TIPS ON STARTING YOUR OWN COFFEE HOUSE
Opening a Coffee Shop - Get the right equipment
Regardless of where you are in America, one thing is for certain: Americans love coffee! Coffee is always a necessity no matter where you go. The average coffee shop sells $550,000 worth of coffee in a year. 52% of Americans drink coffee daily. 15% of Americans buy at least one cup of coffee at a coffee shop every day. This number is increasing 3-4% per year.
If you want to open up your own coffee shop, there are a few things you should take into consideration first. One thing is to go look around at other coffee houses and see what they are doing. Ask them questions such as what brands of coffee they are using to see if you can improve upon their selection. Your customer base is everything and determining it will also determine whether you will make money.
Advertising is another advantage. You’ll be required to make a substantial financial investment in the start up. If you choose to start up a chain coffee shop, the advertising will probably be easier but you have to pay for an annual licensing for a name or logo. You’ll pay 6-11% of your revenues for advertising and royalty fees each year.
Equipment is always a necessity for any restaurant or business. The espresso machine is the life blood of the coffee house. There are essentially three types of espresso machines: Semi-Automatic, Automatic, and Super Automatic. The semi-automatic espresso machine requires a manual shut off by the operator. These machines are used for a slower flow of traffic in coffeehouses. The user has more control over how the espresso is made.
The automatic espresso machine has the programmability to cut off a shot at 23 seconds. These machines still give you manual control while have certain aspects of the machine programmed.
The super automatic espresso machine will grind the beans, tamp, pull the shot, shut it off and even discard of the used grounds. In some ways, having an espresso machine this automated loses the “art” of making a great cup of coffee. If you are running a fast-paced coffee house, then this is the machine for you.
Coffee brewers, such as satellite coffee brewers, are designed to make and store the large amounts of coffee that your customers will buy. These are mostly used for generic cups of coffee but are the fundamental necessities for all coffee houses.
Give your shop an extra touch of class with good coffee mugs for customers who want to drink coffee in your shop. All good coffee shops need well-made coffee mugs.
Grinders are designed to grind large amounts of coffee that will allow you to grind your coffee quickly, as well as sell it to customers who do not have a grinder at home. Coffee grinders are made with precision burrs for a consistent, commercial-quality grind. The grinders usually come with either one or two hoppers and are made with regular, decaf, or specialty coffee beans.
Furniture is always a necessity for any restaurant or coffee shop. In a coffee shop, you will want comfortable chairs that people can sit down, relax, and enjoy coffee. Outdoor seating is also very popular at coffee shops, so having outdoor furniture can be as important as having indoor furniture.
Espresso machines must be connected to a water source to fulfill their water needs. Drainage is also required. Water softeners in the water line will prevent mineral build up in the machines.
A French press grinder is commonly used for home use but can also be seen in commercial coffee shops as well. The French press is a coffee brewer without a filter. Not using a filter is a great way to conserve paper and be environmentally friendly. This is something to consider as an alternative in your coffee house, although you would certainly want to have your coffee brewers handy.
Condiment organizers are always good to have in any coffee shop. The more condiment organizers you have, the happier your customers will be. Coffee sleeve dispensers are also great to have, and it makes it a lot easier for your customers to pull each sleeve out.
Finally, coffee decanters are ideal for pouring coffee in and are a necessity for any coffee shop.
The coffee mix, milk, sugar, etc. are really the only other products you will need at least to get started. Of course this isn’t the only thing you will need to help you start your own coffee house but it is a good start.
Once you have started your business, it’s now up to you to increase your growth. Do your research and run specials. Make sure the music in your coffee shop is conducive to the atmosphere. One more thing before you ever get started, work in a coffee house and gain experience and understanding of how most baristas work.