You won't find this on the shelf...

Leave it to our friends at DoubleShot Coffee Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma to come up with something over the top. I was reading some posts over at Pasteboard - the blog of Barista Magazine and saw a sweet picture of custom tamper handles. I then read the post which contained the follow letter from Brian Franklin - owner of DoubleShot: Hey Barista Magazine people: Jason (my employee) and I were in Colombia in December. We spent a few days in Concordia, which is an amazingly beautiful place. I picked up a piece of a stumped coffee tree and jammed it in my backpack to bring home. Slipped through customs with it and shipped it to Reg Barber. He carved three tamper handles out of it for us, which are fantastic. They are really beautiful. I was just back in Concordia last week with Isaiah (different employee), and we really had a good time and made some headway in learning more about coffee. Â Pretty exciting. I hope all is well with you. You have to head over to their blog and check out what they got Reg to make for them - very cool stuff! That's all for this Tuesday. We are "stumped".... ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, doubleshot coffee tulsa Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

New Coffees from Batdorf and Bronson on the Way!

We are doing our best to keep the great coffee coming. We have had the pleasure of working with two great roasters in the past few months and the coffee they have been getting to us has been so great. Here is what we have coming from Batdorf and Bronson on Friday. I'm telling you, you better book your coffee bar for your event quick as dates are filling up. You don't want to miss these coffees! 1. Organic Nicaragua Isabelia -- From the 15th de September Co-op, this coffee is complex, rich and harmonious with a pleasant chocolaty aroma (says roastmaster Scott Merle). 2. Rwanda Buremera MIG -- The 2008 Cup of Excellent Winner, this coffee burst with ripe red fruit with a long and sweet finish. 3. Costa Rica La Minita del Sol -- This coffee is 100% sundried, the only roaster in the world to have access to this specially prepared coffee. With flavors of freshly squeezed orange juice and sweet maple syrup, this coffee is always a huge hit! That is what we have coming from Batdorf and Bronson. You can download coffee info sheets on their website (click on the names of the coffees above) and you can also order directly from them if you see something that looks great! All cupping notes are from coffee buyer and roastmaster Scott Merle. We will have our own notes soon! Have a great Wednesday and if you are reading this from Oklahoma - stay cool! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, batdorf and bronson Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Getting married? Think about specialty coffee catering!

Are you getting married or know someone who is? Think about having Cafe Evoke Catering come and set up a private coffee bar for the reception or other bridal event! Cafe Evoke Catering will be hanging out at the upcoming OkBride.com Bridal Show happening on July 26th, 2009! This will be a great time to sit down and talk to one of our baristas about how a coffee bar can fit into your reception. This is a fresh and fun thing to add to your event no matter if you are offering a full bar or keeping it simple. Bring your questions and we will answer them! You can book on the spot to ensure we have your date saved or gather what you need and make the decision later. We look forward to seeing you! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, okbride.com Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Live on the Plaza @ 1708okc!

We told you about it last week so if you missed it, dang. This past Friday was The Plaza's Live on the Plaza event and it was the best one yet! Not only did Velvet Monkey kick off their new space across the street from us, the other businesses that call The Plaza home rocked it as well. Here is a taste of what you missed if you did not get down here.... Need more pictures? Head on over to our photostream! So, we are pretty sure you need to go ahead and mark the next Live on the Plaza down on your calendar. Here is the info: LIVE on the Plaza Date: July 19th, 2009 Time: 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm The Historic Plaza of Oklahoma City sits at the 1700 block of NW 16th between Penn and Classen. You can visit The Plaza online at www.PlazaDistrict.org. We hope to see everyone at the next LIVE event here at 1708! We will have some awesome home brews (for those over 21 of course), coffee by Cafe Evoke Catering, food, other drinks, conversation, art and more! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, live on the plaza Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Summer Time at Cafe Evoke Catering

It is summer around here - in full force! At Cafe Evoke Catering, we want you to remember that quality, high end beverages are not just for the cooler months and do not stop with our classic iced specialty coffee drinks! We have an awesome summer menu going that goes great with our ever popular specialty coffee bar. We wanted to give you a quick breakdown of what we have to offer for the hot summer months while leaving you with one thing in mind - we are always coming up with new signatures! Here is a brief look at what we are currently offering and a bit about each drink. But wait, before we go further, we wanted to be sure you knew about how our summer drinks are flavored. At Cafe Evoke Catering, we want to offer only the highest quality gourmet flavorings for our coffee drinks and other signature beverages. To reach this goal, all of our drinks are flavored using Monin Gourmet Flavorings! If you have not tasted the difference between these and others on the market, give us a call and stop by the studio to have a taste. You will be amazed. Ok, on with it. (pictured: Flavored Lemonade and an Italian Soda) 1. Italian Soda - This is a great and refreshing summer drink that we actually offer throughout the year. This drink is created by adding just the right amount of flavoring to ice cold soda and ice. We have 22 flavors to choose from (depending on what options you choose) so the possibilities are endless! You can also request a hint of cream to make the ever popular Creamosa! 2. Iced Tea - Simple but perfect. This is an awesome Made in Oklahoma beverage that can be done with or without sugar. Remember those 22 flavors? Yup, those can be added, too! 3. Lemonade - Ah, the summertime favorite! With flavor. Without flavor. Can you fail? (pictured: Strawberry and Peach Granita) 4. Granita - This is an awesome addition to any event. With tons of flavor options for your guests to choose from, this frozen beverage adds a quality dimension to our coffee bars. We are always coming up with new things for you and your guests to enjoy so be sure to check with us and ask one of our baristas what they suggest for your event. We would be happy to put together a custom menu for your party. Enjoy your summer, keep the coffee coming and remember Cafe Evoke Catering for your next event or party! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, iced coffee and drinks Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Zoobilation 2009!

Cafe Evoke Catering is teaming up with Oklahoma City's own Elemental Coffee Roaster to serve coffee for this great event. Come check out some of Elemental's 228 espresso blend or one of their single origin coffees! Here is a recent press release sent out about the event: ZOOBILATION 2009 FEATURING GRAHAM COLTON JUNE 19 AT THE OKC ZOO You are invited to an evening of fun on the wild side! The Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS) and the Oklahoma City Zoo invite you to Zoobilation 2009, Friday, June 19 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Zoobilation is the largest fundraiser of the year specifically to support the Oklahoma City Zoo. The evening includes a private night on Zoo grounds where guests will enjoy gourmet food, a silent auction, dancing and music from Oklahoma’s own Graham Colton. All proceeds from Zoobilation will go toward building a new Children’s Zoo set to open in 2010. For an invitation to Zoobilation call (405) 425-0611 or go online to http://www.zoofriends.com Individual tickets are $75 each and group tickets of 10 or more cost $65 each. Price includes an invitation to the Oklahoma City Zoo for an evening of food, drink and entertainment. Tickets purchased after June 10th will be held at Will Call. This event will be held rain or shine and guests must be 21 years or older to attend. The Zoo will be closing at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 19 to prepare for Zoobilation. Visitors are encouraged to visit early this day. The Oklahoma Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization created to support and promote the Oklahoma City Zoo and its programs in education, conservation, zoological research, and recreation. The Zoo is located at NE 52nd at Martin Luther King Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111, in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. Zoo hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. April through September, the Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays with exhibit buildings and Dinosaurs Unearthed closing at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages three to 11 and seniors ages 65 and older. Children two and under are free. Learn more at www.okczoo.com. CONTACTS: Michael Myers, Oklahoma Zoological Society (405) 425-0613 or mmyers@zoofriends.org Candice Rennels, Oklahoma City Zoo (405) 425-0298 or crennels@okczoo.com If you have any questions, please let us know! We would love to see you guys out there for FREE coffee drinks! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, zoobilation 2009 Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Best of Oklahoma City 2009!!

The time has come for the voting to begin! We would love for you to vote for Cafe Evoke for OKC Best Coffeehouse and OKC Best New Service Businesss! It is easy and only takes a few minutes. While you are there, take some time, however, and fill in the rest of your picks! We appreciate the support! VOTE HERE When you are done, be sure to tell everyone you voted for Cafe Evoke Catering!!! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, best of okc Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Live on the Plaza | Friday Night!

(via The Plaza District blog) June 12th, 7-11 PM 1700 block of NW 16th Plaza District is taking it back in time to the hey day of the district, Rockabilly style! In celebration of the grand opening of Velvet Monkey Salon, LIVE on the Plaza Second Fridays will have plenty of Rockabilly, featured artists, live music, fashion and more! New businesses and building renovations such as Velvet Monkey Salon are bringing the Plaza District back to the buzzing commercial district it was from the 1930s-60’s. Please join us as we celebrate this comeback! The fun kicks off at 7 PM at Velvet Monkey Salon where plenty of funky style and art is sure to be found. Local groups including Hellkats bike gang, Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls, Roadkillers Car Club, Psuedodance burlesque, and DJ ATM will be buzzing about the newly renovated Velvet Monkey Salon! Featured artist Olivia Frisbee from LA will also be exhibiting art. This grand opening celebration is also a pre-party event for the Rockabilly 50’s Fashion show at Bolero Tapas Bar & Spanish Grill beginning at 11 PM. Next door, visit Collected Thread to see the collage work of Amy Coldren, plus a great assortment of local handmade and vintage items. Next door to Collected, DNA Galleries will host artist Spencer Tracy, as well as handmade art, accessories and clothes! Cross the street over to Paula & Co, 1708 and No Regrets Tattoo and enter the courtyard for live pyschobilly music by Billy Joe Winghead, outdoor grilling, food and refreshments. Other stops on the west end of the district include open mic at Coffy’s Cafe, featured artists at Convergence Collective, vintage items Bad Grannies Bazaar, outdoor artist booths and an open house at PhotoArt Studios. For more info about LIVE on the Plaza Second Fridays call 405-308-5991. The Plaza District is located on NW 16th between Indiana and Blackwelder Avenues, on street parking and lot parking will be available in the district, while neighborhood parking is available on the north side of the district. ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, the plaza district Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!

Brazilian Cup of Excellence Coffee is here!

We ordered the current winner of the Brazilian Cup of Excellence coffee - the Fazenda Kaquend - and it show up yesterday! This is a coffee that we are super excited to get. While we were only able to get 2 pounds for our use, we are planning on enjoying it to it's fullest. Here is what the roasters - Batdorf and Bronson - had to say about it on their blog: This year’s first place Brazil Cup of Excellence winner comes from producer Ralph de Castro Junqueira, proud owner of Fazenda Kaquend. He takes considerable care to preserve the native forest areas and natural springs on his farm and this commitment to his land is mirrored in the quality of the beautiful coffee he submitted for competition. Bourbon and Catuai varieties are grown at 1340 meters above sea level and are completely harvested by hand. The coffee is processed in the pulped-natural manner, meaning the beans are de-pulped of their fruit while the mucilage layer, instead of being entirely removed, is allowed dry on the bean. A coffee processed in this manner will typically have heightened sweetness and body without too many of the excessive fruity undertones characteristic of full-natural coffees. In this case, the coffee is incredibly sweet and clean, with noticeable acidity, silky full body, and flavors of strawberry, bing cherry, and caramelized nuts. Prepared as a single origin espresso, the Fazenda Kaquend is sweet nectar. Tantalizingly clean with a brisk lemon-tart acidity, you’ll find more of the lovely notes of fresh cherry, a viscous body, and a beautifully lingering black licorice finish. This coffee makes an enjoyably bright and elegantly acidic espresso. We have not yet had a chance to play with it and make our own notes but we do hope to brew it in a few different styles - from espresso to vac pot - and see how it changes in the cup. We will keep you posted! If you are lucky enough to be near 1708 at some point, maybe you can join in! ...to great coffee! ...be bold Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Fazenda Kaquend Add us on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter!