Coffee Shop Equipment You Can’t Do Without

Coffee shop industry reports say that coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world next to oil. It’s a multibillion dollar business and the fastest growing sector in the restaurant industry with a 7% yearly growth rate. Pessimists say that opening your own coffee shop may be a bad idea since there are already many shops around. But, statistics show that the market for coffee is still growing. Population increases and so does the desire for a good cup of coffee.

If you’re thinking of starting your own coffee shop, there are dozens of things to think of before you can open your business. Some of these are creating a business plan, searching for the ideal location, finding out how much capital you need, getting the funds to start it, planning your menu, pricing, store layout, and training staff. Another important factor to consider is to find out which coffee shop equipment are necessary. You don’t want to waste money on equipment you will rarely use.

Espresso machine – Most popular coffee drinks are espresso based. Some of these are cappuccino, caffe latte, caffe Americano, and macchiato. An espresso machine is an indispensible equipment for any coffee shop, unless you plan to serve regular brewed coffee only. Espresso based coffee is the cash cow of any profitable coffee outlet.

Coffee maker – Purists like their coffee plain and brewed the regular way. Drip type coffee makers are essential in any coffee business. If you have a large shop or an outlet that has a lot of customers every day, you might be better off buying an industrial type of coffee brewing machine.

Coffee grinders – If you want to serve quality coffee, you will need to grind the coffee beans yourself. Get grinders for decaf, regular and espresso. If you have a huge amount of daily customers, choose industrial grinders because you will need a durable brand that won’t break down from repeated use.

Refrigerators – A large coffee shop will need 2 refrigerators. One behind or under the counter and another at the back kitchen. The counter refrigerator will hold sandwich ingredients, milk, soda, and other ingredients needed for quick orders. The back refrigerator will contain stocks of milk and other food items needed in the back kitchen.

Computerized cash register – Restaurant and coffee shop cash registers have come a long way. These days, the registers are also equipped with a computer program that records and adjusts inventory, aside from keeping track of sales.

Depending on your menu, you may need additional equipment like, blenders, icemakers, oven, panini grill, sandwich prep counters, a stove, refrigerated cake case, and many more. Of course you would also need utensils, plates, coffee mugs, cups and saucers, coffee tables and chairs. Cozy coffee shops provide comfortable couches and reading material for their patrons.

People gather at coffee shops to talk about art, politics, business, love and rebellion. If you enjoy hanging out at coffee shops, why not start your own. Having your own coffee shop can be fun but it also takes dedication, innovative marketing and hard work to make it successful.