Are you trying to decide if you want to roast your own coffee for your coffee shop? Are you just opening a coffee shop and find yourself torn between roasting your own coffee beans and buying coffee from someone else? Hopefully I will be able to put it all in perspective so you can make an educated decision.
There are so many variables when considering roasting coffee for your coffee shop. This really is another career of sorts. You will now be responsible for more than just roasting coffee beans. You will also have to keep up proper roaster maintenance, buying and storing green coffee, proper packaging if you plan to pre-package your coffee (usually not a good idea, more on this later), and designating and keeping separate an area specifically for roasting.
There is also a good chance that once people know that you roast your own coffee beans in your shop, you will get interest from other shops, cafes, restaurants and other establishments wanting to buy your product wholesale. Try to plan for this as it can open up a whole new revenue stream. Although this is totally up to you.
Do not make the decision to roast your own coffee beans based on the cost factor alone. Besides green prices being double what they were a year ago, it is still cheaper to roast your own rather than buy coffee from a roaster. However there are elements involved in coffee roasting that you should realize before you start roasting coffee yourself, as I will describe in the course of this article.
You also will now have the expense of buying a coffee roaster. Whether you pay for it outright or finance it, you still have to repay the loan or recoup the money you used to buy the roaster so there is the extra debt service. If you are about to open a coffee shop, this additional cost will add approximately $10k-30k to your equipment cost. Yes, coffee roasters are not cheap!
If you do decide you want to roast your own coffee beans, you have other decisions to make like gas or air roaster? The gas roasters, in my opinion are the better ones. They can run on natural or propane gas and the heat source is an open flame on a rotating drum. The internal drum heats like an oven. You can roast small batches from 5-30lbs before you get into industrial-sized roasters. However, I believe flame drum roasters give your coffee beans a more even roast, and overall better flavor profile.
The other option is an air roaster called a fluid bed roaster. It uses hot, forced air either heated by a flame, or electricity (heating element). The force of the blowing hot air inside the roasting chamber keeps the beans suspended in air for even roasting. Think of the old air poppers for popcorn. I think that fluid bed roasters are better for higher capacity roasting of 250lbs or more at a time. The air is much hotter and the roast time is a bit shorter.
However determine the capacity that you want to roast coffee beans at: your shop only or you and other shops, cafes and restaurants? If you think you are going to try to wholesale, get the larger roaster. You will need a minimum of a 30 lb roaster in order to adequately roast for wholesale. Anything less and roasting will take you 2-3 times longer. Being able to roast 30lbs of coffee vs. 10lbs is obviously an advantage. A larger roaster will come in handy for wholesale. However for just your own shop it will be a benefit as well because you will be able to roast larger batches of coffee beans and in a quicker time frame, allowing you to wear all of your hats a little easier.
The roaster must also be properly vented and connected to a gas or propane line, if applicable. It is very likely that you will have to have a plumbing contractor put in a gas line and/or have an electrician add a power receptacle specifically for the roaster. You may also have to have an HVAC person put in the exhaust stack if you city requires this performed by a licensed contractor. Be sure to add this cost to your list once you get your estimates.
In regards to a specified roasting area, this is a must. Roasting coffee in any type of commercial or semi-commercial roaster is noisy. In fact, it can be very noisy! You will not want to be roasting during your shop’s open hours unless you can segregate the roaster fully or at least, partially. Some shops put the roaster in a room on its own or put up at least a ¾ wall so they muffle most of the sound.
If you are planning on roasting for wholesale as well, this specified area is even more detrimental. Besides a roasting area, you will need a storage area for green coffee, blending area, packaging area and prep/ship area. That is a lot of extra space for most independent coffee shops and it’s hard to come by. Choose your space wisely.
Having said that, if you happen to be a one-person operation you do not want to roast when your shop is open in any event. There are too many distractions that could ruin your roast or even cause a fire if you are not paying attention. You must pay attention to your roaster at all times. Ask me how I know this.
A word about bean displays for your shop: I am a big advocate of allowing customers to smell the actual beans before they buy. This means putting them in a glass or heavy duty plastic jar. Then you can get the brown “Kraft” tin-tie bags, get some labels printed and a scale and sell the coffee beans by the pound. You are done!
If you still plan on roasting in your shop, know you are embarking on something wonderful. It is a lot of work yes and attention to detail, but the resulting product will have people talking about the fresh roasted coffee beans you have available in your shop. It takes more than a desire for freshness or to save money; it takes passion for the bean. Good luck to you!
Tony DiCorpo is a coffee roaster, barista trainer and coffee business consultant. He has authored many articles on coffee and the coffee business. Tony has extensive experience in business and collectively more than 20 years experience in sales, business management, entrepreneurship and the coffee business.
He has written an eBook on how to start a coffee shop. He also owns Troubadour Coffee Roasting Co. where he sells coffee and espresso equipment and where you can buy gourmet coffee beans.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Dicorpo
An Art Opening Will Attract New Business Growth
Author: JenB
If you want new people into your business on a regular basis then you can use fine art as a lure. Art openings attract people from all over. This is a way to get publicity for your business and have something new on your walls for people to enjoy. There is always a need for more art in peoples lives and you can use some more business attention. Any company would do better getting a little creative advertising.
The first requirements for this type of promotion is space. You have to have room to hang things up. Also you need to have the type of business that people walk through on a regular basis. This is a truly natural idea for hospitality type company’s. For a coffee shop, club, restaurant, or even a movie theater this would work well. You need to serve refreshments and you already have everything you need in these places.
There are places that will allow you to have ads for no cost. You will get plenty of interest through online ads. Tell people what you are looking for so that there are no surprises. Look at the work before you give an answer. There are some things that are not appropriate for a family setting. If you have that type of business then you should tell people that right away. You will no doubt have plenty to choose from.
If you are unsure about the legality issues that may arise ask someone for advice before coming up with a document for the artist to sign. You need to have an agreement on paper because if there is a disaster you could get sued. You will also need to nail your artists down on dates because you want to do some advertising for the openings and you have to get the dates and times decided ahead. Remember to promote yourself with some products.
When your show happens you will have plenty of people showing up and milling around your business. Make sure you have some promotional items that bear your name or logo to give to people that come in. Whatever your business is. If it is a coffee shop you could give people at the show some travel mugs that will get filled at a discount when they come in later. They need something to remember what your business is by day so they will return.
Promotional key rings are great if you want a small useful item to give to show attendees. There are other types of promotional merchandise if you want something more fancy.
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Opening a new coffee shop is not extremely difficult in and of itself, but opening one with a competitive advantage that allows it to thrive rather than flounder in the local market is a challenge that requires planning ahead. Nonetheless, there are several proven routes to competitive advantage used by coffee shops, and one may be successful for yours.
Quality Differentiation
The quality of your products can convert those who currently drink at other establishments to yours and hook those who might be one-time visitors to return. To ensure high quality, you have to check quality at every step of the service process, from the sources of your coffees and other products, to the systems, staff, and equipment you use to store, grind, brew, and serve. You may need to have unique or unusual sources for your products so that you are not competing closely with other shops who share the same suppliers. Researching suppliers may be the best method for this type of advantage, unless you have specific talent to develop your own products that will make your shop stand out.
Experience Differentiation
Some retail locations acknowledge that the experience of the visit is compelling differentiation for customers regardless of the products sold. By offering a specific atmosphere, theme, or entertainment, your shop can stand out even with relatively standard products. There will be costs associated with whatever unique environment you are trying to create, so make sure to research these and show how it will enable you to either charge a higher price or bring in more customers than you would have otherwise.
Price Differentiation
As you reach lower and lower prices for a basic cup of coffee, your shop can tap in to a much larger market by converting users who would making their own coffee. However, once you shoot to be one of the lowest price coffee shops in your neighborhood, it can be difficult to find other ways to distance yourself from the pack. Even though you will make up in volume some of what you lose in dollars per customer, you will probably have little money to play with to attempt unique marketing or decor to build a brand, and you will always be in fear of direct price competition from both independent and chain shops that try serve at low prices as well. A price differentiation strategy will work best for you if you have a unique way to cut your costs substantially, making more room for profits or branding.
Are you looking for more advice on how to start a coffee shop or develop your coffee shop business plan? Call 877-BIZ-PLAN to learn how Growthink can help you build your coffee shop business.
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Successful And Romantic Weekend Ideas
Author: Steve Jackson
Planning your next romantic weekend does not need to cost anything, nor does it need hours of preparation, unless that is what you choose to do. Here, we will provide you with some ideas for your romantic breaks, so get comfortable, and see what you would like to do for your next romantic getaway.
When people talk about romantic breaks, the tendency is to think of breaks lasting the weekend, or longer, but that doesn’t have to be the only way. Breaks of a few hours can be romantic, provided you put away all your other concerns and focus on your partner. To do this, it meant turning the phones off, yes, even those cell phones. The world should be able to go on without you being in touch with everyone for a few hours. Turn off the television, this is quality time with your partner, not time to veg out in front of the box.
There are plenty of options for having a romantic time, no matter where in the country you live. You may choose to use your romantic time in the bedroom, but it doesn’t have to start or even finish there. It is entirely up to you and your partner and what you both want. You could go for a walk in the park, and this has more than one benefit. Not only can you give your partner your undivided attention while you walk, but you are getting a little exercise at the same time. It is also a time when you can connect with the outside world, and appreciate all the beauty there is in it, whatever the weather.
Too many of us spend our time at work or rushing round after work, with very little down time, and just going for a stroll gives us some where we can relax a little, and see how much we are missing as we go about our daily lives.
Now a walk in the park is only one suggestion, it could be a stroll through a new area of the city, or an older one, there are plenty of options. Basically what you are doing is going on a date, and it is sometimes really neat to play the tourist in your own city. Even if you have done this before, places change, and your appreciation changes too as you age. A good romantic activity is to play the tourist in your own city, visiting the local attractions, window shopping, local parks, gardens, and maybe museums. You get the idea, and your options are many.
As a change from walking you could choose to have a date in a coffee shop, or in a tea house, or you could go for a picnic if the weather is likely to be decent. These are all options that can take you half an hour or a whole day, it is entirely up to you and your partner.
Of course, you could go out for a romantic dinner, or the two of you could prepare your own meal together at home, having shopped for the ingredients together earlier in the day, or earlier in the week. Again the idea is to spend quality time, and sharing in the chores such as cooking can be a very special time for you both.
Although going to watch a movie is a very common date, it is not one that is highly recommended as romantic, since you are unable to talk very much during any showing of a movie without annoying those around you. So, rule out the movie option, and do something where you are both able to communicate.
If you are wanting to have some fun, then you might want to consider something like ice skating, or rollerblading, especially if you both have some of these skills already. Other options depend on your location to water. For example you might want to rent a boat to go paddling on a local lake, or go canoeing, or even fishing. If you are close to mountains, then you have the option of going hiking there.
See what changes have been made to your local area – you may be surprised how much has changed without you realizing. Instead of looking in front of you when you walk, look upwards at the skyline – but not all the time, we don’t want any accidents! If you are going to be out for a while, you might want to pay a visit to a coffee shop or a tea house, or perhaps take a couple of drinks with you, if that suits you better.
When you stop to think, there are plenty of places you could visit with your partner, but do remember that the aim is to reconnect to one another. Going to a soccer game, or a hockey game doesn’t really fit the bill of a romantic break, but if you both decide this is what you want to do, then don’t let me stop you!
If this is your first chance to connect for a while, you may want to set aside just a couple of hours, so that neither of you gets too freaked by not having the cell phone switched on for that length of time. Then schedule another date not too far away, only perhaps make this one a little longer. This way you can gradually get used to being without the modern gadgets on which we all now depend so much. Of course you could still take your phones with you, agreeing to check them just once or twice during your romantic break, but this can interfere and break the atmosphere that you have created.
So, think about your next romantic break, and keep your eyes open as you travel around your city. You never know what places you will find to visit that are close to home, and therefore not expensive to get to. Set up your date night time, and to do this you could write an invitation card for your partner, to make it more special right form the start. Just making a little effort can reward you big time, and put romance back in your life.
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Selecting your romantic activity for you and your partner doesn’t have to take up a lot of energy or time, especially if you adapt those at
romanticweekendideas.com
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When we think of a coffee shop, most think of a sit down place, maybe with or without a drive through. While that may be true, there is also the coffee kiosk and coffee cart. Here are some points to consider for each:
Sit down (and mix) – most advantageous if you are planning on having entertainment and events. This would be considered, more often than not the full-service coffee shop. Outside of the purist coffee house that serves nothing but coffee in only a few forms, most sit downs serve light foods to full menus, also called cafes. The mix is pretty much adding a drive through window if space allows. A drive through window can add as much as 20% more revenue to your sales because of its convenience.
Drive through (stand alone) – usually a lesser start up cost, you can have your drive thru constructed off-site by a company specializing in such for about $20,000 or less. A lot of times you can get a ground lease from the owner of a parking lot that does not need all that parking space. Be sure to consult with the city planning department to be sure you can do this. It will most likely require a certain square footage of lot space for employee parking and customer vehicle ‘stacking’. This is a fancy way to say how many cars can be in line at your drive through window on your property and still allow easy flow in and out and, to still have enough space for the other tenants in the plaza. Note that if your city and/or health department does not allow portable water and sewage on site, you will be required to install plumbing and sewer. This can get costly but if the location is prime, it will outweigh your upfront costs.
You can also find a stand-alone building that can be converted to a drive through. Gas stations and some former fast food places (without an inside dining area) are good for this. On the gas station, be sure to visit your city planning and zoning department to be sure you can convert it into a coffee drive through. You may have an issue with the car stacking again.
Kiosk – these are great for malls, hospitals, car dealerships or anywhere that you do not have or need a storefront. It’s a step above the cart (below) because the kiosk is pretty much a coffee shop that can be taken down and moved fairly easy. They are basically a prefabricated, fancy group of counters all connected together. It gives the feel of a stand-alone coffee shop. A lot of jewelry places and such have these in malls.
Cart – That pretty much says it all. A cart will cost you from $8000-12,000 or so to have built. They are also usually found in malls, car dealerships, hospitals etc. They have considerably less room than a kiosk but are a great option if you want to be in a mall or the like. You would normally be limited to serving food and bakery that is pre-packaged.
No matter what kind of coffee shop you decide to open, be sure you are have researched it all, and are ready to be very immersed in it all! It will take up a lot of your time! Good luck!
Tony DiCorpo is a coffee shop owner, operator, barista and entrepreneur. He is also a coffee shop business consultant. He has authored many articles on the specialty coffee business and a business plan package that can be found at tonys-coffee-shop-business-plan.com
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Dicorpo
Gourmet Coffee Beans – 10 Reasons to Stop That Morning Run to the Local Coffee Shop
Author: wthompsonjr
1. Coffee beans from many of the popular local coffee shops are just plain bitter and over roasted. Darker doesn’t necessarily mean better, many times just bitter.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Consumer Reports. In February 2007, a panel of trained testers put a cup of Starbucks up against some STRONG competition: McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Burger King. McDonald’s wins with their Premium Roast being labeled ‘cheapest and best.’ Starbucks finishes dead last after being judged as “strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open.” I guess most expensive doesn’t always mean best.
2. Save money. More than you realize. Really!
On average, a cup at a shop is going to run you about two bucks. Two cups a day, 6 days a week(let’s pretend your religion doesn’t allow you to drink coffee on Sundays) comes to nearly $1250 a year! Now suppose you’re a college kid spending the money from student loans that will accrue interest over the next 20 years. I don’t even want to go there(no one told me about this when I was going to college.) Brew your own and put that 4 bucks a day into a compound interest savings, and you’ll have a balance of over $55,000 by the time you’re 40. Try it out for yourself: http://www.interestcalculator.turbo-traffic.com
3. Two bucks for a supposedly “TALL” cup of coffee? (and just by what standards do they consider what they serve “TALL”?)
An average pound of gourmet coffee beans runs anywhere from around $10 to about $20. The average home brewer can make around 10 pots of coffee from a single pound of gourmet coffee beans, which in turn should give you around 10 cups of coffee for each pot. That’s 100 6 oz. cups of coffee from one pound of coffee beans. Ok, now what does that mean? Coffee chains are making astounding profits from every pound of beans they roast, grind and sell. Makes you want to go into the coffee business doesn’t it? Ok. So brew at home, and you end up paying about 10 to 25 CENTS per cup of coffee. Brew at home and even the most expensive, rare coffee you can find (such as the Kopi Luwak bean) and it’ll still only cost you under 4 bucks for a 12 oz. cup. (by the way, if you don’t know where Kopi Lowak comes from, I won’t tell you about that now. I don’t want to be the ‘butt’ end of a joke, especially one that will run you around $150-$180 per pound!) This all sounds much better to me, doesn’t it to you, too? And guess what? It will all TASTE MUCH MUCH BETTER!
4. Shouldn’t most people want FRESH coffee?
Coffee bean’s two greatest enemies are air and moisture. How long has that cup of java been sitting there warming before you get it? The only way to know you’re truly getting fresh ground coffee is to buy the beans online where they are roasted and shipped the same day and grind yourself. It is best to buy fresh-roasted gourmet coffee beans in amounts that you will use within 7 to 10 days. I personally recommend grinding only what you need and storing the rest of the whole beans in an airtight container. I used to think storing the remaining coffee beans in the freezer or fridge was best to keep them fresh. I discovered the worst thing for beans is any extreme temperature, or exposure to air, light, moisture or strong odors.
5. Impress your date with your homemade brew!
Ok, coffee may not be the best thing to sip before that first good-night kiss, but the knowledge you can share about how you made the perfect cup of joe can be perfect first date conversation! Imagine what might happen if you tell her that you even roasted your own beans? Just make sure to make a prior investment in a good sugarless gum or mint to follow up the cupping(the coffee tasting…what were you thinking?)
6. It really doesn’t make you cooler than you already are.
Ok. Call me crazy, but do you think that a large portion of those that are hooked on Starbucks could possibly just be hooked on the pretentiousness associated with the whole idea of being a coffee drinker? That might upset a few people, but we’re being honest here, right? Forget what people think and just make your own. Drink what tastes best to you, period. Then, create a fancy label with your logo and slap it on the side of your coffee cup. You’ll be impressed with your own branding. Hey, you own the company, right? And no one has to repeat back to you what you just ordered…unless you just want to stand in the mirror and impress yourself.
7. Grinding, brewing, even roasting your own coffee can be fun.
The investments you make in the beginning in coffee equipment(whatever matches your budget) can last you a lifetime and become quite a great hobby. People LOVE to talk about coffee(especially the Kopi Lowak I’ve found.) Just how much can you go into depth about how they poured and served you that last cup of coffee at Starbucks. That story might last you all of say…30 seconds? Learning about the history of coffee can lead to great conversations with friends, family, or even to share to the world in an article like this!
8. No waiting in line.
The only waiting you’ll be doing is when you’re grinding and brewing. But then, you’ll be grinding and brewing, so that’s not really considered waiting is it?
9. Conserve energy, help fight global warming, and support charities.
Ok, grinding and brewing your own coffee at home probably won’t achieve any of these things, but you should do them anyway. I just wanted to mention that.
10. Did I mention it will TASTE BETTER?
I guarantee it! If you’re not completely amazed with the difference you’ll see between you’re own freshly ground and brewed coffee and the bitter, awful stuff you’ll be exposed to commercially, I will…well, I’ll be really shocked. And sad. And probably feel really bad. But I’d feel worse if I had to start drinking bitter coffee, so now I feel so better again. Really though, I think you’ll be glad you did. I personally recommend trying Kona blend gourmet coffee beans. I absolutely love pure Kona coffee, but it’s a bit expensive, and a Kona blend still gives you a great taste that’s easily affordable. Then pick up the best coffee maker you can afford and enjoy!
William Thompson
Kansas City, MO.
www.makemydaycoffee.com
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About the Author: William Thompson has been working as a 3D Artist and Animator for most of his career. His work can be seen seen HERE. Working many late nights on popular video games required massive intakes of caffeine, which led to his passion of finding the perfect coffee. That passion turned into a business selling convection roasted gourmet coffee beans and the best coffee makers to brew them. www.makemydaycoffee.com
http://www.makemydaycoffee.com