Why would you have a little white golf tee in your coffee cup? Is this some kind of funky tooth pick? Are they for sampling smoothies? After many guesses, we found the answer – “Stix To Go.” The sticks snap into the lids of the cups keeping your coffee hot, and saving your hands from spills. These little sticks are great for coffee in the car and even more perfect for helping bikers and joggers avoid latte spills. They are small and reusable. With Memorial Day right around the corner, Coffee Bar @ Baileys will be joining in on the celebration with special patriotic sticks. You won’t need to wear red, white, or blue on Monday May 31, Stix To Go will show off your patriotic pride for you!

What started as a novel idea turned into an all-out battle, pitting seven employees of Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s against each other in a war to create the island’s most delicious and desired new specialty beverage.

The basic concept for the inaugural Barista Challenge was simple: each barista could concoct the most original — and flavorful — beverage using whatever ingredients they wished. As a reward, the winning entry would be featured as one of the business’ monthly specials.

“Everybody’s entry was completely different,” said Renee Cutaia, account manager for the six-month-old coffee stand located inside the entrance to Bailey’s General Store. “Some were hot and some were cold, but each of them were very unique. Some of the baristas even went so far as to buy special ingredients to incorporate into their drinks.”

The Barista Challenge, held during the first weekend in May, was entered by seven of the business’ highly-skilled baristas. Judging the contest were Coffee Bar owners Blanaid Colley and Jeremy Kane, their children, Lochlainn and Tara, their friends Mitchell and Dane Johnson as well as Cutaia.

Entries submitted to the panel of judges included Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Tea, Mocha Bomb, Peanut Butter Mochaccino, Cocoa Mochaccino, Dirty Vanilla Chai Tea Latte and Strawberry Banana Mochaccino.

According to Cutaia, judging proved to be less predictable than expected.

“We thought that since most of the judges were younger, they would pick the sweeter drinks,” she explained. “But that wasn’t the case. All of the entries were so good that it was really tough to pick only one winner.”

But they did, selecting the Strawberry Banana Mochaccino, created by barista Alicia Meyer.

Alicia Meyer holds the winning drink, a Strawberry Banana  Mochaccino.

“I tried to come up with a few different concoctions… that’s what I like to do when we’re not too busy,” said Meyer. “I loved the taste of the       strawberries blended into the iced mocha drink, but at the last minute a friend of mine suggested adding bananas to the mix. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but everybody seemed to like it.”

Cutaia also noted that because the Barista Challenge entries were so delicious and so unique, that each will be featured during the next few months at Coffee Bar.

“Most of them are cold drinks, which sell much better during the summer,” she said. “In the winter, we don’t sell a lot of cold beverages.”

In addition to the weekly featured beverage selection, Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s offers a special five-bean blend of coffee derived from the finest beans grown in Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Sumatra. Those beans are roasted by their distributor in Portland, Ore.

Up close and personal with the Strawberry Banana Mochaccino: topped with whip cream and drizzled with chocolate, a cool way to indulge your sweet tooth.

“It is an original blend created just for us,” added Cutaia. “We described what we wanted, a coffee that seemed to fit island life, and they put together this blend. It has a very mellow flavor, but with a little kick to it.”

The business also offers many flavored syrups and mixes which can be added to any beverage. They run the gamut from amaretto and almond to peppermint and peanut butter. Also offered are Ghirardelli chocolate and caramel syrups as well as five sugar-free flavors.

Patrons are also invited to sip their way to savings at Coffee Bar. Now when you bring in your own reusable cup, receive a 10 percent discount off your beverage purchase. This is available for all hot, iced and blended drinks every time you visit with your own cup.

“Do your part to reduce and reuse by bringing in your cup, and reap the benefits of our eco-friendly discount,” a recent press release stated. “Even our baristas have gone green and only use acrylic tumblers for their favorite drinks.”

For more information, visit Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s at 2477 Periwinkle Way. Call 579-0026 for their full menu selections and hours of operation.

Steve Cramer, BIG ARTS Chorus Director, wins Easter Basket at Coffee Bar @Bailey’s

Sanibel BIG ARTS Chorus Director, Steve Cramer, was the lucky winner of the Coffee Bar @Bailey’s Easter Basket.  Steve, who is a regular customer at the coffee bar was very surprised to win. “I never win anything,” said Steve. “So I was delighted when I got the call from the Coffee Bar to tell me that I had won.”

Steve’s wife Jacqui, who is a keen coffee drinker also, was pleased that the basket contained a new range of delicious chocolate covered espresso beans, which are now available in both milk and dark chocolate at the Coffee Bar.

Caramel Almond Latte

Stop in to the Coffee Bar @Bailey’s to try our new Spring special: a caramel almond latte. We’re offering it in a 16 oz. (medium) for $2.75. The taste is sweet but light, and of course, festive. You can have it with or without the caramel syrup drizzle on top, but we highly recommend it!

As always, we’re open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Bailey’s Center Merchants’ Association (BCMA) will host the second annual IrishFest on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Bailey’s Center. Sanibel residents and guests are invited to celebrate the Irish national holiday with Irish food and drink, music, dancing and more.

The merchants of the Bailey’s Center will open their doors to everyone on the island for a festival to include performances from Kellyn Celtic Arts Irish Dance Academy, Art Blatt and the White Caps, and BIG ARTS chorus.  Biddles Bucket and Bailey’s General Store will serve Irish stew, corn beef and cabbage, Reuben sandwiches, and much more. Coffee Bar @Bailey’s will serve Irish cream lattes.

Ric Base and Bridgit Stone-Budd of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce will be the Masters of Ceremonies. Face painting, hair braiding, an appearance by the Sanibel leprechaun, photos with Irish characters, and a charity drive to support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association are among the activities planned for the day.

An Irish cream latte from Coffee Bar @Bailey’s can be enjoyed hot or iced.

Coffee Bar @Bailey’s is offering an Irish cream latte through St. Patrick’s Day. The festive drink can be enjoyed hot or iced.

Several members of the community were invited to sample the Irish cream lattes, and the response was positive.

“The flavor was a nice treat,” said Bob Kern, Sanibel resident and owner of Island Graphics. “It wasn’t overpowering, but just enough to get me into the St. Patrick’s Day mood.”

Coffee Bar @Bailey’s opened in December 2009. Guests can enjoy espresso-based coffee drinks, including latté, espresso and cappuccino, frappuccino-style cold drinks, smoothies and even Italian cream soda. Loyalty cards are available at the counter and reward customers with a complimentary drink for every nine purchased.

Coffee Bar @Bailey’s is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. just inside the entrance to Bailey’s General Store, located at 2477 Periwinkle Way. For more information, call 239-577-0026 or visit www.sanibelcoffeebar.com.

Coffee Bar @Bailey’s held its official grand opening and Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on January 27. Coffee Bar @Bailey’s is located inside Bailey’s General Store.

“We’re so pleased to welcome the Coffee Bar to the Chamber of Commerce,” said Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce President Ric Base. “Richard and Blanaid have always been great Chamber members, and we’re so happy for their success with the Coffee Bar.”

Chamber of Commerce board members and local officials, including Mayor Mick Denham, Vice Mayor Kevin Ruane and Councilman Jim Jennings, were at the ribbon cutting. Coffee, smoothies and refreshments were served, and guests were able to sample some of the menu items.

“We’ve been open for several weeks now, and we wanted the community to celebrate that with us,” said Richard Johnson, Bailey’s General Store general manager. “The ribbon cutting was our official grand opening.”

Coffee Bar @Bailey’s opened in December 2009. Guests can enjoy espresso-based coffee drinks, including lattés, espressos and cappuccinos, frappuccino-style cold drinks, smoothies and even Italian cream soda. Loyalty cards are available at the counter and reward customers with a complimentary drink for every nine purchased.

Coffee Bar @Bailey’s is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. just inside the entrance to Bailey’s General Store, located at 2477 Periwinkle Way. For more information, call 239-577-0026 or visit www.sanibelcoffeebar.com.

Coffee Bar @Bailey’s will hold its Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Wednesday, January 27 from 5:30-7 p.m. Please join us for refreshments, tastings and an enjoyable evening with community and business members.