.00 or 6.50 with salad
Courgette with cherry tomato, mozzarella and pancetta
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
