Opening small Coffee Shop

Thanks everyone for all your advice and tips- they are really good! And only way i can think to thank you is to offer you all whatever you fancy from the Cafe!!

In any case, the place is located deep within the campus complex, so not sure if there will be any lunch time trade. Busy mornings with the professionals and their clients.

After that, i have been told that perhaps i may get business providing teas/ coffees and snacks, sandwiches, wraps for meetings. These will have to brought to the offices directly etc
 
Hi

I have to echo what clubman has said, it really doesn't sound like you have prepared a business plan before signing the lease.

The one and only thing you need to do is make sure you make the best coffee within a 2 mile radius.

If you are not from a catering background go get training, I would recommend talking to Karl from http://www.coffeeangel.ie/ for advice on coffee making.

Don't go down the bewleys slop in a cup route.

In terms of food, what facilities / how big is your premises? Look at what you have to work with and then decide what you can realistiacly offer.

You also mention that you don't expect a lunchtime trade, are you sure your business model can support this? I would have thought lunchtime would be your busy period (busier than your morning trade).

Consider the demographics of people passing your store, are they all walking , driving / mixture of both?

If driving your morning trade will be dead, if walking morning trade will be much better.

Anyway, sorry for the long post and bad spelling. Best of luck with the new business and let us know how you get on.

Im also happy to offer my coffee and food tasting services
ummmmm coffee and pastries
 
CafeCulture said:
After that, i have been told that perhaps i may get business providing teas/ coffees and snacks, sandwiches, wraps for meetings. These will have to brought to the offices directly etc
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The place I was referring to do a lot of this, especially for HSE staff amongst others. I'd imagine it's a good way to fill in time and the till between the early morning and lunchtimes rush periods.
 

I had a similar set up a few years ago. Do a search as there a few other threads on this subject. Here's a reply I gave to the same quetion on another post:

I used to run a similar operation that ran the exact same hours (9-3). Mine was city centre in a multi purpose building. One of the areas I focused on was the staff and pupils of the building. Having such a captive market gives you incredible oppurtunity for a level of market research others would kill for. Just ask them what they want and give it to them. 11 and lunch will be automatically busy periods and are all about being able to deliver at the right speed. The other times can be incredibly quiet so be aggresive for these times.
What is your prep/kitchen area composed of? Any gear in place? Plumbing to potable water outlet? Enough power points?

Here are some thoughts:
* 1/2 price teas & coffees until 10am (but give it until 10.30) and after 2.30.
* Make the sandwiches yourself if at all possible. A damn good sandwich is a great thing and it's not that hard.
* Take orders in advance and have them ready for lunchtime.
* Vary your menu. People expect variety in their food like they do from no other product. Although some will eat the exact same thing at the exact same table at the exact same time for years!
* Cater well for any regulars with diabetic, coeliac, special requirements etc. They'll stick by you.
* Depending on how much on site cooking and prep you do adopt a minimal waste policy in your kitchen. It's difficult but with such small seating what you save can be alot more important than what you earn.
* Consider asking them to give you the concession & electricity for free. It really could work as you are providing a genuine service and amenity.
* Get a fast cappucinno machine. Nothing worse than a queue of 20 people and a machine that does 1 coffee a minute. I've been there!
* Sell good coffee. I tried every coffee availble and decided that La Scala was the best and tastiest for the Irish palate. Bewleys make it. if you buy everything from them (filter coffee & tea bags) tell them you want a free cappucinno machine and a pour over coffee (filter) machines for free. They should give it.
* Examine how many people use the local coffee shop. You could probably afford to be a little more expensive but see what sells well for them.
* Good quality homemade food would undoubtebly be your best option but you consider prepared and quality microwavable snacks. They are individually expensive but you need less gear and they make HACCP compliancy alot easier.
* Hit the phones and tell every supplier what you're doing ask them what they have that would work and then tell them to give you a free sample then decide for yourself.
* I went through a really quiwt period when nothing seemed to be working. Despite alot of advice to the contrary I decided to run a tab for staff and regulars. My god did it work!! The small amount I never recouped was well worth the jump in income.
One word of warning. Beware the soggy quiche!!!

Best of luck with it!
 
Icarus said:
* Get a fast cappucinno machine. Nothing worse than a queue of 20 people and a machine that does 1 coffee a minute. I've been there!
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Whatever you do don't get one of those awful vending style coffee makers! Ugh...! To a certain extent speed and quality are conflicting goals when it comes to coffee. Obviously get a good "industrial" style Gaggia or the like with a high pressure system.
 

Aside from producing below par coffee automatic machines are also the slowest. Unless you have a pub that only sells a few coffees or a self service dock they are out of the question.
 
Marion said:
Scones are the least of your worries. How good are you at making muffins - blueberry/cranberry/chocolate?
Marion
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I have to disagree on the scones. I've even taken a trip into town on a Saturday just to get a good scone & coffee. Muffins are too sweet for me, & very fattening for anyone on a diet.

Scones should be so simple to make, but it's almost impossible to find a decent scone that isn't floury & bland. Best scones in town are in Kehoe's on Andrews St., or to get them from a bakery, go to the newsagent in Kimmage Crossroads & find out what baker makes his scones - these are the best I've tasted. Also this shop has great eclairs, maybe it's from the same baker.

Good luck
 
Hi lukeGriffen

I suppose I was suggesting that CafeCulture should broaden their baking repertoire. I like scones myself - as long as they are not too sweet. The same holds for muffins. Some of the plastic covered muffins are totally dire. They are too sweet and sticky.

I would also have added almond croissants to my list - but I have never attempted to bake those. Butler's Café have nice pastries.

Muffins are too sweet for me, & very fattening for anyone on a diet.
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Hmm ... I don't think people on diets should be eating eclairs either

Marion
 
Those French plaited pasteries with chocolate in them - beautiful when heated a little. Interesting reading the above, not so much for the advice given which is very good but just feel my mouth watering as i read other people's descriptions of food and coffee. Nice to see some real appreciation of good food and drink (often its so underrated). I would definitely second the recommendation about making your own sandwiches, i'd had some awful prepacked ones - particularily at bus and train stations.
 
I cannot believe that you have taken a lease on a coffee shop & dont know anything about it!! i am the opposite, i have made all the plans in the world, just have no idea where to get the money!! does anyone hav any thoughts on the FAS "starting your own business" courses. are they worth it?
 
First - wishing you good luck with your new venture!

I'm not involved with cafe/coffee shops, but I do love my coffee, and love a good coffee shop too. For me, the number one criteria for returning to a coffee shop is the coffee. Full stop. Everything else is icing on the cake. Any one I know who visits coffee shops regularly is of the same opinion, and will not return to a coffee shop if it serves vile coffee, no matter how nice the sticky buns might be.

Become a coffee guru. Know as much as you can. That's my advice.
 
Re: Opening small Coffee Shop - Fas course

Carina,

there is a separate thread on the Fás courses on AAM - you should be able to search for it.

I did a Fás SYOB course last year, but found it a little disappointing. The syllabus is good in theory, but our particular lecturer could have done a lot better. I learned a few things, but not much I hadn't come across by looking at AAM, and the (few) Irish-oriented business books and websites.

I think it would be most suitable for someone who has done very little personal research, and doesn't know where to start.
 
Thanks! Will hav a look at that threat, am now to this site so still trying to find my way around. Cheers!
 
On the stuff other than coffee - I hate places that buy in everything.....scones/danishes etc that they sell in O'Briens are manky.........
Fab place in town that I go out of my way to get scones & there is always a Q there in the morning for the scones........
 
My tupence worth - don't go mad on your coffee machine! I have had some of the nastiest muck out of fancy coffee machines and if you complain they can't believe their twenty grand machine could produce anything other than black gold. I don't know why this happens maybe its the beans or or the machine's not cleaned properly. just wanted to warn you in case some coffee machine wholesaler convinces you that a big expensive machine is the b all and end all.
 
New Coffee shop (Dublin) opened today- thanks to all AAM posters....

Hi everyone- good news- our new Coffee Shop finally opened today- yipee. It was slow for first hour cause a lot of people didn't know we were open- sold out of all our fresh bake etc by 2pm!

Just want to thank everyone for all their encouragment and advice they gave to my many postings. The guidance was gratefully appreciated and all taken on board.

We had a few minor glitches- forgetting to get bags for takeouts etc. But all in all it has gone great so far- only had about 15 minutes free since we opened and we aint closed yet!!

Anyone want a fresh coffee, cappuchino, expresso, latte, mocha, macchiato, americanco, chocolate or even a nice soothing cup of tea???

Thanks again all.
 
Re: New Coffee shop (Dublin) opened today- thanks to all AAM posters....

CafeCulture said:
Anyone want a fresh coffee, cappuchino, expresso, latte, mocha, macchiato, americanco, chocolate or even a nice soothing cup of tea???
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Is it free?
 
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