Many people dream of owning their own business. They think about not having an employer and they think about how they will carve out their own little space in the business world. This is probably one of the reasons why coffee shops are becoming a very popular business to start. Not only is there a demand for good coffee but there is also a chance to carve out a little space that is cozy and hip.

Of course, if you are planning on starting your own coffee shop, there will be a number of things that you need to take into consideration. Visit our article on starting your own coffee shop to learn more about those things because what we want to consider is the equipment. Sure, all the other points are important but there will be a number of factors to consider when you start equipping your little space.

The Quality:

Before we look at what you will need, let`s look at what you won`t need and that is top of the line. Sure, it would be wonderful to start a business with the latest and greatest but when you are looking at the investment, you don`t want to put all your money into one thing. Instead, look at the mid range items. These will good machines that have almost all, if not all, of the functions that a top of the line machine will have but they won`t have such a large price tag to them. As your clientele expands, you can begin investing in the top of the line products if you still feel the need.

First or Second:

When my mother opened up her first restaurant, I thought she was crazy when she drove 14 hours to pick up a second hand grill hood. Why not just buy a new one and have it delivered. The answer was simple, the second hand grill hood was much cheaper, even after the drive, than a new one and after some cleaning it turned out to be a top of the line hood for a bargain basement price.

So what is the lesson here? Well, it`s simple; look for second hand equipment. Many restaurants and coffee shops go out of business and you can easily purchase top of the line equipment for less than low end equipment if you hit the right auctions or find the right sales. You will need to clean everything thoroughly but in the end; your elbow grease will be worth the money you save.

Consider your Space:

Before you select your equipment, it is important to consider your space. If you have a small shop, then you aren’t going to have a full coffee shop complete with large oversized ovens, a full sandwich counter and every single coffee machine known to mankind. Instead, you will have a smaller and fewer pieces of equipment so you still have room for seating.

Consider your menu:

Most coffee shops offer more than just coffee and you will need to figure out what you want to serve before you start picking up your equipment. If you are going for a straight coffee beverage menu, then you aren’t going to need things for making bagels. You want the bagels; obviously you will need an oven and the other bagel making materials on hand.

The List:

Okay, now that we looked at a few things involved in purchasing your equipment, let’s look at the list. If you are starting your own coffee shop, you will need:

1. Espresso machines
2. Coffee Brewers
3. Coffee grinders
4. Cups
5. Mugs
6. Serving plates
7. Ovens
8. Fridges
9. Mixing dishes
10. Spoons
11. Ice machines
12. Dishwasher

And this is just to get you started. In compiling a full list, I would strongly suggest hiring a consultant that specializes in coffee shops.

-Sirena Van Schaik

Trackback URI | Comments RSS