It's nearly time for the London Coffee Festival! We'll be at stand SR42

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It's nearly time for the London Coffee Festival! Just a few more days to go, and we're getting the last few things ready here at Couva HQ!

We can't wait to meet you, so please stop by STAND SR42 to have a chat and view our lovely products. We're going to be unveiling a new fabric pattern at the show, and we can't wait to see what you think of it. 

If you are still looking for tickets, book them HERE. 

London Coffee Festival

Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London

April 3-6, 2014

Opening: 

Thursday April 3rd: 10am to 5pm (trade only)

Friday April 4th: 10am to 5pm (trade only)

                                5pm to 8pm (general entry)

Saturday April 5th: 10 am to 7pm (general entry)

Sunday  April 6th: 10 am to 7pm (general entry)

Working lunch...

It's less than one week to go before we're going to be at the London Coffee Festival, and there is still LOTS to get done. 
(*The London Coffee Festival is on April 3rd to 6th, at the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane. Couva will be at stand SR40 - hope to see you there!)

After dropping of my little one at school, I quickly did my week's shopping, and picked up a loaf of fresh giraffe bread, some bistro salad full of lambs lettuce and beets, and one of those really yummy (and totally lazy!) ready-roasted chickens from the hot food counter. 

If I do say so myself, I have just made the yummiest, most delicious sandwich... The perfect thing to enjoy as I'm working through lunch. 

Photo: Couva Coffee Couture

I know a chicken sandwich doesn't sound like much, but to me, it's heaven! 

First, the bread has to be really fresh, and preferably white giraffe or tiger bread (I know, I know, it's not the healthiest option - but I like it, ok?!).
Next, I slather on some mayonnaise - the real stuff. None of this "diet" or "low fat" malarky. 
I then slice a few red tomatoes and lay them on the mayo. I then sprinkle quite generously with freshly ground black pepper. 
Then I add on some salad - not a few thin, wimpy leaves of iceberg. I'm talking a nice big handful of of interesting, flavourful greens - rocket, lambs lettuce, spinach, etc. The mix I buy has some grated raw beetroot in it which is just gorgeous - the earthiness of the beets really adds a level of flavour, and the crunchy texture is nice in contrast to the soft, squidgey bread. 
Next I gently pull apart some of the freshly roasted chicken and lay it on the salad leaves, and top it off with the next slice of bread. 
Voila! 

Personally, I don't think sandwiches are complete without some salt and vinegar crisps and some dill pickles on the side (Kettle Crisps Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar crisps and Waitrose Dill Pickles are my favourites!). 

The perfect lunch! Now back to work!

Couva Coffee Couture

www.couva.co.uk

Nigella's quick chocolate mousse with a Couva twist!

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On Saturday night, we had some friends round to ours for supper. About 7 years ago, this would have meant a lovely quiet evening, some candles, nice wine, linen table cloth and napkins. I would have thought through a menu with a plated starter, a main course that consists of different complimentary elements, a pudding that was lovingly crafted (ok, maybe by M&S but still....!), followed by coffee, liqueurs, and possibly some delicious chocolates. 

This was not our Saturday night. 

At 5:30pm, our friends and their 2 boys (aged 6 and 3) arrived with a clang and a shout through the letter slot. They traipsed in, coats and shoes flying (by the 6 and 3 year-olds), and a murmur of apology from the parents. Our 6 year old came clomping from his bedroom upstairs, jumped onto the banister and slid down (his new favourite mode of transport - stairs are "so" last week!), almost taking out 2 of the adults in the process. Not to mention, introducing the 2 visiting boys a new way of potentially killing themselves while visiting our home. 

Photo credit

Instead of the menu plan that I described above, the plan for Saturday night was more about making sure that little people had enough to eat of as many of the main food groups as possible with the minimum amount of arguing, tears, bribery, and food-flingage. 
We started with crisps... yes, our starter was crisps. They were the snazzy kettle-cooked ones, but they were still crisps. For the adults, I really went all out with some shop-bought hummus. 

After a lot of discussion and rearranging (imagine, if you will, something like human tetris around a dining room table!) we finally sat down and I served big platters of pasta (with just a bit of butter, just to be on the safe side!), chicken cacciatore with lovely chunks of roasted red peppers, onions, olives all swimming in a delicious tomato-ey sauce, garlic bread, a big crunchy salad, and a big bowl of cucumber (because when all else fails with kids, give them cucumber!). 

Generally speaking, it was a success! For my son, who hates when different foods touch on his plate, he successfully kept the pasta, the cucumber, the bread and the pieces of chicken sufficiently separated. For the other 6 year-old, I got an 'almost thumbs up' for the chicken and the garlic bread who told me that the garlic bread was"not nearly as good as they serve at school, but it's pretty ok"... I'm taking that at the highest praise possible from a 6 year-old boy! 
And the 3 year old only climbed on the table once, and fell sideways off his chair twice - neither time a result of trying to avoid an incoming mouthful. 

As for the grown-ups, seconds and thirds were had by all. 

But the real winner of the evening was pudding. These days, I'm all about making the minimal amount of effort... there just isn't enough time anymore to slave over recipes that require a multitude of steps or close monitoring.
So I chose a recipe I have used a number of times before with great success... Nigella's Instant Chocolate Mousse. But I gave it a little something extra - Couva style! I added some instant espresso coffee powder that I diluted in a teaspoon of water. The result was out of this world! The coffee lifted the flavour of the chocolate, intensifying the richness. So delicious! 

The ingredients might put some people off, but really, all the bits come together in a deliciously gorgeous mixture that will please anyone. I really urge you to try it! 
Let's just say, that it was the only time all of Saturday evening that all 3 boys sat still and quietly for longer than 5 minutes! 

Nigella's Instant Chocolate Mousse with a Couva Twist!

makes about 4-6 servings (or 2-3 for very greedy people!)

Ingredients

1/4 cup (60 ml) hot water
1/2 to 1 tsp instant coffee (use more or less depending how much you want to taste the coffee)1 1/2 cups (150 grams) mini marshmallows (you can use big marshmallows, but cut them into small pieces)
1/2 stick (50 grams) soft butter
9 oz good dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces 
1 cup (284 ml) double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Mix the instant coffee into the hot water. 
2. Put the marshmallows, butter, chocolate, and coffee-water mix in a saucepan.
3. Place the pan over low-medium heat, to melt all the ingredients together. Give it a stir every now and then to help to melt everything evenly. Once its all melted into a smooth glossy mixture, take it off the heat to let it cool.
4.  In a separate bowl, whip the cream with the vanilla extract until it's thick. 
5. Once the chocolate mixture has cooled slightly, fold in the whipped cream, mixing it until you have a lovely smooth mixture. 
6. Pour the chocolate cream mixture into glasses, small pots (about 1/2-3/4 cup for each), or into one large bowl. Put it in the fridge to set until you're ready to enjoy it!
   
   When you're ready to serve it, you could add an extra dollop of whipped cream, some chocolate curls, a sprinkle of coffee powder, or even a few chocolate covered coffee beans.
   Enjoy!

Couva Coffee Couture... stylish wear for your cafétière!

www.couva.co.uk

Coffee on the Underground

While travelling around London this week for some meetings, I spotted something really exciting... 

Photo: Couva Coffee Couture

As a new business, there is something really thrilling to see loads of posters advertising an event you're taking part in. (I think other Tube passengers on the escalators thought I was crazy for taking pictures of posters!) 

It's going to be a great event - come by and see us at stall SR40... We'll be the ones with the gorgeous cafétière and cup warmers that you just can't be without! 

Couva Coffee Couture... stylish wear for your cafétière!

www.couva.co.uk

Spring has sprung!

I cannot tell how incredibly excited, elated, overjoyed that today is the first day of Spring. We made it through Winter everyone! Well done! 

While there is something special about each of the seasons, I really do love spring - the hint of warmth in the air, the longer days, a little bit more sunshine, the promise that Summer is around the corner, and all of the gorgeous Spring flowers sprouting up out of the ground. 

There has literally been an explosion of colour around Oxford that just lifts your spirits - daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, blue bells, and all the gorgeous blossoms on the trees. 

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Here at Couva HQ, we're celebrating Spring with our beautiful Rose Couva... How are YOU going to celebrate the first day of Spring? 

If you like what you see, you can get your very own Couva at: www.couva.co.uk/shop.html

Couva... Stylish wear for your cafétière!

www.couva.co.uk

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

I was having a  bit of a sluggish week last week... Between the rain, the chilly winds, the dark evenings, and a nasty cold, I wasn't feeling too sparky to say the least.

My dear ol' dad sent this my way and I thought I would share it with all of you lovely people.

If you like coffee, vintage cars, and having a bit of a giggle, then I think you'll really like this.

www.comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com

The benefits of drinking of coffee!

Coffee Nation!

I love all the "coffee love" in the run-up to London Coffee Week (are you coming?! You should! Click HERE to get tickets and details). 

My inbox if filled with fun information, info about new products, and just generally lots and lots of coffee things. 

Today, the organisers of London Coffee Week sent around this beautiful infographic detailing why the UK is fast becoming the most advanced coffee nation. 

Basically, it shows that if you love coffee, the UK is THE place to be! 

Have these lovely images sparked your interest in the wonders of the world of coffee? If so, come to the London Coffee Festival taking place April 3rd to 6th in London. 

www.londoncoffeefestival.com

There will be some wonderful things to see, delicious coffee to taste, the amazing Barista competition, as well as some informative workshops and some fantastic brands to experience... including Couva Coffee Couture! 

Hope to see you there!  

London Coffee Week 2014

Guess who is going to be at London Coffee Week 2014?! 

I'll give you a hint: 

It's going to be a wonderful week, and I hope that you'll come by and visit us! 

London Coffee Week and the festival takes place at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane in London from the 3rd to the 6th of April. 

http://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/