For Foodservice Success

Sophisticated customers are demanding a better cup of coffee, and smart foodservice managers know that great coffee means more customer satisfaction, more traffic, more sales and more profits. CDN, the Time and Temperature Company®, offers these tips on preparing the ultimate in coffee and espresso-based drinks:

  • Always use fresh, filtered water.
  • Always use fresh, whole bean coffee. Coffee is perishable: use within two weeks of roast date.
  • Store coffee beans in an air-tight container away from heat, light and moisture. No freezer or refrigerator.
  • Grind just before brewing – a timer will help you create the perfect grind.
  • Make certain brewing water temperature is between 198-202° F. Frequently check water temperature as it comes out of the brew head. Brewing at too low a temperature results in a weak tasting coffee.
  • In espresso, timing indicates to a barista if the dose, tamp, grind and extraction are proper, or if adjustment is necessary.
  • Use an infrared thermometer to check water brew temperature in hard to reach places such as brew stream from espresso machine group head.
  • Use a high-precision thermometer to ensure that milk temperature is consistent when steaming or frothing. Too hot and the milk loses its natural sweetness. Too cool and customers won’t experience the desired thick, velvety texture of properly steamed and foamed milk.
  • Milk steaming is critical for superb latte art and making delicious cappuccinos and caffe mochas. Unless barista are using thermometers, consistency is hard to achieve.
  • Select a frothing thermometer with a large dial for easy monitoring.
  • Timers can be used to monitor drink preparation, extraction times, customer service time and delivery time.
  • Proper brew time ensures ideal extraction time for espresso and brewed coffee. Brewing coffee too quickly results in under-extracted coffee, and brewing too slow results in a bitter taste.
  • When monitoring drip coffee, begin timing as soon as brewing is activated. Even though you may not see the coffee drip yet, water begins to infuse the grounds, so the brewing process has begun.
  • Serve customers fresh coffee. Experts recommend serving drip brewed within 30 minutes of brewing and espresso within 10 seconds of brewing. After 10 seconds, the crema on espresso begins to dissipate.
  • Use a clip-on, count-down freshness timer to ensure that drip brewed coffee is served within your freshness window.

The art of coffee requires professional-grade timers and thermometers for the ultimate in taste and aroma. From crop to cup, brew your best using CDN thermometers and timers to ensure quality in consistency in every brew.