Opening an independent coffee shop: Part Two

Buy Coffee Shop Equipment
A commercial espresso coffee machine is a must-have for setting up a coffee shop. However, this might be one of the highest opening expenses. To illustrate, an espresso coffee machine costs between £300 and £13,000. However, renting or leasing a coffee machine is a common practice among coffee shop owners in the UK.

Further, to meet the expectations of black coffee fans, an industrial coffee maker seems like a good idea. The prices start at £380. However, more expensive machines cost around £1,900.

Further, coffee shop owners who decide to create their original flavors should consider buying coffee roaster. The cost of this equipment depends on the volume of roasted beans. For example, a small volume roasters cost around £14,000. However, bigger volume machines might cost as much as £10,000.

Finally, the preparation of smoothies, frappe coffee drinks, and other cold drinks require blenders, which cost between £200 and £1,500.

Find Quality Coffee Beans
The market offers different kinds and qualities of coffee beans, which are impacted by region, roast level, single-origin or blend. The difference between the different types lies in the conditions under which they grow. The main coffee productions are located in America, the Pacific, and Africa. Consequently, the coffee flavor will be impacted by the climate and quality of soil.

Coffee shop owners tend to buy either Arabica or Robusta. Arabica has a more delicate taste, but less caffeine than Robusta. Often those two are blended to increase the richness of taste.

Further, coffee is suitable for drinking after roasting. Again, different regions have different roasting methods, which impacts the flavors. To illustrate, the American roast is not too strong due to the moderate roasting level, while the French roast is strong and gives a deep flavor. Italian roast has a strong favor, suitable for preparing espresso.

Create the Interior Design
For the interior design of a coffee shop, the psychology and mood of potential customers should be a starting point. Elements such as colors, lighting, acoustics, furniture, and accessories will determine the customer’s reaction. Even smell contributes to the overall atmosphere. In other words, the interior design is important to create the best customer experience.

In particular, colors contribute to a customer’s moods. It is believed that red stimulates the appetite. For that reason, many places offering food incorporate it in the interior design. At the same time, it is common to use a combination of more balanced and subtle colors that give the impression of relaxation in a coffee shop.

Since a coffee shop usually aims to create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere, the coffee shop owners should avoid bright light because it tends to overwhelm the customers. Dim lights are suitable for coffee shops because they create cozy and warm environment. Finally, while many coffee shop owners neglect the acoustic, it is one of the most important elements of interior design. Customers come to coffee shops to socialize, work or relax, and bad acoustic might ruin their experience.

Find a Suitable EPOS System
EPOS (electronic point of sale), is a digital system that allows customers to make payments in shops, restaurants or cafes. Moreover, this system helps to improve business performance, store information and monitor business finances including sales and taxes.

EPOS is a necessity equipment that every coffee shop needs. There are two types of EPOS systems that work well for fast-paced coffee business. Touch screen electronic cash register is an intuitive and easy-to-use device that stays on the counter. It is also fast, which speeds up the checkout process. The alternative option is a mobile cash register that can be used on a tablet or a smartphone. This system is a great solution for mobile coffee business because they facilitate payments on the go.

Build a Website for Your Coffee Shop
It is no longer possible to run a successful business without a website. The customers use the internet to find out about the location and opening hours of the coffee shops they want to visit. The good news is that creating a website is very easy and even those with limited technical knowledge can build a basic website.

Moreover, web page does not need to cost a lot of money. In fact, the prices start from £7.99 for building a website.

However, there are several expenses that you need to bear even if you create a website on your own. Firstly, each website needs a domain. The prices start from £4.99 for the first year and £9.99 for each following year. Secondly, you need to choose a hosting service. Small websites owners usually choose an external server that is shared with other sites, which costs between £2.99 and 9.99 per month.