Celebrate World Cocktail Day With These Coffee-Flavoured Creations!

Get ready to raise your glasses and toast the art of mixology because Monday, May 13th, is World Cocktail Day!

A global celebration honouring the craft of creating delicious concoctions that tantalise the taste buds and lift the spirits, what better way to join in the festivities than by making a delicious, coffee-infused cocktail of your own? 

Whether you're a coffee n' cocktail expert or a total beginner, these three recipes are sure to delight your senses and leave you craving more!

Espresso Martini.

The Godfather of coffee cocktails, there's a reason this beauty is among the most popular cocktails of all time!

Ingredients:

To make an Espresso Martini, you will need: 

• 50ml vodka

• 35ml coffee liqueur

• 25ml freshly brewed espresso

• Ice cubes

• Coffee beans, for garnish

Begin by brewing a shot of espresso, then let it cool to room temperature. Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, then pour in the vodka, coffee liqueur and cooled espresso and shake vigorously until well-chilled.

Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass, then garnish with coffee beans for an extra touch of elegance to serve!

Irish Coffee.

Every day is St. Patrick's Day with this timeless classic!

Ingredients:

To make an Irish Coffee, you will need:

• 50ml Irish whiskey

• 100ml freshly brewed hot coffee

• 2 teaspoons brown sugar

• 25ml double cream

• Ground nutmeg, for garnish

In a heatproof glass, dissolve the brown sugar in the freshly brewed coffee, then stir in the whiskey until combined.

Gently float the double cream on top of the coffee by pouring it over the back of a spoon, before sprinkling a pinch of ground nutmeg over the cream to finish. Serve immediately.

Mocha Martini.

An under-appreciated gem, Mocha Martinis are the perfect indulgent treat for World Cocktail Day!

Ingredients.

To make a Mocha Martini, you will need:

• 50ml vodka

• 25ml coffee liqueur

• 25ml chocolate liqueur

• 25ml freshly brewed espresso

• Ice cubes

• Chocolate shavings, for garnish

First, brew a shot of espresso and let it cool to room temperature, then fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.

Add the vodka, coffee liqueur, chocolate liqueur and cooled espresso to the shaker and shake vigorously until well-chilled.

Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass, garnish with chocolate shavings for a decadent touch and serve!

Happy World Cocktail Day from Cafe2U!

Whether you're hosting a cocktail party or just making a drink for yourself, our vans will be out and about to deliver all the top-quality coffee you need to make these recipes come to life!
Contact your local van here.

Franchisee FAQs.

According to the most recent report from industry expert Franchise Supermarket, 621,000 people in the UK are employed within the franchising industry, with 97% of franchisee-run businesses turning a profit, indicating that investing in a franchise remains an excellent choice for anyone looking for a career change in 2024.

At Cafe2U, we have a network of circa 100 franchise partners, so we know that deciding to become a franchisee is a big decision, and that those thinking of taking the plunge will have lots of questions to ask.

For anyone thinking of investing in a franchise like ours this year, these are some of the ones we get asked the most!

How much control will I have over my business?

People in the UK are increasingly on the lookout for jobs that offer them the opportunity to take control of their own work destiny and becoming a franchisee does exactly that.

Franchisees are essentially self-employed so, even though you become a Cafe2U partner, you still have the autonomy to make your own decisions on a huge variety of issues, including where, when and for how long you work each week, giving you a flexible job that fits in with your lifestyle and improves your work/life balance. With working from home now the 'new normal', running a business that can adapt to different locations and settings is a great idea and one that is likely to see the franchising industry continue to flourish over the coming months.

If you've ever dreamed of being your own boss, becoming a franchisee will make that dream come true.

How long does becoming a franchisee take?

While results may vary, becoming a franchisee is essentially a simple process that involves an interview between the franchisor and franchisee to ensure suitability, the drawing up and signing of a contract, buying into the franchise and then training for the new role, which may only take a few weeks. After that, you're up and running!

If you want to get a new business off the ground in a hurry, franchising is the answer to your prayers.

How risky is investing in a franchise?

Changing jobs always carries a certain degree of risk but, as we mentioned earlier, the fact that 97% of UK-based franchisees currently run in profit, with fewer than 1% of franchisors closing due to commercial failure, shows that the franchise industry remains a very safe bet for those who choose to join it.

Compare that to the fact that only 40% of new businesses in the UK survive more than three years and it's not hard to see why the industry is so popular.

And the reasons for this are simple. Becoming a franchisee increases your chance of succeeding because your customers are already aware of your brand and its reputation, meaning you have an established customer base that would otherwise take years to build, saving you both time and money on costly promotional activity designed to raise brand awareness.

What is my earning potential?

As we've already mentioned, the franchising industry is a profitable one but 'profitable' could be an understatement. Consistently good performances will see your income increase as a direct result, making your earning potential as big as you make it!

Is a Cafe2U franchise right for you?

If you're interested in becoming the owner of a mobile coffee franchise and a qualified barista operating in your own exclusive area, you can find out more about our franchise opportunities here. 

We'll supply you with everything you need to get your business off the ground, from training and equipment to ongoing support and advice on marketing. What are you waiting for?!

Top Spring Bakes!

As the UK awakens from its winter slumber, there's a certain magic in the air – the scent of flowers, the warmth of sunshine (more of that, please!) and the promise of new beginnings. 

So what better way to celebrate spring's arrival than by indulging in a spot of baking? More specifically, the baking of things that pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee?!

So dust off your apron, preheat your oven and let's dive into a world of sweetness and joy that perfectly captures the essence of the season. Get ready to fill your kitchen with the irresistible aromas of springtime delights!

Sticky Jamaican ginger cake with butterscotch sauce.

Perfect for afternoon tea or any special occasion, this cake is one you'll want to make again and again!

Ingredients.

To make Sticky Jamaican ginger cake, you will need:

For the sponges:

• 260g unsalted butter, softened

• 210g dark brown sugar

• 100g golden syrup

• 75g black treacle

• 4 large eggs

• 260g self-raising flour, sifted

• 1½ tbsp ground cinnamon

• 2½ tbsp ground ginger

• 1½ tsp vanilla bean paste

• 45g soured cream

• 5 pieces stem ginger, finely diced, plus syrup from the jar

For the butterscotch sauce:

• 150ml double cream

• 75g light brown sugar

• 45g salted butter, cubed

For the mascarpone cream:

• 250g mascarpone

• 50g cream cheese

• 50g caster sugar

• 1½ tsp vanilla bean paste

• Zest 3 large oranges

• 400ml double cream

Begin by heating your oven to 150°C fan/gas 3. Grease the cake tins and line with baking paper. Put the softened butter, sugar, golden syrup and treacle into a bowl and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Put the flour, cinnamon and ground ginger in a separate bowl and combine with a fork before adding a third to the butter mixture. Mix well, then use a spatula to fold in another third of the flour mixture with the vanilla bean paste. Finally, add the remaining flour with the soured cream and diced stem ginger. Fold lightly to keep as much air in the batter as possible.

Next, divide the batter among three lined 18cm tins, then bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes. Remove the tins from the oven and leave to cool for five minutes before turning the cakes out onto a wire rack. Trim off any domed tops to create a flat surface, then use a pastry brush to cover the top of each sponge with some of the syrup from the stem ginger jar. Wrap the sponges in cling film and leave to cool completely.

To make the butterscotch filling, put the cream, light brown sugar and butter into a saucepan and cook gently over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved, the butter has melted and the liquid begins to bubble. Take off the heat, stir in a pinch of sea salt, then transfer to a bowl to cool. Once cool, put the filling in the fridge until ready to use.

For the mascarpone cream, put the cheeses, vanilla, sugar and orange zest into a bowl and whisk until smooth. Pour in the double cream and whisk until soft peaks form. Transfer the cream to a piping bag.

To assemble the cake, put one sponge on a serving plate and pipe an even layer of cream over it. Use the back of a spoon to create a dip in the middle of the cream and add a generous dollop of the chilled butterscotch sauce. Repeat with the remaining sponges before covering the entire cake with the remaining cream.

Serve in slices with a drizzle of any remaining butterscotch sauce and a cup of coffee!

Chilled chocolate soufflés with salted almond praline.

These show-stoppers are decadent, easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time!

Ingredients.

To make four soufflés, you will need:

• 2 platinum-grade gelatine leaves

• 250ml whole milk

• 100g good quality dark chocolate, chopped

• 2 medium free-range eggs, separated

• 70g golden caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp

• 100ml double cream

• Extra-thick double cream and salt flakes to serve

• 200g caster sugar

• 100g salted roasted almonds

First, make the almond praline by heating the sugar with 1 tbsp water in a small pan over a medium heat until melted without stirring. Once melted, stir in the almonds, then pour onto a tray lined with baking paper. Once cool, break up the praline with a rolling pin.

Next, soak the gelatine in cold water for 10 minutes to soften. Put the milk in a large pan and heat until steaming (don’t let it boil). In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks and the 70g sugar until combined. Gradually whisk about half the hot milk into the yolk mixture, then pour back into the rest of the milk. Return to a low-medium heat, whisking constantly until you have a custard thick enough to coat the back of a spoon (don’t let it boil).

In a separate bowl, pour the custard over the chocolate. Squeeze the gelatine leaves to remove excess water, then add to the custard/chocolate mixture. Stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth, then cover the surface with a sheet of baking paper to prevent a skin forming. Leave to cool for 30 minutes.

Whip the double cream to soft peaks, then whisk a couple of spoonfuls into the custard to loosen it, before gently folding in the remaining cream until just combined. 

In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites and remaining 1 tbsp sugar to stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the chocolate/cream mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Divide the mixture between four glasses/ramekins and smooth the tops, then chill for at least four hours.

To serve, top with extra-thick double cream and sprinkle with more praline. Enjoy with a freshly brewed espresso for maximum enjoyment!

Spring is here!

Wherever and however you're planning to celebrate the longer days this year, your nearest Cafe2U van is never too far away and always happy to deliver some of our top-class coffee directly to you.

You can find your local van and book a delivery by clicking here!

Earth Day 2024.

Earth Day is an annual event designed to celebrate the planet and remind us all of the importance of sustainability and taking care of the natural environment, while also encouraging people to come together and take action for a brighter future.

As a mobile coffee franchise with a fleet of nearly 100 vans, you might think our business would be responsible for more than its fair share of pollution. However, that couldn't be further from the truth. We know how important it is to the planet - not to mention consumers and potential franchisees - to be an environmentally-friendly company and that's why we're on a mission to become the first carbon neutral coffee company in the UK. Here are just a few of the ways we're going about it.

Electric vans.

Our fleet of vehicles is electric and 100% emission-free, meaning we've massively reduced our CO² emissions over the years. Each of our vehicles also features an in-van generator that runs on lithium-ion batteries, so our emissions from in-van generators is zero too. 

Furthermore, our electric vans have minimal moving parts and more effective brakes, so fewer replacement parts need manufacturing, reducing our greenhouse gas emissions even further.

Reusable or compostable cups.

Most disposable coffee cups are thrown away and end up in landfill because they have a thin plastic lining which makes them difficult to process for recycling. Reusable coffee cups, on the other hand, will last for years if properly cared for. Even when they reach the end of their lifecycle, most can then be recycled and some are even made of recycled materials. 

We do our bit by periodically giving away our reusable cups for free with certain purchases and we've set up a recycling scheme for customers who still use disposable cups. We also offer compostable cups which can be composted or recycled, reducing waste and ensuring fewer items are sent to landfill.

Avoiding plastic straws.

Like disposable coffee cups, plastic straws can't be reused and usually end up in landfill, which is why we replaced ours with biodegradable paper alternatives, reducing our carbon footprint even further.

Recycling.

We offer our customers the opportunity to recycle their paper cups to slow the rate at which new disposable cups are produced, as well as a coffee grounds recycling initiative to counteract the 1.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions which are generated by the 500,000 tonnes of coffee waste disposed of in the UK every year. The initiative sees waste coffee grounds being recycled into biofuel pellets to power biomass boilers, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping keep the air cleaner.

Going digital.

These days, we're almost completely paper-free at Cafe2U. All files at head office have been digitised and we've done away with traditional loyalty cards and physical pamphlets in favour of an app which allows our customers to receive news, offers and updates digitally instead, massively reducing the amount of paper we use and helping keep more trees in the ground where they help remove pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO²) from the atmosphere.

Happy Earth Day!
If you're interested in investing in an Earth-friendly franchise like Cafe2U, click here for more information.

Celebrate Easter With Our Choctastic Hot Drink Recipes.

At Cafe2U, we're best known for our barista-grade coffee but there are more strings to our bow than just serving excellent espressos and lovely lattes - we do a mean hot chocolate too!

With that in mind and Easter almost upon us again (hurray!!), now is the perfect time to share some of our favourite recipes for you to try at home. You can thank us later!

Hot chocolate royale

What's better than hot chocolate? Hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows, of course!

Ingredients

To make two mugs, you will need:

• 300ml milk

• 71ml double cream

• 50g chopped chocolate

• Mini marshmallows

All you need to do is pour the milk, double cream and chopped chocolate into a pan, then bring it gently to the boil, whisking until smooth. Serve immediately and top with mini marshmallows and a little grated chocolate.

Gingerbread hot chocolate

Gingerbread may be most commonly associated with autumn or winter but let's be honest, there's never a bad time to enjoy its sweet, slightly peppery taste!

Ingredients

To make two mugs, you will need:

• 300ml milk

• 100ml double cream

• 1 tsp dark brown soft sugar

• 1 orange, zested

• pinch of ground ginger

• pinch of ground cinnamon

• 2 cloves

• 4 drops of vanilla extract

• 100g dark chocolate, chopped

• whipped cream

• 2 mini gingerbread biscuits, crushed

Begin by stirring the milk, cream, sugar, orange zest and spices together in a saucepan, then bring to a simmer over a low heat. Remove from the heat and pour through a sieve into a jug, discarding the clove and orange zest. Pour the milk back into the pan and stir in the vanilla and chocolate until the chocolate has melted and is smooth, returning the pan to a low heat to warm through, if necessary.

Then, simply pour into a heatproof mug, top with whipped cream, add the crushed gingerbread biscuits and serve.

Vegan hot chocolate

Everyone deserves a chocolate-y treat from time to time so this recipe has been designed specifically for those with plant-based diets!

Ingredients

To make two mugs, you will need:

• 500ml oat milk

• 100g vegan dark chocolate, finely chopped, plus a grating to serve

• 1 small cinnamon stick

• 2 bruised cardamom pods

• ½ tbsp maple syrup

• vegan marshmallows

Heat all the ingredients - apart from the marshmallows - in a small pan over a low heat and stir frequently until the chocolate melts. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods, then divide the hot chocolate between two mugs and top with the marshmallows and an extra grating of chocolate.

Mocha

If you fall into the 'coffee or nothing' category of hot drink lovers, fear not - there's plenty of choccy in this cheeky mocha recipe!

Ingredients

To make two mugs, you will need: 

• 36g ground espresso or 2 espresso pods

• 500ml milk

• 2 tsp drinking chocolate

Begin by making around 70ml espresso using a coffee machine and divide between your two mugs. Add 1 tsp drinking chocolate to each and mix well until smooth.

Next, steam the milk so that it has around 4-6cm of foam on top. Hold the jug so that the spout is about 3-4cm above a mug and pour the milk in steadily. As the volume within the mug increases, bring the jug as close to the surface of the drink as possible whilst aiming into the centre. Once the milk jug is almost touching the surface of the coffee, tilt to speed up the rate of pour. As you accelerate, the milk will hit the back of the cup and start naturally folding in on itself to create a pattern on top!

Happy Easter from Cafe2U!
We hope all our customers have a happy Easter and bank holiday weekend. There's bound to be plenty of chocolate to go around but if you run out of great coffee to enjoy with it, contact your local Cafe2U van here and we'll deliver some direct to your door!

World Poetry Day 2024.

To celebrate World Poetry Day, here are some of our attempts at coffee-themed poems!

Morning Brew.

In dawn's soft light, a ritual begins,

The kettle hums, the grinder spins.

Aromatic whispers fill the air,

As coffee beans release their flair.

A cup of warmth to start the day,

Chasing shadows, driving grey away.

With every sip, a gentle sigh,

As morning's calm begins to fly.

Espresso Symphony.

In the heart of bustling streets,

Amidst the crowd's hurried beats,

A symphony in a tiny cup,

Where time slows down, and worries are supped.

Bold and rich, like midnight's kiss,

Each drop, a moment of bliss.

A dance of flavours on the tongue,

In this espresso, worlds are sung.

Café Serenade.

In the corner of a cosy nook,

Pages turn and thoughts partook.

A melody of whispers rise,

In the haven of coffee's guise.

A refuge from the outside storm,

Where dreams take shape and hearts reform.

With every sip, a verse is spun,

In this café, where souls are won.

Think you can do any better? Send us your attempts via our social channels!

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With Our Tasty Irish Coffee Recipe.

Known across the world as Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th is the day on which Irish culture and heritage are celebrated in all their glory in commemoration of Saint Patrick, Ireland's foremost patron saint.

Saint Patrick was an Irish bishop who was kidnapped by Irish raiders and forced to work as a shepherd, during which time he found God. Tradition has it that God told Patrick to escape and head to the coast, where a ship would be waiting to take him home to Ireland. Upon his return, Patrick converted thousands of pagan Irish to Christianity, carving out the religious path that Ireland would follow for centuries to come.

Despite his death on March 17th, 461 A.D, his legend continued to grow and, in the 17th century, his death date was made an official Christian feast day observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion and others.

Today, despite only being officially recognised as a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world. In fact, it's celebrated in more countries than any other national festival, with revellers typically enjoying public parades, traditional Irish music sessions, the wearing of green clothing and, of course, a glass or two of Irish beer, cider or whiskey. 

It's with the latter that we're concerned today.

According to legend, the first Irish coffee was created in the winter of 1943 by Joe Sheridan, a chef at Foynes Port near Limerick. During World War II, as the last port of call for seaplanes east of the Atlantic, Foynes became one of the largest civilian airports in Europe.

One evening, Chef Joe decided to make a warming drink with a kick for a group of weary passengers whose plane had been forced to return to Foynes midway through a journey. Not only did his combination of coffee, cream and Irish whisky go down a storm with the travellers, it went on to become one of the most popular alcoholic drinks of all time and one which is still enjoyed as an indulgent end-of-meal drink today and particularly on St. Patrick's Day.

So how do you make the perfect Irish coffee at home? Let's take a look…

Irish coffee recipe.

The saying goes that on St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish. If that's the case, there's no excuse for not giving this recipe a go over the coming days!

Ingredients.

To make an Irish coffee, you will need:

• 2 tbsp double cream

• 150ml freshly brewed black coffee

• 50ml Irish whiskey

• 1 tsp brown sugar

• pinch freshly grated nutmeg

• mint syrup (optional)

Start by lightly whipping the cream until it starts to thicken, then set aside.

Next, pour the hot coffee into a mug then add the whiskey and sugar. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then float the cream on top by pouring it carefully over the back of a spoon held just above the surface of the liquid. Gradually raise the spoon as you pour until the entire layer is floated.

Finally, sprinkle with the nutmeg and serve hot. Add a dash of mint syrup for a green finish!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Our mobile baristas will be on the road as usual this St. Patrick's Day so, if you fancy making an Irish coffee and need some coffee delivering to your doorstep, contact your nearest Cafe2U van here and we'll do the rest. Sláinte!

Winter Warmers: Cosy Coffee Creations To Beat the Chill.

Spring may be just around the corner but there are still a few more weeks of winter to navigate first.

If you're counting the minutes until the days start getting warmer and the nights start getting shorter, we've got a few hot drink recipes that will make the last knockings of winter just that little bit more manageable. Enjoy!

Pumpkin spice latte.

Pumpkin spice lattes are one of the UK's favourite seasonal hot drinks so what better time to enjoy one?!

Ingredients.

To make pumpkin spice lattes, you will need:

• 750g pumpkin

• ground cinnamon

• ground ginger

• ground nutmeg

• 30ml espresso or strong coffee

• 250ml milk (any variety)

To begin, you will need to make some pumpkin puree. Peel and seed your pumpkin, then cut into evenly sized cubes. Place the cubes in a steamer or colander over a pan of simmering water for 10-15 minutes or until soft, then mash and leave to cool.

Once cool, put two teaspoons of puree into a large heatproof glass or mug and stir in the spices and coffee. Next, heat the milk in a saucepan over a low heat until steaming and frothy. Pour into the glass or mug and spoon over the froth. Stir to combine, dust with more cinnamon and voila - the perfect warming, aromatic drink to enjoy on a cold winter evening!

Peppermint mocha.

Peppermint and coffee bring out the flavours in each other for a warming treat that's the perfect antidote to chilly temperatures.

Ingredients.

To make two peppermint mochas, you will need:

• 190ml milk

• 3 tablespoons sugar

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

• 190ml espresso

• ½ tsp mint extract (or ½ peppermint candy cane)

• ¼ tsp vanilla extract

• Whipped cream

• Pinch of chocolate shavings

Add the milk, cocoa and sugar to a small saucepan on medium heat and warm until the sugar dissolves completely, stirring occasionally. While the milk is heating, brew the espresso.

Pour the espresso and milk mixture into large mugs and top with whipped cream, then sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Gingerbread latte.

Sweet, cosy and creamy, gingerbread lattes are the ultimate winter comfort drink.

Ingredients.

To make two gingerbread lattes, you will need:

• 1½ tsp ground ginger, plus extra to serve

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, plus extra to serve

• 2 tbsp soft brown sugar

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• 600ml whole milk

• 2 shots hot espresso 

• whipped cream, to serve

In a bowl, mix together the spices, sugar and vanilla extract, then heat 100ml of the milk in a pan and add the spice and sugar mix. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved, then whisk in the remaining milk in additions until incorporated. Heat through until steaming.

Put a shot of espresso in each glass and top up with the spiced milk. Top with whipped cream and the extra spices.

Let Cafe2U help keep you warm this winter!
If you need some top quality coffee to keep your spirits warm over the next few weeks, our mobile vans will be on the road, fully loaded with some of the finest coffees around. To have some delivered to your door, find out where your nearest van is using our interactive map here!

Cafe2U Conference 2024 Part Two - Workshops and Presentations.

Following on from our recent blog about the Cafe2U Awards that took place at our annual conference this year, here's our second blog about the event, this time taking a look at the day's workshops and presentations.

Designed to benefit our franchise partners, these sessions are invaluable, with franchisees that have put the learnings from previous years' workshops and presentations into action typically experiencing sales increases, sometimes to the tune of 37.8%! 

The conference began with a presentation from our CEO, Martyn, looking back on everything we've achieved over the last 20 years and providing some market insights (you'll be pleased to hear that the size and market value of the UK coffee industry is growing all the time!), before Cafe2U's Head of Operations provided attendees with some hints and tips on how to run a successful franchise, with advice on everything from choice of language to mindset.

Introducing Small Batch.

Next up was a representative from our partners at Small Batch Coffee Roasters, who delivered an informative presentation all about the coffee they supply to us, including how it's sourced, roasted, blended, packaged and delivered.

Coffee excellence.

The next presentation looked at the differences between commercial and speciality coffee brands, where we sit in the hierarchy of things and what this tells us about our coffee.

At Cafe2U, our coffee is hand picked and hand roasted in small batches, with each blend roasted individually to gain the best possible flavour profile from each bean. The utmost care is then taken at every part of the journey from the coffee farm to our vans.

Commercial coffee, on the other hand, is usually roasted and packed in large plants, where blends are frequently roasted together with little care for individual flavour profiles, resulting in low grade coffee quality.

As a result, we're delighted to say that, going forward, we will no longer be comparing and benchmarking ourselves against the high street's Big Three coffee retailers as we honestly believe we surpass them all in terms of coffee quality. Instead, we'll be comparing ourselves against organisations in the 'speciality' market instead - those that use only the world's best, highest-grade coffee, which comprises the top 3-5% of global yields!

We have total confidence in both our award-winning coffee beans and our award-winning baristas and we're sure this will be reflected in Cafe2U's performance over the coming months.

Good Till & Good Eats workshop.

Next up was a 'Good Till & Good Eats' workshop, in which we talked about how our franchise partners can utilise the systems we already have in place - like pre-ordering systems and reporting tools - to analyse trends and maximise profitability in an increasingly digital age populated by tech-savvy consumers.

According to a recent survey, 46% of coffee consumers prefer to self-serve or pre order, with 27% of under 25s regularly using a delivery service for their coffee orders. That's 3.3 million potential coffee consumers ready and waiting!

And finally…

The conference wrapped up with a breakout session on engaging with customers and an opportunity for franchisees to learn from each other and share tips.

As you can tell, we leave no stone unturned at our franchise partner events, so keep an eye out for the third and final conference blog in the coming weeks!

Coffee Gift Ideas For Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and what better way to express your love for your coffee-loving partner than with a thoughtful coffee-themed gift?

Whether they're a connoisseur of cappuccinos or a fan of flavoured lattes, we've curated a list of the best coffee-related Valentine's Day gifts that are sure to brew up some love!

Personalised coffee mug.

Start their day with a smile by gifting them a personalised coffee mug. You can customise it with a sweet message, their name or even a memorable date. Every sip they take will remind them of your love - as well as their love for coffee! 

Check out sites like Etsy for a variety of customizable options.

Coffee-infused chocolate.

Combine two beloved indulgences into one delightful gift by giving your partner some coffee-infused chocolate. Whether it's espresso-flavoured truffles or mocha chocolate bars, these treats are sure to satisfy their sweet tooth and their coffee cravings! 

There are plenty of options available online but this Friars Selection Box gets the nod from us for the sheer range of treats it contains!

French Press.

Elevate their coffee brewing experience with a high-quality French press. This classic brewing method will allow them to savour the full flavour and aroma of their favourite coffee beans. Depending on their interior design choices, you can safely opt for either a sleek stainless steel design or a traditional glass model.

French presses are easy to pick up online or in stores but we really like this stainless steel model from Kichly - it comes with a 3 level filtration system, offers good value for money and looks the business! 

Coffee Art Print.

Add a touch of caffeinated charm to their home decor with a coffee-themed art print. Whether it's a minimalist coffee cup illustration or a vibrant coffee shop scene, art prints are a stylish way to celebrate their love for coffee. 

We're big fans of this simple 'cafe' design but a simple Google search will yield literally thousands of results for you to choose between!

A prepaid Cafe2U card.

If your partner is a Cafe2U customer, why not pick up the tab for their next few visits with one of our gift cards? When you prepay for five, they'll get the sixth completely free and it'll mocha their day!

Get in touch with your nearest Cafe2U barista here to find out more.

Happy Valentine's Day from Cafe2U!

This Valentine's Day, show your partner how much you care with a coffee-related gift that speaks to their passion for all things caffeinated. Cheers to love and great coffee!

Cafe2U Conference 2024 - part one.

One of our favourite weekends of the year, the annual Cafe2U Conference never disappoints and this year was no different!

Taking place on Saturday, January 27th, at Alveston Manor in Stratford Upon Avon, this conference was a particularly special one, as it marked the launch of our 20th anniversary celebrations!

As well as giving our franchisees the opportunity to attend workshops aimed at enhancing their knowledge and practices, the conference also allowed us to look back at the business developments and successes that have taken place over the last 20 years, celebrate how far we've come and set out where we are heading.

It also gave our franchisees the chance to get to know their colleagues, our suppliers and our head office team, enjoy some good food, have a dance and enjoy an awards evening - which is what we'll be focussing on in this blog! 

Cafe2U Awards 2024.

The perfect way to end a busy day, our annual awards event was as enjoyable and hotly-contested as ever, with the quality of every nominee really emphasising just how amazing our franchise partners are and how hard they work.

The nine categories - and their respective winners - were: 

The Coronation Treat Award.

Presented to franchise partners that went above and beyond in order to serve the armed forces at the King's Coronation last year, the recipients were Kola Onakoya, Bernard Sullivan and Gemma and Clair Gay.

Special thanks went to Scott and Emma Colmer, Tim Shaw, Kayleigh Wylde, Bob Golbert, Jo and Gary Bonnick and Antonio and David Petrosino for their efforts too!

Rising Star Award. 

One of the conference's newer awards, this category recognises partners that demonstrate an excellent understanding of the franchise model, are hungry to learn and who show determination to build and run their franchise as successfully as possible.

This year's winner was Rob Johnson (Cafe2U Warrington North)!

Barista of The Year Award.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Barista of The Year Award is a tough one to win - you'd only need to look at the length of the 'short' list to understand just how many fantastic baristas we're lucky to have in our ranks (hint: it wasn't that short!). 

This year, there was nothing to choose between two of the nominees… so we crowned two champions! 

Congratulations to Emil Pandrea (Cafe2U Goole) and Gemma and Clair Gay (Cafe2U Bath South West) who simply serve perfect coffees, day in and day out, without exception!

Supreme Bean Award.

This award is presented to the partner who exhibits the highest standards across several areas of their business. On this occasion, however, we were once again spoilt for choice, so it's another category with dual winners - congratulations to Laura Hall (Cafe2U Bury St Edmunds) and Anna Molnar (Cafe2U Bristol East)!

Most Improved Franchise Partner Performance.

This award recognises the franchise partner who has most significantly improved their business over the last 12 months and this year's winners were Peter and Melanie Smart (Cafe2U Chelmsford East).

Social Media Award.

Another relatively new award, this category recognises the franchise partner who has used their social media accounts to communicate and interact with customers most effectively.

Hats off to Emma Pardoe (Cafe2U Kingswinford) whose social media savvy is nothing short of exemplary!

Outstanding Achievement Award.

This special award is dedicated to our ambassadors - long-serving partners who have been with Cafe2U for a significant amount of time and elevated the company as a result.

This year's recipient has been with us for almost 13 years and, while navigating numerous ups and downs along the way, has always been an exceptional team player. Congratulations to Paul Newman (Cafe2U Rochester).

Double Espresso Award.

A new award for 2024, this category celebrates those franchisees who operate successfully as a pair (or even a family business).

The inaugural winners were a husband and wife team who operate in Chippenham, love what they do and consistently make their customers' days. Well done, Richard and Sharon Bool!

And finally, the big one… 

Franchise Partner of the Year Award.

This award recognises and celebrates the very best performer across every aspect of the business over the previous 12 months.

For demonstrating consistent growth - despite the tough economic situation facing UK consumers -  this year's winners, for the second year running, no less, were Amanda and Steve Lawrence (Cafe2U Braintree)!

An extremely worthy pair of winners, we're rewarding Amanda and Steve's hard work with a trip to Copenhagen for a food and coffee tour, plus tickets to the World of Coffee Festival!  

Can't see your local Cafe2U barista among the winners? Let us know why they'd have been worthy champions on our social media channels!

To find out how you could become our newest franchise partner, click here.

Enjoy Veganuary With Cafe2U!

Veganuary is an annual challenge promoting veganism and its benefits by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle throughout January, in order to help end animal farming and protect the environment. 

If you're a coffee-lover who is taking part in Veganuary 2024, this weekend is the perfect opportunity to get your apron on and experiment with some tasty vegan recipes. But what recipes go best with coffee? 

We take a look.

Vegan courgette cake.

Perfect for a coffee morning, this tangy delight is guaranteed to brighten your day!

Ingredients.

To make vegan courgette cake, you will need: 

• 80g vegan butter block, softened, plus extra for the tin

• 175g golden caster sugar

• 2 lemons, zested, 1 juiced

• 100ml oat milk

• 100g ground almonds

• 175g self-raising flour

• ½ tsp baking powder

• 175g courgettes, coarsely grated

• 200g icing sugar

Heat your oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, then butter and line a 900g loaf tin. Beat together the vegan butter block, sugar and lemon zest until combined. Add the plant milk and beat slowly to combine, then add the ground almonds, flour and baking powder, along with the grated courgette, and stir to combine. 

Next, spoon the batter into the prepared tin and level the top. Bake for 55-60 mins until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely in the tin.

To make the icing, sieve the icing sugar into a bowl and add 1 tbsp of the lemon juice and stir to combine. Add a little more lemon juice if needed, ½ tsp at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. 

Finally, remove the cake from the tin and drizzle over the icing, allowing it to drip down the sides. Leave to set for 20-30 mins, then cut into slices and serve.

Chocolate vegan biscuits.

This rich, indulgent recipe does exactly what it says on the tin!

Ingredients.

To make 12-16 chocolate vegan biscuits, you will need:

• 150g vegan margarine

• 75g golden caster sugar

• 225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

• 100g vegan chocolate chips

• 100g icing sugar, sifted

• 1 tbsp citrus juice, plus 1 tsp

Begin by using an electric whisk to cream together the vegan margarine and sugar for 2 minutes. Mix in the flour along with 1 tbsp water and the chocolate chips, then bring together into a disc using your hands. Cover and put in the fridge to chill for 30 mins. 

Next, line a large baking sheet with baking parchment and heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour, then roll out the biscuits to around 1cm thick and use a cutter to stamp out 12-16 biscuits. Arrange on the lined baking sheet and bake for 12-15 mins until golden. Leave on the baking sheet until cool to touch, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the icing, mix together the icing sugar and 1 tbsp and 1 tsp of citrus juice. Drizzle over the cooled biscuits and leave to set.

Vegan cookies and cream cake.

Ideal as an afternoon treat or for special occasions, this cake recipe is seriously luxurious!

Ingredients.

To make vegan cookies and cream cake, you will need:

• 150ml sunflower oil, plus extra for the tin

• 200ml oat milk

• 1 ½ tsp white wine vinegar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 120g dairy-free yoghurt

• 225g light brown soft sugar

• 200g self-raising flour

• 70g cocoa powder

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 150g crème-filled chocolate sandwich cookies

• 150g vegan spread

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 275g icing sugar

Oil a 20 x 20cm baking tin and line the base and sides with parchment paper, then heat the oven to 180C/ 160C fan/gas 4. Combine the oil, milk, vinegar, vanilla and yoghurt in a jug, then mix the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb and a pinch of salt together in a bowl.

Next, pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until there are no pockets of flour remaining. Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface with a spatula. Bake for 35 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely in the tin.

Bash half of the sandwich cookies with the end of a rolling pin or blitz in a food processor. Beat the spread, vanilla and icing sugar together using an electric whisk until fluffy, then gently fold in the crushed cookies until combined.

Finally, put the cake on a board and spread over the icing, then halve or crumble the rest of the cookies on top. Cut into squares and serve.

Happy Veganuary from Cafe2U!

As big fans of vegan bakes, you won't be surprised to hear that Cafe2U also offers a range of vegan-friendly alternative milks. Contact your nearest van and find out more here.

New Year, New Possibilities: Become a Franchisee in 2024.

New Year, New Possibilities: Become a Franchisee in 2024.

Almost a third of Brits are predicted to have made a new year's resolution for 2024, with doing more exercise, losing weight, drinking less and spending less time on social media among the most popular choices.

Nearly one in five resolution-makers (18%) want to advance their career goals and, if you're one of them (or have just decided you fancy a career change), now is the perfect time to consider investing in a franchise.

Of course, people unfamiliar with franchises will probably ask: "But what benefits does choosing a franchise have over getting a new job?" 

Let's take a look!

Wellbeing on your terms.

Essentially, franchisees operate as entrepreneurs, with the autonomy to make decisions on work hours, locations and duration. This flexibility creates a career that aligns with your lifestyle, fostering a work-life balance often elusive in a 9-5 job while simultaneously improving your wellbeing.

And, with more and more people working from home in 2024, investing in a franchise that can adapt to different locations and settings - like Cafe2U - is a particularly good idea!

It's profitable.

The franchise industry is renowned for its profitability, making it an attractive choice for those seeking financial growth. Consistent performance directly translates to increased income, offering limitless earning potential for franchisees.

Swift start up.

Becoming a franchisee is a straightforward process that involves an interview, the drawing up and signing of a contract, buying into the franchise and then training for the new role, which may only take a matter of weeks. After that, you're up and running!

If you don't want to hang around, franchising is one of the best ways to get a new business off the ground as soon as possible.

Low-risk venture.

Did you know that approximately 97% of UK-based franchisees currently run in profit? (Or that just 38.5% of businesses that launched in the UK in 2016 were still operating five years later?)

This success can be attributed, in part, to the ability to tap into an existing customer base that is already familiar with the brand. With a built-in trust factor, franchisees can bypass the years typically spent establishing credibility, saving both time and money on extensive promotional efforts.

Comprehensive training and support.

Opting for a franchise means gaining access to thorough training from the franchisor before your business opens. Ongoing support from both the franchisor and fellow franchisees ensures a wealth of knowledge and assistance to navigate challenges, increasing the likelihood of long-term success.

Our customers aren't going anywhere!

Even with a significant proportion of the population currently having less disposable income, there are certain products and services that people just can't do without, and research shows that good coffee is one of them!

Traditionally, consumers would splash out on new clothes or gadgets to treat themselves when they got paid. As a result of the cost of living crisis, however, people are increasingly swapping more expensive treats like these for cheaper but equally rewarding alternatives, with top-quality coffee among their favourites.

Consequently, despite the pandemic/lockdown, our sales have gone from strength to strength in recent years and this trend shows no sign of stopping.

Is a Cafe2U franchise right for you?
At Cafe2U, we have a network of circa 100 franchise partners, with new franchisees joining every month. If you're interested in developing your career by becoming the owner of a mobile coffee franchise and a qualified barista operating in your own exclusive area, you can find out more about our franchise opportunities here.