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Starting A Coffee Shop Business – What Are The Essentials?

A picturesque dream for many, owning a coffee shop is not just a business for some, it’s a way of life. Coffee shop culture has been rapidly evolving over the last ten years and that’s down to us as consumers demanding more from our baristas who are crafting our increasingly difficult order. 

From the original days in Italy where coffee was no more than an espresso to the third-wave shops serving Panamanian Geishas from a Chemex, starting a coffee shop will largely follow the same process. 

Passion 

Firstly, I’d like to say that owning a coffee shop really is a labor of love and requires immense dedication and passion, there are many coffee shops that don’t live up to the surrounding competition and this is largely due to the fact that the owners either don’t care as much as they should or don’t have an interest. Owning a coffee shop is about loving what you do and that is the only way you will make any money from it. 

Knowledge

This is where an awful lot of people that want to own a coffee shop slip up and it ends up being detrimental for years to come. It’s absolutely vital to understand about the product you are selling, you wouldn’t go into selling motorbikes if you knew nothing about them, and it’s the same in the coffee industry. Having knowledge about where coffee comes from, what varietal it is (SL-28, bourbon, geisha), and what process it has gone through (washed, honey, natural) before even reaching a roastery will affect the flavor of a coffee, and that’s even before it’s been roasted! Being able to describe and explain why it tastes as it does will not only let customers know they are in good hands, but it will give you the foundation to understand how to make your product better. If you have a good product that keeps rising in quality, not only will customers return they will also bring their friends.

If you feel that your knowledge might not quite be up to scratch, please do as much research as you can before opening up a shop, it will save you a lot of costly mistakes. 

Equipment 

Inside of a coffee shop

Much like a carpenter not being able to make a cabinet without the right tools, it’s impossible for a barista to craft a coffee without the correct equipment. There is a big difference between being a home barista and a professional working in a specialty shop, the main two being knowledge and equipment. The best thing you can do before buying any equipment is finding real-life reviews where professionals have tested the top of the range gear, you can even go into shops and ask the opinion of the barista.

 If we think of each bit of equipment as a team member, no individual is going to give a game-winning performance on their own, but together you can win the super bowl. The starting lineup of your team should be:

  • Espresso Machine – Investing in a decent espresso machine is key to your success because you simply can’t pull incredible espressos on cheap machines. There are a few heavyweight names in the world of espresso machines, and as long as you find out what functions you will need from yours and discuss with one of the big names you’ll be in good hands.
  • Grinder – The world of grinders is a little more difficult to navigate because there are often a lot of similarities between home grinders and ones for commercial use, but when it comes to performance they are worlds apart. A grinder’s life span is usually measured by the number of kilos of coffee that have gone through it. You can, of course, replace the burrs of a grinder, but that will require doing some research, estimating how many kilos of coffee you think you will go through in a week will help you choose what kind of grinder you should go for. 
  • Tamp – Yes, every portafilter should first be tamped, and I wouldn’t think about buying a cheap one thinking you can save some money. Consistency of tamping pressure will raise the consistency of the espresso coming out the machine, consistency means customers return. 
  • Distributor – You mean I have to distribute the coffee before I tamp it? Yes, we can never stop trying to improve the quality and consistency of our product. Water, when put under pressure, will try and find the quickest way out of wherever it is and when that’s done in a portafilter it reduces the consistency of extraction. 
  • Be clean – Always try to work so the customer would be impressed if they saw your workstation, have a barista towel for cleaning your portafilter before every shot is pulled, a cloth for the machine, a cloth for the steam wand, and a cloth for the surfaces. Make sure you do not use a cloth for anything other than its designated use. 
  • Cups – Take time choosing your cups, it’s part of your identity and it should feel good drinking a coffee from them. 

The Coffee 

Something that so many people don’t think matters as “all coffee tastes the same” which is just not true. Take your time talking to roasters and building relationships with them, supporting smaller roasteries will not only give you opportunities to train with them but the majority can help with leasing equipment. 

The entire reason people go to a Coffee Shop is because of the Coffee, the better the bean the more returning custom you have.

Location 

Equally important as everything else states, finding the right location for your coffee shop will take time and should have a few special qualities. Either you have a shop with passing trade or you make it a destination to visit, maybe your new shop has an incredible outdoor seating area, or a beautiful balcony overlooking a river. If you have a passing trade, then utilize it. Time and time again I see shops putting off customers of the area trying to be something they’re not. Do your research and take your time to find somewhere you want to be. 

So if you are thinking of starting a coffee shop then have a think of the essentials that are needed before opening up, the finer details really make a difference in this industry, and if you’re ready for the grind then I look forward to having an espresso. 

If you want to know more about starting a business, you can find relevant information at companyformationseychelles.com.

 


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Starting A Coffee Shop Business – What Are The Essentials?

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