What You Need to Know When Starting Your Coffee Shop

What do you know about work dynamics, portions and budgets? It's time to learn.

If you’re a coffee lover and an entrepreneur, I’m sure that starting your own coffee shop is not that far off your plans. It might even sound like the perfect alternative, and you’re absolutely right to think so! Coffee shops need much more than just passion for the brews, they need a functional setting to work within, and some extra tips that you’re about to find out. Want to make it a perfect place? Then read through!

What do you need to know for coffee shop business?

You should know that not all coffee shops are alike, so take these tips and instructions like a pinch of salt. Select the ones that adapt to your particular venture, and be sure to adapt them to what you really need. We don’t want something bad to happen to your own needs. Are you ready? Then let’s go!

Coffee makers should be durable, more than pretty

That’s right. You need to put aside your aesthetic needs for functionality. While you can find pricey choices that are both gorgeous and functional, these often cash you out. Sometimes, you need to concede to a not-so-pretty-one for durability, to avoid unexpected surprises.

Cleaning goes a long way

Investing in a system to clean your equipment is a must. Some companies offer specialized products that are as domestic as to be handled with little to no training when it comes to cleaning coffee shop appliances. This goes a long way for flavor, hygiene, and durability of your equipment.

You need to pick providers and stick to them

People love a business for their flavor. If you keep on changing providers, your customers will pick up the change. They will be displeased if you keep on changing your flavor, and are more likely to move to another establishment.

Be mindful of the pumps

While most businesses rarely confide this small secret, a perfect pump can save hours of work. For toppings, syrups and that kind of things, a sturdy and trustable pump reduce the amount of time used in less reliable units. And, if you keep them at bain-marie for example (in the case of chocolate topping) you can have a good-to-go service in seconds, instead of the minutes it takes to heat up individual pumps.

Always have snacks

Coffee is not a single thing, it’s a couple with a variety of elements. Sweet, savory, snacks, and so on. These are the perfect mate for coffee, why should you avoid making a good relationship of it? You need to think of this as something as important as coffee itself, so forget about opening without having a reliable stock of snacks for your customers.

Ready to take the step and open up your business? Here at That Coffee Roasters, we’re ready to walk the road with you. With specialty coffee made for top-of-the-line business, we’re sure to cater to your needs as a coffee shop owner.

Visit our website to know more.

Make something amazing by learning from your trusted roaster.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Benefits of Owning a Coffee Shop

Starting any business is difficult; but if you are successful, it can bring great benefits and profits. 

Creating a business of your own is the dream of many. It’s about being able to do what you really like without having to rely on other people’s approval. Nowadays, in the coffee world this dream has become a reality for many people who run their own coffee shop, but why is it so common to have a business in this industry? The answer may be simpler than you think: the benefits.

Although opening a new business is not easy, the satisfaction, advantages, and benefits it can bring, make any risk worthwhile. If you’ve ever thought about having your own coffee shop, this is your chance to make up your mind and discover a whole new world of opportunities. Are you ready for it?

Benefits of owning a coffee shop

In addition to the addictive smell of coffee in the morning, this type of entrepreneurship can give you great personal advantages. Just read on to discover the benefits of this delicious coffee business!

The profits of a coffee business

The first benefit is the most elementary; however, it is the most representative in terms of trade. If you are successful in the coffee shop business, this ensures great profits, good expansion opportunities, and financial stability. Clearly, to achieve this goal, it’s necessary to have a solid work team and a quality coffee supplier, such as That Coffee Roasters, that allows you to offer the best products and build customer loyalty.

Setting your own working schedule

One of the benefits of owning a coffee shop is the advantage of being able to choose your work schedule. In the case of having a family, this allows you to have more flexibility and decide on which shifts to work. However, this doesn’t mean you can disengage from work for a few hours. It’s necessary to understand that, in order for a coffee shop to thrive, you must always monitor every aspect of the business and take advantage of the busiest hours.

Creative development

Nothing beats having your own business to develop that creative and culinary talent you didn't know you had. Part of the thrill of opening a new coffee shop is to actively participate in the creation of the products that will be offered to your customers. Being able to fulfill your business vision and develop the ideas that can make it stand out is one of the greatest satisfaction you can have as an owner, since from that moment on you are responsible for your own success.

The creation of a community

Ultimately, your coffee shop will become a gathering place where different types of customers can meet. You should always see this as an opportunity to meet new people, evaluate their tastes, and develop a sense of belonging. Usually, this type of business brings people together and gradually becomes part of the community in which it is located, thanks to the loyalty of its customers and the welcoming atmosphere of the place. In the end, you’ll be able not only to gain a permanent clientele, but you will also feel part of a large family that will embrace your coffee shop as another space in their home.

Free meals and coffee!

Actually, you better not take it that far. Remember that your products are made for sale and that your profits depend on them. However, the advantage of running your own coffee business is that you will at least have your morning cup of coffee guaranteed. Wonderful, isn’t it?

Another aspect to highlight as a benefit of owning a coffee shop is to be able to taste and learn about the different types of blends, roasts, and specialty coffees that this market can offer. While finding the best product for your store can be a complex process, it’s still a unique experience.

If you want to experience the best of the coffee world, you can always call That Coffee Roasters, a Miami-based family business dedicated to providing the best types of coffee in the city. To learn more about us and our work, feel free to follow us through our social networks and ask about our wide variety of products.

Discover the benefits of entering the coffee world with That Coffee Roasters.

That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Coffee Secrets: Building a Successful Coffee Shop

Much of a coffee shop's success will depend on the coffee you choose!

For many people, the taste for coffee is a passion that runs through their veins. As a drink it is probably a fundamental element to start and end your day with energy, it is merely a necessity! And what if you could turn that passion and need into a business? Today, opening a café is the dream of many, but little do they know that this is a fairly competitive market and that to create a successful coffee shop they have to take specific factors into account.

If you want to build a coffee start-up, you must first decide what you are going to offer and how you will do it. You don't necessarily have to follow the patterns set by big business, remember that a real coffee lover will know how to value a quality product.

How to manage a successful coffee shop

It is difficult to identify the key to success; however, there are several tips you can apply to achieve your goals and stay in the coffee market for a long time. Want to know more? Follow the tips of That Coffee Roasters.

Think about the location

Although the area may be an essential element in setting up a coffee shop, the location involves other features that are considered more important. One is the purchase or rental of a local; in the case of renting a space, you should consider whether you prefer a shopping mall or a storefront. The mall can provide significant advantages such as a constant flow of potential customers and easy access to public transportation and cars. However, working in this environment can mean paying more for rent and getting used to the hours imposed by the mall.

In general, purchasing a storefront property could be ideal for this type of business, as it provides visibility and rental prices can be lower. However, you should always keep in mind that customers like easily accessible sites, so the matter of transportation, traffic and parking is an element to consider.

Use an ergonomic approach

Much of your coffee shop’s success will depend on the constant flow of products, so it is necessary that the barista’s workstation is fully functional. An ergonomic approach considers the worker’s relationship with his environment and work team, two elements that must always be considered. In the service area, it is necessary that the barista has his space where all the items he needs are at hand so that he does not have to make many movements. It is also necessary to place this work area near the cash register so that the coffee maker can hear the order and proceed to prepare it earlier.

Create an original and relaxing atmosphere

Creating a unique and comfortable atmosphere are the parameters you must follow when looking for the style of your establishment. The idea and essence must be yours, but you must play a little with what today’s customers are looking for: a comfortable place to meet and drink coffee. Nowadays, many people are just looking for a quiet place where they can have a good cup of coffee while working with their laptops or meeting friends or co-workers, so you must always think about the comfort of the client and mix that idea with your concept to create an original and productive space.

Offer a quality coffee product

The last, but probably most important advice has to do with the quality of the product you offer. The success of this business depends not only on the location, the environment, and the practicality but also on the quality of the beans you use and the coffee you prepare. It's not always about using specialty coffee, but about getting a quality coffee that can meet all your customers' needs. It is also necessary to invest in a good espresso coffee machine that allows you to make the most of the coffee you buy.

Running a successful coffee shop is not easy. However, a few simple considerations can make the difference. In these cases always remember that the customer is also a priority and therefore customer service must be of the highest quality. Also, when it comes to coffee, don't forget to communicate with the best suppliers on the market. At That Coffee Roasters, we offer a variety of high-quality products at a competitive price! So if you need anything, don't hesitate to contact us through our social networks or visit our facilities.

To build a successful coffee shop, you must take several factors into account!

That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Coffee Is Served by a Robot Barista at This Melbourne Coffee Shop

How much can a robot barista do?

Is your favorite barista an actual human being? Ugh, you’re so outdated. Non-human coffee shop workers are what’s in now, didn’t you get the fax? So pick your new one at your nearest café for only $9999,99 and name it something fun like... Francis. Seriously, jokes and saltiness aside, this is becoming a thing! There’s a robot barista serving coffee at a coffee shop in Melbourne, and it looks like a cool work of engineering. Let’s dig into it!

Once Alike  is the café and Rocky is the robot’s name that could potentially catapult Australia’s coffee culture into the future. It replicates a barista’s work in almost all accounts, grinding beans, tamping them, and pulling the espresso shots. Of course, you won’t get the human experience of actually talking to your barista… or getting your name written wrong, but it seems like you could enjoy a fantastic cup of coffee courtesy of Rocky.

In words of Liam Wilkie, one of the engineers behind the project, Rocky makes coffee as well as any barista. And the advantages? “When you’ve been in the industry so long, you realize the most important things are quality and consistency. People want their coffee the same every time they go back to a cafe that specializes in coffee. There are limitations to having a human behind the bar. We get stressed and emotional during busy periods. It’s not fun to make 1000 lattes on a Saturday – it’s really hard work,” he explains.

It makes sense. However, it’s only natural that baristas should also be worried that this becomes a threat to their jobs. They are still very superior in one thing though: Rocky takes roughly anywhere from 2 to 6 minutes to brew a cup of coffee, much slower than any experienced barista would take. Nevertheless, this is still an experimental project, so we can expect that robots in the future will be able to get every order right at a much more efficient amount of time.

Rocky is not the only one of his species

Previously, in January 2017, another robot barista also made the news at a coffee shop in San Francisco, called Café X. It was more like a robotic arm that operated an already-automated coffee maker, but it did mark the beginning of something that could potentially become a trend in the future.  

Are these things even sold commercially though? Well, this year they might. A company called Bubble Lab, based in China is working on a robot barista they showed at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It’s also a robotic arm, and each one of them could cost $30,000 this 2018. Quite the investment, right? It still looks slow, so we’re not sure if it’s worth it for now.

But if we’ve learned something since the beginning of the 20th century, it’s that technology advances way faster than we realize. So it’d be no surprise to see a full-fledged, self-cleaning robot barista, which brews coffee as quickly and as efficiently as any human today, soon. Would you change the personalized factor of each cup of coffee for the robotic approach?

At That Coffee Roasters, we believe coffee is not only a beverage but also an experience that depends on the way each person sees and lives coffee. We’re not against technology but think about it as food and chefs. Every chef has their craft, their value. Baristas are the same, so we believe replacing them might not be as simple as it seems. What do you think? Let us know in the comments and keep joining us every Friday to talk more about innovations in the world of specialty coffee!

Could technology replace baristas?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

What You Need to Start Doing Your Own Latte Art at Home

The harder you practice, the better you'll get.

Latte art is incredibly pretty and looks very good in pictures, it’s no wonder it quickly became a must on almost every person’s profiles and stories on Instagram. If you’ve ever seen how it’s done, you’d have noticed it’s a mesmerizing practice to watch. However, transforming your little cup of coffee into a canvas full of beautiful designs requires practice, precision, and hard work. Are you interested? Then keep reading to learn what you need to start improving your skills and make latte art at home!

You don’t need to be a professional barista at a fancy coffee shop to begin your own journey through the world of latte art. Actually, practicing at your place, serving cool coffee art for your friends and family might be an excellent way to start. You can do it in your free time and fail as many times as you need before mastering the process. You can also consider it a form of meditation since you need to stay focused and relaxed.

What is latte art made of?

So the first thing we need to learn is the essential elements you’ll need to create latte art. Of course, if you want your cup of coffee to taste just like it does in the cafés, then you’ll have to brew espresso. Besides, espresso works better for latte art because regular coffee is not strong enough to cut through the milk. Here are some ways in which you can have your own espresso without buying an expensive espresso machine.

The second thing you’ll need is microfoam steamed milk. This is the tricky part because ideally, you’d need to put your milk through a process called denaturing; this means adding steam to the milk and then rapidly heating it to change its composition, giving it some texture and making it sweeter. After that, baristas pour the steamed milk in a specific way, so the milk drains first and finishes with the foam, providing them with what they need to create the design in your coffee cup.

Making the foam

Making a good foam will be crucial for you to get your latte art just right. For this, many baristas use a milk steamer, but since we’re trying to do things as low-budget as possible, we’ll give you a different alternative. In this case, all you need is a small handheld milk frother, a small metal pitcher with a pointed spout, whole milk, and a ceramic coffee mug. The steps to make a heart shape latte art go as follow:

1. Heat your whole milk to between 140-160°F. If you’re using a microwave, put the milk in a microwaveable bowl or container, heating in 30-second increments until you reach the desired temperature. You could also heat the milk on the stovetop using a thermometer to check the temperature.
   
2. Transfer the milk to your metal pitcher.
   
3. Place your milk frother in your pitcher so that it’s almost touching the bottom of the pitcher.
   
4. Froth milk according to your model’s instructions and recommendations.
   
5. Once finished, tap your pitcher on the counter and swirl the milk gently to get rid of any big bubbles.
   
6. With your espresso in your ceramic mug of choice, begin pouring milk from your pitcher into your mug. Start by pouring high and tilting your coffee mug (at about a 45° angle) as you pour a very thin stream of milk into the center of your cup.
   
7. Once the cup is about 80% full, lower the pitcher to just above the surface. Use your wrist to move the pitcher back and forth, so the milk begins making ripples.
   
8. To finish, slowly tilt the pitcher back towards you, drawing the steam back through the center of your heart.

Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work out the first time. Creating coffee art is a complex process that demands a lot of patience and perseverance. Nevertheless, learning is a lot of fun! You can create your own designs or look for new tutorials on the Internet. And if you want to get inspired, check out this article on That Coffee Roasters’ blog to discover some of the best baristas and latte artists out there!

Source: Contigo.

What do you love the most about latte art?

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters

Things Your Coffee Shop Can Do Better this 2018

Be sure to set realistic goals.

It’s finally that time of the year when we make wish lists hopefully expecting that this time we’ll be able to accomplish at least some of them in 2018. It’s not that simple, sadly. Life gets in the way, and then life gets in the way again, and then life gets in the way some more until you realize it’s December and your list remains mostly unchecked. Many times, this happens because we set unrealistic goals according to our circumstances. So whether you’re making a personal or a professional list, be honest with yourself before anything else. If you’re a coffee shop owner or worker, then we’re right here to back you up and give you some achievable ideas of how your coffee business can improve and grow this 2018.

Invest in automated systems

Having an automated inventory system can save you a lot of time, which is a good thing because time is money. Keep track of how often you need to replenish your stock (like coffee beans, cups, syrups, sugar and more), so you can use this data to invest in a program that can reorder supplies automatically. If you understand your ordering habits, you can save money by reducing how often you purchase less popular items and instead focus on buying the most-used products in cost-saving quantities.

In general, technology can be a great ally. Baristas and cashiers can save a lot of time if you offer them an updated Point of Sale. It can also help you keep track of inventory and save you up to 10% simply by reducing theft and order errors.

Encourage last-minute purchases

Take a look at how businesses like Starbucks always invest in their exhibitions. You can earn a lot of money if you encourage the desire to acquire more products when people are about to pay. Invest in good design and merchandising so you can offer a top-notch product. Exhibitions are great because they usually sell by themselves, as you don’t need any sellers to stand at the point of purchase. You can ally with other brands or make a brand of your own. What’s a better way to promote your business than to sell merch that portrays your colors and logo? But remember, just like we said, watch out for good design and quality.

Improve your social media strategies

Coffee shops are as social as the very social media platforms can be in 2018, and even more, because you get the benefit of the face-to-face interaction. That means that your café can exploit all the advantages of a good social media marketing strategy. If you’ve created an experience that's worth sharing, then all you need to do is encourage consumers to share it all across their social media profiles. This way, you’ll start communicating an identity that feels alive, real, and humanized. If people happen to catch some of that up on Instagram, they’ll be instantly tempted to visit you!

Customers are your best marketing allies

This is especially true when we’re talking about coffee shops. This 2018, don’t forget your customers! Ask for their opinion on new items to be added to the menu or listen to what they have to say about their favorite and least favorite beverages and meals. Make sure to provide a good service, because most people visiting coffee shops for the first time have actually done it motivated by a close friend’s recommendation.  You can even bribe them a little by giving them a free treat if they bring a friend to your cafe for the first time. Read your reviews and pay attention to what they’re saying about you on social media. Make them part of the experience!

There’s so much more you can do this 2018 to make your coffee shop’s experience truly unforgettable! Have you thought about your goals for this new year to come? Follow That Coffee Roasters on social media to learn more about how we can work together to give the best of the coffee world to our clients!

With hard work and good strategies, you can accomplish all your goals and more!

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters