Baby It’s Cold Outside: Espresso Dave’s Coffee Catering Warms-up Winter Wedding Guests

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Dave

Winter Wedding Challenge: How to keep a warm, loving glow alive for your guests as they travel outdoors from the church to the reception? A strategically-located, cappuccino cart and barista, provided by Espresso Dave’s Specialty Coffee Catering, did the trick for one savvy New England bride and her guests!

Espresso-Dave-Specialty-Coffee-Catering-Warm-Up-Wedding-Espresso-Cart-Garone-PhotographyThat savvy bride is Amy. She married beau Brian on December 10, 2011, at the New Castle Congregational Church on the Seacoast of New Hampshire, located just about an hour north of Boston, Massachusetts. Following the ceremony, as guests exited the church into the frosty winter air chilled by wind blowing in from the Atlantic, they were instructed to stop at the Espresso Dave’s cappuccino cart for a warm and wonderful send-off to the reception at the luxurious Wentworth By The Sea Hotel and Spa.

Espresso-Dave-Specialty-Coffee-Catering-Warm-Up-Wedding-Espresso-Cart-Garone-PhotographyEspresso Dave developed a simple, sophisticated menu for their guests. The simplicity of the menu allowed guests to order easily and receive their drinks quickly.

Espresso-Dave-Specialty-Coffee-Catering-Warm-Up-Wedding-Espresso-Cart-Garone-PhotographyAs the guests approached the cappuccino cart, Espresso Dave greeted them with a choice of two beverages: Gourmet Hot Chocolates prepared with luscious, thick white or milk Ghiradelli chocolate, topped with swirled whipped cream OR Wedded Bliss-ccinos featuring steamed, rich eggnog with shots of pure espresso and dreamy drizzles of caramel. Each drink was prepared with expert attention and served in lidded to-go cups to prevent any travel mishaps.

Espresso-Dave-Specialty-Coffee-Catering-Warm-Up-Wedding-New Castle Garone Photography-CoupleShortly after newlyweds Amy and Brian returned from their honeymoon, we received this lovely note:

“Dave, you were absolutely wonderful and the photographer said she thought it was one of the most unique things she has seen at a wedding…..Thanks again for everything! We loved having you as part of the day. Happy New Year!”

All our best to Amy and Brian. It was an honor to be part of their special day!

Photos: Garone Photography
Venue: Wentworth by the Sea
Florist: Jardiniere Flowers
DJ  Crown Entertainment
Bakery: Jacques Fine European Pastries
Ceremony: New Castle Congregational Church
Jeweler: Barmakians

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Espresso Dave Colors His World Coffee

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Dave

From sportswear to outerwear to wedding gowns, the color of coffee liqueur, specifically Pantone 18-0930, is all the rage for fashion designers this season,  I guess the fresh splashes and spritzes of coffee, which mark my crisply-ironed, white, Espresso Dave Coffee Catering shirts, not only prove that I work hard for my clients, but also illustrate that I’ve been on the cutting edge of fashion for many years.
Coffee in fashion Espresso Dave's Catering

Moreover, experts say, in this uncertain economy, consumers continue to add stability to their lives by augmenting their wardrobes with neutrals.  Coffee is a “savory alternative to basic black,” or in my terms, an alternative to espresso!

Coffee is more than just a versatile beverage to serve your guests at your wedding reception. Lately, it’s become the trendy color for bridal couture. Vera Wang’s Fall 2012 Bridal Collection is described as a, “light, airy, concoctions of froth…mysterious and sexy, frivolous and fun, with transparent wisps of carefully organized tulle.” I agree with the froth reference and would add, “in a piping, hot palette of  latte, cappuccino, mochaccino, machiato and espresso.” Here’s a sampling of the Vera Wang special collection.

Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 2

Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 3Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 4

Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 5Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 6Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 7Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 8

Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 9Espresso Dave's Coffee Catering Boston Vera Wang Wedding 10

Photos by Dan Lecca.

Do you love coffee enough to imagine yourself in a coffee-colored wedding dress? I think this is fantastic, but then again, I view the world through coffee-colored glasses!

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Camping Essentials: Coffee, H20 & a French Press

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Dave

Espresso Dave’s Camping Coffee Coffee is as essential to camping as a warm sleeping bag, bug spray, dry tent, matches, flashlight, water, food, mess kit and good friends, especially good friends with beer.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to disconnect and drive north to the White Mountains for a car camping adventure with close friends and family. The first night, we enjoyed a wonderful campfire, made Jiffy Pop (the kids had never seen this before), devoured s’mores and talked coffee for more than an hour. We debated beans, brews, Starbucks v. Peets v. Dunkins, and they even tried to convince me to divulge secrets about my espresso bar catering biz.

The next morning, by the time I had already brewed my second pot of  coffee with my French press, my camping companions were getting serious about their camp coffee. Here’s a brief pictorial provided by Howard & Allison:

Espresso Dave's Camping Coffee, Have French press, add water 5

Where’s my coffee?

Espresso Dave's Camping Coffee, Have French press, add water 1

The process: We start with 6 scoops of of our favorite Peet’s Columbian and add boiling water to the La Cafetiere French press, specially purchased for our camping adventures; steeping for about 6 minutes.

Espresso Dave's Camping Coffee, Have French press, add water 2

The sun shines; the cream awaits.

Espresso Dave's Camping Coffee, Have French press, add water 3

Howard’s checking his watch. Is it coffee time yet? Man, 6 minutes can feel like forever.

Espresso Dave's Camping Coffee, Have French press, add water 6

Ahhh, so good. It’s the ultimate way to usher in a lakeside morning in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

My other camping buddies also had words of wisdom to share about their outdoor coffee habits:

Laura I brew my coffee using a plastic cone with a paper filter right into my old coffee mug from au bon pain, add half and half and I’m good to go… (Same way I make it a home… different mug)… Yes, I tried the “cowboy method” UGH. No crazy stories…just got to have it…

Hank Using a press for past couple years … Before that a simple, plastic, one-cup unit that you place a cone filter into. Never tried the “sock method” or ”cowboy method”… sounds a bit nasty to me.  If we don’t have strong, good coffee,  Jen & I would be very unpleasant campers.

Rhonda Best camp coffee is percolated on a camp stove or open fire. I have an adorable 4-cup pot with a clear knob on top that I can see the coffee bubbling. About 5 minutes, when it is nice and black, it’s ready. More thoughts: When I was single, I backpacked, pouring boiling water through a filter with coffee into a single cup. When I married, I discovered B&B’s that served coffee already brewed in beautiful china cups. When I had babies, I learned that cold coffee, reheated in the microwave, is better than no coffee. When my babies grew to children, the family explored car camping−an unusual phenomenon to me as to why anyone would drive up to a campsite, let alone drive away in the morning to purchase coffee from a Dunkin Donuts!

What’s your secret to good coffee in the wilderness? Share your technique for coffee alfresco!

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