Making Meals Special

Coffee and tea are the quintessential cafe beverages. There are a lot of varieties to choose from, and there most people enjoy these beverages. However, that does not mean you can't and shouldn't branch out! If your cafe offers some other beverages in addition to coffee and tea, you'll draw in more customers and help those customers expand their palates. Here are some top beverages to consider.

Kombucha

Kombucha is a beverage that has become quite common lately. Technically, it is made from tea, but it is fermented with bacteria and yeast, plus fruit and other ingredients are added to it. By the time kombucha is fermented, it does not taste very much like tea anymore. It's a little sour, a little sweet, and very complete. It is typically served cold, and its bubbly texture appeals to those who love beer and soda.

Kombucha is a healthy choice because it is very high in probiotics, which are healthy bacteria. Drinking it more often can help improve your digestion, so you can count on kombucha being pretty popular with the health-conscious crowd.

Fruit-Infused Water

We all need water to thrive, and most of us could afford to drink more of it. But plain water is just not that interesting. Your customers will, however, be interested in ordering fruit-infused water. It's really easy to make. You just slice a bunch of fruit, pour a bunch of water over it, and let it sit in the fridge for a day or two. Pour it through a pitcher with a strainer so that the fruit itself does not end up in the water. Some good combinations to try include:

• Cucumber and strawberry
• Blackberries and raspberries
• Oranges and lemons

Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate needs to make a comeback! It used to be popular, but it fell out of popularity as it got a little mundane. You can bring it back to your cafe, but with a unique twist. Serve it with some tiny chocolate chips stirred into it, or sprinkle it with real cocoa powder before serving. Make cinnamon hot chocolate by adding a pinch of cinnamon to the mix, or make cherry hot chocolate by adding a few drops of cherry extract. You could even offer a hot chocolate of the week, which will encourage customers to keep sampling new things.

If you're feeling a bit burned out when it comes to coffee and tea, consider offering some of these alternatives at your cafe. Your customers will appreciate it.