PORTLAND, OR. - Bellissimo Coffee InfoGroup, the specialty coffee industry's leader in consulting, training products and web-based information, has expanded Coffee Universe, its ultimate coffee information web site and the first site of its kind devoted to consumer education and retailer resources. The site went on-line in 1998 and has consistently ranked in the 10 top in search engine results for the keyword "coffee."

"Of the thousands of web sites devoted to coffee, very few are truly educational," said Bellissimo president, Bruce Milletto. "Most coffee sites promote coffee businesses and their products. We developed Coffee Universe 10 years ago as a destination point for consumers interested in learning more about coffee and for entrepreneurs and existing retailers to use as a resource. Because the industry has changed so dramatically over the last decade, we felt it was time to update the site to include more formation for retailers and add some fun features to make it more interactive."

Some of the new and expanded features of Coffee Universe include:

Resource Directory: The world's largest on-line coffee industry database where suppliers of coffee-related products and services can list their businesses and retailers and start-ups can find what they need.

Retailer Expo: An on-line virtual tradeshow where companies can highlight their products and services and consumers can browse their wares.
Barista World: A schedule of upcoming competitions and events, profiles of outstanding baristas and information to help baristas further develop their skills.

The World of Coffee: All about the bean, from an overview of the countries where it is grown to the specifics of roasting and blending. Also includes tips on preparing, grinding and storing coffee.

What’s Brewing: The latest coffee news via the Coffee Universe RSS feed.

My Café: In addition to bringing suppliers and retailers together, Coffee Universe is dedicated to creating a community of coffee lovers. By joining My Café, Coffee Universe's social networking component, coffee lovers can make friends with others who share their enthusiasm for coffee.

Friends of the Universe: An insider’s look at the coffee industry via a photo gallery of specialty coffee professionals on the tradeshow floor at recent industry exhibitions.

Coffee Quizzes and Polls: Topical polls and fun quizzes for consumers and baristas.

Advertising opportunities are available on Coffee Universe, including skyscraper ads and featured ads in the Resource Directory and Retailer Expo. Call 800.655.3955 or visit Coffee Universe for more information.