Advice for a new owner....

[espressoul]

I wanted to know if anyone would be so kind as to share a little advice for me as I get nearer to opening my small coffee shop please. Particularly advice on buying coffee and cups/lids/sleeves.

thx

 

[Zimmy]

As far as buying coffee... Are you looking to buy green and roast or are you looking to buy from a roaster?

Paper products... You have a few options...
Bulk Order
Supplier/Distributor (Really depends on where you are)
Restaurant supply store

Biggest Advice is shop around to set up good connections and channels with suppliers... I always like to connect via phone call or in person the first time I line up with a distributor for anything, rather that through internet ordering systems...

As far as sleeves;
If you want simple custom printed sleeves check out sleeveamessage.com, our rep there is great!
If you want something more complex you can go with javajacket.com but they have a bigger minimum order and are more expensive...
You can also buy generic sleeves at many restaurant supply stores or through paper suppliers...

Cheers!
Chris Zimmerman
Co-Owner/Operator Ellipsis Coffeehouse

 

[espressoul]

As far as buying coffee... Are you looking to buy green and roast or are you looking to buy from a roaster?

Paper products... You have a few options...
Bulk Order
Supplier/Distributor (Really depends on where you are)
Restaurant supply store

Biggest Advice is shop around to set up good connections and channels with suppliers... I always like to connect via phone call or in person the first time I line up with a distributor for anything, rather that through internet ordering systems...

As far as sleeves;
If you want simple custom printed sleeves check out sleeveamessage.com, our rep there is great!
If you want something more complex you can go with javajacket.com but they have a bigger minimum order and are more expensive...
You can also buy generic sleeves at many restaurant supply stores or through paper suppliers...

Cheers!
Chris Zimmerman
Co-Owner/Operator Ellipsis Coffeehouse

Thanks so much for the tips! I really appreciate it. Did you run into any pitfalls when deciding what beans to buy?

 

[montre]

I agree with Zimmy's comment. Good answer Zimmy. :star:

First of all I would like to congratulate you, espressoul, on deciding to open your new coffee shop. Though, it might seem from outside that coffee shop owners have fun time in their coffee business but it is not really that easy. This business is a "people business", which requires your complete dedication and focus on your buyers' likes and dislikes.

You will need to create your brand in the marketplace. Your competition will be there with other coffee shop owners in your locality. So try to make your brand. Promotion alone won't be enough to attract the buyers.

Have you decided your shop name yet? Share some of your ideas with us if you want.

All the best!

 

[Gmbaltrusitis]

One of the hardest things to remember about any business, especially in good times as that you need your customers, they do not need you. Service means the most to me, I will go back for a crappy meal or a bad cup of coffee if the service is good. Personality of workers, as well as of yourself is very important.

 

[PinkRose]

I agree. The customers don't need you. They can always go someplace else to get better food or coffee.

I don't think I'd ever go back to a place where I got a crappy meal or a bad cup of coffee, even if the service was excellent.

And if the service was lousy, I wouldn't go back, even if I got good food (or coffee) there.

 

[espressoul]

I appreciate all of your feedback. These are great. The name of my coffeee shop is Nubohemia. I actually have an initial inspection for my food license today.

I am looking for coffee that I can use for espresso and brewed coffee if possible. It's just that I'm not sure which direction to go as far as suppliers. I have a few contacts for local folks but they also have retail establishments and I doubt if I'm going to get the best wholesale price from them.

 

[John P]

Please, do not make your coffee purchasing decisions based on price. A couple of years ago there was some **** on here that said they didn't know why they failed and whined all the time about it. They claimed they were buying "good quality" coffee... for about $6.50 per # wholesale. You can't buy squat for those prices. It's C market coffee or worse. I was paying $9.85 per # 4 years prior to that, and that's because they gave us a good rate. Don't be cheap. It'll always cost you more in the end.

Coffee and espresso are generally different. Yes, you can have SO espresso, but often the roasting curve is different so it may be the same coffee, but it's not exactly the same.

Suppliers? Buy from a reputable roaster. Request samples, buy samples, whatever it takes... TASTE coffees and espressos. This is something you should have been doing for months! I remember sampling about 100-130 different coffee/espresso before we started. (although we've been roasting our own for 8 years) Know which espresso gives the best consistency in your environment. How does it taste straight? How does it taste with milk?

Make sure you've visited a few top quality places throughout the country if you haven't already. I am sure there are some shops in your state or within a state who have competition caliber barista. Visit. Have an espresso or two, maybe a macchiatto or a cappuccino. Know what it should be like and decide if that's good enough, or, if you want to be better. Being worse is easy. Almost everyone does it.
Be different. Be good.

Decide what quality of coffee you want, and pay whatever it costs.
You get what you pay for.


... Go visit 'Spro in Hampden. An example of excellence.

 

[espressoul]

John P....thanks so much for the feedback!

 

[Jupiter212]

I think we don't need to spend too much for a coffee maker. A excellent espresso is a combination of many things as good coffee beans, good machine, exact progress, barista experience... In additional, a cup of coffee may suit somebody but everyone, it depends on your taste.
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