CafeSmart 2014 – A great success, impossible without you

CafeSmart raised a total of $120,263.00 in 2014

CafeSmart raised a total of $120,263.00 in 2014

What an amazing day the August 8th turned out to be. Across Australia, coffee heads came together to fund raise for their local communities with 410 cafes, 18 coffee roasters and thousands of coffee drinkers working together to raise a record breaking $120,263 (up from $83,950 in 2013 ) to fund local grassroots homeless projects. For every coffee sold on the day, cafes donated $1 and coffee roasters helped out supplying beans.

Adam Robinson CEO of StreetSmart Australia said “We can’t thank the cafés, roasters, supporters and sponsors enough for making CaféSmart such a great annual event, and a fundraising success. Having over 400 small businesses involved during National Homeless Persons Week, creating a huge buzz on social media, and getting involved and fundraising was great to see. Yet again the hospitality sector, and in particular the coffee industry, has shown just how generous and community minded they are.”

100% of the tally will now go back to the community to fund smaller charities and organizations who often don’t have the resources to fundraise themselves. StreetSmart will now distribute the funds raised locally, to provide emergency aid including food and shelter, as well as projects that promote social inclusion, empowerment and sustainable change for some of our most disadvantaged neighbours.

Thanks to all Alowishus customers and staff who have helped make CafeSmart 2014 sucha great success!

 

Alowishus featured in Social Media Success Magazine

We are absolutely stoked to have been featured in the Social Media Success Magazine this week, a magazine dedicated to showcasing the social media success stories of local businesses. Read the whole story online here or head over to SocialMediaSuccessMagazine.com.au to download a free copy of the latest edition.

Social media has been a huge part of our marketing plan. A big thanks to all our fans and followers of the Alowishus Facebook page. And if you haven’t already done so, make sure to like us on Facebook for some great offers and promotions. We’ve got lots of cool stuff coming up! :)

See you on Facebook!

The Alowishus Team

Cafe Smart- Helping The Homeless

DRINK COFFEE, DO GOOD !

On 8th August 2014 we will be participating in the 4th Annual CafeSmart event across Australia.

Alowishus Delicious is creating change, one coffee at a time!

CafeSmart brings together coffee roasters, cafés and coffee drinkers around the country to help people who are homeless premarin medication.  As a participating cafe we will generously donate $1.00 per coffee sold to fund local projects. In 2013 275 cafés around Australia raised close to $83,000.

Help us make a difference!

5 Benefits of Coconut Water

If you have been to Thailand, Vietnam or Bali, chances are you have picked up a coconut with a straw in it.  Slurping away while taking a stroll along the beach or lounging. In doing so you might have done more good to your body than you would have guessed. So, what’s all the hype about? Here are 5 amazing benefits that you get out of drinking coconut water regularly.  

 

5 Benefits of Coconut Water:

1. Boosts Hydration

The ingredients in coconut water are way more effective at hydrating the human body than those of most sports and energy drinks. During vigorous exercise or extended periods of physical activity, the human body loses mineral-rich fluids. However, coconut water serves as an excellent replacement medium.  With 294 mg of potassium and 5 mg of natural sugar per glass, unlike your favourite sports drink that only contains half of the potassium content and five times the amount of processed sugar. In addition, the sodium count is only 25 mg, which is relatively low compared to the 41 and 20 mg found in sports drinks and energy drinks respectively.

2. Rich in Nutrients

Unlike any other beverage on the market, coconut water contains five essential electrolytes that are present in the human body. These include: calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and sodium. Because of its unique composition, coconut water can be enjoyed by individuals with varying medical conditions.

3. Reduces Blood Pressure

In many instances, a disproportionate level of electrolytes can result in high blood pressure. Because coconut water contains an adequate supply of each, it can be used as a balancing mechanism. In some instances, it is recommended that coconut water be consumed at the start of each day to foster the balance of these electrolytes.

4. Picture-Perfect Skin

Topical application of coconut water can go a great distance.  It has the ability to clear up and subsequently tone your skin. Drinking coconut water moisturises the skin from within and eliminates large amounts of oil. This explains why products such as facial creams, shampoos, conditioners and lotions that contain traces of coconut extract are more effective.

5. Facilitates Digestion

Coconut water may provide a source of relief for those who encounter difficulty digesting. Because of its high concentration of fiber, it aids in the prevention of indigestion and reduces the occurrence of acid reflux.

Coconut water is a great replacement for those sugary soft drinks.  It won’t leave you thirsty, especially in those hot summer days. 

You think coconut water is great, read here to find out all the amazing things you can do with your leftover coffee grinds

 

Learn more about the number coconut: BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL: A QUICK REFERENCE TO HEALTHY USE

The 3 Steps of Coffee Tasting

At Alowishus we are addicted to making great coffee. It is important to us to get it right and make your experience with us a great one, every time. Knowing that you will enjoy our coffee is what drives us. We put great effort into training our baristas and continue to work hard on improving consistency and flavour in our coffee. In order to improve your experience even further, we would like to invite you into the world of coffee tasting. Taking the time to truly smell, taste, feel and appreciate a good cup of coffee is something we easily forget in our busy lifestyle. We have put together this short guide to help you not just enjoy our delicious coffee, but experience it with all your senses. Follow these 3 simple steps to get the most out of your coffee experience.

1. Smell

Our sense of taste is directly influenced by our sense of smell. When tasting a coffee, smell it first. Place your hand over your coffee mug. Hold the cup close to your nose and inhale. What do you notice? Some examples of aroma are earthy, spicy, floral and nutty. These distinctive scents are directly related to the actual flavour of the coffee. Certain aromas can be subtle and challenging to recognise for the new coffee connoisseur. What aromas can you smell?

2. Taste

When tasting a coffee, it is important to slurp it. By slurping, you spray the coffee across your entire palate. This allows the subtle flavours and aromas to reach all the tasting zones of your tongue. Try identifying the four tasting terms: aroma, acidity, body and flavour.

You’ll taste and feel the acidity of a coffee in the sides and tip of your tongue, in much the same way that you experience acidity when tasting citrus. Coffees with high acidity are described as bright, tangy and crisp with a clean finish. Coffees with low acidity feel smooth in your mouth and tend to remain longer.

What flavours can you identify? Citrus, cocoa and berries are just a few of the flavours you may taste in coffee. Some coffee flavours are bold; others are very subtle.

3. Feel

Locate the experience on your tongue. As you taste a coffee, think about where you are experiencing flavours on your tongue. Note the weight of the coffee on your tongue. Does it feel light or full in your mouth? This sensation is similar to what you experience when you compare the feel of full cream milk with nonfat milk. A coffee with light body will feel light on your tongue and its flavour will not linger. In contrast, you’ll feel the weight of a full-bodied coffee on your tongue and its flavour will remain in your mouth for a while.

 

We hope this short guide will help you enjoy our coffee even more and look forward to seeing you again soon.

The Barista Team at Alowishus Delicious

5 Amazing Facts about coffee you probably didn’t know

1. Coffee beans aren’t really beans

There you go! All your life you were tricked into thinking coffee came from beans. Truth is, coffee is a fruit. Coffee berries, also known as coffee cherries, are edible fruit containing seeds that look very similar to beans and are therefore called coffee beans. After the harvest, these seeds are dried, shipped, roasted, ground and lastly, turned into the wonderful beverage that you so love to enjoy at Alowishus.

 

2. Coffee & wine have more in common than you might think

Just like wine, coffee comes in numerous different varieties. Every variety has its own characteristics. And just like with wine we can look at the aroma, acidity, body and flavour of a coffee. Next time you enjoy a black coffee, try to dive into the fascinating world of coffee and ask yourself these questions. Does the coffee smell earthy, spicy, floral or nutty? Does it taste bright, tangy and crisp or rather smooth? Does it feel light or full in your mouth? Do you taste citrus, cocoa or berries? Pay attention and you’ll learn to love your coffee even more.

 

3. Coffee prevents Alzheimer’s & dementia

According to a 2009 study, three to five cups of coffee per day won’t just help prevent, but even reverse Alzheimer’s and dementia. Other studies have shown that there are other health benefits of coffee in association with exercise. People, who consumed caffeine before their workouts, lasted longer and worked harder to achieve their goals. Coffee beans also share many properties with the now so popular açaí berry. Just like açaí, coffee is rich in antioxidants that counter the negative impact of free radicals in our bodies.

 

4. The quality and taste of a coffee are determined by 4 main factors

Besides from which part of the world a particular coffee is grown and a number of other aspects, the main factors that determine flavour and quality are summarised by the 4 M’s: Macinazione – the correct grind; Miscela – the mixture, or as we say, the blend, Macchina – the machine used to make the coffee and lastly, Mano – which translates to ‘hand’, the barista who prepares the Espresso.

 

5. It takes 2000 hours to make a cup of coffee

From the day the seeds are planted to the day you get to enjoy a delicious beverage about 2000 hours have gone into the cup. This fact alone is reason enough for us to take some extra time when having coffee to really appreciate and savour it. Breath in the Brazilian air, listen to the sounds of the Indonesian jungle, close your eyes and enjoy the views of the Vietnamese coffee plantations and rice fields.

 

6. BONUS FACT

Just for the record: There is no X in Espresso.

 

Stay caffeinated & hydrated!

David Lee-Schneider

Juicy Goodness – Why Freshly squeezed juices are a daily must

“The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison” – Ann Wigmore

Most of us do not consume enough fresh vegetables on a daily basis. This deprives our body of the vital nutrients that it needs to be able to flourish. Juicing is a sure way to add those vital nutrients back into your diet.

The great thing about juicing is that you can drink your greens, fruits and other veggies. Juicing makes it easy for your body to digest as the pulp is removed. Your digestive system won’t have to work hard to break the food down because the juicing has already done that for you. Fresh clean juices taste incredible as well. It’s like a party in your mouth with big bursts of flavour.

Consuming healthy juices daily, can assist in increasing your energy levels as well as weight loss. It can help to strengthen your immune system, reduces toxins and inflammation. Green juices help to oxygenate your blood, which will give you glowing skin and bright clear eyes. Juices are truly amazing. They are powerhouses in a glass, packed full of goodness for your body.

My favourite juice combination is
Apple, Spinach, Celery, Cucumber, Lemon, Ginger
#2 on the Alowishus juice menu.

Drinking high quality juices is a great way to give your body a burst of nutrients. It really is using food as medicine.

Drink up

Amanda x

Amanda Carey - Health Coach