Getting Ready for Winter: Creating a Cafe Atmosphere

by Malcolm Stogo

coffee drinks for winterThe winter is the perfect time for developing a serious hot drink program wrapped around Cappucino, Affogato’s, and mocha drinks.

Why? Because it is very important to create an atmosphere where the business is not so dependent on a frozen dessert to carry the business year round.

But you can't do this midstream unless you do a lot of planning and marketing prior to its introduction. The best time to create a cafe atmosphere is in the beginning of a concept where you open your doors to the public with no preconceived notions of who you are. Part of a cafe atmosphere is the serving of coffee and cappuccino-style drinks. And there is no better way to begin than with ideas from the Fabbri North America.

FABBRI'S FANTASY IN CAFFE SYRUPS NEW IDEAS FOR COFFEE, CAPPUCCINO AND AFFOGATO
The market for flavored coffee and cappuccino started off around the mid 1990s with chains like Starbucks leading the way and creating the market. For years, they controlled every aspect of the market and it was impossible for independents to compete with them. This was especially true for an ice cream store that was located within 100 yards of a Starbucks. But times are changing. As Starbucks and others get bigger what is emerging is a gradual decline in quality because concepts like Starbucks are catering to the masses, not the individual. They no longer have the best espresso or cappuccino and their baked goods and sandwiches are poor in quality. Now, there is opportunity.

To succeed you must be very different and do it right with quality, price and excellent customer service. Hot coffee drinks can be successful only when it stems from a product culture. That means understanding the products you are using to flavor a coffee, and making sure it is done right. Too little lacks a punch in a drink and too much is simply a turn-off that will result in never having the customer order another drink from you. What is terrific about the Fabbri's Fantasy in Caffe syrups is that they are quite different from classic syrups. They are clear, not cloudy, are easily diluted and, most of all, are low in acidity, which helps to keep down coffee's natural acidity, and thus prevents milk, if added, to curdle.

Milk Foam
You cannot be in the coffee business unless you know how to create milk foam. There are two kinds of milk foam: warm (done with whole milk) and summer (done with cold skimmed milk).

Warm Milk Foam
Pour the whole milk in a small heating pot. Insert the steam dispenser nozzle askew, and dispense steam at maximum power. Inserting the nozzle askew gives the milk a rotating motion (bottom-up, as in milkshakes.) That way, the foam will slowly rise, the bubbles will be very tiny, and the texture of the foam will be firm and shiny. At the end of the process, bang the metal pot on the counter and half-rotate it with your wrist, so that the foam is perfectly homogeneous. If you want to flavor milk foam, pour in the Fabbri syrup (4-5 squirts per 100-ml whole milk).

Summer Milk Foam (cold)
Pour the skim milk into a milkshake blender. If the milk is not completely cold, you can add a couple of ice cubes. Whip the milk with the milkshake whisk, keeping moderate speed. You will achieve a simply great result. If you want to flavor milk foam, pour the Fabbri syrup (4-5 squirts per 100-ml whole milk) directly into the milkshake blender before mixing.

FABBRI'S SIX SYRUP FLAVORS
The line is broken down into three groups: intense, universal, and fancy:

Intense: Presence is felt, even when used in a small dose.

  • Amaretto, Coconut, Chocolate Mint

Universal: Presence is delicate, and it allows a rounding of the taste. They can also be used in combination with other flavors.

  • Hazelnut, Vanilla

Fancy: Aimed specially at creating an alcoholic-free kind of what a classic specialty drink is.

  • Irish Cream

How to Flavor: Regardless of the syrup you use, dosing the product appropriately is essential for perfect flavoring. With Fabbri's line, the following dosing is essential:

  • 1 squirt: espresso (1 coffee spoon)
  • 2 -3 squirts: cappuccino or milk with coffee
  • 3 squirts: iced coffee
     

MOCHA AFFOGATO
Affogato in Italian means "drowned." Simply, an Affogato is a cup of gelato served in a tall glass and topped with espresso or coffee.

Ingredients

  • Vanilla Gelato- 4 ounces
  • Espresso or coffee- 8 ounces
  • Chocolate syrup- 1 ounce
  • Cocoa- 1 teaspoon
  • Hot fudge- 2 ounces
  • Whipped cream

Supplies: Tall soda cup (16 ounces), Soda spoon, Straw, Napkin

Follow these steps to make a perfect Affogato

  • Get cup and espresso or coffee
  • Pour 10 ounces of espresso or coffee into cup
  • Add syrup and cocoa and stir
  • Gently place a 4 ounce scoop of vanilla gelato into the cup
  • Add the hot fudge
  • Scoop 1 ounce "cap," and place it on the edge of the cup
  • Add whipped cream onto center of cup
  • Serve your customer, with a smile (include napkin)
     

CHOCOLATE AMARETTO AFFOGATO

Ingredients

  • Vanilla or Amaretto Gelato- 4 ounces
  • Espresso or coffee- 6 ounces
  • Amaretto syrup- 2 ounce
  • Chocolate syrup- 1ounce
  • Cocoa- 1 teaspoon
  • Hot fudge- 1 ounce
  • Whipped cream

Supplies: Tall soda cup- 16 ounces, Soda spoon, Straw, Napkin

Follow these steps to make a perfect Affogato

  • Get cup and espresso or coffee
  • Pour 10 ounces of espresso or coffee into cup
  • Add Amaretto, Chocolate syrup, and cocoa and stir
  • Gently place a 4 ounce scoop of vanilla gelato into the cup
  • Add the hot fudge
  • Scoop 1 ounce "cap," and place it on the edge of the cup
  • Add whipped cream onto center of cup
  • Serve your customer, with a smile (include napkin)
     

OREO LATTE AFFOGATO
A cold latte with the taste of Oreo cookie. The hot fudge sauce smoothes out the flavor for a hint of mocha.

Ingredients

  • Vanilla Gelato- 4 ounces
  • Espresso or coffee- 6 ounces
  • 2 ounces crumbled Oreo cookies
  • Hot fudge- 2 ounces
  • Whipped cream

Supplies: Tall soda cup (16 ounces), Soda spoon, Straw, Napkin

Follow these steps to make a perfect Affogato

  • Get cup and espresso or coffee
  • Pour 10 ounces of espresso or coffee into cup
  • Gently place a 4 ounce scoop of vanilla gelato into the cup
  • Add the hot fudge
  • Add the Oreo cookies
  • Scoop 1 ounce "cap," and place it on the edge of the cup
  • Add whipped cream onto center of cup
  • Serve your customer, with a smile (include napkin).
     

CINNAMON ESPRESSO AFFOGATO
A cold latte with the taste of Oreo cookie. The hot fudge sauce smoothes out the flavor for a hint of mocha. Ingredients

  • Vanilla Gelato- 4 ounces
  • Espresso or coffee- 6 ounces
  • Orange zest- 1/2 teaspoon
  • Fabbri cinnamon syrup- 2 ounces
  • Whipped cream

Supplies: Tall soda cup (16 ounces), Soda spoon, Straw, Napkin

Follow these steps to make a perfect Affogato

  • Get cup and espresso or coffee
  • Pour 10 ounces of espresso or coffee into cup
  • Add the cinnamon syrup and stir
  • Gently place a 4 ounce scoop of vanilla gelato into the cup
  • Add the orange zest
  • Scoop 1 ounce "cap," and place it on the edge of the cup
  • Add whipped cream onto center of cup
  • Serve your customer, with a smile (include napkin)
     

ICED NOCCIOLA FRAPPE
Give your customers a choice. Great on the rocks or blended frozen

Ingredients

  • Espresso or coffee- 6 ounces
  • Fabbri Hazelnut syrup- 2 ounces
  • Ice- 2 ounces
  • Cocoa- 1 teaspoon
  • Crushed hazelnuts- 1 tablespoon
  • Cold milk foam (blended)

Supplies: Tall soda cup (16 ounces), Soda spoon, Straw, Napkin

Follow these steps to make a perfect Frappe

  • Get cup and espresso or coffee
  • Pour 6 ounces of espresso or coffee into cup
  • Add syrup and cocoa and stir
  • Add ice
  • Add cold milk foam
  • Serve your customer, with a smile (include napkin)
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