Corporate Essentials Blog

First Look: The Keurig Vue V1200 Office Brewer

2012-02-16T13:43:00.000-08:00

Over the last two days, you have have probably heard about Keurig's new Vue Brewing System and Vue-Packs.

But as an office coffee service, we are excited to share some of the first images of the Keurig Vue V1200 Office Brewing System.

The Keurig Vue V1200 Office Brewer will be available in the fall of 2012, and will utilize RFID technology to create the perfect beverage.

We will have more information on the Keurig Vue Office Brewing System as it becomes available, so check back frequently here on the Corporate Essentials Blog, and at drinkcoffee.com for all of the latest info.

What's the Big Deal? Introducing the New Keurig Vue Brewing System

2012-02-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

While the New Keurig Vue Brewing System will not be available for offices from Corporate Essentials until at least the Fall of this year, we wanted to share this quick video clip to show you what the buzz is all about.

First Look: Java Cafe Coffee Pods (The Labels Are Here)

2012-02-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

As we continue to prepare for the launch of our Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup in very early March, we've been providing updates as they become available.

Today, the labels for our 12 varieties of Coffee Pods were delivered. Above is a picture of some of the rolls before we shipped them out to our roaster.

While all of them look great, we're partial to Black, Colombian Cafe Arabica and Empire Diner Blend. After seeing all of the pictures of the labels, what are your favorites?

Java Cafe Coffee Pods will be available for offices exclusively from Corporate Essentials starting in early March. Contact a Corporate Essentials Office Coffee Professional today in order to set up an in-office tasting as soon as they become available.

Building a Brand: Creating the Java Cafe Coffee Pod Lineup (Part I)

2012-02-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

So it might make more sense to go in chronological order, and start more than a year ago when we sat down with a design firm from the west coast, and came up with a plan to totally rebuild our Java Cafe Brand of coffees.

But, we thought about it, and decided that sharing each step with you as we wrap up the process of completing our Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup might be more interesting.

This week, we printed the film that will wrap each Java Cafe Coffee Pod, and seal in the freshness. Creating the perfect film for our Java Cafe Coffee Pods was big for us, mostly because of our commitment to freshness. Even back when we first discussed launching our own brand of coffee pods, our goal was to bring the freshest possible single-serve coffee experience to our customers.

The first step was finding a "local" coffee roaster, willing to roast only the freshest coffee for our Java Cafe Coffee Pods in extremely small batches. Once we found a coffee roaster who matched our needs, we turned our attention to the way our coffee pods would be packed.

While many other coffee pod manufacturers rely on one or two-ply film to seal in the freshness of their coffee pods, Java Cafe Coffee Pods use a three-ply film to lock in the freshness of each pod. This truly ensures that after packaging, the first time your Java Cafe Coffee Pod is exposed to air or light (both of which can have an affect on the coffee's flavor) is when you tear open the package, and place the pod in your brewer.

We were even shocked by the amount of manpower that goes into creating the rolls film which make up one layer of the packaging of our Java Cafe Coffee Pods. The press which they are printed on was manned by no fewer than 10 people, each of them working towards perfecting the end product.

While we wrapped up the printing of the first layer of film for the Java Cafe Coffee Pods this week, even that process is far from finished, the film will go on to be laminated and backed with a layer of freshness-sealing foil early next week.

This month we will continue to introduce each coffee pod in our Java Cafe lineup one by one, and we'll be providing another post like this when we actually roast and package the coffee in very early March all leading to our launch of the Java Cafe Coffee Pod Lineup on exclusively for offices from Corporate Essentials on March 12, 2012.

A special thanks to the team at Ultra Flex in Brooklyn, New York for welcoming us into your facility yesterday.

What Corporate Essentials is All About? | Read Our Mission Statement

2012-02-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's post about trusting your office coffee service provider got us thinking - do people know what Corporate Essentials is all about?

And what better way to let all of our Corporate Essentials customers, and prospective customers know what we're all about than to share our mission statement.

Here it is:

Corporate Essentials

provides the highest quality

coffees, refreshment services,

and related supplies to the

corporate workplace.

We are:

Committed

to a personal relationship

with our customers, employees,

and vendors;

Passionate

about providing the most

reliable and consistent service

every day; and

Dedicated

to an environment where fun,

respect, and integrity and essential.

So that's it, and while it may just look like some words strung together to look meaningful, and create an impact; to each and every Corporate Essentials employee it is something we believe in, and something that we want our customers (and vendors) to see in us in every interaction we have with them.

When you choose Corporate Essentials as your office coffee service provider, above all else, you'll be dealing with a company Committed, Passionate and Dedicate to your needs, and even more than being able to say that - we believe it.

Do You Really Trust Your Office Coffee Service Provider?

2012-02-07T07:00:00.001-08:00

This morning, the Corporate Essentials Blog feels a little more like a local police blotter, but we thought it was a good opportunity to point out just how important a good relationship with your Office Coffee Service provider could be.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, a South Florida man was sentenced Monday to a year in federal prison for his role in a national coffee-vending machine business fraud. The crime: misleading victims about how much money they would make from a business proposal to buy coffee machines in high-traffic locations. Victims testified they lost between $15,000 and $192,000 because the machines were placed in poor sales area or never arrived at all.

Now, let us be totally clear, we're not accusing anyone of fraud, but as a customer, you should know that you always have the best equipment to suit your needs. If your office has downsized to fewer than 20 employees over the past few years, and you're still using the same equipment you used when you had more than 40 employees, maybe it's time to re-evaluate your office coffee service. The same can be said if your company has doubled in size in the last year or two - can your coffee equipment even accomodate the increased volume?

At Corporate Essentials, we value our relationship with our customers over everything else, and understanding each and every one of our customers needs. We understand just how important great office coffee is to your office, and we want to make sure your investment in your office coffee service is being maximized.

If you think your office coffee program is in need of change, or would just like one of our Office Coffee Professionals to take a look and make sure things are set up as efficiently as possible, please fill out a contact form at drinkcoffee.com and we'll be more than happy to sit down and discuss.

Yes, Those are Different Hot Cups than on Your Last Order

2012-02-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

If you're thinking that the 10-ounce or 12-ounce hot cups you received with this order from Corporate Essentials are different than the last time you ordered, there's a good reason for that - because they are.

In order to continue to provide all of our customers with the highest quality product available, at a very reasonable price, we have switched many of our paper products over to the Emerald Select Brand. The first place you'll notice the change will be with our hot cups. Here is the ordering information you'll need:

5A10C -- Emerald Select Hot Cups, 10 oz (1,000/case)
5A10CE -- Emerald Select Hot Cups, 10 oz (50/sleeve)

5A12C -- Emerald Select Hot Cups, 12 oz (1,000/case)
5A12CE -- Emerald Select Hot Cups, 12 oz (50/sleeve)

If you would like more information on these Hot Cups, or any Emerald Select Paper products, please send us an email.

First Look: Java Cafe Guatemalan Asado Perfecto Coffee Pods

2012-02-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

So far, we have introduced three of the 12 Coffee Pods in our exclusive Java Cafe lineup - one everyday favorite and two flavors, which are sure to be popular with all of our clients who enjoy flavored coffees.

Today, we are introducing Java Cafe Guatemalan Asado Perfecto Coffee Pods, the first of three single-origin offerings in the Java Cafe Coffee Pod line up.

Asado Perfecto translates to "Perfect Roast," and the reason for this is because we roast these Guatemalan beans a little different than most. Most of the time, when you see a single-origin Guatemalan coffee, it will be a medium roast, but we have found that that asado perfecto for this 100% Arabica coffee is to go just a bit darker.

If you're a fan of coffees from South and Central America, or just a fan of good coffee in general, we guarantee you'll love our new Java Cafe Guatemalan Asado Perfecto Coffee Pods, exclusively available for your office from Corporate Essentials.

First Look: New Pure Essentials Bottled Water Logo

2012-01-31T09:08:00.000-08:00

As you probably already know, in addition to being NYC & NJ's Premier Office Coffee Service, Corporate Essentials also leads the way in bottled water and water filtration.

That's why, when we went back to the drawing board for our Pure Essentials bottled water program, we decided to make some changes. Not only to the way our logo was designed, but to what the Pure Essentials brand meant.

Pure Essentials Spring Water has always meant that you'd be guaranteed 100% pure spring water, delivered to your office by one of our Corporate Essentials delivery professionals, but we wanted the Pure Essentials name to stand for more.

That's why, starting today, we will donate 3% of the total sales from our Pure Essentials Spring Water to charity: water, a non-profit organization that brings clean and safe water to people in developing nations.

So now, when you're enjoying a refreshing glass of Pure Essentials Pure Spring Water you can feel great about it too.

For more information on Pure Essentials Pure Spring Water or any other Corporate Essentials office refreshment products or services, please fill out a contact form at drinkcoffee.com.

First Look: Java Cafe Vanilla Bean Coffee Pods

2012-01-30T06:17:00.000-08:00

When creating the Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup, we were told over and over that we "needed" to have a both French Vanilla and Hazelnut as flavored options.

After looking through a lot of data, we agreed that the people who were telling us that we needed to offer a French Vanilla and Hazelnut flavored option were correct - kind of...

When it came down to it, the term "French Vanilla" just didn't seem like it was vanilla enough. We needed something with even more vanilla flavor. And where can you get the most vanilla flavor from? A vanilla bean.

And with that, Java Cafe Vanilla Bean Coffee Pods were born. Our Java Cafe Vanilla Bean Coffee Pods use more vanilla flavoring than any other coffee pods available today. From the time you tear open the packaging of one of our Java Cafe Vanilla Bean Coffee Pods, there will be no doubt that you're about to enjoy the most vanillalicious coffee you've ever tasted (yes, vanillalicious is a made up word; but it is also the only way to accurately describe the flavor of Java Cafe Vanilla Bean Coffee Pods).

Java Cafe Coffee Pods will be available beginning in early March from Corporate Essentials. Check back on the Corporate Essentials Blog throughout the month of February as we introduce the entire Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup.

Does Brown Mean (More) Green?

2012-01-27T11:25:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, the mere perception of somethings makes us, and everyone around us think that something is true. Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Nassauer had an article titled "To Scream Green, Firms Switch to Light Brown," which explained some of the differences (and some of the misnomers) about "brown" paper products.

Knowing that everyday my Corporate Essentials sales team fields questions from both customers and prospective customers about sustainable products, I really felt the need to share some parts of Sarah's article, while also including my own take on the topic.

It seems like many manufacturers and retail foodestablishments are moving away from the more common white napkins and otherpaper disposables to products that are different shades of brown. The basicpremise for this is that it is perceived to be greener and we know everyonewants to or should want to go green. The questions of course are these “brown”products any more green than the white products they are replacing and ofcourse what is the cost difference.

Based on the fact that many well-known national chainretailers have changed over to these brown disposables you would think that theanswers to both questions I posed would have to be an obvious "yes." As we allknow things are not always a simple yes, or what you might expect.

People assume that brown paper products are better for theenvironment because they are made from recycled materials and that white paperproducts are not. The technology today actually allows white paper products tobe made from 100% recycled fibers so that is a misconception. In the past theprocess to make white paper disposable “white” did involve using thepotentially environmentally harmful chemical chlorine but in fact that processis no longer necessarily used as there are newer safe methods that can achievesimilar whitening. These processesthat are considered safer use hydrogen peroxide, oxygen or ozone. One of the industry’s largest producersof paper goods Cascades Tissue group does claim that dropping the extra step ofbeaching reduces the environmental impact of their Moka brand toilet paper byabout 25% because of energy savings and other positive benefits. One last pointabout a misconception of the whitening process and recycled paper is that theslightly rougher feel is caused not if fact by the whiten process but by thefact that recycled paper comes from shorter and or comes from different sourcesthan paper made from virgin or new fibers from tress which is naturally softer.

The largest manufactures of paper for households only marketthese brown products to businesses not homes but the market demand in homes israpidly growing so I’m sure this will change. The product that might take alittle more education even over time is toilet paper. It seems we areespecially fond of extra soft paper when it comes to our tushand just need to touch and feel before we buy!

To summarize it will be the businesses who are leading thebrown change here. I think the value in a supplier here is that they have notonly the options but also the patience and caring to help clients navigatethrough all the facts and bring valuable cost effective green sustainablesolutions to its customers.

This post was written by Judson Kleinman, President of Corporate Essentials, a Fairfield, New Jersey-based office coffee service.

The Price of Coffee Going Up More Than 400 Percent (Don't Worry, Not Here)

2012-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

We had you worried there for a few seconds, right?

Well, don't worry. This IS NOT a post about the price of your coffee from Corporate Essentials going through the roof. It's actually about the coffee price going up at a place that we thought only sold roast beef sandwiches (that's what we saw about them on The Travel Channel's Sandwich Paradise).

According to Phillippe's of Los Angeles's website, effective February 2, 2012, the new price for a cup of coffee will be $0.45. That's right, the price that coffee is going up to is $0.45 per cup.

The last time that Phillipe's had a price increase was the year before I was born. In 1977, they raised the price of coffee from $0.05 to $0.09 - the price at which you can still get a cup of coffee for through the end of this month.

If you have a few minutes, Phillipe's story is definitely worth checking out either by visiting their website, or reading one of the many articles about them today, like the one on HuffingtonPost.com.

And after reading about Phillipe's philosophy, and the thousands and thousands of loyal customers they have, we're sure they won't mind digging just a little deeper for that extra $0.36.

So while the price increase at Phillipe's does not have a direct effect on what you pay for coffee, it does give you a pretty good idea of exactly how much the price of coffee, as a commodity, has increased over the past 18 months or so.

First Look: Java Cafe Dulce de Leche Coffee Pods

2012-01-26T05:59:00.000-08:00

When talking to our customers about what they want, it was clear that those who enjoy single-cup coffee ask for one thing much more than anything else - more flavor choices.

That's why, in putting together the Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup, we wanted to push the bouderies of flavoring past the regular french vanilla and hazelnut choices (although Java Cafe Vanilla Bean and Java Cafe Pacific Northwest Hazelnut Coffee Pods are part of the lineup too). We've purposely added more flavoring to our coffee pods than anyone else in order to ensure our flavors shine through.

Finally coming to the idea to create Java Cafe Dulce de Leche Coffee Pods was not difficult. Although most caramel flavored coffee pods present the coffee lover with a toasted caramel, or creme brule-like flavor, we wanted ours to be different. We wanted the Java Cafe Dulce de Leche Coffee Pods to have a smoothy, creamy caramel flavor; and (with this coffee pod) we definitely believe that is what we've achieved.

Here is how we describe Java Cafe Dulce de Leche Coffee Pods:

Because the name literally means "Sweet of Milk," we suggest you add your favorite milk (or creamer), a little sweetener and enjoy this caramel delight.

Java Cafe Coffee Pods will be available this March from Corporate Essentials. Check back daily this February for updates on the Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup.

First Look: Java Cafe Empire Diner Blend Coffee Pods

2012-01-25T07:11:00.000-08:00

Today we're unveiling the first selection in Corporate Essentials' Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup: Java Cafe Empire Diner Blend Coffee Pods.

Over the past few years, the trend has been to make, what the industry has termed, Donut Shop Coffees. As a matter of fact, since 2007, Coffee People's Donut Shop Keurig K-Cups for the Keurig Brewing System have outsold every other Keurig K-Cup about 8 -to-1.

But when you really think about it, outside of the donut shop with the pink and orange logo, in what other donut shops do you really drink coffee?

As we do for a lot of our marketing meetings, we got together at the Pine Brook (NJ) Diner, right down the road from our office to initially discuss the Java Cafe Pod lineup. As we sipped our coffee, the thought that was echoed over and over was that we need to have a great "donut shop blend" in our lineup.

That's when it clicked. We don't need a "donut shop coffee," we just need a coffee pod choice that which to everyone can relate; and looking around the diner, every person seemed to be relating very well to their diner coffee.

And that's how Java Cafe Empire Diner Blend Coffee Pods were born. Empire Diner Blend is a medium roast coffee, perfect anytime (sort of like breakfast at your favorite diner).

Here's the description we settled on fo Java Cafe Empire Diner Blend Coffee Pods:

Just the way you remember it (and LOVE it). Pull up to the counter and enjoy a cup of your new favorite coffee.

Java Cafe Coffee Pods will be available early this March. Check back daily throughout the month of February as we introduce the entire Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup one by one.

Exclusively Corporate Essentials: The Java Cafe

2012-01-25T06:23:00.000-08:00

Since the start of Corporate Essentials in 1996, our exclusive line of Java Cafe coffees have undergone several facelifts. As Corporate Essentials has grown as a company, our coffee line up has grown as well.

Up until now, the Java Cafe line of coffees has been made up of ground coffee in fraction packs, for the most part, used only in offices.

Over the past year, our Java Cafe brand has been undergoing its biggest change ever. Not only has the Java Cafe brand new look been given a new look, but it is now expanding into the single-serve, coffee pod market.

This March, Corporate Essentials will release a line up of 12 different coffee pods which start with 100% Arabica coffee beans, which are roasted in small batches, ground, packaged and shipped quickly to ensure each cup of Java Cafe coffee is the freshest, best-tasting cup possible.

In addition to our new Java Cafe Coffee Pod lineup, Corporate Essentials will be offering two new pieces of exclusive Java Cafe Brewing Equipment - the Java Cafe Freshcup Pod Brewer by Newco and the Java Cafe Colibri, which is a single-serve brewer which brews directly from whole bean to cup (available in early March).

Over the next six weeks, we will introduce two (2) different Java Cafe Coffee Pods per week, starting later today with Java Cafe Empire Diner Blend Coffee Pods.

How Important is a Quality Office Coffee Service?

2012-01-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, we had a post on the findings of the Accounting Principals Workonomix Survey. As we read deeper into this survey, we felt that it would only be right to dedicate at least one more post to it.

When meeting with both current and existing customers, the most important thing we try to stress is these meetings is just how important offering quality coffee is to your employees. Well, this survey actually gives some numbers to quantify just how important.

In the section of the survey titled "Americans love their coffee," it is revealed that half (50%) of the American workforce buys coffee regularly at work, spending more than $20 a week on coffee, an average of approximately $1,000 a year. They draw the conclusion that better coffee in the workplace might cut back on this expense, due to the fact that nearly one quarter (22%) of American workers wish their company would invest in better coffee in the office. In the survey, younger professionals (18-34) spend almost twice as much on coffee during the week than those 45 and older ($24.74 per week vs. $14.15 per week respectively).

A closer look at exactly who is buying all those caffeinated beverages breaks down like this; 45% of women surveyed said that "(they) did buy coffee throughout the week" and 54% of the men surveyed said the same thing. Men not only buy more coffee than women, but they spend nearly twice as much as their female counterparts ($25.70 vs. $15.00).

When it comes to how employees would like to see their company invest in work-related office improvements, nearly one quarter (22%) of those surveyed specifically answered "coffee." Once again, it was younger employees leading the way in the push for better office coffee, with 35% saying that they would like to see more money spent on office coffee.

One thing that the survey did not focus on, was the loss of productivity caused when these employees leave the office to get their caffeine fix. When a company upgrades its coffee service, it not only leads to happier employees (as documented in this survey), but more productive ones as well (based on the fact that employees will be staying in the office instead of leaving to buy coffee).

The Workonomix Survey was done by Accounting Principals, and independent organization, and was not funded in any way by Corporate Essentials. Here is some background information, and methodology on the survey:

"Accounting principals polled 1,000 employed Americans about their financial attitudes closing out 2011 and looking forward to 2012. The survey also looked into the amount of people spending money on work-related expenses. the telephone survey was conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Accounting Principals among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 employed Americans aged 18 and older. The survey was fielded between December 22 and December 27, 2011. Results have a margin of error of +/-3.1% at the 95% confidence level."

How Much Do You Spend a Year on Coffee?

2012-01-23T09:08:00.000-08:00

Let's say for a moment, you're a young professional working in an office without an office coffee service. What? You are a young professional working in an office without an office coffee service?

Perfect!

How much do you think you spend in a year on coffee? Does $500 a year sound a little low, or just about right? No? You don't think you spend that much?

Well, according to a newly released Workonomix Survey from Accounting Principals, half of the America Workforce spends about $20 a week on coffee for a grand total of more than $1,000 per year!

While the majority of those surveyed, 42 percent, believed that commuting was the work expense that they would most want reimbursed by their employer, it is clear that having an employer provide them with an office coffee service should have been given more consideration.

"Seeing studies like this can really open some eyes," said Judson Kleinman, President of Corporate Essentials. "It allows us to show our customers and prospective customers alike, just how valuable providing an office coffee service can be to their employees."

This post was compiled from several sources, including:

Coffee and lunch add up by Teresa Novellino (Business First)

Workonomix Survey from Accounting Principals

DISCONTINUED: Celestial Seasonings Earl Grey Keurig K-Cups

2012-01-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

It should come as no real surprise that as Keurig/Green Mountain introduces new varieties of Keurig K-Cups, some old favorites are discontinued.

So this morning, when we received the news that Celestial Seasonings Earl Grey Keurig K-Cups have been discontinued by Green Mountain, we can't really say that we were shocked.

So there's your breaking Keurig K-Cup news for today; Celestial Seasonings Earl Grey Keurig K-Cups have been discontinued by Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.

Here is a list of suggested replacement Keurig K-Cups, all available from Corporate Essentials:

Keurig K-Cups - The "Greener" Single-Cup Option?

2012-01-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

Nearly every time a customer is looking at a single-cup brewing option from Corporate Essentials, the question of sustainability arises. In the past, every other single-cup coffee manufacturer would compete against the Keurig Brewing System by questioning its "green-ness" versus whichever single-cup option they were pitching.

In late 2011, Keurig's Grounds to Grow On Program was rolled out on the east coast of the United States, and Office Coffee Services were finally able to give customers a solid option for recycling their spent Keurig K-Cups.

Over the past few weeks, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (Keurig's parent company) has been in the news a lot for the strides they are making in coming up with ways to convert the waste from brewing Keurig K-Cups into synthetic gas.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters - the company which produces all of those Keurig K-Cups you love, is currently working with the University of North Dakota and bioenergy specialist Wynntryst, LLC on a project aimed at using the waste from its coffee processing plant to produce energy.

The goal of this project is to develop a gasification power system fueled by coffee residues, plastic packaging, paper, cloth or burlap and single-serve Keurig K-Cups. Through this process, Green Mountain hopes to reduce landfill tonnage by two percent per dollar compared to the prior year.

The university's Energy & Environmental Research Center and its partners will try to use its advanced fixed-bed gasifier system to turn the complex mixture into clean, synthetic gas, or syngas.

If you'd like more information on this project, our friends at both Roaste.com and SmartPlanet.com have done a little better job getting into the technical side.

Corporate Essentials: Now Helping Employees Cope with Office Boredom

2012-01-16T06:35:00.000-08:00

There is a pretty good chance that if you are reading this post, you were directed here from Facebook.com/CorporateEssentials, and if you were "playing around" on Facebook, there is a good chance you're currently bored at work.

We nailed that, right?

Well, a new study referenced on the Today Show's website, included 102 office workers in the UK who completed questionnaires about their working habits. About 25 percent of those questioned indicated that they are bored most of the time.

In addition to endless web browsing, those who were bored at work indicated that they regularly munch chocolates, drink large amounts of coffee and even regularly hit up happy hour to cope with the boredom.

Now after reading that, you might be saying, "I don't have any bored workers, maybe I don't have a need for an office coffee service."

Well, there's more: The article goes on to say "At work people vandalize, steal and sabotage just because they are bored and looking for extra stimulation."

Almost 80 percent of those surveyed also felt that boredom at work makes them lose concentration, and more than half felt that it led them to make mistakes.

So when you look at the entire study, the idea that employees are using a little extra caffeine to battle office boredom isn't too bad (especially when you consider the alternatives). So if you don't have an office coffee service, now might be a great time to check out a company like Corporate Essentials.

The entire article referenced in this post can be found at today.msnbc.msn.com, and the original article from LiveScience Staff Writer Jennifer Welsh can be found at LiveScience.com.

Coffee Drinkers Less Likely to have Type-2 Diabetes

2012-01-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

A new study published in the American Chemistry Society's Journal of Agricultural; Food Chemistry, is attempting to shed light on the fact that heavy coffee drinkers tend to have a lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Previous studies have shown that every cup of coffee appears to significantly reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes, but now scientists are suggesting that those who drink four or more cups of coffee per day are 50-percent less likely to develop the disease.

Of course, at Corporate Essentials, we don't claim to be doctors, or scientists; but apparently we do deliver something that's reduces the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

If you'd like to read the full details of this study, please check it out on American Chemistry Society's website, or read something written by someone with a little more med cred:

Coffee Drinkers Less Likely to Have Type-2 Diabetes (hindustantimes.com)
Why Coffee Can Reduce Risk of Type-2 Diabetes (EmaxHealth.com)
How Your Morning Joe Stops Diabetes (DailyRX.com)

What Does a Kona Label Really Say About the Coffee?

2012-01-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

If Kona Coffee growers get there way, that 90% Panamanian coffee you pay a premium price for may be a little more clearly labeled in the near future.

What? You don't pay a premium price for Panamanian Coffee?

Okay, let's start over again (from the top).

If Kona Coffee growers get there way, that 10% Kona Coffee you pay a premium price for may be a little more clearly labeled in the near future.

And, if Kona Coffee was more clearly labeled, we wouldn't have had that little miscommunication in the first place.

Currently, in order for a blend to be labeled "Kona" it must consist of at least 10% of coffee grown in the Kona Region of Hawaii. However, the label does not have to disclose what the other 90% of what comprises the other 90% of the blend.

According to a recent Huffington Post article, "The Kona Coffee Farmers Association says that it wants (Hawaii) state Legislature to consider a bill it has drafted that would identify where the remainder of the blend is grown."

Of course, the idea behind the labeling initiative is to protect the integrity and "brand" of the US-grown Kona Coffee, but it could also do wonders for the way people look at Panamanian Coffee (which is most commonly used to fill out the remainder of Kona Blends).

If more people realize that coffee from Panama is the top choice to blend with Hawaiian-grown Kona, maybe they will start looking at brands like Panama's own Cafe Duran in a whole new light.

For more information on this post, the Huffington Post article or Kona Coffee in general, please visit KonaCoffeeFarmer.org.

Coffee + Beer = A Perfect Match?

2012-01-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

Writing for two separate (coffee industry) blogs on a daily basis can lead to a lot of days where we're left searching for ideas that our customers and followers will find to be interesting.

It's not too often we find a topic that works for both the followers of of at-home blog, as well as our office-coffee-service based blog; but today was one of those beautiful days where a topic comes up that we think all off our readers (on both blogs) might find interesting.

I mean, when the words "Dogfish Head Beer" show up, and are coffee related, it opens up some eyes, because we're 100% positive that there are many of you out there who had no idea that coffee and beer could even go together, as well as an entire community of beer geeks (said with the utmost respect, as I am one myself) who will have an opinion on the things said right here on the Corporate Essentials Blog.

This morning, Steve Goble of the Mansfield News Journal in Mansfield, Ohio staged a Royal Rumble of tasty coffee-based stouts when he pitted Dogfish Head's Chicory Stout against Founders Breakfast Stout (the original, not to be confused with Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout or the holy grail of coffee-based stouts, Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout).

Steve gives a great blow by blow, which almost allows you to taste each sip while reading his piece.

Eventually, Founder's Breakfast Stout emerges with the victory in Steve's battle of the breakfast brews, but it got us thinking. If this piece made for entertaining reading, why not expand it Steve? Let's get every coffee-based craft beer available and find out who the real champ is?

While I would think, the number-one-seeded Founder's Canadian Breakfast Stout would run rough shot over the competition, but challengers like Mikkeller's Beer Geek Brunch Weasel (made with, of course, weasel poop coffee) or an upstart like Heartland Brewery's Sumatra Porter might be able to stun some palates and pull the upset..

Who has a coffee-based beer that they's like to see in the mix to reign as the undisputed BBC (Breakfast Brew Champion)?

Let us know at Facebook.com/Corporate Essentials.

Recycling Your MARS Drinks (FLAVIA) Fresh Packs is Now Even Easier

2012-01-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Corporate Essentials, in conjunction with Mars Drinks and TerraCycle are proud to announce an exciting new website to better support the recycling of your Mars Drinks (FLAVIA) Fresh Packs. As of January 1, 2012, your recycle program will be accessible through www.RecycleYourFreshpacks.com, and upgraded to a more efficient office collection program that is even easier to use.

In preparation for this transition, we wanted to make you aware of some key changes to the program:

THE WEBSITE

Beginning January 1, 2012 you will no longer access the Mars Drinks recycle program through the TerraCycle website to recycle your freshpacks. You will contact Corporate Essentials to create a new user account on www.RecycleYourFreshpacks.com. Your user account on the new website will provide you with instant access to print FedEx shipping labels to return your used freshpacks. The labels can be affixed to any empty box available in your office to collect and ship used freshpacks to TerraCycle (further details below).

THE BOX

As of January 1, 2012, customers who have created an account on www.RecycleYourFreshpacks.com can use any box in their office to collect and ship used freshpacks to TerraCycle. Examples of boxes that can be used in your office include, but are not limited to, copy paper boxes, and the box in which your 10-ounce Hot Cups arrive. The only caveat is that the weight of the package must not exceed 40 pounds.

At Corporate Essentials, we offer two trash liners, which will perfectly accommodate the above two box options, and will make your Freshpack Recycling Program even easier:

Customers who may still have a quantity of boxes on hand from the existing program may continue to use those boxes to return used freshpacks to TerraCycle.

Additional, more detailed information about the new program is available by contacting your Corporate Essentials Office Refreshment Professional.

Will Your Favorite Coffee Blend Soon Taste Different?

2012-01-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

It's probably just me being the coffee nerd I am, but I always get excited when I open up the Wall Street Journal in the morning and find an article about the coffee industry (even though it is not good news very often).

So this morning, when I saw the headline "Coffee Roasters Rethink the Blend," I was excited to see it, but knew exactly what I was about to read: coffee roasters will soon begin looking to add more Robusta (from Wikipedia) coffee beans to blends that contained primarily Arabica (from Wikipedia) beans in the past.

The Wall Street Journal's Coffee Roasters Rethink the Blend did a fantastic job explaining the whole situation, and what it means to coffee lovers everywhere, so I would suggest taking a look at the article by Neena Rai and Leslie Josephs.

Even if you're not a coffee expert, if you've tried a cup of 100% Arabica coffee side-by-side with a cup of 100% Robusta coffee, you can tell the difference - big time. When it comes down to it, many of the blends you currently enjoy, whether from a Keurig K-Cup or in some other form, probably contain some percentage of Robusta coffee, and unless the amount used goes up significantly, there is a chance you may never even know about this change; but the team at Corporate Essentials definitely thought it was something of which you should be aware.

Flashback Friday: Corporate Essentials Marketing Video (circa 2000)

2012-01-06T06:56:00.000-08:00

Every Friday, we're going to take a few moments to go back in time.

We'll be posting something that's a throwback to a simpler time. Maybe a classic coffee ad, maybe a training video from an original Keurig Brewing System, but today, we're going back in time at Corporate Essentials.

Here's a marketing video featuring Judson Kleinman and the Corporate Essentials team from 2000. Even though some things in the video clip may seem a little dated by today's standards, some things remain the same; we provide products that boost employee morale and productivity:

A Paper Coffee Cup that's Truly Compleat

2012-01-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

Our friends over at SingleServeCoffee.com recently posted some information on a new product that we really felt the need to share.

This brand new disposable coffee cup, appropriately called Compleat features an all-paper design which includes a built-in lid and sipping spout.

The SingleServeCoffee.com post goes on to provide some interesting stats on how the Compleat cup may be able to make enjoying your cup of coffee a little more "green." According to SSC, we probably use 3-5 disposable cups per week, many of those with a disposable lid. Now imagine that everytime one of those paper cups are thrown out, a plastic lid is included with it.

The Compleat cup does not yet have an official launch date, but their plan is to initially target coffee retailers. But the Compleat cup is definitely a product to keep an eye out for in 2012, and if it becomes available for offices, there is no doubt Corporate Essentials will be here to provide it.

To get the entire post from SingleServeCoffee.com, read Compleat - The Disposable Coffee Cup with No Plastic Lid.

The Evolution of Fake Sugar

2012-01-04T07:54:00.000-08:00

This morning's Personal Journal section of Wall Street Journal featured an interesting article titled "Bracing for the Fake Sugar Rush," which spoke about mainly about the fact that Truvia is preparing more low calorie sweeteners to sweeten our coffee in the very near future.

The article also featured a breakdown on the most popular sugar substitutes with a brief breakdown of each, and when they came into the market (Truvia may want to add the WSJ's finding that it "Smells like cupcake icing" to their next marketing campaign - it sold me).

The fact that Sweet'N Low has been around since the 1970's and Equal since the 80's was stunning to me. I honestly had no idea that these sugar substitutes had been around so long.

If you're interested in reading the entire Wall Street Journal article, simply click here. If you're interested about trying any of the sugar substitutes for your office, send us an email. We'll be more than happy to have your Corporate Essentials Refreshment Professional get you out some free samples today.

Here's a video from the Wall Street Journal that goes along with the article:

Corporate Essentials Named to 2011 Inc 5000 List

2012-01-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

#2,876.

Out of all the privately held companies in the United States, Corporate Essentials checked in as the 2,876th fastest-growing company in the United States, according to Inc. Magazine.

"It's exciting to be a part of a list like this, especially for the second time," said Judson Kleinman, President of Corporate Essentials, which was also part of the Inc. 5,000 list in 2007. "In a time where most corporate growth comes from acquisitions in mergers, it shows that substantial growth can still be achieved by providing customers with first-class service."

For more information on Corporate Essentials inclusion in the 2011 Inc. 5,000 list, visit Corporate Essentials' Inc. 5,000 Profile Page.

Corporate Essentials is Now on Facebook

2012-01-03T11:27:00.000-08:00

As NYC & NJ's Premier Office Coffee Service, it is only fitting that we are able to interact with our customers in every way possible.

That's why, as of today, we are excited to announce that Corporate Essentials is officially on Facebook.

Once you "Like" Corporate Essentials at Facebook.com/CorporateEssentials, you'll get to interact with your favorite office coffee provider like never before.

You'll enjoy daily updates on products, services and everything coffee. As well as special promotions only available to customers who "Like" us on Facebook.

Find out what's new. and even what other Corporate Essentials customers are doing in their offices in order to maximize what they get out of their office coffee service.

So, in 2012, get to know Corporate Essentials like never before, and it's as easy as visiting our new Facebook page, and clicking "Like."

.......................................................

Corporate Essentials is an Authorized Distributor for Keurig, Starbucks, MARS Drinks, Tassimo, Peet's Coffee and more throughout the New York City Metropolitan Area. If you'd like more information on Corporate Essentials Office Coffee Service for your office, send us an email.