All Things Cappuccino.

At this year's SCAA Convention we found more than a few capuccino-related companies to visit...and to sample. The cappuccino trend is here to stay -- no longer a special treat, but an every day indulgence with many variations on the original.

The demand for specialty coffee is on the

rise amongst mainstream American coffee drinkers. The simple days of two choices -- caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee -- are all but gone. The buzz is all about the "specialty drink." Nevertheless, between the lattes, schmattes and all the different specialty drinks, one drink has consistently increased in popularity -- the cappuccino.

At the recent Specialty Coffee Conference, I set out on a journey (between aisles 100 and 2600) to find "anything cappuccino." As a cappuccino lover, I was prepared to consume a few thousand calories in my quest for all things cappuccino. There are a variety of ways to enjoy the cappuccino flavor, including a cold or frozen cappuccino, a cappuccino cookie, a cappuccino rugelach, or even a cappuccino wafer. But the world of cappuccino extends beyond the food and beverage products to include ceramic and paper cappuccino cups, and state of the art cappuccino making machines for industrial or home use.

Many people prefer the traditional cappuccino -- espresso capped with rich snow-white froth with a dusting of cinnamon, chocolate or nutmeg sprinkles. It was amazing to discover the many flavor variations made on this beverage. For example, Cafe Bustelo offers their cappuccinos in mocha, French vanilla, decaffeinated and classic flavors. The espresso machine manufacturers, like American Cappuccino, flavor their cappuccino drinks with specialty syrups. However, some people sample exotic flavors while visiting a counter top coffee shops.

Most manufacturers of powdered and ready-to-serve mixes agree that cappuccino is one of the most popular specialty drinks, which is one reason why most continue to add cappuccino mixes to their product lines. During my adventure, I happened upon Caffe D'Amore, one of the industry's main innovators in the instant cappuccino mix business. They offer approximately 22 different flavored cappuccinos. Their lactose-free cappuccino mixes can be served hot, iced or frozen. Caffe D'Amore's products are primarily sold to American coffee shops.

Michael Rubin of Cappuccine Gourmet Beverages says his powder mix for frozen cappuccinos is original in the market because he uses a super premium coffee. His view is that coffeehouses should have better, more premium products for their customers.

For a brain freeze, I headed over to Aspen Ice Frozen Drinks. It was difficult to decide between the iced, shaken or original cappuccino. Finally, I decided for the sweetened, gourmet taste made with real espresso, Cappuccino Icer. According to Tom Rosol, Aspen Ice's national account manager, their most popular iced cappuccino is the French vanilla flavored. Rosol attributes their success to the youth of America. He feels that for today's youth, frozen drinks are a transition drink from milk to coffee.

I came across more cappuccino drinks by visiting the Buengusto Food Distributor / SegaFredo Zanetti booth. They distribute SegaFredo Light cappuccino. Their canned cappuccino is a RTD product that can be served hot by popping it in the microwave or warming on a stovetop, or it can be served cold with ice. Paolo Orsohini of Buongusto says their cappuccino is a trendy product geared towards trendy consumers. He described the product packaging as "modem," "eclectic," and "hip," and remarked that it resembles an energy drink. Currently, the product is carried in bars, restaurants, bakeries and delis.

Frank Coyle of the Vermont Farmgirl Inc., focuses on the packaging of his cappuccino mixes. His MoooooPuccino packaging's simple and fun design makes it easier for consumers to identify their cappuccino mix. His official mascot, as you might have guessed, is a cow. The instant powder cappuccinos come m five different flavors, and are soluble by simply adding water (no sugar needed). The MoooooPuccino is a mass-market product found in country stores and one-owner shops. Coyle says people often buy the product for the packaging alone.

A cappuccino can be created to satiate any craving at a retail outlet; however, it is not as easy to custom order out of a vending machine. Ian Kessler of American Cappuccino -- the self-serve machine manufacturers ---- let me experiment with the cappuccino machine of the future. According to Kessler, because more than half of espresso-based drinks sold are cappuccinos, they have created the WMF Bistro machine, an award-winning design that is practical, and easy to use. With machines like this, cappuccino drinkers like me could access our favorite drink at the drop of a coin. Imagine a cappuccino machine in every single convenience store, fast food restaurant, airport, stadium, etc. Some concerns with commercial machines are the gooey mess they sometimes leave. Kessler alleviated some of my worries by demonstrating how the machine automatically shuts down for cleaning.

An impressive cappuccino-related item was the "1,2,3 Spresso" machine (distributed by the Boyd Coffee Company) for home or office use. It was one the easiest machines to handle -- its one of those "must-have" appliances. Emmanuel Rombout of Rambout's in Belgium showed me how it worked. One: he placed the pod in the machine, two: the espresso dripped, and three: it was done in about 20 seconds. The most impressive element of the machine for me was that, even though it is a small home-use machine, it has its own steaming rod for frothing the milk, and it had a vertical filter system that allowed the machine todispose of the used pod automatically leaving no trace of use.

I then headed for the Cappuccino Company, a manufacturer of porcelain cappuccino cups. Looking at their thematic designs, Vacanze, Amore, and Mondo Future collections made me realize that a cappuccino nicely dressed is even better.

Finally, I tasted some delicious cappuccino confections: a dark chocolate cappuccino wafer roll from the Long Grove Confectionery Co., and a cappuccino cookie from Selina's and Selma's Cookies.

The cappuccino has become a staple of the mainstream coffee world, in my opinion more so than the other specialty drinks. To recap briefly: we have instant mix cappuccinos in a slew of flavors, canned cappuccinos (that can be enjoyed hot or cold), cappuccinos that are sweetened/unsweetened, lactose free, caffeinated/decaffeinated, cappuccino cookies, wafers, frozen cappuccinos, wall-size and counter top cappuccino makers (vending machines), paper, plastic, ceramic cappuccino cups, etc. etc. -- cappuccino everything!

Sandra Mendoza Rozenman is a freelance journalist living in Miami. Her expertise lies in the cigar field. She co-founded the Atlantic Cigar Company in Miami Beach.