Tag Archives: beverages

by | Wednesday, January 31, 2024 · 8:01 am

Not An Average Cup of Coffee

If you love coffee, this article is for you. Heck, even if you don’t love coffee, this information may interest you.

How much did you pay for your last cup of coffee? How much are you willing to pay for a good cup of coffee? A great cup of coffee? An extraordinary cup of coffee? How much would you pay for coffee with beans that were fermented in elephant poop?

Yes, you read that correctly. And the coffee from elephant poop is roughly $150 for two-servings of the brew, or $1,500 for a pound of beans. That is, if you can find the coffee as it has a very limited supply; production is only about 500 pounds per year.

How does one get such coffee? It starts with captive Asian elephants that consume a mix of coffee and fruit. Their stomachs ferment the mixture, which eliminates its bitterness. 

This isn’t the only type of coffee made from animal poop. There is also bird-poop coffee as well as monkey-chewed coffee beans. Plus, a ‘naturally refined’ coffee from the poop of a type of cat called civets. (It’s important to note that some of these coffees are produced from animals that are not well cared-for in captivity.)

Here is a list of a few of the most expensive coffees in the world:

  1. Black Ivory – $1,500 per pound (fermented by elephants)
  2. Ospina Gran Café – $1,400 per pound
  3. Kopi Luwak – $600 per pound (fermented by civets)
  4. El Injerto Peaberry – $500 per pound
  5. Esmeralda Geisha – $350 per pound

Shall we go get a cup of Joe?

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:  

  1. Poll students: How much do they usually pay for a cup of coffee? Now, how much would they pay for great coffee, and for unique coffee?
  2. This is a great topic for pricing. Discuss the six steps for pricing (determining objectives, estimating demand, determining cost/profit relationships, select price level, set list price, and make adjustments).
  3. Discuss the various pricing models in class: demand-oriented, cost-oriented, profit-oriented, and competition-oriented.
  4. For these products, divide students into groups and have each group work on any/all of the six steps.
  5. Show the Black Ivory coffee site: https://blackivorycoffee.com/
  6. Ospina Gran Café: https://www.ospinacoffee.com/products/index.html
  7. Kopi Luwak: https://www.kayakopi.com/
  8. Divide students into teams.
  9. Have each team select a unique coffee and define the target market.
  10. Teams should prepare a marketing plan for product and market.
  11. What will they emphasize?

Source:  Bradley, M. (6 November 2023). Not your average cup of Joe: The 11 most expensive coffees. Luxe.digital; Maron, D. (12 December 2023). $1,500 for ‘naturally refined’ coffee? Here’s what that phrase really means. National Geographic.

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by | Thursday, December 28, 2023 · 7:57 am

McDonald’s has a New Restaurant Concept Inspired by Aliens!

It’s widely acknowledged that McDonald’s is a top global brand with thousands of restaurants around the world. But now the company seem to be focused on additional places not just on the globe, but in the universe. It’s launching a new concept cafe called CosMc’s (get it? Cosmic?) that will be in a much smaller space and four drive-through lanes for to-go foods only.

CosMc’s has a much smaller footprint than the traditional McDonald’s restaurant and does not have a dining area, but does have four drive-through lanes and a menu heavily focused on drinks and snack sandwiches. No burgers and fries in sight.

The first CosMc’s location recently opened outside of Chicago. According to a  McDonald’s news release “CosMc’s menu is rooted in beverage exploration, with bold and unexpected flavor combinations…”

The menu features unique iced drinks with out-of-this-world flavor, and foods such as Egg McMuffin, small sandwiches, ice cream, and snacks. CosMc’s is focusing on the growing trend of consumers who want take-out food, not dine-in. According to market research firm Circana, only 14% of fast-food meals are eaten in-stores, with the rest going to take-out foods. And, when it comes to beverages, Starbucks estimated that roughly 75% of its U.S. beverage sales are from cold drinks.

CosMc’s claims to have served millions of aliens, but that might just be marketing hype (really?)

We’re ready to blast into outer space, iced drink in hand!

(Note – CosMc’s is named for an orange alien mascot shown in past McDonald’s ads who tried to transport McDonald’s food back to his home planet.)

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Show video about CosMc’s: https://youtu.be/sGWGShv_UVA?si=1NPI4reQ6fxrcxsw
  2. Show CosMc’s website: https://cosmcs.com/
  3. What company is CosMc’s competing with using this menu?
  4. Discuss competition: Who are the direct competitors for this product? Indirect competitors?
  5. Divide students into teams. Have each team compare CosMc’s menu with a competitive menu. What are the points of difference (what makes CosMc’s menu different from competition)?
  6. Where can CosMc’s excel? Where can it fall short?

Source: Haddon, H. (6 December 2023). McDonald’s to launch CosMc’s, an alien-inspired restaurant serving slushes to-go. Wall Street Journal.

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by | Tuesday, June 20, 2023 · 6:59 am

Michelle Obama Launches Healthier Drink Company

Keeping children healthy is an important cause, but it can be difficult when it comes to all the added sugars that appear in children’s food and drink. According to federal dietary guidelines, more than three-quarters of all U.S. 9 – 13-year-old children exceed the recommended limit of added sugars per day; children get about 32% of that sugar from beverages.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly one-in-five children ages 2 – 19 are obese. And, obesity is linked to a number of health problems such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. This is an important issue to address and now former-First Lady Michelle Obama has co-founded a company selling healthier drinks to kids.

The company, named PLEZi Nutrition, has launched its first product line of drinks that contain about 75% less sugar (compared to other fruit juice brands) plus fiber and nutrients including potassium, magnesium, and zinc. Drinks contain no added sugars and are 35 calories per bottle.

Drinks come in flavors including Sour Apple, Blueberry Blast, and Orange Smash. A four-pack of 8-ounce drinks will be priced around $4.00 and are sold at Target and online at Walmart.

Try it and see what you think.

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Show Pelzi’s Website: https://plezi.com/
  2. Show Plezi for sale at Target: https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=plezi
  3. And for sale at Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/search?q=plezi
  4. Discuss the importance of clearly defining a target market.
  5. What is the target market?
  6. Divide students into teams and have each team develop a profile of a target market. Include demographics, psychographics, behaviors, values, attitudes, etc.
  7. Based on the target market profile, what makes this product unique for these customers?
  8. What should the promotion plan focus on?

Source:  Aubrey, A. (3 May 2023). Michelle Obama launches a food company aimed at healthier choices for kids. NPR News.; Petersen, A. (3 May 2023). Michelle Obama starts food-and-drinks company aimed at fighting childhood obesity. Wall Street Journal.; other news sources.

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