This delightful treat combines the rich flavours of marzipan, mincemeat and pecans nestled within a golden shortcrust pastry shell.
Savour the symphony of flavours, where each bite tells a tale of the season and each sip warms the soul. Welcome to the enchanting world of seasonal indulgence.
Experience the perfect union of pastry perfection and coffee elegance in every delicious bite.
Asante.
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So let's get to it.
Prep time: 30 mins
Freezing time: 4-5 hours
Tip: As you will need to leave these in the freezer for 4-5 hours before you can enjoy them it's probably easier to make these in the evening and leave overnight.
It's as simple as that. As with any recipe, feel free to experiment with measurements based on your taste preferences and even get creative with adding additional ingredients.
Enjoy the taste of summer!
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Do you remember the American advertising campaign fronted by a host of celebrities encouraging the consumption of milk and dairy products? Safe to say these days the milk camp is split with a host of choices as most people prefer non-dairy milk for their tea or coffee and if your are one of them then you will want to read this.
Whether you prefer your coffee black or with a splash of milk, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to adding milk to your coffee. In this article, we'll explore some of the different types of milk that you can use in your tea or coffee and the nutritional values of each option. Whether you're looking to add a touch of creaminess to your coffee or want to go dairy-free, there's a milk option for you.
Your dairy-free milk might be messing with your goals if you’re trying to get leaner. It's important to consider the nutritional content of different types of milk when choosing one to add to your tea or coffee. Hemp milk, almond milk, and soy milk are all lower in calories and fat than cow's milk, but they may also be lower in protein and other nutrients.
Oat milk and other plant-based milks may be higher in calories and carbohydrates, but they may also be a good source of fibre.
If you are trying to get leaner or manage your weight, you may want to choose a milk that is lower in calories and fat. Almond milk and hemp milk are both relatively low in calories and fat, making them good options for people who are trying to reduce their intake of these nutrients.
If you are concerned about getting enough protein, cow's milk and soy milk are both good sources of protein. Lactose-free milk, such as Lactofree Semi Skimmed Long-life, may also be a good choice for people who are lactose intolerant but want to get the protein benefits of milk.
Ultimately, the best milk for you will depend on your nutritional needs and preferences. Experiment with different types of milk to find the one that you enjoy the most and that fits your dietary goals.
Here’s a table of some of the widely available choices on supermarket shelves which may include your go to brand.
Milk Type |
Calories per 100 ml |
Fat (g) |
Carbs (g) |
Fiber (g) |
Sugar (g) |
Protein (g) |
Good hemp milk |
26 |
2.7 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
Almond milk |
13 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
0 |
0 |
0.5 |
Lactofree Semi Skimmed Longlife |
38 |
1.5 |
0.2 |
0 |
2.6 |
3.5 |
Oatly Oat Drink Barista Edition |
61 |
3 |
7.1 |
0.8 |
3.4 |
1.1 |
Minor Figures Organic Barista Oat Drink |
44 |
1.8 |
6.8 |
0 |
2.5 |
0.2 |
Oatly Oat Drink Semi |
46 |
1.5 |
6.6 |
0.8 |
4.1 |
1 |
Cravendale Filtered Whole Milk |
65 |
3.6 |
4.7 |
0 |
4.7 |
3.4 |
Alpro Soya Chilled |
39 |
1.8 |
2.5 |
0.5 |
2.5 |
3 |
Please note that these values may vary depending on the specific brand and type of milk that you choose. It is always a good idea to read the nutrition label on the package to get the most accurate information about the nutritional content of a particular product.
The nutritional values of the milk that you use in your coffee or tea can also vary based on the quantity of milk that you use. For example, if you use more milk in your coffee or tea, the total number of calories, fat, carbs, fibre, sugar, and protein will also be higher. On the other hand, if you use less milk, the nutritional values will be lower.
In addition to the quantity of milk that you use, the type of coffee or tea that you choose can also affect the nutritional values of your drink. For example, a cup of black coffee without any milk or sweeteners will have very few calories, fat, carbs, fibre, sugar, and protein and depending on the type of tea/ coffee may contain more or fewer nutrients due to the prep method and ingredients.
It is important to consider the nutritional values of the milk that you use in your coffee and tea, especially if you are trying to maintain a healthy diet. Choosing lower calorie and lower fat options can help you to reduce your intake of these nutrients, while still enjoying your favourite drinks. It is also important to remember that milk is an important source of nutrients, such as protein, calcium, and vitamins, and it can be a part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation.
Until next time, happy sipping.
First question, is your giftee a coffee or tea fan? Most people have a preference of one over the other but some just love it all. Either way pick a side, it's going to help with the next part.
Great, so you know they are all about the coffee. Take a look at our top 5 coffee gifts below. These are tried and tested products that are guaranteed to put a smile on their face.
Perfect, they love the tea. We've put together a list of 5 tea gifts fit for any tea aficionado. Enjoy!
You are one of the lucky ones. You are buying for someone that loves hot beverages and enjoys bouncing between the two depending on their mood. We have just the thing...
That's a wrap! We hope this blog has provided just the inspiration you needed to get through this busy time. Happy shopping everyone!
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Prep Time: 20 mins
Bake Time: 15 mins
Total: 35 mins
For the doughnut mix:
Put your feet up and enjoy these incredible doughnuts. It's time to treat yourself. Enjoy!
This is a deliciously light and fragrant iced tea recipe ideal if you're looking for a refreshing fruity drink that isn't packed full of sugar.
This zesty drink is a firm summer favourite at Mara Coffee. It does involve some prep time so you're best making it the night before you want to drink it. Let's begin.
INGREDIENTS (serves 8)
METHOD
This is one of our new go-to summer drinks. Try it out and let us know what you think. Until next time, have a great day.
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Since establishing Mara Coffee in 2020 we have travelled to over 30 coffee regions, met some of the farmers that grow this incredible coffee and tea and had the privilege of serving you, the most important part of our business.
Throughout this journey our main goal has always remained the same, to bring exceptional African speciality coffee to our customers' homes. That is why we are always striving to create the best coffee experience for you.
We are pleased to announce that we have been working behind the scenes on a re-brand for Mara Coffee not only refreshing the face of the brand but introducing a new range of products, to provide an even better service for you.
As part of these changes, we are enhancing our offering to include a selection of speciality tea and coffee available year-round. This summer you will now be able to enjoy even more choices from the comfort of your own home. Our new range includes...
As well as our new range of products we will also share more tips and insights into how to make great coffee including new monthly recipes to try at home.
We have put our heart and soul into this new chapter for Mara Coffee and we are excited to share it with you. Thank you for being part of our tribe and we look forward to serving you very soon.
Asante,
H&S
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It doesn’t take a genius to know that coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant produced by plants to ward off insects.
There’s a host of benefits that freshly brewed coffee can offer and we have picked ten of these benefits to list.
Asante
]]>If you're looking for the perfect Sunday morning treat then this is the recipe for you. Fluffy pancakes, with a rich mocha syrup and your favourite cup of coffee is your new weekend must-have. Get your coffee beans and let's begin!
Coffee Pancakes:
Mocha Syrup:
Coffee Pancakes:
Now all that's left to do is make a cup of your favourite coffee and take a step into pure breakfast heaven. Enjoy!
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We hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we do. From all of us at Mara Coffee we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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It's as simple as that. Cheers everyone!
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We love to make this recipe in the morning post-workout as it's high in vitamins, protein and anti-oxidants. Everything you need after you've had a good workout. To finish it off we take 10 to enjoy a cup of African speciality coffee before leaping into the day.
Give it a try and let us know what you think. We always enjoy hearing from you. Until next time, take it easy!
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It's one of our favourite times of year and with that we wanted to share our Halloween top tips for kicking your celebrations up a gear. Let's get scary!
For us it's always treat, here are two of our favourite recipes for your spooky day.
You will need:
Tip: For an extra kick add crushed cardamom and ginger to a tea strainer and let diffuse in your espresso for 3 minutes before adding the other ingredients.
You will need:
Method:
Now you have your treats, it's time to add the scary part of your day. Cue the movies...
We love scary movies and there are so many great ones to pick from. Here are a few of our favourites perfect for any horror fan.
How do you celebrate your halloween? We'd love to hear how you spend this spooky time of year, so let us know.
Happy Haunting!
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What is so special about speciality coffee? We are frequently asked this question so I've decided to write a blog about it. Let's take a look at what makes these beans the best in the world.
Starting at the top, there are two types of coffee:
Speciality coffee is the term given to the highest grade of coffee and has to have guaranteed quality through all stages of the coffee production from seed to cup, unlike regular lower cost commodity coffee which is of an inferior quality.
Speciality coffee represents just 15% of the UK home coffee sales. Yes 15%!
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) defines speciality coffee as the highest quality green coffee beans roasted to their greatest flavour potential by true craftspeople and then properly brewed to well-established SCAA developed standards.
To be a speciality coffee it must score 80 points or above on a 100 point quality scale during grading. These standards not only include scoring higher than 80 points on the quality scale but also excellent or outstanding quality in flavour, aroma, body, acidity, uniformity, balance, clean cup and sweetness.
Green coffee is graded in two ways; visual inspection and cupping.
The unique flavours and taste notes are also a direct result of the special characteristics and composition of the soils where coffee is grown. This is partly why African countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya are synonymous with speciality coffee. Find out more here.
Arabica and robusta are the two most popular coffee species in the coffee world although only arabica is considered speciality. African arabica coffee from countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia are usually used in blends to perk up the bitter taste of commercial and robusta coffee’s.
Unlike commercial coffee, speciality coffee is traceable to the co-operative, region, estate or farm. The coffee grading score is based on the quality and taste of the coffee enabling higher pricing which allows reinvestments at a farm level enabling continual improvements. This creates a continuous virtuous cycle benefitting the producers and consumers of superior quality coffee.
This also enables consumers to know who grew their coffee or the co-operative and region the coffee originates from.
Commercial coffee is usually picked using machinery on a mass scale which means all cherries on a tree are picked whether unripe, defective or rotten which affects the flavour. Commercial coffee also undergoes fewer checks, are usually mass roasted and packaged in large plants and blended to suit a wide palate.
Contrasting with speciality coffee which is hand harvested, hand sorted to remove any defective beans, quality graded and roasted in small batches to bring out the most desirable characteristics of the beans.
Speciality coffee taste notes and aroma once tried are never forgotten. They offer a diverse range of flavours from floral to fruity to nutty (even smoky). It's another level of what coffee has to offer. You will also probably notice with speciality coffee it has a roast date on the bag, this shows the freshness of the coffee which has an impact on the taste. Coffee is generally at its best up to 4 weeks after roasting.
There’s a lot more to speciality coffee than meets the eye, taking into consideration an approach to ethical coffee, an appreciation for quality and a thriving community that starts at the farm level right through to coffee lovers who enjoy savouring great quality coffee.
For us coffee is a pleasure to savour and enjoy. Coffee offers us a way to connect, enjoy memorable experiences and enables conversations with the people in our lives. That is why all out coffee is speciality grade and sourced responsibly.
I hope this has given you an insight into why speciality coffee is so special and why Mara Coffee is so passionate about these small beans.
If you have a question we'd love to hear from you. Until next time, happy brewing!
Hass
All that's left is to enjoy this delicious (and healthy) smoothie! You can thank me later 😋
Gemma
Makes 8 protein balls
Once chilled enjoy with a coffee before a 🏋️♂️ or as a healthy snack
Happy cardio!
Gemma
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Happy Easter brownies! They are just so perfect with a good cup of African speciality coffee.
To decorate you will need:
Heat your oven to 180c and prepare your brownie tin with grease proof paper and grease well.
These will keep well for a few days in an airtight container- if they last that long!
To make it vegan replace the butter with a vegan alternative and use an egg replacer like flaxseed.
Happy Easter coffee lovers!
Gemma
Serve to that special someone with a Mara coffee espresso and give the gift of coffee ☕️ 😘 ❤️
Happy Valentines!
Gemma
Serves 1
What you will need:
Ideas for toppings:
It's as simple as that! I like these cold straight from the fridge on a busy day but you can also warm through in the microwave if you prefer. Enjoy! 😋
Gemma
Warning! This is an extremely moreish recipe particularly when freshly warm out of the oven and enjoyed with Mara Coffee African speciality coffee.
Top Tip - this also freezes well for around 3 months to be enjoyed anytime.
This is a wonderfully moist cake that has the deep flavours of our speciality coffee with just a hint of caramel and the delectable crunch of caramelised salted walnuts.
This recipe would also work well if you double up the recipe below to create 4 tiers. For those special occasions and the coffee lovers in your life!
You will need for the icing:
You will need for the caramelised salted walnuts:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Now to make the caramelised salted walnuts.
Step 4:
Voila! You are done and can enjoy your delicious cake with your favourite cup of coffee.
Watch this space for more recipes at home, until then, happy baking.
Gemma
Information about coffee can be a bit confusing or conflicting at times so to keep things simple we've put together some commonly asked questions to get you started.
]]>Information about coffee can be a bit confusing or conflicting at times so to keep things simple we've put together some commonly asked questions about coffee.
Grab a cup of your favourite coffee and let's begin.
No one knows exactly how or when but coffee can be traced back centuries to Ethiopia. Legend says the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these loved beans.
Green coffee refers to un-roasted coffee beans. They have been picked and processed but they haven't been roasted.
Caffeine content can vary. A standard cup of coffee (8oz) will contain an average of 94.8mg of caffeine, a standard size espresso would be less.
Yes coffee is vegan. If you want a coffee with milk you would need to pick a vegan alternative, we recommend Oatly Barista Oat Milk.
There is significantly less caffeine in the average cup of tea than there is in coffee. Before tea has been prepared and brewed (its dry form does contain more caffeine) but once brewed it drops to about 26mg of caffeine per cup of tea.
There are two main types of coffee bean: Robusta and Arabica. Robusta are a lower grade of beans grown at lower altitudes. Arabica are referred to as gourmet coffee beans providing a more refined flavour and aroma. Mara Coffee only sell the finest Arabica beans.
Single origin coffee is grown within a single geographic origin. They offer unique characteristics and specific tastes when compared to blended coffees from multiple origins. This is where African coffee excels.
Light roast - is a light brown colour and has no oil on the surface of the beans. These coffees are roasted in order to preserve the unique characteristics of the bean.
Medium roast - Medium roast coffee is a brown color and rarely has an oily surface. Roasting to this level also preserves many of the unique flavours of the coffee's origin, but it also begins to reach into the deep caramel sweetness of a longer roast
Dark roast - Dark roast coffee is a dark brown colour and often has an oily surface. These coffees have a low acidity, heavy body, and tend to reveal deeper, darker flavours.
Our favourite question! With rich soils, perfect coffee harvesting climate, and skilled farmers the majority of African coffee beans are the best quality and are often classified as specialty grade. Simply put it's the home of coffee!
I hope you found this an easy read whilst enjoying your cup of coffee. Reach out if there are any other topics you'd like us to blog about.
Until the next time keep smiling and drinking the finest African coffee!
Mara Coffee Team