BPS® Blog » the tip jar

Sugar free syrups are great for customers that are looking for an indulgent treat but need to limit or avoid sugar in their daily diet. However, sugar free syrups lack more than just the sugar; they lack the ability to resist freezing!  Yes, it’s true the sugar in syrups actually increases the specific heat causing the syrup to... Read More ⇒

 The Holidays are here and we love a festive beverage. Pick your flavors, grab your favorite mug and join us! Pumpkin Pie Hot Cocoa  You've most likely tossed your Halloween jack-o-lanterns and the pumpkin spice recipes from Thanksgiving are a distant memory.  But there is still one pumpkin hanging around. In walks pumpkin pie... Read More ⇒

Serve your latte art to the customer right-side up! In order to achieve this with every pour, the position of the cup’s handle when pouring into a ceramic is key so you’ll need to know a couple details before you begin. 1. You’ll want to know your customer’s preferred drinking hand. Here, we would assume that most... Read More ⇒

Here is the froth verses the facts from Gimlet Media’s Science Vs. Podcast (Click here to listen to the full podcast episode): Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz about alternative milk [or plant-based milk] in the specialty coffee industry. Over the last 10 years, consumers have become more conscientious about what they buy and put in... Read More ⇒

Recently Paul Levin, our representative for Dr. Smoothie & Cafe Essentials, came and let us in on a little secret: Cafe Essentials blends don’t require milk because they already have a dairy component! Simply steam Cafe Essentials powder with water to create a creamy latte. Save money and time with these premium powders. We were... Read More ⇒

Let me start by saying that cleaning is important and the right product can make all the difference. I love to clean and I love to have things clean but I don’t always have the time or energy to clean thoroughly so a good cleaning product is very important to me not just in the café but at home also. During my early coffee years, I... Read More ⇒

Whenever a smaller holiday such as Valentine's Day comes around it's hard to discern the best way to leverage this occasion. Sometimes the simplest option is the best. Here are 5 things to do to up your Valentine's Day game: 1. Colored Whipped Cream: Coloring your whipped cream with just a few drops of food coloring is fun, festive, and easy. See... Read More ⇒

So now that you’ve upgraded your home brewing operation, what should you do with all of those extra coffee filters for that old automatic coffee maker? Use them to make snowflakes, plus it’s a great diversion for kids when end-of-break cabin fever kicks in! To get started you just need a coffee filter and a pair of scissors: Step... Read More ⇒

The savvy folks over at Califia Farms have put together a quick tutorial to demystify the sometimes challenging task of steaming Almondmilk. With more and more customers asking for alternative milks, it's a skill that every barista should have in his or her arsenal. The Take Away: 1. Positioning: The steam tip should be placed just... Read More ⇒

Happy Throwback Thursday!! Today in honor of Throwback Thursday, I decided to offer chocolate soda to our visitors at the BPS Colorado location. My voluminous crimped hair gave people flashbacks of the 80’s; my drink however, came from a much older time. Although this may sound strange today, chocolate soda  (also known as chocolate... Read More ⇒

Love iced coffee but hate it when the ice melts and dilutes your delicious beverage or just don’t know what to do with that leftover coffee from this morning? Here is a fun, easy, and artful way to solve both those issues. Hot or Cold Brew your favorite coffee Fill ice trays with cool or room temperature coffee Freeze overnight or... Read More ⇒

Cold Brew (also called Toddy sometimes) is definitely a hot trend this summer! With that in mind, we prepared some unique cold Brew Recipes. Check out these recipes for a Thai Coffee and a Thai Tea! ----------  ----------  ----------  Toddy Thai Tea • Two Leaves Black tea leaves. - 4 oz. • Star Anise - 6 Stars •... Read More ⇒

Space in your café is one of the scarcer resources in the coffee industry - you can always buy more syrup, but getting more counter or fridge space requires playing café tetris or even remodeling your space. Like many café owners and managers, there may just not be room in your budget or schedule for a remodel. So, you... Read More ⇒

‘Pour your heart into it!’ A motivating reminder that our best work in life occurs when we are committed and determined to accomplish something.  In the case of latte art, we can literally pour a heart into a latte, tea latte or hot chocolate.  However, the point remains, that as a barista pouring latte art proves that... Read More ⇒

Valentine’s Day is all about letting those special people in our lives know that we are thinking about them!  Whether it’s a box of candies or a simple card expressing our gratitude for their positive impact on our life,Valentine’s Day encourages us to go the extra mile to say, “You’re special, and you mean so... Read More ⇒

Chocolate-covered strawberries are a popular Valentine’s Day treat that got started in the 1960s, and are still just as popular today. During the Valentin’s Day season you see them everywhere – in grocery stores, chocolate shops, as well as other specialty shops. If you want to bring in the taste of the chocolate-covered... Read More ⇒

Whether you’re spending this Valentine’s Day with a significant other, friends, or your cat, we all can’t help but to think of the classic hallmarks of this day: chocolate, candy hearts, over-sized stuffed bears, and of course, flowers. Looking to step outside the Valentine’s Day box? Woo your customers, or significant... Read More ⇒

It’s the little things in life that matter.  How true is this statement?  Sometimes even minute events or items can have drastic implications.  Consider how an assembly line with just one inoperable station will come screeching to a halt or how a car with a faulty ignition switch becomes immobile and obsolete.  It just... Read More ⇒

Let’s take some time to talk about one of the fastest growing trends in the summer beverage arena, iced coffee. Seriously, the iced coffee game is on point right now and individuals and shops are taking it to all new levels! There are many methods to achieve ice cold, delicious coffee, like the Toddy Cold Brew System (one of our personal... 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 ⇒

One morning as I’m making my way to work, I see a discouraging sight in the distance.  The railroad crossing gates begin flashing and realize I will inevitably be waiting for a train to pass.  At first this seems like the absolute worst thing that could be happening; then like an angel descending from the clouds to rescue me, I see... 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 ⇒

Are you ready to ‘Spring’ into your New Café or Location? Definition of Springtime - an early or flourishing stage of development (Merriam-Webster) Spring is all about rebirth, as the warm weather arrives seedlings begin emerging out of the soil and the array of greens from emerald to chartreuse return to the trees.... 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 ⇒

As a cafe owner what’s the product you use the most during the day?   The first thing that comes to mind might be coffee; or maybe, after some more thought you decide it’s milk.  However, what if I told you that you’re overlooking one of the most common products used in your shop?  Do you know what it is? If you... 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 ⇒

Pumpkin Season is soon to fade to the background and open the doors for your favorite winter-themed beverages. To start the season right, get your hands on Torani’s Peppermint Bark Sauce and start crafting unforgettable holiday themed recipes! Here are a few that will get you going in the right direction! CANDY CANE COCOA 1 oz. Torani... 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 ⇒

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 ⇒

It happens every morning, you fill up your mug and you begin the treacherous journey to sit down and enjoy it.  Then tragedy strikes, the continuous waves of deliciousness jump over the rim of your mug and crash in various shades of brown and tan upon your floor.  Your coffee has spilled and you’re left thinking, “why does... 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 ⇒

“It was love at first sight.”  Something that many, if not all, of us aspire to experience during our lifetimes.  However, it also says something about our human psyche.  We are quick to make judgements and form opinions based on our very first glimpse of something or someone new.  Think about how much effort and... 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 ⇒

Do you ever find yourself wanting to try out a new coffee shop or cafe?  Do you find yourself traveling for work or a vacation and uncertain about where to get your caffeine fix?  Worst of all have you ever settled for Starbucks simply because it’s the fourth one you have seen on this block?   Don’t worry we forgive you.... Read More ⇒

Could you imagine starting a business in which you’re losing money on every sale?  No, probably not.  It just doesn’t make sense to work all day to produce something that actually costs you money instead of making money. Right? Well, this is the predicament of many coffee farmers worldwide.  Between the falling price for... Read More ⇒

Would you expect a master chef to prepare dish in a microwave? Or a famous musician to perform a song on Rock Band instruments? No, probably not because no matter how talented the individual; they are limited by the capabilities of their equipment.  This holds true when it comes to coffee as well.  A barista or an at-home enthusiast... Read More ⇒

                                       It’s not unusual for customers to be indecisive about what they want. In fact, its very common that most customers don’t even know what half the items are on a typical coffee shop menu board. I, and... Read More ⇒

Specialty Coffee is called just that for a reason, there is an expertise in preparing these beverages the right way, the first time. There are subtle differences between these drinks and it can take time to learn the steps and ingredients. Many of these beverages are espresso based, there are different ingredients used to turn one source of coffee... Read More ⇒

Tip: Signature drinks can help boost profits A signature drink is a beverage unique to your shop, unlike a specialty drink that can be recreated by others. Pros for having signature drinks on your menu: A signature drink can create customer loyalty A signature drink can set your shop apart from others. A signature drink can help sale flavors... Read More ⇒

 Tip: Let’s get sauced!!  No I am not talking about alcohol, I am talking about Chocolate, Caramel, and White Chocolate sauce topping. The fact is visually attractive food and drinks sell better then plain or unattractive ones do.  So adding a drizzle of sauce on the top of sweet beverage has become pretty customary in most... Read More ⇒

“A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more lasting personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit.” ~Wikipedia Recently I have discovered that the three most popular New Year’s Resolutions are to lose weight, save money, and to try something new. To achieve any of these goals can be... Read More ⇒

After having a discussion about possible brew methods for Guayaki Traditional Yerba Maté with Alex (our new warehouse guy), Kari and I decided to do some experimenting in the BPS training café.  We taste tested four different brew methods side by side using Guayaki Traditional Loose Yerba Maté.  Each method changed... Read More ⇒

Spring is the season of change and transition as evidenced by the return of green grass, cherry tree blossoms, and longer, warmer days.   For students about to graduate this is particularly true as they prepare to leave behind everything that is familiar and venture into the next chapter of their life.  This is definitely the time... Read More ⇒

I’ve given quite a few warehouse tours of our Colorado warehouse lately.  It’s always a treat to take folks through who are in the beginning stages of opening a new café, kiosk, cart, etc.  As we walk through the door separating the offices from the warehouse, I usually turn around to find a look of overwhelmed awe with... Read More ⇒

I was perusing through Scott Rao’s book “The Professional Barista’s Handbook” today and found the section on water temperature and its affect on brewing particularly interesting.  Water temperature can impact flavor by changing flow rate and brew strength.  I think that water temperature might be something... Read More ⇒

I wonder how many pounds of used coffee grounds are thrown away each day…  Did you know that coffee grounds have many uses after they’ve provided you with a cup of coffee?  Here are 10 ideas to get you started:   1.   Let’s start with the most widely known use of grounds:  gardening and... Read More ⇒

I tried a new technique with my French press this morning.  I skimmed off the grounds resting on top before plunging.  According to James Hoffman (2007 World Barista Champion and an owner of Square Mile Coffee Roasters), this skimming will help cut down on the amount of fine grinds left behind in the coffee and result in less... Read More ⇒

Did you know that you can make your own chocolate sauce with Da Vinci Gourmet Premium Powdered Chocolate Sauce or Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa?  Just add water and voila!   Da Vinci Gourmet Liquid Sauce Recipe 1. Fill mixing bucket/container with 32 oz. hot water 2. Add 32 oz of Da Vinci Gourmet Premium Powdered... Read More ⇒

‘Tis the season for giving, gathering, and feelings of good will.  Why not get out in your community and make some friends with other local business owners?  Chances are you share some customers.  Chances are even better that you can learn some great ideas for your own business.  Building relationships with others in the... Read More ⇒