Rolfe, I sincerely think you are reading more into some kind of frappe mix / coffee supplier relationship than there really is, so in regard to: "....I think that most coffee companies sneer at iced coffe frappe mixes and look down upon it as a second rate product...." Speaking personally, this is not so I'm afraid. I simply dont see what frappe mix has to do with coffee. It is an instant iced confection mix so that would put it with either a) a cash and carry wholesaler who carries things like jelly powder, summer cordials, fruit syrups and toppings, or perhaps b) a soft drink company, accompanying perhaps post mix ingredients and equipment; So yes as you wrote..."...unrelated to coffee...". Why on earth would the average cafe customer "....look towards his coffee distributor to provide an iced coffee solution...." that I dont think has anything to do with coffee? Ok, so some bright spark marketing executive hack included the words "coffee", or "latte", or "mocha" in some of the names (like "mocha chocolate latte" or whatever). So what? With repect, whoever decided the stuff is an "iced coffee" solution, its a slushie with milk powder and flavourings aint it? Speaking personally, I wonder if it may actually be an "iced milk" confection, so what about your milk supplier? Re your "......I won't generalize, but most roasters would not dare carry a frappe mix, or even a vanilla base to which they can add their own shot into or even recommend a company (eg. freezaccino)specializing in such products because "it's not coffee".." Not so I'm afraid...they just dont see why they should have to when accommodating specialists like the guys at Freezocino (and others) already exist. My beef is with cafe owners that come up with the famous last words..."I dont want to have to have an account with another supplier, I want YOU (thats "me") to be a complete supplier so I can buy all my supplies from the one place". Where does this logic end, when coffee roasting companies turn into general wholesalers running around organising chocolates, shortbreads, tablecloths, general hardware etc etc? Re your ".....To these arrogant roasters I say wake the F--K up! Drop your arrogance and start giving the customer some service - for God's sake...." I think you are being very harsh indeed. Some of us are already bending over backwards giving service just with the mammoth task of trying to educate their cafe clients to stop them F'..ING UP (to use your words) a relatively simple thing as espresso and destroying their good name (its on the side of the cup), let alone having to get into the VERY EXPENSIVE task of value adding such as having to run out half way across town to adjust a coffee grinder that their client's staff put out of adjustment only none of them know how to put it back where it was...without charge, gratis. Let alone having to run out and attend to equipment breakdowns then have to suffer some clients arrogantly refusing to pay service call and spare part charges. It's also quite heartbreaking for some coffee suppliers to see how the equipment they own, and have "loaned" out to their client, is mistreated to an incredible degree, eventually suffering in performance of its duties, so then the supplier is blamed for supplying "substandard" equipment, and the client goes to another supplier to start the cycle again, but not before bad mouthing the first supplier to all and sundry. This I think is very arrogant. I personally think a lot of value adding and good service given by some coffee suppliers is taken for granted and that their goodwill is often abused, so on the contrary, "...I take my hat off ..." to professional cafe clients who take responsibility for themselves and dont do business off the backs of their suppliers. And in closing, I am still confused as to why an instant iced confection powder has more to do with your coffee supplier, than your meat and veg supplier, or your milk supplier, or your general wholesaler, or your soft drink company, OR, why any of them should need to get involved at all when Freezocino and others exist as "stand alone" specialists in the field. (By the way guys, I've now mentioned Freezocino countless times, so now what can you guys do for me.....could you throw in an extra carton or two? LOL) FC.
