Starting your coffee shop can feel daunting. At Kaldi Gourmet Coffee Roasters, we have over 25 years of experience helping first-time coffee shop owners like you successfully open and grow a thriving coffee shop. We’ve compiled the biggest mistakes we have seen coffee shop owners make over the last two decades to help you feel more confident and ready to take on the world of coffee!
Hiring the Wrong Staff
Getting the Right Staffing
The success of your coffee shop heavily relies on the quality of your staff. It's essential to hire people who can handle retail customers and maintain a friendly demeanor under pressure. Be wary of hiring someone just because they have previous barista experience. While experience in other coffee shops can be beneficial, it may also bring bad habits. Instead, prioritize individuals with retail experience in general, as they can be trained in coffee-making techniques. The right attitude is more important than prior coffee experience. Pro tip: look for someone with a retail background!
Lack of Training = Lack of Consistency
Consistency is key in a coffee shop. Each staff member should follow the same, precise guidelines for brewing methods, espresso, and drink preparation. The last thing you want is customers requesting a drink made by a specific person but having that person be absent. All drinks should taste the same regardless of who makes them. Much like how a McDonald’s burger always tastes the same, so should your menu items when made by different employees. Proper commercial equipment and standardized procedures help achieve this consistency.
| Pro Tip: When hiring staff, look for candidates with a retail background vs. coffee shop experience. |
Improper Equipment Selection and Care
Budget Considerations
Budget constraints are common when starting a coffee shop, making it tempting to opt for cheaper, “semi-professional” equipment. While these options may seem like a good deal initially, unfortunately they are not designed for the rigorous demands of a commercial environment and are doomed to fail in a short period of time. This often results in additional expenses as you will be forced to purchase the correct equipment soon after. Not only that, but often times the health department may not even approve equipment that is not NSF approved, which will inevitably cause time delays in allowing the business to open.
Investing in proper commercial-grade equipment from the start is crucial for long-term success. You can feel confident when ordering your equipment at Kaldi.com, as we only offer professional, commercial-grade espresso machines, brewers, and grinders. If you’re unsure which equipment is best for your needs, visit kaldi.com/start-up-coffee-shop for a comprehensive list of everything you need when starting your coffee shop, or call us at 910-350-0990 for personalized assistance.
Maintenance
Regular maintenance of equipment, especially espresso machines, is vital. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning and maintenance guidelines to ensure longevity and consistent performance. Many manufacturers provide training and cleaning videos. Pro Tip: Don’t forget to change the water filter regularly!
If you need additional assistance or are worried something has happened that cannot be fixed with regular maintenance, rest assured that all equipment purchased from Kaldi.com comes with 24/7 technical support.
Poor Coffee Choices
Branding
Create your unique coffee blend and name it. Instead of generic names like "House Blend," use names that reflect your brand, such as "Rocky River’s Blend." Private labeling helps your brand stand out, and we encourage it with our coffee shop customers. Ensure your coffee bags display your establishment’s name and not the name of your roaster, even if that’s Kaldi Gourmet Coffee Roasters!
Freshness
Always use fresh coffee to differentiate yourself from grocery stores and large chain offerings. Spending more on high-quality coffee only adds a small cost per cup but significantly improves taste.
Order coffee in small quantities every one to two weeks and store it properly in a dark, dry, and cool area. Invest in a grinder and avoid pre-ground coffee, as preground coffee will stale quickly. Freshly roasted coffee remains fresh for 4 to 6 weeks if not ground until needed. If you order coffee from Kaldi.com, you can feel confident that you are ordering the freshest coffee possible. All of our coffees are roasted per order, and come date stamped with the roasted-on date to guarantee its optimal freshness.
Espresso Depresso
Choose the right roast for your espresso. Stay away from darker roasts, as the oils can gum up grinders. This makes it challenging to adjust your espresso grind for the perfect extraction. Be sure to maintain proper grind and tamping pressure, and adjust as needed based on the store’s climate conditions, such as heat and humidity.(Hint: You’ll need to adjust the levels more often than you think - maybe even daily!)
| Feeling Overwhelmed? Overwhelmed by the choice of commercial espresso and coffee equipment? We know, it's a big decision. Our experience since 1995 ensures we can assist you in choosing the perfect machines to meet your needs. Get in touch with us now to receive a free quote and all our commercial equipment recommendations. |
Neglecting Water Quality
Monitoring
Neglecting water quality and temperature can negatively impact coffee taste. Use equipment that helps monitor and maintain the right water temperature and quality. Kaldi Gourmet Coffee Roasters offers espresso machines with built-in monitoring features to assist with this.
| Pro Tip: Change the water filter for your commercial equipment regularly! |
Not Catering to All Consumers
Dietary Considerations
Consider the dietary needs of your customers. Ensure you have options for those with gluten, dairy, peanut, and other common allergies. Being inclusive will widen your customer base.
Remember the Kids!
The last thing you’ll want is customers unable to come to your coffee shop because you don’t have kid-friendly options for their children. Be sure to include smoothies, frappes, and other non-caffeinated options for the little ones!
Owner(less) Involvement
Hands-Off Approach
A hands-off approach can be detrimental. Owners must be involved and knowledgeable about every aspect of their business to ensure smooth operations and quick problem-solving. Even if your manager has prior experience in coffee shops or retail, you want to be certain your cafe is performing up to your standards and maintaining your brand image.
Understanding Coffee Growing Regions
Varietal Offerings
Familiarize yourself with different coffee-growing regions. Offer at least one coffee from each major coffee-growing region to cater to varied tastes. These regions are Latin America, Africa, and Indonesia. Understanding regional characteristics will help you recommend alternatives and satisfy discerning customers. Have a house blend, a decaf version, and regional offerings to appeal to all customers. (Pro tip: it’s not the roast level that distinguishes a coffee, but rather the region it's from! So if someone asks for a Latin American coffee you don’t have, such as Mexican Altura, offer them the coffee you have from Latin America instead, such as Brazilian Santos. Nine times out of ten they will be equally satisfied with the alternative.
| Pro Tip: Be sure to offer options from each of the major coffee growing regions: Africa, Latin America, and Indonesia. |
If you can avoid these common mistakes, you will set your coffee shop up for long-lasting success! If you are hungry for more information on specific products and equipment to purchase, visit https://kaldi.com/start-up-coffee-shop for a comprehensive list of everything you need for your coffee shop. The best part: everything is available right here at Kaldi.com! We’re here to support you every step of the way. Happy brewing!
