Tuesday 24 December 2013

Happy Holidays from Couva!

It's hard to believe that it's Christmas time again... It seems like each year, the time passes more quickly, the days and special moments zipping by in a bit of a blur. 
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This year has been another great one for Couva Coffee Couture, the main milestone being the launch of our website (if you've not visited, check it out at www.couva.co.uk). 


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 We're looking forward to bigger and better things in 2014, like  exhibiting at the London Coffee Festival in April, as well as branching out to more retailers and increasing our online presence. While we've got some great ideas, and are looking forward to bringing our great products to more coffee lovers, we're going to take it slow. We're going to approach 2014 like we approach a cup of our favourite brew... 


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Gather together the best possible "ingredients", take time in the preparation by paying attention to the little details, and savour each experience slowly, noticing the "flavour" of each "sip". But keep in mind that the most important part is who you're sharing it with!! 

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We want to thank all of our wonderful customers for their support this year, and we look forward to bringing you more great products next year. 

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Wishing all of you and your loved ones
 the warmest holiday wishes! 

Couva Coffee Couture... 
keeping coffee hotter for longer so you can savour the little moments longer. 

Friday 6 December 2013

Great gift idea for the Coffee Connoisseur in your life!

Do you have a special coffee lover in your life? Someone who loves their brew? Someone who likes to linger over their cup, enjoying the aroma, savouring the flavour and complexity of the roast? 

Or do you know someone who is so busy that they often get pulled away from their coffee before they get to drink it?! 


Couva Coffee Couture offers accessories for the coffee lover in your life, with a range of cafetiere covers and cup covers to suit everyone on your gift giving list. 

Our webshop (http://couva.moonfruit.com) is finally finished (better late than never!!), and we'd love to share our products with you and your loved ones. 

Visit us at our ONLINE SHOP for some fashionable and functional festive fancies that will keep your coffee hotter for longer! 


Friday 15 November 2013

Wishful thinking!

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Sunshine and blue skies...

The air has definitely turned colder over the last few days here in Oxford. But the skies are blue and the sun is shining - what more can you ask for?! 

Have a lovely weekend! 


Thursday 14 November 2013

When is the best time for your morning coffee?


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I like coffee... Ok, I LOOOOOVE coffee. I love the smell, the taste, the texture. I love to make it, to bake and cook with it. I love to drink it - especially when I get to enjoy it with someone else, sitting together, chatting, spending time with one another. 

But there are just sometimes when I need coffee... There are just those days when I've not had quite enough sleep, there is just a bit too much to do, and I'm not firing on all cylinders. While there are other caffeinated beverages out there (I still maintain that Red Bull should have sponsored my PhD for the amount of the stuff I consumed over 4 years!!), sometimes nothing but coffee will do to pick me up and perk me up. 

But do you ever drink a cup of coffee and you just don't feel the same 'jolt' that you are expecting? 
We all know that drinking a cup of coffee too late in the day will keep us up at night, but what is the best time of day to drink a cup when you want coffee to work its wonderful caffeinated magic? 

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It all comes down to "chronopharmacology", a snazzy word that means "the study of the interaction of biological rhythms and drug action" says Steven Miller, a PhD student of neuroscience in Bethesda Maryland. 

Miller suggests that if you drink your morning cup of coffee at a time when the cortisol concentration in the blood is at its peak, you probably shouldn't be drinking it, because you probably don't really need it. 
Cortisol is one of the key stress hormones that your body produces, playing a key role in regulating blood sugar for energy,  for supporting memory functioning, and for supporting your immune system to keep you healthy.
When you're body is functioning normally, cortisol is released in a natural rhythm - it slowly increases in the morning when you are waking up, it reaches its peak at around 8-9am, and then decreases towards the end of the day when you're getting close to bedtime. When you drink a cup of coffee or other caffeinated drink, you're body receives a message to release more cortisol, which wakes you up. But what it also means is that if you're drinking your coffee out of synch with the natural rhythm of your body's cortisol production, it could be knocking your "wake up" and "get sleepy" patterns out of balance. 

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One of the key ideas behind using drugs most effectively (in this case, caffeine)  is to use them when they are most needed. So, in the morning, when your cortisol levels are naturally meant to be at their highest, drinking coffee and 'asking' your body to pump out more cortisol isn't going to work as effectively - there will already be lots of cortisol floating around in your system. Over time, you'll just become desensitized to the energizing effects of your morning coffee. 

Instead, if you wait to enjoy your brew between 9:30 and 11:30am, (when your cortisol levels take a little mid-morning dip), you'll feel the effects much more! 

For those of you out there who feel they would struggle to get to 9:30 before your first cup, another alternative to getting your cortisol pumping first thing in the morning is some bright sunshine! (Ok, I know that might sound a bit "granola-crunchy-hippie-patchouli", but it does work!). 

As it has now reached 9:40 am  where I am, I'm off for my first cup... I really need it now! 

If you're interested in reading the full article, you can find it here.

Friday 8 November 2013

A good day for a good book!

It is absolutely chucking it down with rain today in Oxford... dark grey clouds, big fat raindrops, massive of puddles just waiting to be jumped in by little feet in welly boots. 
Credit: Pinterest

It's the perfect day to curl up in a cozy blanket with a big mug of your favourite brew and enjoy a good book. Hmmm... Maybe we should start making Couva's big enough to wrap around people, not just cafetieres!!
Credit: Pinterest

With my little one's birthday party scheduled for tomorrow (did I mention it was an outdoor party?!), I'm enjoying the rain today in hopes that it will be done by noon tomorrow! Fingers crossed! 

Have a great weekend... Remember to enjoy the little moments for longer!


Thursday 31 October 2013

Happy Halloween!


Credit: Pam Rowland

In the spirit of all the ghosties, goblins, and witches who will be out haunting this evening, I thought I'd share a little bit of coffee-themed pumpkin inspiration!


Credit: Pinterest

 How about a delicious pumpkin coffee cake to enjoy along with this cheeky latte?! 

Credit: How Sweet Eats


Credit: Pinterest


Tuesday 29 October 2013

Coffee - a hug in a mug

This picture sums up exactly the feeling that we want Couva to convey... warmth, coziness, comfort, time, peace.



And by using your Couva to keep your cafetiere coffee warmer for longer, it means that you get to enjoy more "hugs" that are warm and toasty for longer! 


Couva - it's like a hug for your jug! 

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Coffee - The key to creativity?

Whenever I need to get some work done, I find that a cup of coffee always helps to get the mental juices flowing. 
After reading an article in the Guardian, it's nice to know that I'm in good company! 

Illustration: Lo Cole for the Guardian

In a review of Mason Currey's new book "Daily Rituals: How Great Minds Make Time, Find Inspiration, and Get to Work: How Artists Work", Oliver Burkeman gives a really nice overview of the daily rituals undertaken by some of history's most creative people - TS Eliot, Tchaikovsky, Agatha Christie, and others. 

It emerges that, along the path to greatness, there are 6 key rules to follow: be a morning person, don't give up your day job, take lots of walks, keep to a schedule,.... 

Rule number 5 may be most interesting to you, if you have a sweet spot for your daily cup' o' joe... 
"Practise strategic substance abuse". 

Now, many a chemical aid has been implicated in some of our favourite creative endeavours (Benzedrine, Ritaline, vodka, whiskey, gin). But there is only one that has  been universally championed to fuel greatness.... COFFEE!

Apparently, Beethoven measured out his beans meticulously, while Kierkegaard poured his coffee over a cup of sugar which left him with a brew with the texture of mud! 
It's reported that Balzac drank 50 cups per day - yikes! 

It's often been suggested that caffeine in coffee heightens mental focus, and if these coffee connoisseurs are anything to go by, I would tend to agree. 

One word of caution - it's advised to only drink coffee in moderation. Poor ol' Balzac died of heart failure at 51! 

Click on the link below to read the whole article... 
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/oct/05/daily-rituals-creative-minds-mason-currey


Wednesday 16 October 2013

Coffee Towels by Stu Gardiner Designs

I'm always on the lookout for lovely things for my kitchen. This morning I came across the perfect thing- a coffee towel!
Stu Gardiner Designs


With all sorts of interesting facts and figures about coffee, this towel would be the perfect gift for any coffee connoisseur in your life. (And Christmas is *GASP!* coming up very soon!) 

Stu Gardiner is a London-based designer with some other interesting designs and products that are all made in the UK. As a lover of baking cakes, I'm particularly loving this oven mitt!

Stu Gardiner Designs



Friday 11 October 2013

A visit to The Barns Cafe, Abingdon


I feel like I stumbled upon a gem this morning! 

After the morning school-run, some of the mum's at my son's school like to get together for coffee and a chat (because, let's be honest, when you've got children, there aren't many opportunities to have a civilized conversation with adults!). 

The 'usual' place is decidedly uninspiring and serves mediocre refreshments. So, I was in search for a new venue - a place that was warm, welcoming, inviting. Somewhere to relax and recuperate after the morning of getting little ones to school... And I definitely found just what I was looking for at The Barns Cafe, a volunteer-run community cafe. 


Recently opened (May 2013), The Barns Cafe is a lovely converted barn next to Christ Church in Abingdon. It is full of natural light from the massive windows, and although small, it has lots of seating - tables and chairs, bar stools to perch on, and lots of comfortable, squishy armchairs to sink into. 

They serve an array of food and drinks (ethically and locally sourced where possible). The coffee they serve is freshly ground and provided by local roaster UE Coffee Roaster. They offer a lovely assortment of loose-leaf teas, and a great selection of handmade cakes and sweet treats. They also have a lunch and snack menu - homemade soup, paninis, as well as snack platters. Just simple, delicious food.  



And to top it off, they offer free wi-fi and free newspapers.... what more could you ask for?! 

I have a feeling that the school mums have found a new 'local'! 


All photos: The Barns Cafe

The Barns Cafe is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 4:30pm 
(although I'm told they will soon be opening on Saturdays as well!)

www.thebarnscafe.co.uk




Monday 7 October 2013

Always nice to hear positive customer feedback!

Good morning! 
We've been enjoying unusually warm and sunny weather for this time of year in Oxfordshire. The colours are changing and the sun is just making the days so beautiful. 


Photo Credit: Copyright © 2000-8, Celia Sawyer

I received a really lovely note from a customer, and I wanted to share it. It's always nice to hear positive feedback, and it was such a nice way to start my Monday morning! 

"We totally LOVE our Couva - part of our Saturday morning ritual when we have time to linger over a pot of coffee. It's the best and keeps it nice and warm". 

I'm always so happy that Couva gives people the chance to linger over their coffee and enjoy life's simple pleasures for a little bit longer. 

Thanks Melissa for such a lovely note! 

Photo Credit: Copyright © 2000-8, Celia Sawyer

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Snazzy new website!

After a looooong wait, the new Couva website is ready! 




We think it just lovely! 

Please visit and have a look around - you can learn all about Couva, play dress up with your 

cafetière in our "Collection" page, and see what's new with us! 


We'd love to know what you think, so please drop us a line on the Contact Us page.


Friday 27 September 2013

Lots happening at Couva HQ!!

We've been busy little bees here at Couva HQ... 

Photo: Andrew Bertam

It's Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee morning today. There have been lots of lovely smells emerging from the Couva kitchens in preparation for the bake sales... brownies, banana muffins, chocolate peanut butter squares...yum! 
If you're not able to attend a coffee morning but would still like to support this wonderful cause, please follow the link to donate: 
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Donate/

Preparations are nearly complete for the Thame Food Festival taking place tomorrow, September 28th from 9am until 5pm in the lovely village of Thame. 
We're going to be along North Road, and hope that you'll stop by to say hello! 
We'll be launching our newest product, the Couva Cup and would love to know what you think about them! 

And last, but not least, the head chief of technological wizardry is just putting the finishing touches on our brand spanky new website... www.couva.co.uk

Have a great weekend! 

Thursday 26 September 2013

Phyllo Cups with Cappuccino Cream

While browsing (a.k.a. procrastinating!!) on Pinterest this morning, I came across this lovely little dessert from Martha Stewart which looks really simple but totally scrummy. (*Did I mention that Couva is on Pinterest? Check out our pages here!)

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They are easy to make and take no time at all to whip together. The best thing is that they can be made in advance so that when you have people over, you don't need to waste precious "friends & family" time slaving away in the kitchen. You can also make these a little more "grown-up" by adding some liqueur before whipping the cream.... Deelish! 

(makes 6 servings)


  • 3 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
  • 1 cup double cream
  • 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom or cinnamon
  • Coarse salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Preheat oven to 325 F/ 170 C/ Gas Mark 3.  Lay 1 sheet phyllo on a work surface.  (*Remember to cover the remaining sheets with a lightly damp towel because it keeps them from drying out). 
2. Brush phyllo with one-third the butter and sprinkle with one-third the sugar. 
3. Lay another sheet of phyllo on the top, brushing with butter and sprinkling with sugar. 
4. Repeat once more. 
5. Cut the layered phyllo into 6 equal pieces and gently press each square into a cup of a standard muffin pan, making sure that you press the phyllo right down to the bottom of the cup (because you want LOTS of space for the cappuccino cream!).
6. Bake until the phyllo is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Rotate halfway through baking. Keep an eye on it  because it can burn quite quickly! 
7. Let the cups cool completely on a wire rack.  
*If you are making these ahead, once the cups are cool, they can be stored in an airtight container. 
8. While the cups are cooling,  combine espresso powder in a medium bowl with a small amount cream and stir until powder dissolves. 
9. Stir in remaining cream, condensed milk, cardamom/cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Optional (but oh, so yummy!): add 1 tablespoon of liqueur like Bailey's or Kahlua.... with maybe a little taste for the cook!
10. Whisk the cream mixture until firm but do not over-whip.
11. Refrigerate the cream until ready to serve (up to 2 days). 
12. Just before serving, give the cappuccino cream a thorough stirring, and spoon into the phyllo cups.  
13. Sprinkle the tops with cocoa powder or some shaved chocolate curls. 

Serve immediately... I don't think they'll last too long! 
Enjoy!

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Time for coffee with a friend...

I came across this little story while on Facebook today... It's a great analogy for those of us who try to do too much in the time we have available.  
It's a great reminder that it's important to make the important things a priority, and put the little insignificant time-consuming tasks a little lower on the list of priorities.  
This is one of the key ideas about Couva... By helping to keep your coffee hotter for longer, Couva helps you to enjoy the good times with friends and family for longer! 
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A professor stood before his philosophy class. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the space between the golf balls and pebbles. Once more, the professor asked if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES.”
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The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the stand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – family, children, health, friends, and passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter to you – your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else – “the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you…
“So… pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled and said, “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for coffee with a friend."

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Friday 20 September 2013

World's Biggest Coffee Morning September 27th, 2013




Macmillan Cancer Support is holding their annual "World's Biggest Coffee Morning" next week on Friday September 27th to raise funds to support people with cancer. 

Cancer now affects 1 in 3 people which is a shocking number. Macmillan Cancer Support provides support to those suffering from the disease as well as much-needed funding to cancer research. 

Last year's coffee morning raised over £15 million pounds, and they are hoping to raise more funds this year. 



Last year, my own family was touched by cancer when my mum underwent treatment for advanced stages of lung cancer. Thankfully, she is in remission, but was cared for throughout her treatment by the wonderful Macmillan nurses. 
This year, I'll be involved in 2 different coffee mornings, one at my son's school and one at my office. 


Will you be taking part in the world's biggest coffee morning? 

Click HERE to find a coffee morning near you.

If you'd like to hold your own event, visit the Macmillan website for details of how to raise funds for this worthy cause

Thursday 19 September 2013

How is your week going?

I don't know about you, but this week has proven to be a busy one! 




But, chin up! It's almost Friday! 


Monday 9 September 2013

Misty Moisty Monday Morning

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Autumn seems to have arrived here in Oxford. On Friday, I was lounging on a blanket, enjoying the sunshine and warm breezes during a lunch time picnic. Just a few days later I'm at my desk, a bit damp from the rain, huddled under that same picnic blanket with a hot water bottle on my lap to keep warm!! 


While I'm not quite ready for the cooler rainy months ahead, there are lots of nice things about the Autumn. Like baking deliciously warming apple crumbles, foraging for blackberries, and enjoying bowlfuls of piping hot soup. Not to mention mugfuls of gorgeous coffee!! 

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Over the coming months, I'll be sharing with you some of my favourite recipes that are a perfect match for the chill in the air! I hope you enjoy sharing them with friends and family as much as I'll enjoy sharing them with you. 


Monday 2 September 2013

Friday 30 August 2013

Coffee Consumption Around the World

With coffee being one of the most popular beverages around the world, it's interesting to see a map of how the different countries compare in terms of how much they drink. 

How does your country add up?

Map by Chartsbin.com

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Couva at the Thame Food Festival Saturday September 28th 2013



We've just secured a place for the Thame Food Festival taking place in the gorgeous village of Thame on Saturday September 28th. 

There will be lots to see, do, and eat all day long 9am until 5pm in the Thame Town Centre.


The festival attracts visitors from far and wide, with its wonderful  showcase of local food and drink producers, along with demonstrations from celebrity chefs, as well as talks about food. There is lots of fun for the whole family with workshops for the kiddies, hands-on food making, and a huge variety of lots of yummy things to sample and wonderful things to buy to take home!



And this includes a Couva! 

Couva will be showcasing our bestselling cafetiere covers and will be revealing an exciting new product in our range! 

 We'd love to meet you - stop by and say hi! 

For more information, visit http://www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk/


All photos copyright Imaging Essence