Coffee Cocktails
Sometimes, the caffeine just isn’t enough. You need something with a little more of a kick, and there seems to be a new trend that is combining coffee and alcohol. Yes, the Irish Coffee is nothing new, but there are a few more adventurous drinks being concocted nowadays. While we don’t serve alcohol at any of our shops, that doesn’t mean you can’t do a little experimenting on your own with a pound of Pearl Cup Blend! Here are a few of the more interesting coffee cocktail recipes.
Espresso Martini
1½ oz. Kahlúa
1 oz. Vodka
1 oz. espresso
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass.
The Truffle
1 oz. Frangelico
1 oz. Vodka
¾ oz. cold espresso
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass.
The Wake Up Call
2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. coffee
½ oz. triple sec
1 oz. milk
Garnish: three coffee beans
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass. Garnish with three coffee beans.
Coffee Negroni
2 oz coffee bean-infused vodka
1 Dolin Italian Vermouth (or Vya sweet vermouth, lighter than Martini Rosso)
1 oz Campari
Stir over ice and garnish with a pink grapefruit twist. Here’s how to infuse the vodka: Place a handful (30 to 40) of coffee beans into a bottle of vodka and allow to stand for five to seven minutes. Shake bottle and strain out the coffee beans. Replace vodka into bottle and refrigerate. This will keep for up to eight weeks.
These are just a few of our favorite creations. We’d love to hear what you come up with! Are you interested in trying out some of these coffee cocktails, or would you rather just stick with your good old fashioned cup of Joe?
Read More »Pearl Cup Coffee at II Creeks is Open
Well, the word is out! Our third Pearl Cup Coffee location is now soft open in Richardson at II Creeks Plaza. It’s been a long time coming, and we want to thank all of you for your patience and excitement.
As of right now, we’re only serving the coffee you know and love as well as a few select pastries. But we do expect to have a full menu soon. Our new location also has a gorgeous, dog-friendly patio. We look forward to seeing you soon, and be sure to check out all of the fantastic restaurants and shops that II Creeks has to offer!
II Creeks Plaza is a vibrant residential and retail destination nestled within the Canyon Creek neighborhood of Richardson. A combined residential and neighborhood retail development, II Creeks Plaza is home to residents who are part of the active Canyon Creek neighborhood and enjoy the convenience and sophistication of a highly sought after live, work, play lifestyle.
Read More »Rent The Pearl Cup for Your Party!
Rent our Pearl Cup Coffee location on Henderson Avenue for your next fabulous party, reception or corporate event!
We can provide the space any night of the week from 8pm-1am. Need our signature coffee drinks to be a party of your event? We can figure a Barista into your budget (but if you didn’t want one, well…then that’s just silly…but you don’t have to have a barista.) and the event organizer is welcome to bring in beer or alcohol at their own expense.
Note: Our barista would not be able to serve it from behind the bar because we don’t have a license to do so but you can have ice chests or buckets.
The space is rented in 2 hour blocks for $500 each without a barista. With a barista, there is an additional charge of $7.50 per person which includes unlimited coffee/espresso drinks. If you only want drip coffee and no espresso, that would be $5 per person. If you wanted a barista but not the upfront cost, we could do a cash bar where your guests pay for their drinks themselves.
People are already booking so grab your calendar, mark your date and email our Multi-Unit Manager, Crystal, now: [email protected]
We will help you plan the perfect date for your next big event! All bookings are done on a first come, first served basis.
Read More »Whole Bean Coffee of the Week: Ayutepeque
In an effort to help educate you on the great coffee we serve, here’s this week’s Whole Bean Coffee of the Week! Meet Ayutepeque.
Topeca describes this unique coffee as sweet, nutty, with a distinct chocolate aftertaste. This blend of bourbon and Pacas varietals is picked exclusively from their family-owned Ayutepeque farm. The coffee plants on this farm benefit from the slightly lower altitude than the Manzano farm has, giving the end product a gentle acidity and smooth finish (more on the Manzano later).
This great, full-bodied blend is available at the Henderson Ave. Pearl Cup Coffee and can be ground to suit your needs upon request. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a new coffee bean spotlight so stay tuned!
Read More »What’s a Cortado?
As you may have already noticed, we’re not like other coffee shops. We take pride in the fact that we don’t take an elitist stance on coffee. We love the opportunity to educate our customers and help them find the right beverage. To that end, we also know that the new year also brings a new workout regimen, so that daily Pearl Latte might not be possible anymore. But, there are many other less-caloric options available to you. One of which is the cortado.
A cortado is quite simple, actually. It’s just an espresso, cut with a little bit of steamed milk. The name comes from the Spanish word, cortar, which means “to cut.” The espresso shot is poured into a small shot glass, then the milk is added on top. It’s a balanced drink that’s tasty, strong and easy to drink, yet it lacks the caloric punch of a latte.
So next time you’re in need of a coffee drink that won’t break your diet, or you just want to try out something new, ask your friendly barista for a cortado!
Read More »Save Money on Your Coffee
Well, we made it to 2013! The Mayans were wrong (at least for now). The only thing is, our bank accounts are drained after the holidays and our New Year’s resolutions are weighing heavy. I think we can all agree, coffee is non-negotiable. So how can we enjoy our favorite caffeinated beverage without causing a strain on our pocketbook and our waist?
Earn discounts and free coffee by checking into Pearl Cup Coffee on Foursquare!
- Take advantage of discounts: Did you know you can bring in your own mug to Pearl Cup Coffee, at any time, and we’ll give you 10% off your drink purchase? It’s true! You’ll save money and the environment by creating less waste. We also offer Foursquare specials for newbies, frequent flyers and our esteemed mayor. So never forget to checkin to save money (and make your friends a little jealous in the process).
- Brew it yourself: Buying your coffee in bulk is a great way to still enjoy your favorite beans at a fraction of the cost. You can squeeze about 40 cups of coffee out of a pound of coffee grounds. At between $8-$10 per pound of Pearl Cup Coffee, that equals quite a nice savings.
- Skip the latte (every once in a while): Blasphemy, we know. But if you’re looking to save some calories (and some dough), going with a lighter beverage is your best bet. A cortado, doppio or even a black coffee not only cost less, they’ll do a lot less damage to your diet. If you’re not sure about trying something new, just tell your barista what you usually drink, and they’ll craft something new that you’ll love. You might even find a new favorite.
Read More »
Coffee: Your Favorite Health Food?
Lots of information (and misinformation) can be found online about the health benefits of a cup of joe. Many of these reports are based on real scientific studies, some are started and spread by much less reputable sources. So what are some of the facts about the health benefits of coffee?
- Antioxidants: Antioxidants are compounds that help protect your cells from damage. Coffee beans are full of them. Yes, so are fruits and vegetables, but the fact is Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee.
- Protect against disease: There is solid scientific evidence that states people who drink coffee are much less likely to develop diseases such as Parkinson’s, type II diabetes and certain forms of cancer. The strongest evidence exists in coffee’s effects on type II diabetes. The more coffee you consume per day, the less chance you have of developing the disease.
- Live longer: Yes, studies have shown that people who drink coffee may live longer. Some might associate drinking coffee to go along with a lifestyle of smoking and insomnia, but the fact is many coffee drinkers live a very healthy lifestyle.
It’s also important to understand that as with most things, moderation is key. 10 cups of coffee per day is not a very good idea, and lots of sugar, syrups and creamers also add to the calorie count. Also, different people have different reactions to coffee or caffeine in general. So drink up (in moderation) and enjoy those health benefits.
Read More »Be Cool to Your Coffee: Don’t Freeze It!
When you should freeze your coffee: Never!
Freezing coffee has been a controversial method of storage that has been used to attempt to preserve the freshness for an extended period of time. However, we at Pearl Cup Coffee recommend never doing so! The lifespan of coffee is ideally within 10-14 days of the roast date, so coffee consumers should try to never buy more than a two week supply of coffee at a time.
Why you shouldn’t freeze coffee:
Coffee beans are porous, which means that they absorb the flavors within them from their surroundings. This is how coffees get their great natural flavors from the fruit surrounding the bean and methods of roasting. However, this means that all the flavors in your freezer are up for grabs too. Another reason why coffee should never be frozen is because of the condensation that forms on the beans and the oils within the beans (the distinct natural flavors that we love in our coffee) will start to deteriorate, and you will lose that great flavor.
When to refrigerate coffee:
Don’t do it! Ever! The moisture created by the temperature in the refrigerator will ruin the coffee. The fridge is one of the absolute worst places to put coffee.
How to properly store coffee:
The biggest enemies of fresh roasted coffee are moisture, air, light and heat. Therefore an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place is the best way to store coffee. To take it a step further, storing your coffee in a ceramic airtight container rather than in plastic or metal is the very best idea because with the porous characteristics of the coffee, the aromas and flavors of metals and plastics can also be absorbed into the beans.
Read More »Small Business Saturday
This Saturday, November 24, is Small Business Saturday; a day between Black Friday and Cyber Monday where people come together to support small businesses by shopping locally. Last year, over 100 million people came together to shop in small, local businesses to help support their local economy.
As a consumer, you are a key part in helping small businesses thrive. By shopping or dining at a small business on November 24, you’re showing your support for all the small communities around you. This means you could be helping local entrepreneurs offer more jobs, which in turn invigorate the economy. This year, go out and support your favorite small business and search for savings on unique merchandise while experiencing spectacular service, which is a cornerstone of many small businesses.
One way you can support our small business this year is by contributing to our coffee truck Indiegogo campaign. We’d like to grow this small business and continue to create new jobs for our community, while providing a service that our fans have been clamoring for. Any amount helps, and even if you can’t contribute right now, just share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.
And if you spend $10 with us on Saturday, November 24, we’ll give you a coupon for 15% off your next drink! It’s our way of saying “thanks” for all of the love that you show this small business.
Read More »Facebook Interest Lists
Did you know you might not be receiving all of our updates on Facebook? It’s true! Facebook recently made some changes that affect what you see in your timeline. That means, you may only be seeing 20% of what we’re posting! You might be missing out on contests, specials or delicious pictures of our Pearl Cup Coffee.
Luckily, there’s a real easy fix to make sure you get all of our updates on Facebook. Just add us to an Interest List!
- Hover your mouse over the “Liked” button.
- Click on “Add to Interest List”.
- Create a list and add us to it!
Be sure to share this info with your friends too. We’ve got some really great specials that we’ll be announcing this week on Facebook for Small Business Saturday, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out!
Read More »