For our first blog entry, we thought we might start with some frequently asked questions. As time goes by, more questions might be added to this F.A.Q., and if you'd like to know something that isn't covered here, feel free to leave a question in the comments!
What does YellowLeaf mean? The business name comes from a formerly nomadic tribe in Thailand called the Yellow Leaf people. In recent years, they have settled down and become a more agrarian people, cultivating many crops, including coffee.
So, do you sell the Yellow Leaf tribe's coffee? No. While the tribe's coffee is quite good, it is not produced in sufficient volume at this time.
What is espresso? Espresso is produced by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee. The method used concentrates the flavors and produces a thicker liquid than other methods (such as drip coffee brewing). Because of the strongly concentrated flavor, espresso makes an excellent base for drinks such as lattes, cappuccinos, mochas and such.
OK, what's the difference between a latte, a mocha and all the rest? A cafe latte is our basic drink, the core of much of what we serve. It is simply espresso and steamed milk. To this, we add syrup flavors to make our flavored lattes, such as vanilla, caramel or Irish cream. When we add chocolate syrup, we use the Italian word "mocha" and "mocha bianca" means white chocolate in Italian. Of course, all of these drinks can be made over ice as well.
What's a cappuccino, then? A cappuccino is very similar to a latte, but with a simple distinction. Cappuccinos are traditionally one third espresso, one third steamed milk and one third froth. The terms "wet" and "dry" refer to how foamy you want your milk. Wet cappuccinos have less froth while dry cappuccinos have more. A very dry cappuccino is so light, you might think there is nothing in the cup! Properly frothed milk gives the drink a sweet flavor. We do not serve an iced cappuccino, as the key ingredient is steamed, foamy milk.
And an Americano? Imagine you're travelling through the Italian countryside. You see a little cafe and decide to stop in for a plain cup of coffee. Simple, right? Well, this little cafe doesn't brew coffee, in fact they only have an espresso machine. How then are they to make your cup of plain coffee? Easy, actually. A Cafe Americano is "American" style coffee made with shots of espresso and hot water. Since espresso is such a strong flavor by itself, watering it down just makes it taste more like brewed coffee. One of the benefits over brewed coffee is that an Americano is made to order. We make the espresso when you order it, so it is as fresh as it can be.
What is a barista? A barista is a coffee shop employee who prepares espresso-based beverages, which is to say, all the employees at YellowLeaf.
Tell me about Chai Tea, please. Chai is a sweet, spiced black tea. There are many varieties available, and we serve Oregon Chai, a concentrate that is mixed 50/50 with a milk base. If you want to know what Chai tastes like, think of all the spices that go into a pumpkin pie, just without the pumpkin. It has nutmeg, cinnamon, honey and many other flavors making it a sweet and complex flavor. We are happy to make it with whole, non-fat or soy milk.
What do you have that's cold? We do most of our espresso drinks and Chai over ice. We also serve iced tea, but for a real treat, try one of our YellowLeaf Freezes. The Freeze is a blended drink that is sweet and gives a kick of coffee, too. Our advertised flavors are mocha, vanilla and caramel, but we'd be happy to use any of our syrup flavors to create a personalized drink just for you.
What do you have that's sugar-free? We serve vanilla, chocolate, caramel, hazelnut and raspberry in sugar-free varieties. For the most part, we agree that the sugar-free chocolate is pretty great. We also offer sugar alternatives in the form of Sweet-n-Low, Equal and Splenda. Sorry, we do not have a sugar-free Chai.
I don't know what I want, what do you recommend? The answer to this question will differ from barista to barista, but most of us will suggest our basic drinks - mocha, mocha bianca or creamy caramel. If you want something different, you are welcome to tell us to surprise you. It's a fun way to try flavor combinations that you might not have thought of before.
Why is your coffee so good? The beans used for all of our drinks are roasted for us weekly, so they are never left to sit around and go bad. They are roasted to medium dark, a roast that allows for great flavor, without burning out the caffeine, so your drink is not only great tasting, but it does it's job of picking you up! We take great care to brew each shot of espresso for the best flavor and consistency.
Do you take credit or debit cards? We take Visa, Master Card and Discover. We do not take American Express, sorry.
yes!!! this is better than the punch card =)
ReplyDeleteMary salas