Opening A Coffee Shop Here Is The Equipment List You Need
minute read
Opening a coffee shop isnt easy, but a detailed coffee shop equipment list can set you up for success.;
Despite all the ups and downs in 2020, its actually still a great time to enter the coffee business. According to a July 2020 report from Research and Markets, the global coffee shop market is expected to be worth $237.6 billion by 2025. Coffee is the second most popular drink in the world and has a major influence in our social lives and daily habits.
To open a successful coffee shop, youll have to research trends, and order the best coffee shop equipment that your budget allows.
For the latter, weve got you covered. Heres a comprehensive coffee shop equipment list to get you started.
Don’t forget your most important piece of equipment.
Watch a video demo of Lightspeed’s Restaurant POS system and learn how coffee shop and cafe owners across the world are using it to run more profitable and successful businesses.
Coffee Shop Equipment And Business Essentials
Finding the right coffee shop equipment for your business is only half the battle. There are other essential tools that your business will need to succeed. Lets take a look at some of the coffee shop basics as well as some of the tools and equipment youll need.
General Food Service Equipment. This type of equipment can range from a standard three compartment sink for washing, rinsing and sanitizing glasses, all the way down to rubber gloves for the staff. A good point of reference here before you start buying equipment, is to contact the local health department to understand what equipment youll need in order to satisfy their guidelines and requirements.
Coffee Shop Equipment Basics. While your menu will determine the specific equipment youll need such as a panini press or hot tea urn. There are a few standard items that are relevant to any coffee house or specialty coffee shop. These include an automatic drip coffee maker, an espresso machine, coffee beans, coffee grinders, glassware, paperware, and a cold storage refrigerator and freezer. For a more detailed coffee shop equipment list, click here.
SEE ALSO:Opening a Coffee Shop? Here Is The Equipment List You Need
Iced Tea Brewers And Iced Tea Dispensers
From traditional iced tea to southern sweet tea, iced tea is a classic drink that customers love to sip in the summer. You can purchase an independent tea brewer dedicated to this type of beverage, but depending on the size of your coffee shop, you may also want to look into combination coffee and tea brewers to save on counter space. Once you’ve made tea, there are plenty of dispenser options to choose from as well.
Don’t Miss: How Much Caffeine In Starbucks Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
Two Sinks And A Dishwasher
In any restaurant or coffee shop, sinks and dish cleanliness are vitally important. You will need a smaller sink near your baristas for quick dishwashing needs. The Barista Basics Rinsers from Espresso Parts are so useful they should be considered a necessity.
Youll also need a larger three-compartment sink in the back of the house to keep up with the dishes that dont get rinsed by the baristas behind the counter.
Containers Pumps And Storage
Since coffee shops require the use of a large amount of beans and a huge selection of drink toppings, you must have the hardware to effectively use and store these items. This means pumps for all the syrups, boxes and crates to conveniently store coffee beans near your coffee makers, and simple answers to all the storage issues that plague some coffee shops.
If you dont have an effective system for storage, your business will run less efficiently, driving you and your employees crazy, as well as diminishing profits over the long run. Partner with a local or reliable restaurant supply retailer, buy in bulk and plan your system out carefully and effectively.
Read Also: How To Make Coffee Liqueur With Vodka
Resources And Equipment Needed To Launch A Coffee Shop Startup
There are many elements for consideration, each of which will determine if your idea becomes a successful coffee shop. Equipment costs will be one of your main expenses; the most important piece of equipment youll need to invest in is a good quality coffee machine. This will be the workhorse of your business, so its essential that you invest in a reliable espresso machine that produces a very good cup of coffee. A good quality commercial machine will set you back at least $10,000. Other costs youll need to consider include:
- Refrigeration system – $500 to $12,000
- Water filtration system – $1,500 to $10,000
Another important cost you will need to consider is your premises. The cost of buying, renting or even building a new coffee shop will vary dramatically depending on the size, spec and location of the premises.
If you decide to rent your space, ideally, your rent shouldnt exceed 15% of your sales. Do some research into real estate companies in your local area who specialize in commercial premises. Look at the different options available in your city to get an idea of how much you can expect to pay every month.
Automatic Drip Coffee Makers
Since standard black coffee will account for a good portion of your stores sales, youll want a coffee maker that pulls its weight. Your coffee maker should be durable enough to produce a high quantity of coffee per day, quick enough to meet demand at the busiest times of the day and large enough to produce sizable batches of coffee .
Coffee shops often have multiple coffee makers making different blends at the same time, but be careful not to stretch yourself too thin. Most successful coffee shop owners suggest keeping three or four blends available at a time.
Not sure where to start? Heres a list of the highest rated automatic drip coffee makers to compliment your coffee shop equipment list.
Don’t Miss: Is Coffee Bad For Liver
Opening A Coffee Shop: Equipment Prices And Startup Costs
With so many people relying on a cup of coffee to make it through the day, opening a coffee shop is a way that you can make money while serving up a product people already love. Although coffee itself is fairly inexpensive, coffee shop startup costs quickly add up. Expect to invest an estimated $200,000 to $375,000 to open a sit-down coffee shop, according to Bellissimo Inc. Consider the following equipment costs when crafting your coffee shop plans, and be sure to also check out our !
Olympia Graeco Egyptian Coffee
In a time before Tik Tok trends and whipped coffees of dubious origin, there was Old Bailey Streets Olympia Graeco Egyptian Coffee. Founded back in 1927 by an Egyptian from Greece, this is likely Hong Kongs oldest coffee shop. The cafe was passed down to son-in-law Mr. G. Sarafoglou following World War II, when it grew popular for serving authentic Turkish coffee. In the mid-1950s, Old Master Ho took over, roasting and serving up quality beans at bargain prices until his passing. Today, Hos daughter Karry, a certified Q-grader, runs the shop at its new location in Kowloon Bay. While the beans may have gotten pricier over the years, its worth checking out the brands offerings if only for the rich history behind these beans. Move over, Dalgona, were going back to basics.
Where to buy:;In store
Olympia Graeco Egyptian Coffee, Unit 16, 4/F, Block B, Hoplite Industrial Centre, 5 Wang Tai Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, , ,
You May Like: Which Lavazza Coffee Is The Best
Paper Hot Cups And Lids
Cups come in a variety of colors, materials, and styles. Perhaps you like the look of a plain white paper cup to one with a coffee design or maybe you’d prefer an insulated, eco-friendly version that eliminates the need for sleeves and ups your ability to recycle. The most common coffee cup sizes are 12 oz., 16 oz., and 20 oz., but you can find everything from 4 oz. to 24 oz. sized cups.
Automatic Drip Coffee Maker
Some folks will walk into your shop and order a plain old cup of coffee. To serve these customers, you’ll need at least one automatic drip coffee maker.
Here’s the good news: these machines are far more affordable than commercial espresso machines.
Make sure that you invest in a commercial drip machine, as these will have the durability and capacity to meet your shop’s large volume needs.
Ideally, you want a machine that brews large quantities of coffee quickly. This will keep you from having to continuously brew coffee throughout the day.
If you plan to offer multiple different blends, consider buying at least one machine for each blend. Don’t go too crazy with the number of blends you offer. Most coffee shop owners suggest offering three to four blends at most.
Read Also: How To Deliver Hot Coffee
Cafe Work And Food Prepping Table:
If you prepare your own food, including sandwiches, bagels, salads, or paninis, you may need a prepping table separate from your other items.
Your food prepping table is a table for just that preparing your food. They aren’t places to hold your cash register or espresso machine. Some municipalities may be pickier than others, so consider doing some homework.
These are just a few of the items you will need for your café. If you buy an existing café, make sure that you have the equipment purchase individually itemized in writing. Be sure what items are included with the sale of the business.
If you are starting from scratch, meaning that you will not have any coffee equipment, be aware of the menu decisions and how they will impact your bottom line, the equipment needed, design necessities, and space requirements.
Hire The Right People
Ask any experienced cafe owner what the #1 issue in their business is thats right: finding and keeping great staff. Most people start by looking for experienced staff, which is understandable. But in my experience, there is one thing that trumps experience: attitude. Skills can be learned, attitudenot so much. Yes, you will need some some experience, particularly in the early stages. However, developing a great team culture only happens but hiring the right people, so make sure you out the work in to find people who are the best fit for your business. A good induction and training system can help we can help with barista skills & workflow training. When it comes time to hire, you will also need to be aware of the relevant award system, tax and other regulatory requirements
You May Like: Which Keurig Is Best For Iced Coffee
Shop By Business Type
Bar Supplies
From pub tables to garnish holders, find the bar equipment and supplies you need to start your own watering hole here.
Concession Supplies
Concessions foods offer some of the lowest price points and highest profit potentials in all of foodservice. Build your stand here.
Bakery Equipment
Whether for delicate meringues or multi-tiered cakes, here are some of the equipment and supplies you’re likely to need to bake up success.
Food Truck
Setting up a food truck takes foodservice equipment, from standard items like commercial griddles to compact pieces like sandwich steamers.
Pizzeria
A good pizzeria often provides an immersive dining experience that brings back-of-house equipment and functions into the customer space.
Ice Cream
Whether it’s a full-scale ice cream parlor or a street cart with a few specialty flavors, we’ve got the equipment and supplies you need.
Catering
Caterers and buffet operators rely on a wide assortment of specialty equipment, like chafers, food crocks, catering carriers, and hot bars.
Deli
Whether your definition of deli is limited to establishments selling meat and cheese or expands to include sandwich shops, we have what you need.
Coffee Shop
From the simple house blend to ristrettos with single-origin roots, the neighborhood coffee shop delivers the joe we need. Equip yours here.
Convenience Store
Convenience stores are the culinary cache of the American highway. Fueling America requires specialty equipment and supplies.
Hotel Supplies
Pos System & Shelving
Along with food and drink equipment, you’ll also need a POS system to process customer orders.
If you plan to sell bags of coffee, mugs and other items, you may also want to invest in some shelving to put these items on display.
Keep in mind that your equipment needs will vary depending on what your shop serves. If you only serve pour-over coffee, for example, you’ll have no need for an espresso machine or even a drip brewer. You’ll only need to invest in quality pour-overs that allow you to make more than one cup of coffee at a time.
Read Also: What Coffee Creamer Can I Use On Keto
Essential Equipment For Opening A Coffee Shop
Heres a list of essential equipment for opening a coffee shop, along with a discussion of what makes each piece essential.
Espresso machines After securing quality coffee beans from a trusted coffee roaster, an espresso machine is your most important investment.
People rarely come to coffee shops for plain, black coffee. They want lattes, cappuccinos and mochas. These espresso-based coffee drinks are what will drive your revenues and all of them require a quality espresso machine.
We recommend you buy the best new espresso machine you can afford and learn all about its operation and maintenance.
Espresso coffee grinders Your espresso machine wont be good for much without the proper grind of quality coffee beans. When you grind coffee, the surface area increases to expose the oils and soluble particles that give the final cup its distinctive flavor. You need grounds of consistent size to produce consistently exceptional coffee.
Espresso grinders produce the ultra-fine grind required for espresso machines to work their magic. You will want to purchase at least two conical burr grinders one for regular espresso beans, and a second for decaf. Make sure to set them to espressogrind.
One commercial coffee grinder Espresso and latte drinkers will drive your coffee business in terms of revenue, but youve got to show some love for regular Joes who like their coffee plain and black.
Create A Menu To Complement Your Caf
Your menu should express your vision and the theme of your café. Everything needs to be considered, from food options, to design, colour and fonts, to engaging descriptions, images and pricing. Think about a signature dish and how that might shape the style of your menu. Keep it simple one of the most common mistakes cafe owners make is trying to please everyone. This can leave you with dozens of items that are hardly ever ordered. Focus on no more than 10-12 killer options that will knock everyones socks off, making sure to include gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Your menu also needs to be profitable. Calculate the ingredient costs and margin of each item. As a rough rule of thumb to get you started, the ingredient costs should be no more than 35% of the retail price .
Read Also: Are All Herbal Teas Caffeine Free
Pos System And Website
A POS system does more than just ring up sales. A can help you keep track of your inventory, monitor your businesss analytics and profits, manage employees and take payments anywhere.;
As a modern-day coffee shop, youll need a POS that will let you sell across channels. Whether that means integrations with platforms, a or , youll want a solution thats flexible for the 2021 customer. Your POS should streamline online, phone and in-person orders so that youll never miss an opportunity for a sale.
Even better, a good POS system will come with easy-to-use tools to set up your coffee shop website and build an email list, so that you can start growing your digital presence.
Start Your Coffee Shop Planning
Comprehensive. Convenient. Affordable.
Coffee Shop Startups is the premier coffee shop business resource for aspiring entrepreneurs. We provide the most comprehensive way to research and plan your coffee shop business.
Our Complete Coffee Shop Startups Kit is packed with everything you need to know before you open your coffee shop business. With hours and hours of one-on-one interviews, you’ll hear from real-world coffee shop business owners and experts.
When you purchase The Complete Coffee Shop Startups Kit, you receive an invaluable collection of exclusive resources designed to help your coffee shop business grow.
These tools will get your coffee business on the right track and give you the motivation to move forward with confidence.
Theres never been a better time to start a coffee shop business. And theres never been a better resource to help you get started the right way.
Nows the time to take action but only you can do that.
Read Also: How To Make Proper Iced Coffee
Offer Delicious Hot And Cold Beverages At Your Cafe With Our Coffee Shop Supplies And Equipment
Whether you own a local coffee shop in town, or you operate a large cafe in a big city, we’re the restaurant coffee supplier that has all the coffee shop supplies you need to offer delicious beverages any time of the day to your customers. From small basic supplies like cups, lids, and straws, to larger coffee shop equipment units, including brewers, dispensers, and blenders, we have everything to make prep and serving more efficient. Youll also find to-go supplies, so customers can take their drinks with them.
We offer all the essentials you need for table or self-service. Set condiment dispensers, napkins, and creamers out at your beverage station, as well as airpots, decanters, and other coffee shop supplies that will allow guests to fill their cups with the beverage of their choice. Youll also find all the coffee shop equipment units you need to brew, blend, mix, or steep any drink on your menu.
Our selection of coffee shop supplies and espresso supplies also includes various mixes, concentrates, and pre-made drinks that will expand your menu offerings. Make cappuccinos, hot chocolate, tea, smoothies, and frozen lattes to satisfy all your customers. We offer flavoring syrups, sugar, and creamer packets, as well, to add the finishing touches to your creations. And, if you serve additional items, like muffins, scones, and other baked goods, we carry various display cases and signs for merchandising.
Additional Resources