Like a fine wine, coffee should be enjoyed and savored. In a word, coffee should be heaven, and thanks to enterprising coffee company, coffeeheaven, you can now enjoy your very own celestial coffee experience, right in the heart of Budapest. The company has already been making waves across Central and Eastern Europe, boasting over 50 stores in Poland and 20 in the Czech Republic alone.And they already have three well-established branches in Pest, including their newest store near Oktogon which opened in December 2008; and offers their eponymous fine coffee, a huge selection of gorgeous cakes, a smoke-free environment and free WiFi access.
Here, Operations Manager Kati Szili, talks about how coffeeheaven has managed to set itself apart from its competitors. “We are very focused on the concept of brewing coffee and all of our baristas are fully trained having attended a ten-day course,” she says. “They are taught latte art too which can take months to perfect.” Indeed, all coffeeheaven outlets are kitted out with a special La Marzocco coffee machine, which requires far more from the baristas than just pressing a button: “The coffee has to be ground and temped, and produced at the correct temperature and pressure. It’s very precise, a real skill,” she explains.
And while competitors tend to use a 100% Arabica coffee blend, Coffee Heaven prides itself on the fact that 15% of its blend contains Robusta; its strong taste hoping to match the taste of Central Europeans, as well as ensuring that the taste of the coffee isn’t marred by additional syrups. “We want people to enjoy the taste of real coffee in their cup,” Kati says.
Indeed, I can vouch for the ‘real coffee’ after enjoying a creamy yet flavorsome latte, complete with an arty ‘rosetta’ (and a yummy slice of carrot cake…) at the new outlet.
And they’re a friendly bunch down at coffeeheaven too: they have a loyalty card scheme which essentially offers regular customers 10% off, as well as 50% off new products (which they are notified about via SMS). And there’s even a kids menu which offers cute drinks like the ‘Piccolocino’ as well as games and stickers influenced by the coffeeheaven mascot, Latte the cow!
And here’s something to raise your mugs too: “We plan to open around 15 to 20 new stores in Budapest,” Kati smiles.
BOX
To win a 10,000 HUF coffeeheaven gift card (can be used in Budapest stores only), be the first to answer the following question correctly. Answers to win@funzine.hu.
When and where did the first coffeeheaven store open?
Coffee Heaven
1066 Budapest, Teréz körút 34.
1053 Budapest, Ferenciek tere 10.
Tel.: +36.1.267.0214
Arena Plaza
1087 Budapest, Kerepesi út 9.
Tel.: +36.1.455 0497
www.coffeeheaven.eu
