Tangram Sky, Author at Lattes On Location Catering

Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Catering

Service Provided

Espresso & Hot Chocolate Bar

Don’t Hate the Christmas Aisle in August!

When I walk into Hobby Lobby in the August heat and see Fall Colors…I am excited! I pretend that it’s cool outside and mentally check my inventory of sweaters for fall. I admit it’s a little escapism, but when you live through Texas summers it’s ok to let the A/C cool your thoughts and body – and go ahead and get a fall scented candle while you are at it!

A Reminder for the Holiday Season

So this year, when you stroll around your favorite store in August or September and see Christmas stuff…don’t cringe. Let it be a not-so-subtle reminder that you need to hire your event professionals for the holidays now! I promise if you wait until November (when your house is cleaned and ready to decorate) there will be some of your favorite vendors that you would love to be at your party that will be fully booked, and have to send you that email from the regrets template.

Only Two Saturdays in December Before Christmas!

Also in 2021, with Christmas on a Saturday, there are really ONLY TWO Saturdays left in December for parties before Christmas!

Book Your Holiday Event Caterer Now!

Contact Us now to get an Espresso Bar or Deluxe Hot Chocolate Bar scheduled for your Holiday Event!

Smoothie Bar Catering

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Fruit Smoothie Bar

Espresso Frappe Bar Catering Events

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Espresso Frappe Bar

Dermatologist PR Event

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Espresso Coffee & Hot Chocolate Bar

Cool Times with Smoothie & Frappes | Smoothie Catering

Back when we had our coffee shop, 2004 – 2005, we started the journey of exploring the world that is Specialty Coffee.

When you have a shop, you get to create all kinds of new flavors, explore different products, and discover what you like to eat and drink!

We inherited some menu items like boba, jasmine green tea, and flavored coffee beans. I still love boba! But we just don’t sell it anymore.

We also did fruit smoothies with a green tea base and we liked the concentrated juice product. We only had to mix with ice and water to create delicious ice-cold smoothies. Plus it converted to the catering world very easily.

But we were disappointed when the product we were using switched to include fructose corn syrup as the main ingredient and took OUT the green tea. The smoothies tasted good, but all the redeeming qualities had been removed. We didn’t feel good about that.

Finding the Right Smoothie Mixture for our Catering Service

So we searched for a better alternative every time we would go to a trade show; Coffee Fest, SCA Event, or other coffee extravaganzas.

There are a lot out there!

After searching intensely, we found our mix. It uses only fruit juice, no high fructose corn syrup, no additional sugar added to the flavors we feature. What makes this even better is that they add a lot of great antioxidants, fiber, superpowers (we wish!), etc.

If you are going to drink something that will likely give you a brain freeze you might as well deliver good nutrients too!

Icy Frappes Made with Real Espresso

And just a quick note about frappes. If they don’t have real espresso in the mix…why bother?? We only make our frappes using real espresso and fabulous Ghirardelli flavors.

Maybe that is our Superpower! Oh, and we call it LOL Smoothies…from Lattes On Location.

Get a Catering Quote for Your Event

If you are looking to serve icy drinks like our Smoothie & Frappe bar for an event you are planning, give us a call today!

It’s Your Wedding, Dear | Customized Coffee Bar

Espresso Yourself at your Wedding with Customized Coffee Bar Offerings

We love weddings!

We love the distinctiveness of each wedding and their similarities. The celebration of a life journey that starts with a party with family and friends. A vow, a dance, a toast, a meal…cake and coffee.

When we talk to couples about their selections for Specialty Beverages at their reception, or rehearsal dinner…or after wedding brunch…we like to design another unique element for them to enjoy with their guests.

One way is with customized designs for their cups, just a little detail, inexpensive and fun.

Customize Your Coffee Bar Beverages

Another way to customize your wedding for guests is with signature drinks and customized menus.

Shea & Tyler’s wedding (#finallyPooledtogether), had our Italian Cream Soda & Cold Brew Coffee bar. Tyler’s favorite drink was the Strawberry Cheesecake Soda and Shea featured a Cold Brew Coffee with caramel and almond milk.

Their favorites were by far the most selected drinks of the evening!

Espresso Bar at the Nasher Sculpture Center

One of my favorite weddings so far this year was Samantha and John Bush’s at the beautiful Nasher Sculpture Center. It was the most perfect weather for sipping lattes from our Espresso Bar and dancing to a live band under the stars and Dallas Skyline.

Personal Taste Testing for Menu Creation

Are you wondering what kind of flavor pairings we offer that you would love to add to your customized menu? We do personal tastings; for the bride and groom, the bride’s parents, for whoever you wish to help taste the best coffee combos ever (max of 4!) We explore flavor combinations, test taste espresso, and more.

Here are just a few drinks that have been concocted in our brainstorming taste testings:

The Modern English Toffee Latte
Coffee Kindred Spirits Pumpkin Pie Latte (bride & groom named!)
Snickerdoodle
Purple Zebra
Lavender Chai
Lavender Mocha
Strawberry Cheesecake Italian Soda (Tyler’s fav!)

This coffee connection starts in our hipster home office (ha!) and continues through to the special day.

Whether a micro wedding or full-blown soiree, you need a custom latte! Your guests will so enjoy connecting with you by ordering your favorite!

Cheers!

Baylee & Geo’s Wedding

Service Provided

Espresso & Hot Chocolate Bar

Home Brew Methods for Coffee; There’s One For Everyone

This is our coffee bar at home.

I had a fun post last year when the world shut down on @thelattelady on Instagram. It started with the photo above and the question; how many brew methods do you spot in this picture?

It doesn’t usually display ALL the brew methods we own. But I thought it would be fun to explore them, especially since on April 16th, 2020, when I posted this, coffee shops were shut down.

But the world still needed coffee! With no access to coffee cups, that means making your own …

So how do you know the right home brew method for you? Did you even realize the variety of choices you have?

What Might Impact Your Home Brew Method of Choice?

Taste/Quality Preference

I have become very particular with the way my coffee tastes. I drink my drip coffee black, so it has to be good. That has a lot to do with the bean.

But the brew method of that bean impacts the overall flavor and body of the drink as well. Personally, I prefer filtered, single-origin coffee on a typical day. Occasionally, I like a hot french press (non-filtered) cup of coffee.

Convenience

You will notice there is no pod brewer in my collection. I just can’t get the depth of flavor I love in my coffee in a brew that comes out in 60 seconds (except with an Aeropress). But multitudes choose the Keurig for its convenience. It wins over quality because…it’s convenient! No judgment here. Convenience plays into my routine as well.

My Daily Brew Method of Choice?

This Behmor. This precious, programmable drip-coffee machine is my daily routine.

I have an older model, but Behmor now has a SMART option … you can literally ask Alexa to start your coffee. Will this be my next step toward automation? Maybe!!

Every night I grind my coffee and schedule it to start 5 minutes before we emerge for the day.

I look forward to waking up to freshly brewed, hot aromatic coffee every day.

What Are Other Convenient Brew Methods?

The Aeropress

The Aeropress is quick, but you have to concentrate on the timing. Not a lot. It makes one to three cups at a time. For a short brew guide check out Eiland Coffee and get the scoop from Zach. It’s simple once you get the hang of it, and easier to clean than a french press.

The French Press

The French Press takes longer but has less involvement. You can also make more coffee, depending on the size of the press you have. One advantage is that you can turn on your kettle, grind your coffee, and put on your makeup (or whatever….) while it steeps. This is a non-filtered method, meaning your coffee doesn’t go through more than a mesh screen, so you are going to taste and feel some of the oils that are naturally in the brew. It’s not unpleasant, some people prefer that depth of texture and flavor. Watch my French Press tutorial for details.

The Clever

Obviously, from the picture, you can see that I could use an update. Coffee stains, people. This Clever dripper has been around for a while. This is another immersion method but combines easy to clean with very little managing. Set it and forget it….until the timer goes off! Measure your coffee, grind it, put it in the rinsed filter with the clever, and set the timer. When it’s ready, put it in your cup. The Clever is especially good when you need one cup to go, and you don’t have a bunch of time. You don’t need a Keurig when you have a Clever with freshly ground coffee!

Other Important Factors for the Perfect Coffee Brew

Get yourself a Burr grinder like the Baratza Encore (avoid blades, they grind inconsistently), if you don’t have one yet. Whatever home brew method you use, nothing will improve it more than grinding fresh, locally roasted beans shortly before you brew!

I recommend buying local coffee! Dallas, where I am, has many very excellent coffee roasters. We use Eiland Coffee Roasters primarily but other favorites in DFW are Cultivar Coffee Bar & Roaster, Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters, and Book Club Coffee. Explore and support local roasters; your community appreciates it and your coffee mug will too.

Once you get the grinder and a scale for measuring, experiement with the brewing system that works best for your budget, your convenience, and your taste!

Discover What Home Brew Method Works Best for You

I haven’t gone through all the brewing methods, mostly the convenient ones! I think the Siphon is one of the best ways to bring out notes and flavors in your coffee that you don’t get on a straight-up immersion or drip method.

But it’s like a science experiment: fun, a little messy, and not something I would want to do before I’ve even had coffee to drink. Kind of a fun, Saturday afternoon experience! I haven’t created a brewing tutorial for this yet, but here’s a great one from Blue Bottle Coffee: Siphon Preparation Guide. Another classic coffee provider with seasonal blends, though not a local coffee roaster.