Let's Get Freekeh!

Hey there my sweets!

It's almost summer time! The birds are chirping, animals are having babies and the sweet aroma of freshly grown plants is in the air. Speaking about aromas, last week I had the honour of attending Aroma Espresso Bar's private event. What did I learn at this event you may ask? All about the new Aroma-tastic super-food-filled summer salad. The salad's name is the Freekeh Salad. The salad contains an ancient grain called "freekeh" hence the name Freekeh Salad. This grain is protein-filled, which is perfect for all of us veggie lovin’, tree huggin’, animal lovin’ freekehs. 

I learned a lot about Aroma's new summer salad, because at the Aroma event a nutritionist spoke all about the freekeh grain and all its health benefits. Freekeh is an ancient grain, and is the newest superfood on the block. The freekeh grain is very similar to quinoa, as they are both a grain filled with tons of proteins.

The main benefits of Freekeh:

1) It is high in fibre.

The nutritionist at the Aroma event was explaining how in Canada many of us are very low in fibre. It is very difficult at times to eat the recommended amount of fibre as we should (especially for those who are trying to eat a low carb diet). 

2) It is low in gluten.

The freak grain is harvested early, meaning the gluten in the grain hasn't fully developed making it easy to digest. For those of you who are sensitive to gluten you will not feel bloated, or uncomfortable after eating it. Sadly, it is not gluten free so if someone is celiac you can’t eat this.

3) It is a complex carbohydrate.  

Most carbs will spike your blood sugar, and in about 2 seconds you’ll have no energy again. With freekeh, since it is a complex carb your energy and blood sugars will be more stable. You won’t get the rise and drop like you would from eating rice or any other non complex carbohydrates.

4) It is a Resistance Starch.

Resistance starch is food that bypasses our digest system and goes right through our 

gastrointestinal track and acts like food for good bacteria which is something we call a prebiotic. A prebiotic is something that helps build probiotics.

5) It is high in protein. 

Like I mentioned before, Freekeh is high in protein which is great for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone trying to eat plant based proteins. 

6) IT IS ACTUALLY GOOD!

The biggest complaint most people have when eating healthy is that healthy food doesn’t taste good. That is not the case with freekeh! Not only is it tasty but there are so many ways to enjoy it! You can make it into a soup, salad and even use it as stuffing! 

Ingredients for the Aroma Freekeh Salad: 

1) Freekeh

2) Chopped cucumbers, carrots, and tomates

3) Sliced red onion

4) Kale

5) Chopped dill pickle

6) One scoop of platene cheese

7) Light Dressing: Lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper

8) Parsley

9) Za’atar spice

The newest addition to the already amazing Aroma menu is out to every Canadian Aroma Espresso Bar, so get off your computer and go to the nearest Aroma near you! Let me know what you think, I know you will not be disappointed. 

And as always, remember to: stay caffeinated. 

Timothy's World Coffee!

Hello there my little mochas!

Random thought of the day, why in the world are we allowing coffee franchises to charge us $0.05-$1.00 more for a different type of milk? I think that is so ridiculous! When you are lactose intolerant or vegan (or have any type of reason for not having regular milk) and you have to pay more for the other milk options. That is so rude! I don't understand the logic at all. It's not the poor lactose intolerant customers fault for not being able to digest the regular milk... why are coffee franchises punishing the already punished? And the vegans, all they are trying to do is save the poor innocent animals lives WHY ARE THEY BEING PUNISHED?! It really frustrates me seeing this injustice. Why are these people being treated so unfairly? I really want to understand.


This week I visited (for the first time ever) a hidden treasure called Timothy's World Coffee! I say hidden because I really didn't know where Timothy's was located. I fixed my location problem with a little app (from the Apple Store) called Yood. I typed in the word "Timothy's" and it showed me the closest location to me, which really helped me out a lot this week.

I went to the Timothy's located inside of Vaughan Mills Mall. The location was a little kiosk (along with a patio) located by entrance number 6.

I thought the kiosk was so cute and decorated so nicely for the holidays (already!) with cute little pine trees (the fake ones, of course) and I'm almost certain there was Christmas music already playing in the background which really set the mood (Christmas spirit anyone?). The Timothy's colour scheme was red, navy blue, brown and white. Timothy's was able to carry their colour scheme nicely through their logo, cups and decor. (1 Bean Point)

When I went to the counter I noticed that they had the Timothy's Keurig pods on display, which was really nice to see! I think you were able to buy a pod to test it out for yourself, but I don't know because I didn't ask (does anyone wanna help a girl out?) The lady at the counter (has anyone noticed that the employees at all the coffee shops have been women) looked like she had her hands full, well her mouth full for the matter... She had food in her mouth as she was serving her customers, which I thought was so gross (especially since a piece of whatever she was eating flew out of her mouth... GROSS!). I (as you know) ordered a medium double-double. (0 Bean Points)

The flavour of the coffee was great! I really enjoyed their coffee blend. (1 Bean Point)


The price you ask? $2.25. SCORE! The price was definitely great. (1 Bean Point)

There was no drive through option! The location in the mall was great, so I don't see why they don't deserve a good bean point for that! (1 Bean Point)



Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 1 bean point

Price: 1 bean point

Ambiance: 1 bean point

Drive-Thru: 0 bean point

Customer Service: 0 bean point

Total Score: 4/5 total bean points!

Timothy's you really are a hidden treasure! 4/5 on a coffee shop that I have never been to is amazing! I really enjoyed the entire Timothy's experience. I will be back!



What do you think? Have you ever had a taste of  Timothy's? Let me know! I want to hear from you!

Next week's location........ Coffee Culture! See you next week!

PS: stay tuned fellow coffeeholics! December is on its way. And with December around the corner, that means there's something special that happens in all of the wonderful coffee franchises. Can you guess what's so special about coffee shops in December? You are not going to want to miss it!



Reminder:

LavAzza's score: 0/5 Bean Points
McCafé's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Aroma Espresso Bar's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Faema Caffè's score: 3.5 Bean Points
Second Cup's score: 1/5 Bean Points
Illy Caffè's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points



Until next week! xoxo

Stay Caffeinated.




Don't forget to follow me on social media!

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LavAzza!

Hello again my little caramel macchiatos! I hope that you all are keeping well!

Throughout the weeks I have been getting questions regarding WHY I would take one coffee experience and create an entire brand perception right of the bat. My answer to this question is simple:

The coffee industry is very, VERY competitive these days. I swear there are millions (not a fact, maybe just a sprinkle of exaggeration to set the mood) of different coffee companies trying to make it in this very competitive industry and just cannot make it out alive.  Through my own experiences, I have learned that every time someone walks into a location; to any sort of retail establishments they are looking for the whole package. Customers want a clear balance between price, quality and experience, but are being manipulated by marketing ploys to believe that a certain coffee brand is better without giving the other shops a fair chance. Many of the now popular coffee establishments "pride" themselves for wanting to provide an amazing customer experience, so in turn are able to jack up their prices and say that they are not only paying for the coffee, but also for the coffee-drinking experience. Now, my job as a coffee-blogger (and coffee lover) is to sort out those who really are not providing the "coffee-drinking experience" as they promised. I hate to be lied too, and I would hate for anyone to be taken advantage of. That is why this blog is a "movement"; my goal is to provide customers the knowledge they need to be able to distinguish which coffee franchises are worth their money, and who is not worth their money. Now, I am not saying in any way that even though I had a great experience in one place, it means everyone will have that same experience (and vice versa), I just want to bring awareness to the fact that everyone should get a fair chance in proving themselves to their customers and that every experience counts. You only get one shot at a good first impression.

Now onto the good stuff,

This week I took a trip over to LavAzza and man, oh man do I have a story for you! Buckle up!

Now as many of you already know from past blog posts, I am Italian and have been to Italy. I have also had the pleasure of having a real Italian coffee-drinking experience. LavAzza is an extremely popular Italian coffee brand, so when I went to their location I was expecting to see the typical Italian coffee-drinking experience I had in Italy. I was sadly mistaken.

I walked into the shop (by using their wooden, broken-down stairs) and saw the lady working at cash which on the phone with one of her friends. Not only was she on the phone with her friend, but she was also watching a work out video on the giant flat screen tv the LavAzza location had. When the lady saw that I was ready to order I asked if she could serve me a medium double double, she told me that they didn't have that on the menu, but the "caffè macchiato was just like it". I ordered the caffè macchiato, she then says "do you want this size or this size" (while holding two cups that look to me like they were the same size) I answered "whichever is suppose to be the medium". The lady then turns to her large coffee machine and starts pressing buttons and pauses. She then turns to me and says "oh, I forgot. It's a slow day, so I am cleaning the big espresso machine, but this one right here is just as good." Without a second for me to answer she started up her Keurig machine and presses all the buttons necessary. I then look at her and ask if the Keurig coffee pods she was using her at least LavAzza, she said yes. I looked on the Keurig website, and they do make LavAzza coffee pods (thankfully).  (0 Bean Points)

The store was all painted in a royal blue (when I say all, I mean all. The outer bricks were also royal blue to match the inside). The inside of the store was modest, with broken mirrors on the walls; coffee machines and coffee beans were on shelves along the back of the store (still in their Canada Post boxes). There were muffins sitting on a plate on the cash desk that were not covered. The tables and chairs were black. Honestly, it was disgusting. The only thing that was new-looking was the menu. (0 Bean Points)

The flavour, oh man. It was awful. I couldn't even describe it to you, it was just so bad. (0 Bean Points)


This price for my Keurig "LavAzza" coffee was ridiculously high. $3.95 for a cup of coffee that I could have made at home with my own machine. (0 Bean Points)


The LavAzza location had no drive thru options and zero parking, so I had to park in an apartment building's parking garage. (0 Bean Points)


Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: 0 bean point

Price: 0 bean point

Ambiance: 0 bean point

Drive-Thru: 0 bean point

Customer Service: 0 bean point

Total Score: 0/5 total bean points!

LavAzza, what happened? I was so looking forward to our encounter, but you have failed me. Please take my words of criticism and allow yourselves room for improvement. When you guys are great, I will be back.



What do you think? Have you ever had a taste of  LavAzza? Let me know! I want to hear from you!

Next week's location........ Timothy's! See you next week!

Reminder:
McCafé's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Aroma Espresso Bar's score: 5/5 Bean Points
Faema Caffè's score: 3.5 Bean Points
Second Cup's score: 1/5 Bean Points
Illy Caffè's score: 4.5/5 Bean Points
Starbucks' score: 3/5 Bean Points
Tim Hortons' score: 2.5/5 Bean Points



Until next week! xoxo

Stay Caffeinated.




Don't forget to follow me on social media!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeanMovement
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Tim Hortons!

Hello my loyal coffeeholics!

Here we are again, week two; a lot has changed since we last spoke. 

I now have 113 Facebook "Likes", 91 Instagram "followers" and 44 Twitter "followers." I just want to give you all a big thank you! It means a whole lot to me that you are all spreading the word and following me. 

Now, on to the good stuff. This week I went to Tim Hortons, and let just say I was actually very surprised. 

Timmies, as most Canadians, is my go-to place. I typically absolutely adore the flavour of their coffee and I especially love their new dark roast blend, but this week when I payed Tim Hortons a visit; I ordered my typical Double-Double (Dark Roast style, of course). I  then noticed that my coffee was extremely sweet. Turns out, it was a triple triple. The lady at the counter wasn't very happy with me noticing her mistake, and when I started talking to her about my love for coffee and about my experience with the Dark Roast (and how I usually adore it) she looked at me, starred looking very unimpressed.. which I thought was pretty rude. By her reaction, I did not think it was my place to ask for a new coffee; so I left. 

Since during past visits I've had the Dark Roast Tim Hortons Double-Double, and since I know it is usually wonderful, I will give them .5 of a bean point. 

Who can complain about their price? I know I can't! I payed: $1.65 for a medium double double. (bean point)

The ambiance of Tim Hortons sort of sucks. I am not a fan of the layout they set for themselves. Everything in the store typically looks old and dirty. Their colour of choice is brown, which is fitting since coffee is also brown. However, I believe they over use the brown colour. (NO bean point)

Drive thru option: Available (bean point)

The customer service at Tim Hortons failed for me this time, sorry. (NO bean point)

Now it's time for the run-down:

Flavour: .5 of a bean point

Price: bean point

Ambiance: 0

Drive-Thru option: bean point

Customer Service: 0

Total score: 2.5/5 

In all, I was left unimpressed by Tim Hortons. If it were my first time in their establishment, I don't think I would go back. Usually when I buy a coffee, I'd like to at least hear a good morning or see a smile on at least one person's face; since you not only pay for the product, but also the customer service, and in this case they were both majorly lacking.  Tim Hortons' prices are not the most expensive, but according to what I payed for I do not think it was worth the money.



NEXT STOP...... Starbucks! Tune in next Thursday for updates!

Ciao for now! Stay Caffeinated. 

Don't forget to follow me on Social Media! 

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Welcome to the Bean Movement

Hello fellow coffeeholics!

If you are like me, and can't go a day without your freshly brewed beans, or your day cannot possibly begin without a cup or two of coffee. Then I am the blog for you. I'm here with all your tips and tricks for all your coffee needs. You may be an Espresso, American, Dark Roast, flavoured coffee, latte, or Colombian brewed coffee lover- whatever gets you through the day. I'll be here to keep you all updated on all your local coffee needs.

For the next couple of weeks I will be going to coffee shops in Toronto; comparing the flavours, prices, ambiance, drive through options and customer service. Each category gets one point, also known as a bean point, if satisfied. If I am unsatisfied, they do not get the point for that category. The highest possible score is 5 bean points.

The rules: I have to go to a different coffee shop each week and order the same drink each time. The beverage of my choosing is a medium double double.

NEXT STOP……Stay tuned, I will be posting every Thursday with updates.


Who has the best coffee? Follow me on my journey as I find the best coffee in Toronto!

Stay Caffeinated