Nowadays, there’s a cafe on almost every corner. They’re not serving the same old drip. Coffee shops are becoming more and more creative, roasting their beans themselves, offering different brewing methods, and expanding their food menus. Customers don’t seem to be over-caffeinated. The global coffee market will reach $155 billion in 2026 despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing a decrease in coffee exports and imports.
How can one make their coffee shop stand out in a world where competition is fiercer than ever? What makes a coffee shop stand out? Is it just great coffee or is there a combination with other factors such as location, shop aesthetics and business sense, an outstanding coffeeshop or perhaps a gimmick. It seems more and more important to do this right. Take a look at this guide to running a successful cafe.
1. The most important factor is quality
Spend your money well. You should buy quality beans that are ethically sourced, good creams, milk/nuts juices, and essentials for your coffee shop, such as an espresso machine. Buy a water filter system to keep your coffee tasting fresh. Also, buy a point of sale system for small businesses, which allows employees enter orders easily and process transactions quickly.
2. A Good Training Program
It is an art to make quality coffee drinks. Do not trust anyone to do the job. Implement a comprehensive training program for every new employee. All staff should be trained on your products.
Ask distributors or reps to visit your store to train staff on certain items. Pay a fair salary to avoid high turnover rates. A successful coffee shop has a staff that is cohesive and happy. The right staffing for your coffee shop will also be crucial to the smooth operation of your business.
3. Maximize Workspace and Floor Efficient
Real estate is expensive if your coffee shop has a great location. Maximize your space to ensure that customers are comfortable and the staff is efficient. Plan your floor to allow for comfortable areas while still accommodating as many guests as you can. Leave enough space for your staff so they can work efficiently. If you are serving food, or if it is peak time, coffee shops need a lot of space for storage and workstations. Plan your space according to your requirements during peak hours.
Use clear and highly visible signage for the different areas in the room to make it easy for people to understand and follow directions. It is important to keep people away from certain areas, which could hinder your staff’s ability to work efficiently. You want to make sure that your customers feel safe, so you should invest in floor markers and other tools to encourage social distance.
4. Launch a Loyalty Programme
Cafes and coffee shops receive a high percentage of business from their regulars. You can reward your loyal customers by giving them a free bag of beans, a pastry or if you prefer, a coffee. You don’t need to be stingy when it comes to your loyalty rewards. Those who benefit from them are the ones who spend most money and time in your shop. You shouldn’t have to wait six months for a free drip of coffee. Integrate your loyalty program with your cafe system to make it easier for you to manage. You can use this simple database to send out email marketing in the future.
5. Offer a Variety of Products, But Not Too Many
You must offer at least some pastries and other snacks in your coffee shop. If possible, you should expand your menu. You could make your business more than just a coffee shop by offering lunch and brunch. You should bake as much as you can in-house and order the remainder locally. Coffee shops that are part of their community will be loved by customers.
But be careful not to overextend yourself. Do not offer too much so that you end with a lot of waste. You should also cater to specific coffee customers. Don’t be that triple caramel mocha place with extra whip!
6. Know Your Community.
A coffee shop, unlike other retail businesses is a very important part of the local community. It can define a neighborhood or become a landmark. You want to attract every coffee lover in your area for coffee and scones. Know your community. Maintain reasonable prices. Plan for the average customer, whether it’s a mother with her children, a young professional with their laptop, or whoever else you might expect to come in.
7. Prepare and clean as much as possible
It keeps your staff focused and helps you run your business smoothly. Make sure that your staff follows a schedule to keep the area clean and the pars stocked. Label and date all perishable items and dispose of them when they expire.
Health regulations are also important to train everyone. It’s not only the law but also good practice. Serve only what you would be proud to serve or that you yourself would enjoy.
8. Create an Atmosphere
Customers don’t just want to drink coffee. Customers may be looking for a quiet place to read the newspaper, meet up with old friends, prepare for a test or work remotely. Create your space with purpose. This can be changed later on, once you know your customers better. Make the space inviting so that people will always be tempted to return for whatever escape they are seeking. A pleasant customer experience will help you retain your customers and make them loyal to your business.
9. It’s Time to Take Out
Whatever it is – Seamless or UberEats or GrubHub or PostMates – if you and your production team can handle it, go for it. It is important to consider this if you have a less-than-ideal location or if there is little foot traffic. Apps are a great way to order food and beverages. Use it to market your business and get on the gravy.
10. Select the Right Point of Sales System for Your Coffee Shop
Your point of sale can make running your business much easier. We have a software for coffee shops was designed to be flexible, scalable and handle a large volume of customers. is the best coffee shop software and can assist with scheduling, orders, inventory, etc.