At Cafe Evoke Catering, we are about more than just coffee. We are about the journey, about life, and about pursuing a vivid impression of reality. We are about community, we are about freedom to choose, we are about artistry and imagination.
When Cafe Evoke Catering comes to your event, our goal is to serve you and your guests the finest Certified Fair Trade and Organic coffee and espresso drinks that you have ever enjoyed. While we understand that the Fair Trade movement may have holes, it is what we have and we strive to begin to help make it a program that is more than a trend.
Please contact us today for booking and package information. You can email us through our website or call 405-517-0517.
Thank you for choosing a Fair Trade coffee catering company. We look forward to a long friendship.
Have you had a chance to sign up for the newsletter? Well, if not, you can by clicking here. If you missed the first version, you can read it here (I think this link will work, if not, you will just have to sign up! I would be happy to send you a copy if you let me know!).
A quick interview with coffee buyers Scott Merle and Stephany Dybeck during their recent visit to the farm at Finca El Valle in Antigua, Guatemala. Feb 25, 2008. Great stuff!
This is one of the reasons we love working with these guys.
This Sunday, April 27th from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Cafe Evoke Catering will be setting up our booth at the 1st annual Bridal Fair at the Palace Event Center in El Reno, Oklahoma.
If you are in the process of getting married, have a friend getting married, or think you are going to be getting married, this is a not to miss show. It is free and, heck, you can try some coffee and espresso drinks FREE from Oklahoma's premier specialty coffee catering company. We think they are pretty damn good.
So, come on out to the show and introduce yourselves! We would love to sit down with you and talk about the weather, who will win the Democratic nomination, favorite colors, and specialty coffee catering at your event!
I jumped in the car on Wednesday and headed to Mustang, Oklahoma for - what else - espresso. I did grow up in Oklahoma but Mustang was not a place I spent much time. It is about 15 minutes from Oklahoma City and, that I know of, not known for coffee and espresso. But, I have to try it all, right?
I have been reading online (here is a review done on BlogCritics.com) and in a few publications about a shop owned by a guy named Charles - rightfully named Charlie Bean. They have a nice site and it seemed like a cool place to try - and heck, who wouldn't want to take a quick drive out to Mustang? Here is a bit from the BlogCritics Review:
Ten-year Mustang resident Charles Mangus and his wife Linda teamed up with their partners, Greg and Linda Kersh, to open the first coffee house in Mustang on February 13th. Upon entering you are surrounded by the earthy aroma of roasted coffee and jazzy tunes in the background. Charlie Bean sports seating for 65 patrons, an in-house coffee roaster, a forty-inch flat-screen TV hanging above a fireplace surrounded by cozy leather armchairs, and free wireless Internet with purchase.
I asked Charles what made him want to open a coffee house and he replied, "I started roasting my own coffee years ago and just have a love for coffee."
On any given day there are eight to ten employees working behind the counter serving up various offerings from their one-hundred-item menu including bagels, yogurt, and even soups and salads for lunch. On the shelves are the traditional offerings of grinders, syrups, teas, whole bean and flavored coffees, and even caffeine-laden lip balm
I had heard they have a lot of wholesale business and that they are cleaning house on the coffee market in this part of the state. I was anxious to finally find their location (425 West Highway 152 in Mustang) and have a cup.
I got there and found much of what the writer above described. The singage in front looked professional and elegant and the building was new and looked fantastic. They do have a few couchy areas to hang out in and nice tables to sit and work on your computer, read, or eat. You do have to pay for internet but that is somewhat normal I guess. They also have a nice large room in the back of their place that is opened for use or can be rented for private parties.
Their coffee roaster adds alot to the look of the place. While the pictures on their site show a clean and elegant area around the roaster, it was a bit cluttered when we arrived. I will just say it was because it was 2 in the afternoon and they were just coming off the lunch rush and had not gotten around to getting it cleaned up. They do have a large food menu which would probably mean they get hammered on the lunch hour.
A few other things I took down while there were that they use Nuova Simonelli espresso machines, Mazzer grinders, a drive through lane/window, and a lot of retail - coffee and tea, coffee and tea supplies, candies, and more. They had two baristas on duty when we arrived. They were wearing - yes, green aprons! The photos on their site show them (and the author above mentions it in his review) wearing black aprons with Charlie Bean shirts. That would be much better. Green aprons?? I know this is a trivial remark but I think green aprons have a home - that is just my opinion. Their back bar was cluttered with supplies and mixes, a soda fountain, and other stuff just sitting around. They also have such a huge menu and so many options it was hard to look at and find really what I wanted.
I ordered an espresso macchiato and after being asked what size I wanted, I headed off to a table to wait for my drink. A barista took care of me and served it in a nice demitasse cup with saucer. I got back to my table and began to evaluate my drink. I first saw that there were large coffee stains on my cup! While I am going to assume it happened when she was extracting the espresso, my mind kept going back to the fact that this cup was dirty!
They make it in the classic scoop fashion which was a nice change from others I have had - while I do not normally have a preference. The milk was not on the velvety side but rather pretty rough in texture. The crema was thin and dark - maybe a characteristic of the blend? I do not know much about their coffee - yet. While it smiled of cocoa, it polished very stale and bitter - shooting directly to the front of my mouth.
I need to head back there and get the low down on their coffee roasting profiles, talk with their barista, see them pull a shot, and try something again to really get an idea of my impressions but my first impression of the cafe was good on a design level and not so good on a coffee level.
I know they are pushing quite a bit of coffee so I am interested in learning more about their wholesale stuff and really what they are all about.
There is something that I see almost every time I am at a cafe. It does not really matter if it is an independent or a chain. There is a sense of elitism from both sides of the counter. I know you have seen it or been a part of it - I am not grouping myself out here either. When I think of this problem, I normally tend to favor the side of the customer. But, it seems that our friendly baristi in some parts think that the cocky personality comes more from the customer than anywhere else. I know the customers think differently!
So, I was flipping through a few coffee blogs this morning and came across this post about consumer etiquette when at a coffee shop. Yes, I agree with some of what is said here - mainly the third one about not talking on your cell phone while ordering or in line. It does make it tough to serve you. Here is the complete list from CoffeeSlinger (not the shop in Oklahoma City!).
1. Don't talk to me like I'm stupid. 2. Don't spend ten minuets standing in line and then wait until you get to the register to take your first glance at the menu. 3. Don't talk on your Cell Phone while your talking to me. It's rude. 4. Make your full and complete order when you order. 5. Please throw your trash away. 6. Flush the toilet. 7. Keep an eye on your kids. 8. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. 9. It's okay to ask Questions. 10. It is eSpresso, NOT eXpresso.
She goes into detail on each of these things which is worth the read I think.
Some of it I have simple answer to - it is your job! Yes, it would be great if every customer put their dishes in the bus bin (as it would be nice if every cafe had a place that was marked for this action!). It would be nice if customers would keep the r. rooms clean. It would nice if they would flush the toilet, keep an eye on their kids, and other things. Here is the deal - they mostly do not! It is our job - as owners, managers, barista - to take care of our cafe. While I think it is our job, it is also our job to train our customers - yes. they can be trained!
So, all of that being said, there are those that you just cannot please. There are customers that, no matter what you give them, they will send it back. Customers that have been "trained" by other cafes on terminology, drink style, prep style, etc that you will not be able to satisfy. That is part of our business and, in my opinion, you should just inform them that you have done everything in your power (please be sure that you actually have!) and that you just can't get it right for them and if they are not ok with that, not to come back. Yes you want their business but not at that sort of price. We are people you know and it sucks to get bashed all the time.
Customers, be nice to your barista. They are trying their best to be your friends and treat you like they mean it!
Barista - come on! Yes, you probably know more than the customer about shot extraction, velvety miro foam, thick crema, 9 bars, and blueberry flavors in Harrar. That is stuff you should be so excited to talk about with customers! I hear it too many times - a customer coming in and ordering a mocha or frappe and the barista taking it as a personal offense and making the customer feel bad for ordering it. In fact, I have seen this story play out way more than I have seen a customer attack a barista.
We should all take the time to talk about our product, why we do what we do (and why we don't), and give our customers ideas on what to order and what it all means! That's what makes us at Evoke so excited! We get to go to clients homes and business and talk about coffee. Yes, we get the order for the Caramel Macchiato all the time. That is fine. We just explain the drink, that we do not serve it and give a suggestion for something similar. People love it!
So, yes, I overall agree that there are many things that are tough as a barista when dealing with a customer. It is our job though. If it is to much - you may be in the wrong field. People are a huge part of what coffee is about. Those 20 sets of hands that touch our product from field to cup - that is the music behind the whole deal! Get to know your customers and I assure you, they will begin to take on the traits your shop wants them to take on.
I was on the forums of OKCTalk and saw a thread that caught my eye. Oklahoma was featured on the front page of New York Times! How great is that?
The piece was talking about the Oklahoma River and the development that is going on around it. Here is a bit of the article from The New York Times:
Kayakers at the weekend Olympic trials, which drew between 10,000 and 15,000 spectators, said they had heard about Oklahoma City through their friends in rowing. Aside from some concerns about the city’s ferocious winds, the athletes said they were pleased.
“I think they’ve definitely proven that they can provide a solid race course and event,” said Carrie Johnson, who earned a spot on the Olympic team in the 500-meter single kayak event on Friday.
Johnson was the only athlete over the weekend to be definitively selected for the United States team; the rest will be selected after races in Montreal and Szeged, Hungary.
“The actual boathouse is one of the best that I’ve seen,” she said.
The Oklahoma River has also won over Norman Bellingham, the chief operating officer of the United States Olympic Committee and a gold medalist in kayaking.
“I was a little bit in disbelief,” he said, recalling his initial reaction to rowing in Oklahoma City. “I had to come out and see it myself.”
Then, at the USA Rowing World Challenge held in Oklahoma City last October, Bellingham spotted a top competitor from New Zealand. He said he knew the site had been accepted.
Perhaps the best test, he said, was that he got few questions when he told people where the Olympic trials were being held. In the boating world, “it seems like a very natural, logical statement to make,” he said. “You don’t get that second look like, did I hear that correctly?
I'm telling you, Oklahoma City is starting to be worth the visit if you do not live here. When I moved from Oklahoma in 2001, I did not really expect to be back or want to be back. While the move has been tough, the more the Oklahoma City community pushes for redevelopment in this area, it gets better and better.
I am excited to see what else is going to happen! I know there are plans for a new central park in Downtown OKC. I am trying to find the plans and specs online - having a hard time. I will post them when I find them.
Last night, Evoke teamed up with the 2008 Show House. This is the 35th annual Symphony Designers Show House and Gardens, a project of the Oklahoma City Orchestra League, will feature the new downtown construction of the luxury New York City Brownstones. The event was the first public event of the year for the Show House - a night of wine, great food from top of the line downtown restaurants (and Cafe Evoke Catering), and cool jazz.
The event seemed to be a success. The tent was packed and despite the very high temperatures, coffee and espresso were flowing and people had a huge smile on their face. We were happy to be involved. We also were happy to meet new friends of Cafe Evoke Catering: Nonna's, The Melting Pot OKC, and others!
We have been watching The Brownstones in progress over the past year or so when we have been visiting to OKC and since we have moved back and the idea is pretty great. They are located at 3rd and Walnut downtown if you have not been able to take a look.
If you want more information about touring these homes, you can find out about tickets on the 2008 Show House Website. There will be four homes on the tour each decorated in a different style and will feature the work of acclaimed designers. The design themes will be:
Evoke is heading back to Prom - well, after prom I guess is more like it. Hey, we felt that if we were going back, we should go back to the fun part of it all, right?
So, it is true - at Midnight:30, we will head out to Edmond for OCS's after prom. They are having a bistro/cafe theme which actually sounds pretty cool. Now, I feel pretty old when I say this but - holy crap - 4:00 am?? I am going to be hanging out with the group of parents that is watching the clock!
No seriously, we are excited about this. What better reason to stay up all night than for coffee, espresso, latte art, and everything else Evoke?? We always wanted to have Evoke stay open late so this should fit us perfectly. I know the group is excited to have this addition to their party and we are happy to provide it.
I will post pictures (hopefully we will get a few) to show how it went. This is our first time back to prom. Smile!
We had the weekend off (good and bad I guess) and decided to try and take advantage of the time to work in our new yard and to listen to some music and do other things. We ended up working almost all day on Saturday and Sunday creating something happy in an otherwise dismal backyard area. It came out great and we are super excited for burgers, espresso, and wine in the back yard this summer. Come hang out with us!
We also packed into the UCO Edmond Jazz Lab on Saturday evening. If you have ever been to the club, you know what I mean. Despite sitting in the lap of the person next to you, we were all taken away by our new friend and friend to Oklahoma, Stacey Kent. The group is going great and their new record seems to be taking off faster than expected.
There is something about a evening with Jazz. The swinging of the music seems to take you away and refill the void that has been created over days in a row of the same old grind. It is something I have not gotten enough of over the past few years and really gave me some added energy going forward.
It makes you optimistic.
We are going to be hammered this coming weekend which is good. We are excited to begin building on Evoke as a catering company and also has a cafe. What will it all look like? We have no idea.
We are just going to sit back, listen to the music, and follow where it goes.
The one great thing about being in a place like Oklahoma City are the many festivals that begin about this time every year. It seems like the place transforms into sometime different - people coming together to share the arts of all kinds. There are a few events that are about to kick up that you should think about attending. These are great places to support local businesses, meet new people, and introduce yourself to knew kinds of things. Here are a few that are happening...
1. Oklahoma Festival of the Arts, April 22-27th, 2008. Since 1967, the Festival of the Arts has been Oklahoma City's rite of spring. The Festival is a community celebration of the visual arts, performing arts and culinary arts.
The 2008 Festival of the Arts takes place April 22-27, 2008 in Downtown Oklahoma City at the Festival Plaza, Stage Center and the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 11a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is free. Pets are not allowed.
The Visual Arts include 144 Plaza Artists from across the nation that exhibit on Hudson Avenue, Windscapes, a kinetic art exhibit in the MyriadGardens, Environs, a furniture showcase in StageCenter and a large-scale SculpturePark exhibit in the Stage Center Lawn.
The Culinary Arts consist of the International Food Row. Each food vendor is partnered with an area non-profit organization.
The Performing Arts includes four stages of non-stop performing arts and entertainment.
The one thing I remember about going to this event every year as a grade schooler is the huge white jawbreakers! Don't lie, you remember! The food is awesome, there are great bands and artists of all kinds. It is worth the trip downtown - come on, get out there and you will have a good time. You can find out more about the festival on their website.
2. The Norman Music Festival, April 26th at Noon. There is a HUGE list of artists that will be there. You can check out that list on their MySpace page.
There is a ton going on in Edmond this spring and summer. From a farmers market to a jazz and blues festival - if you are in those parts, plan on being around! You can find out a ton more on their website.
There is so much more to talk about I'm sure. If you know of something, pass it along to me and I will keep this post going on and on and on. Have a good time and, Val and Hank, get ready for that stormy weather!
325 hot cups, lids, and pre assembled Java Jackets
50 8 oz ceramic cups and saucers
We had a busy weekend to say the least. As I talked about before, we teamed up with the Oklahoma Redhawks - Oklahoma's minor league baseball club. It has been a great partnership so far - we have had a great time serving at the ballpark, they have had a great time having a coffee bar available to their guests, and their guests love having something hot to drink with the lights fire up and the game gets into the 7th inning or so. It has been a win win so far! The idea for the partnership is to have it available to their suite holders and for parties at the ballpark - not to have it set up in the lobby as it was last week for the Thursday and Saturday games so it will be a better deal for Evoke I think.
We also had a wedding shower mixed in on Saturday morning which was a nice change of pace for us. We got to serve out of nice cups and saucers which was MUCH better and it was a very fun party with playful guests.
This week is looking slower on the catering side. As always. there is stuff to work on including the first Cafe Evoke newsletter. If you are interested in getting it, you can go to the website and sign up. It will only be once a month so don't worry about having tons of extra emails. You can always unsubscribe.
There are other cool events that we are working on. I will let you know more about them as it comes. They are going to be fun community events that are not to miss!
Cafe Evoke Catering has teamed up with the Oklahoma RedHawks. The RedHawks are a minor league team based in Oklahoma City and are the affiliate team for the Texas Rangers.
Last night was our first night at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark and we had a great time serving coffee and espresso drinks to the season ticket holders and box owners. We will be at it again on Saturday along with our friends at CocoFlow who will be bringing awesome chocolates to sample. What does this all mean?
It means that groups like the RedHawks are trying to take a step up in their services to their clients. Chocolate and Dessert Bars and also Evoke's espresso bars are now going to be available through the ballpark for meetings, parties, and other functions. I am excited that the group understands the value of quality coffee and is willing to go the extra mile to be sure that their guest are getting the best.
I have heard so many times that Oklahoma is not a coffee community. Well, it may not be developed but people love their coffee and espresso. We served 160 or so drinks in a four hour span and the line could have kept going. We are excited to be on the ground floor in the Oklahoma coffee movement and we hope that we have a chance to serve more and more of our community friends.
So, if you are at the Ballpark on Saturday, look for Cafe Evoke Catering. We are excited to team up with the baseball club and look forward to a fun future together.
On Monday, I had to make some decisions that instantly effected us as a business. I hinted around at this a few days ago and the time finally came.
As a new business, you hate turning away clients. In fact, I think it is safe to say that most small businesses will go above and beyond their normal line of products and services to satisfy their customer. Evoke is not any different but where do you draw the line? If you remember. we bought a Granita Machine last summer for a customer and really have not used it much since. So, when we were presented with an account that wanted milkshakes, smoothies, and blended coffee drinks as the main service and coffee as a secondary option. we faced the same problem.
Evoke is a coffee company. One that we hope ends up being a leader in the Specialty Coffee Industry. We are the only coffee caterers (last time we checked) that are members of the Specialty Coffee Association of America and are doing everything we can to promote quality.
We have been trying hard to figure out who we are. I figured it out this week. We are Evoke.
People are not hiring us because we can make a killer chocolate milkshake. They hire us because we have the best baristas, the best espresso extraction, a unique style, and great customer relations. That is who we are. We now know that we have to do things that keep us in that same school.
So, we made our first decision. I think in the long run it will put us on the right foot - at least I hope so.
