Stirling Flavors » Chocolates & Caramels

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Everyone has their expectations when it comes to what flavors they want to enjoy during the holiday season. Pumpkin Pie Lattes, Peppermint Mochas & Egg Nog Lattes are what customers have come to expect as "standards" at any cafe throughout the holiday season. I often hear people say... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Iced beverages can deliver high profits and attract new customers, so they are an important part of a menu that most people overlook! As the season heats up, be sure you’re considering these menu musts. Iced Beverages Extend your day parts – iced beverages light, refreshing... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Flavored syrups are more than just sugar water; they can add a unique touch to your shop and serve as an easy add-on for a variety of drinks. Flavored syrups have become a staple and a must have on the coffee house scene with their ease of use and endless possibilities. Did you say Blood... Read More ⇒

Why Make Your Own Whipped Cream? In today's fast paced society it's hard to find time to stop and smell the roses, let alone make your own whipped cream! Consider, however, the final touch of authenticity and quality freshly made whipped cream can add to your drinks. With the effort and expense you put into filling your cups with the best... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. In this era of calorie-consciousness and menu labeling, sometimes your customers desire a warm, creamy indulgence. Besides, for every trend there is a counter-trend. Just like smoothies have a healthy aura and shakes are a nostalgic comfort item, for every sugar free, non fat latte there is... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. It’s clear… Americans love smoothies. Lately, these sweet blended beverages have been especially popular, with an 80% increase over the past five years. With our population’s ongoing quest for great tasting, drinkable snacks plus a general interest in health, experts say... Read More ⇒

Is there a summertime drink more refreshing than an ice-cold lemonade? How about a Peach Ginger flavored lemonade? Or maybe a Watermelon Rosemary flavored lemonade? Or what about the Frozen Roy G. Biv Lemonade pictured here? While the classic lemonade drink continues to be a summertime menu staple, trendy flavored lemonades have been... Read More ⇒

I broke from habit today. I ordered a 16 ounce pumpkin pie latte instead of my usual Americano. What sparked this change? Besides the prominently displayed poster featuring latte art in the shape of a pumpkin, was the barista's suggestion that I try this drink because "It's the bomb! We use pumpkin pie sauce and it's to die for". So, I had myself a... Read More ⇒

Fast, profitable and delicious: those are my first thoughts about iced tea programs for cafes. At a cost of about $.10/serving, iced teas produce some of the highest profit margins for a café. So why do I find many cafes aren’t implementing a consistent iced tea program? The most common barrier I’ve heard described by cafes is... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Blended iced coffees, frappes, frozen coffee, or whatever name you choose for those popular blended drinks are a natural product for the premium independent coffeehouse. Any drink on the menu that can be served hot, can also be served frozen and blended. If your customers love a certain hot... Read More ⇒

Fruit Smoothies are: Fruit based or fruit flavored blended frozen drinks. Fruit Smoothies may or may not contain dairy products such as milk or ice cream. Fruit Smoothies may be made from scratch (and might include fruit juice, frozen fruit, frozen yogurt or ice cream and nutritional supplements). Fruit smoothies may also be made from powdered... Read More ⇒

Iced Tea We're always surprised at Barista Pro Shop that our customers don't sell more Iced Tea than they do. Why? We're not sure, but we're going to take some of the blame for this one. We haven't provided as much information and support in the past to help our customers sell more Iced Tea, but this article is a first step to changing that. Most... Read More ⇒

Coffee shops are leading the charge by meeting the demands of their conscience and customer requests by going organic. The organics industry is booming - here are some tips to get you started. There's a movement sweeping the nation, the globe. What may have started as an idealistic approach to food and eating existing only in isolated... Read More ⇒

Fresh is in, and fresh fruits and vegetables are must-have culinary and beverage ingredients for any successful operator today. The Millennial and Generation Z groups have driven interest in freshly prepared food and beverage so ardently that the industry as a whole has no choice but to cater to the cravings of this emerging bunch of consumers.... Read More ⇒

While those in the know may think they have fully capitalized on creating signature drinks for their retail specialty coffee business, there are many ways to power up profits through signature drinks, and only a handful of savvy coffee retailers do it correctly. In order to understand how signature drinks can add to your business, it’s... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. When it comes to the actions of your customers and potential customers there are a few things you can always count. First of all, we eat and drink with our eyes. Secondly, we love a good story behind what we are about to order. Finally, isn't it human nature that we always want to try what... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Serving Maté - In addition to being good for you, maté offers a high profitability margin, a unique way to diversify your menu, and is a great way to help the environment. Legend has it that the Goddess of the Moon and the Goddess of the Cloud came to Earth and were threatened... Read More ⇒

Tips, tricks and surefire ways to incorporate signature drinks into your menu that your baristas will enjoy making and your customers will order again and again! Elaborate coffee orders still remind me of that scene from You’ve Got Mail. Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) observes that an indecisive person must make several choices to order a... Read More ⇒

Have you taken a close look around your shop lately? Are things looking a cluttered, outdated, or even a little damaged? You can give your space an affordable face lift by investing in an often overlooked category--smallwares. Smallwares encompasses everything from condiment bar organizers and mugs to tampers and steaming pitchers. They are the... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. The secret ingredient. Cold brewing is a process that replaces the heat of traditional hot brew methods with time. Instead of running steaming hot water quickly through coffee grounds, cold brewed coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for approximately 12 hours. The result... Read More ⇒

Soda has been a staple of Western culture for three centuries, and a significant part of American life since the late 1800s.  A huge portion of wholesome pop culture in the 1950s literally sits in the middle of soda fountains. However, over the last fifteen years, soda sales have trended downwards for several reasons, health being the most... Read More ⇒

Across the U.S., consumer awareness of and appreciation for tea is expanding, and specialty tea sales are growing. Is your café’s tea service keeping up with your customers’ evolving taste?  Between teabags, sachets, and loose tea, choosing the perfect hot tea service can be a daunting task, especially for the café... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. A large percentage of coffee consumption is now comprised of Mochas, Lattes and Cappuccinos. Considering that these specialty coffee drinks are made up of primarily milk and flavorings, its ironic that most café owners will take the time to choose a quality coffee, but will often not... Read More ⇒

Much has been made about Fair Trade coffee, which now represents about 7.1% of US specialty coffee sales (and 3.3% of total US coffee sales). But what exactly does "Fair Trade Certified" mean? And why are so many coffee shops opting to serve Fair Trade coffee? Fair Trade Certification verifies that the coffee you are serving (or buying) was grown... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Let's talk tea, shall we? Did you know that tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water? And on any given day, over 127 million Americans are drinking tea. Interesting? Here's more: From 1997 - 2007, tea sales grew from $1 billion to $7 billion Of the $7 billion sold in... Read More ⇒

Have you ever accidently slept in till noon or later and you wake up to realize that suddenly half of your day is gone? That's about the feeling I had after returning from Hollywood, California from competing in the South West Regional Barista Competition. All of a sudden it is the middle of March and I realized my final semester of college is half... Read More ⇒

"The U.S. market for tea is expected to double in the next five years," states Fresh Cup magazine in their December 2007 issue. The tea trend is on the rise due in part to its profitability, health benefits, and diversity. Establishing a premium tea program now can put you on the cutting edge of this segment of the specialty beverage industry. ... Read More ⇒

Opening a new coffee shop or café can be a daunting venture, you must first find an ideal location that’s within your budget, remodel the space to meet your needs, and then you’re faced with the overwhelming task of creating a checklist for stocking that new store.  From the vast number of brands available to the breadth of... Read More ⇒

How to Create and Capture Picture Perfect Specialty Beverages As a millennial in my mid-thirties, I remember when Facebook was just an informal network for college students. At the time, “social media” was merely a place for Myspace musings and covert searches to find out more about a crush. However, jump forward to today, social... Read More ⇒