Thursday 25 August 2011

Week beginning - August 30th (Tuesday) - Girls at work

Recently, the world barista champion of 2009 Gwilym Davies made a point at a conference about girls working in the cafe industry, especially as baristas, and how he felt that in some cases, they are discriminated against and not given the opportunities or progression they deserve.

It was a very interesting and topical point to make, especially as he dressed up in drag to make it.

Those who know Kaffeine will know that we are staffed mainly by girls/women/ladies, and I am very very appreciative of that. Not saying the boys who work here do not work hard or are not good at their job, not at all.

But what I do want to say here is that if it was not for the girls who work here now, have worked with us from the start, or have worked for us in the past, we would not be the cafe we are today.

Girl power.

(and they are such perfectionists!)





Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70

Baked Treats
Blueberry muffins 1.80
Tomato, cheese and herb muffins 1.80
Damson Plum friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Passionfruit melting moments biscuits 1.60

Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Smoked salmon, lemon verveine butter
Italian roast ham with brie, sweet chilli sauce, thai basil and rocket

French retro baguettes 4.50
Bufala mozzerella with tomato, salsa verde and spinach
Roast courgettes with crushed peas, feta, rocket and mint dressing

Salads £4.50/£5.50
Prawns with samphire, picked ginger, runner beans and rocket
Girolles, sage butter and spinach
Roast aubergine with lime, chilli, coriander and peanuts

Tart £4.00 or £6.50 with salad
Tomatoes, rocket, olives, mozzarella, olives and balsamic

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Week beginning August 22nd - Please sir, I want some more

I am a bit behind this week in updating this, too many celebratory drinks perhaps?

But the good news is, that with this type of weather, we will be bringing back porridge before you know it.

Please enjoy.

Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70

Baked Treats
Blueberry muffins 1.80
Tomato, cheese and herb muffins 1.80
Damson Plum friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Passionfruit melting moments biscuits 1.60

Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Chorizo with roast red peppers, red onion, goats cheese and rocket
Mushrooms with welsh rarebit and spinach

French retro baguettes 4.50
Bufala mozzerella with tomato, basil, aioli and spinach
Italian roast ham with red onion jam, gruyere, gherkin and rocket

Salads £4.50/£5.50
Tandoori chicken with iceberg lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, avocado and mint dressing
Chicory with pear, blue cheese and toasted walnuts
Broccoli with oyster sauce

Tart £4.00 or £6.50 with salad
Tuna with brown rice bake

Friday 12 August 2011

Week Beginning August 15th - 2nd Birthday

Yes that is right, it is now 2 years since we opened the doors of Kaffeine. I am not going to say much, except what is most important, and that is a big thank you to all our staff, our suppliers, our families and friends and most of all to our much valued customers for all your hard work, support and encouragement.

It has been an amazing journey, one that I hope will continue for many years to come.

Two years.

We will be celebrating this week with a few little treats here and there. We hope you can join us.


Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70

Baked Treats
Peche de vigne (Red French Peaches) muffins 1.80
Four cheese savoury muffins 1.80
Damson friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60

Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Italian roast ham with apricots, brie, rocket
Tuna with lemon myrtle mayo, basil and spinach

French retro baguettes 4.50
Roast courgettes marinated in mint with feta, crushed peas and spinach
Italian roast ham with dijon, gruyere, gherkin, red onion and rocket

Salads £4.50/£5.50
Tandoori chicken with iceberg lettuce, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, avocado and mint dressing
Chantenay carrots with roasted cardamom pods and fig dressing
Green beans with peanuts, chilli, lemon and soy

Tart £4.00 or £6.50 with salad
Sweet corn and roast kumara

Friday 5 August 2011

Week beginning August 8th - Loyalty cards

In planning for Kaffeine, we talked for a long while amongst ourselves and also with very respected and knowledgeable people from the industry about loyalty cards and whether we would introduce them. Ultimately, as some people may be aware, we decided not to.

A number of people we spoke to felt they were a nuisance to carry around, others felt a bit cheap when asking for it, others really liked them. Others told me of rip off schemes in cafes that they had worked in involving loyalty cards. It was not an easy decision to make.

We still occasionally get asked if we have them, or are told that we should have them, but our answer is exactly what we have said from the start and that is that we like to look after our customers in other ways other than a loyalty card.

For example, in our first Christmas we gave away Keep Cups to over 150 of our regular customers with a personal Kaffeine Christmas card. Our second Christmas we gave away 150 of our own home made jams.

The managers here also know to look after our regular customers with an occasional free cake or coffee or we test new cakes or biscuits with other regulars. I personally try very hard to give a free Portuguese tart, a friand or a biscuit to regulars when I am able to. More often than not, that customer says no, please allow me to pay.

We also try very very hard to provide great service, excellent food and amazing coffee, which I hope is a reason for people to keep coming back as well.

What I do wonder is, if you go to your local pub once, twice or three times a week, perhaps buying up to ten drinks in that period, what do they do to keep you loyal?
I am yet to hear of a pub loyalty card system.

What other food/beverage industries have loyalty cards and does it work for them I wonder?

If anyone has any feedback or points to raise, I am more than happy to listen.

In the meantime, our menu is up for this week and Damson Plums are in season and in our muffins. Yum.


Breakfast
Traditional bircher muesli with rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Granola muesli with pomegranate molasses and rhubarb and raspberry compote 2.90
Fruit salad (pineapple, mango, strawberries, grapes, passionfruit, peach) 3.30
(add 30 p for granola or yoghurt)
Ciabatta Roll with omelette, pancetta, rocket and tomato salsa 4.50
Croissant with Italian roast ham, talleggio cheese, spinach & plum tomatoes 4.50
Croissant with gruyere cheese and plum tomatoes 3.50
Seven seed bakery bloomer toast with homemade preserves 1.70
Cinnamon and raisin toast 2.00
Banana Bread 2.00

Pastries by Seven Seed bakery
French butter croissants 1.60
Pain au chocolat 2.20
Almond croissants 2.70

Baked Treats
Damson Plum muffins 1.80
Tomato, parsley, lemon and cheese savoury muffins 1.80
Cherry friands 1.90
Super moist chocolate brownies 2.20
White chocolate blondies 2.20
Portuguese tarts 1.80
ANZAC cookies 1.60
Afgan biscuits 1.60

Lunch
Foccacias with sea salt and rosemary crust 4.70
Italian roast ham with red currants, brie, basil and spinach
Smoked salmon with cream cheese, capers, dill, lemon, red onion and spinach

French retro baguettes 4.50
Roast courgettes marinated in mint with feta, crushed peas and spinach
Italian roast ham with dijon, gruyere, gherkin, red onion and rocket

Salads £4.50/£5.50
Mixed tomatoes with pancetta, toasted fennel seeds, parmesan
Quinoa with roasted olives and tomatoes, cucumber, cashew and orange
Green beans with peanuts, chilli, lemon and soy

Tart £4.00 or £6.50 with salad
Fennel gratin