Born in the U.S.A.

New products can demonstrate true creative genius at work. If you think about how hard it is to create a truly brand new product, you can begin to appreciate the inventiveness of those who do. During the past year, I have talked to a variety of U.S. entrepreneurs who have a product or service that I consider inventive and unique. Following is a snapshot profile of a few of them.

ARABICA COFFEE AND TEA

CLEVELAND, OHIO 

[phone]

These multi-location coffee houses have a unique and refreshing approach to the coffee business--they have fun. The quality of the coffee, freshly baked pastries, sandwiches, and ice cream are excellent, but what is truly unique is their approach to creative menuing.

David Reich, president of Arabica Cafes, Inc. always has a slightly different approach to both his blends and his coffee drinks. To give an example, a Red Eye is a popular drink on the menu and features a shot of espresso in any of the gourmet toffees. 'Their gift baskets bear names such as Wicker Snacker and Night and Day Best. If you are ever in the Cleveland area, stop in the time will be well spent.

JAVA JACKET

PORTLAND, OREGON

[phone]

Just when you thought that all the ways to hold a cup of coffee had been thought of, out comes a new product. The Java Jacket, named the best new product introduced at the 1993 Seattle Coffeefest, wraps around a cup of coffee and keeps the consumer's hands from being burned. According to company information it is "less expensive and more effective than double cupping, is made from post-consumer recycled paper, the jackets fits cups from 8 to 20 oz., eliminates double-lipped dribble, is available in white or natural, and printing is available."

LINDA'S LOLLIES

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

[phone]

That's right--grownup, handmade lollipops. What makes this product unique is the variety of flavors including a coffee flavored lollipop. The flavors include Amaretto, Irish Creme, German Chocolate .... the list is endless and I can imagine anyone of them as a stir stick for a cup of coffee or cappuccino.

THE ORIGINAL LATTEES

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 

[phone]

An Original Lattee is an espresso shirt packed in a coffee bag. The company does sweatshirts, long sleeved T-shirts, and aprons with a variety of coffee related designs. With so many T-shirt companies out there, it is great to see a company that can come up with a new twist for an old favorite.

GREGORY K. CLARK

PHOTOGRAPHERS

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

[phone]

If you are around the coffee industry for any length of time, you will see Gregory Clark's work. It is beautiful, precise, and artistic. He has a series of works available that are suitable for flaming and would grace the decor of any coffee shop, business, or home of any devotee.

IMAGE DESIGN

TACOMA, WASHINGTON

[phone]

Whatever booth this company is set up in becomes my favorite spot at a trade show. Rosalinda Ramos and Dean Hanmer create beautiful and unique coffee jewelry from silver and gold and they were the first company I had seen specializing in coffee jewelry. Their pieces of wearable art are seen from coast to coast and are instantly identifiable. I have a pair of their coffee earrings that I wear constantly and intend to add as many pieces to my coffee jewelry collection as I can.

THIS OLD BUS

BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON 

[phone]

Want to see a truly unique Gary Baker uses "selected vintage London doubledecker buses to manufacture the most distinctive and versatile espresso cart the world has ever seen." The upper deck seats 20 plus and the lower deck is structured for high speed, high volume espresso service. Although I didn't see an actual bus, the photos are wonderful. A cart like this would make an impact in any neighborhood.

PUMPSKINS

TACOMA, WASHINGTON

[phone]

Want your thermoses to advertise more than the name of the thermos manufacturer? PumpSkins has the answer. They sell wrappers for your thermos and can print whatever you want to on them and coffee spills wipe right off. You can coordinate shop colors right down to the color of the thermos.

CAFE EXPRESS, INC.

KITTERY, MAINE

[phone]

Want an extremely mobile coffee and espresso business? This one, loaded on a full size pickup truck, is about as mobile as you can get. Everything you would

need related to making coffee and espresso has been loaded into this unit and the aesthetics have not been left off either. In addition to equipment, the unit has a beautiful wood finish and nothing that would make it more attractive has been omitted. If you are interested in mobile catering, this company is worth a call.

CAJUN CREOLE PRODUCTS,

INC., NEW IBERIA,

LOUISIANA

[phone]

This is Louisiana coffee at its best. It is available with and without chicory and is packed in a beautiful, colorful bag. Joel Wallins, owner of Cajun Creole Coffee, has developed a coffee with a chicory influence that is not overwhelming. It will broaden menu offerings and the packaging lends itself to a variety of gift baskets.

VICTOR ALLEN'S COFFEE &

TEA, INC., MADISON,

WISCONSIN

[phone]

I discovered this coffee company while at a trade show. What caught my interest was the use of an oxygen absorber packet in the sealed, 16-oz. bag of coffee. The packaging of the coffee was bright and attractive with a one-way valve and tin-tie reclosure, as well as colorful designs on the package, but that little packet intrigued me. When I asked about it, I was told that Victor Allen's is the only company taking this extra step to ensure freshness. You've got to admire them... finding a way to take freshness beyond the valve bag.

FERGY'S ESPRESSO

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

[phone]

Fergy has spent a career in food-service, espresso bars, carts, and in recent years, offering consulting services in espresso bar and cart operations as well as managing his own retail operation. He recognized that the cart phenomena was going to outgrow Seattle and that people would need help setting up in the cart business. He was one of the first in the Seattle area to do consulting specifically geared toward the espresso business.

MOUNTAIN CAP

MARIPOSA COFFEE CO.,

MARlPOSA, CALlFORNIA

[phone]

Mountain Cap is a gourmet drink mix in powder form. It combines the taste of mocha and cappuccino and is available in retail and commercial bulk packaging and can mix well with brewed coffee, milk, water, and/or ice cream. Gerry Caputo is the owner of Mariposa Coffee Company and the roaster and designer of this drink. He sent me a sample of this mix several months ago. When I tried it, I just spooned a small amount into a cup of black coffee and drank it. It was smooth and had a distinct mocha flavor that was not sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed two cups. The drink mix contains a blend of coffee that Garry has roasted using a high altitude technique that does not allow the coffee to have any contact with air thus preserving its full flavor. All I can say about it is that it has a unique and wonderful taste.

ZIO RICCO 

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

[phone]

Zio Ricco is a coffeehouse in downtown Seattle that will transport you to another time and place. No ... really! You walk in off the city street and suddenly you are in a place of warm leather furniture, soft burnished woods, Italian marble, classical music, subdued colors, and original art. There is no hustle and bustle in this beautiful oasis, it is quietly relaxed. The coffee is excellent, the menu varied but mainly, it is the most beautiful coffeehouse that I have seen in a long, long time.