BPS® Blog » Posts by Author: Landon Christensen

Tea is a shapeshifter of beverages, seriously, what CAN’T tea do? It can be served hot or cold, with caffeine or without, at virtually anytime of day. Let’s not forget about the readily-available range of flavors, varieties, and blends of tea that you can find. Moving into the summer months, iced tea is starting to become more and more... Read More ⇒

Please meet this week’s Featured Employee, Jared Jensen, from our Londonderry, New Hampshire warehouse. Jared grew up in North Andover, Massachusetts, before moving to Merrimack, NH at the age of 12, during which time he attended Merrimack High School. Jared has been with Barista Pro Shop for about a year and a half now as an Assistant... Read More ⇒

What better way to cool down than with a refreshing italian soda? Just grab the... Oh, we've run out of sparkling water. Nevermind. Avoid this issue with the quick and easy Soda Siphon from iSi by turning regular water into its sparkling counterpart in just a few moments. Not only is it easy, but you can make it as you need it! Let's quickly go... Read More ⇒

We just wanted to take the time to quickly go over how Dr. Smoothie smoothie concentrates are prepared. Dr. Smoothie offers different lines of smoothie concentrate, we carry their 100% Crushed Fruit, Organics, and Fit Lyte lines. The 100% Crushed Fruit and Organics line are prepared in the same way, whereas the Fit Lyte follows a different method... Read More ⇒

Jerky is a satisfying snack that can appeal to a wide variety of consumers, from kids to adults and everyone in between. However, this timeless snack is often criticized for its artificial preservatives, fillers and unnecessary sugars. This weighs down the finished product, results in less protein per serving and ultimately more sodium or sugar... Read More ⇒

Cold weather, hot drinks. Hot weather, cold drinks. Customers typically want drinks that compliment the weather they’re experiencing. Don’t get me wrong, I love a cup of hot coffee most any day, but when the sun is beating down an Iced Americano just feels right. There will always be customers who order the usual, regardless of the... Read More ⇒

Tea is a very popular drink that is now offered in coffee shops almost everywhere. Tea is versatile and can be prepared either hot or cold to fit the season or the preference of a customer. When you hear “tea” chances are you either think of it as being prepared hot or cold, but what if there was a third way to offer tea, say, as... Read More ⇒

One of the fastest growing trends right now in cafes and restaurants is fruit flavored beverages. Handcrafted sodas, lemonades, smoothies, and fruit flavored cocktails are among some of the more popular and continue to perform better year over year. One issue that many operators may encounter is how to provide not only an excellent, bold, fruit... Read More ⇒

What better way to cool down during the hot months of the year than with a frappé? These versatile beverages can appeal to a wide demographic of your customers. Fun, coffee-free flavors that kids can enjoy can easily be made into an afternoon pick-me-up for adults simply by adding espresso or Toddy concentrate. There are many variables when... Read More ⇒

We’ve received several customer questions lately about how to make whipped cream with the iSi whipped cream dispenser. With the help of Tia Peck we’ve put together a quick instructional video which can be found here. The process is fairly simple, a quick rundown of the steps is listed below. There are a few things I would like to point... Read More ⇒

When you hear “oatmeal” do you think of bland, unappealing mush? Prepare to have that changed because the newest addition to our catalog is going to relieve any hard feelings you may have towards oatmeal. Modern Oats is finally here, bringing in 6 delicious flavors: Goji Blueberry, Apple Walnut, Chocolate Cherry, Mango Blackberry, 5... Read More ⇒

Is your brewing equipment starting to get bogged down with residue and build-up? Fortunately, Urnex has a line of cleaning products specifically formulated to be tough on gunk and grime, but easy on your equipment. There are four specific products I will be talking through, all of which we carry. Those products are: Cafiza, Rinza, Grindz and Tabz.... Read More ⇒

It’s been said that we “eat with our eyes first” - I don’t know about you, but that saying brings an amusing visual to mind… However, I believe that statement is completely accurate. Have you ever been to a high-end restaurant where they bring your $35 steak on a paper plate with a red Solo cup and plastic cutlery? Of... Read More ⇒

Sauce…then espresso? Espresso… before milk? Building drinks can be a daunting task at times, especially when trying to decide what order to add the necessary elements of a specific beverage. Not to mention that everyone seems to have a method that fits them best. Don’t be overwhelmed with all of the “you... Read More ⇒

Steaming milk is one of, if not, THE most crucial aspect of hot beverage preparation as a barista. If done properly, it has the ability to add the perfect level of sweetness and texture to any given drink. If done improperly, you can just as easily ruin a drink. Not to mention the time it takes to ruin your milk is just a mere matter of seconds.... Read More ⇒

Manual brewing methods are becoming more and more popular in our world today. People are moving away from convenient coffee and taking a step towards craft coffee. Pour over brewers have become a mainstay of the coffee industry, typically only making one cup at a time. These versatile tools allow the user to control every aspect of the brew... Read More ⇒

The Aeropress is possibly one of the most distinct brewers around, not only in looks but in it’s function. The press resembles a large syringe, featuring a chamber where the coffee steeps and a large plunger. This is unique in the sense that gravity doesn’t do the work here, it’s the plunger that forces the water through the... Read More ⇒

Cold coffee…? Really? I thought you were supposed to dump out cold coffee? Well, typically, yes, but when intended to be served cold it is a sweet & refreshing drink. The Toddy Consumer model features a brew container, where grounds steep with room temperature water for extended periods of time (typically 12-18 hours) to bring out a... Read More ⇒

Looking for a way to beat the heat this summer while beating the sometimes wasteful process of brewing tea? Look no further than Island Rose Gourmet Iced Tea & Lemonade. Brewed only using the highest quality teas sourced from around the world combined with the sweetness of real cane sugar, these drinks will leave your thirst quenched, your... Read More ⇒

Fresh. A word that appears in a countless number of ways when it comes to food & beverage ingredients as well as preparation. Should coffee be an exception? Perhaps. Perhaps not. The debate on coffee freshness, namely, surrounding how quickly shots of espresso are consumed or added to a beverage, goes back and forth. Since coffee is subjective,... Read More ⇒

Ahh, the french press... No, I’m not referring to the news in Paris, I’m talking about the well-known coffee maker. It is such a simple, elegant way to make a good cup of coffee and it’s virtually impossible to mess up. The french press is a full immersion brew method, meaning the grounds are fully submerged in the water for the... Read More ⇒

Portafilter? Grouphead? Tamper? Knock box? What on earth do these terms mean? If you’re like me when I first started, you may be feeling a little confused and possibly even overwhelmed at this point. If so, take a deep breath and relax, I'm here to give you confidence in your abilities as a barista by teaching you the basics and 101 on... Read More ⇒