Coffee Equipment Archives - Page 2 of 2

What Customers Want in a Coffee Shop

September 3, 2021

Customers in a coffee shop enjoying their time.

Coffee culture is about more than getting a jolt of caffeine in the morning. In fact, it’s about the holistic experience created by carefully sourced ingredients and the perfect atmosphere. That is why the most successful coffee shops invest in making their spaces almost therapeutic in nature. So what do customers want in a coffee shop?

What Customers Want in a Coffee Shop

Friendly staff, comfortable lounges, and a perfectly poured espresso are a triple threat when it comes to making your coffee shop competitive. So let’s take a quick look to see what small but meaningful changes you can make and how SC Beverage company can help to make your coffee shop dreams into a reality.

Upgrade Your Ingredients

Great coffee is what keeps customers coming back for more. Therefore, you might want to revisit where you source your ingredients if you’re struggling to compete. Pay careful attention to where you’re getting your beans and make sure you’re grinding them fresh every day. You might also consider upgrading the syrups that you use most frequently.

Use Area Rugs

Panel flooring feels sophisticated and is relatively easy to clean. However, adding an area rug here and there is low traffic areas can help to make your coffee shop feel welcoming and comfortable. They are especially useful for visually dividing different lounge areas from one another.

Clean Your Equipment Regularly

In order to make high-quality coffee, your commercial coffee makers have to be cleaned regularly. The coffee pot and filter should be cleaned at least once a day, but every piece of commercial beverage equipment should be thoroughly cleaned in and out at least once a week. Without a proper cleaning schedule, the flavor of your coffee will be altered by whatever additives remain in the system.

Opt for Earthy Tones

Use earthy tones in your paint and décor to create a comfortable space. Greens, in particular, are commonly associated with a calming effect. When paired with darker wood and brown furniture, a well-designed coffee shop can feel like a journey back into a safe, suburban version of nature.

Make the Origin of Your Coffee Known

Given the environmental and economic effects of poorly sourced coffee, it makes sense that customers want to know where their coffee comes from. A simple blackboard can be used to highlight one of your select coffee beans, where it comes from, and the relationship your supplier has built in the community.

Choose Comfort

A few hard chairs can be paired with tables for those who want to work as they sip away, but the majority of your seating should be as cushy as possible. If you’re on a budget, second-hand furniture can be re-stained and reupholstered with relative ease in a handy family member’s garage.

Lower the Lights

Bright white lights are the opposite of comforting. Instead, opt for light fixtures that offer a warmer glow. This will allow your customers to settle in for a cozy cup or two of their favorite brew.

Bring in Books

The ideal coffee shop feels like the private library most of us will never have. If you really want to upgrade the look and cozy feel of a coffee shop, then install a bookshelf. For bonus points, you can introduce a “leave a book, take a book” system. This allows avid readers in your area to swap their favorite reads and build community around your store.

Add Plants

Plants provide oxygen and reduce air pollution, all while making your store feel like an ideal arboretum. A few succulents can be kept near your windows for added atmosphere, and you can literally forget to water them for weeks without them dying.

Play Music

Music is the final key to making the ideal coffee shop for your customers. You can create a playlist yourself. Or use an ad-free subscription to one of the many apps available to provide your guests with some low-volume, relaxing tunes to help maintain their flow.

Share this post:

The “How to” Guide to Opening a Coffee Shop

August 7, 2020

Opening a small business is equal parts exciting and terrifying. There is just so much to learn, and half the time you don’t even know what questions you should be asking. You have to juggle the legal and economic requirements of legally running a business while offering your customers the experience you always dreamed of, so it’s natural to feel a little apprehensive about your newest endeavor. Here’s our guide to opening a coffee shop.

Fortunately, you have more resources at your fingertips than you realize, and local governments genuinely want to see you succeed. That puts a lot of power at your back, which you can utilize in the early stages of development as long as you’re clever and determined. Let’s talk frankly about what you need to do to get your coffee shop started and how to keep it going.

Figure Out the Legal Requirements First

The first step in our guide to opening a coffee shop isn’t the most glamorous. But, there is no point in putting together a business plan or a shop design until you understand the local statutes that govern small businesses in the area. The required permits will shift slightly from place to place, so your first step is to contact the Small Business Administration to find out what is necessary for your business to operate in your local area. Once you have an idea of the costs of these permits and any required legal fees, you can factor this into your business plan’s budgetary aspect.

Create a Polished Business Plan

Your business plan is an all-purpose document. It serves to summarize your vision and ability to turn it into a reality. It must function as a guide to how your business will succeed. And it is the document that potential lenders will almost certainly ask for. Although you and your lenders understand that the business plan will evolve with the business, you should design it to reach five years into its existence.

A good business plan should include your target demographic, a review of your competitors, a sample budget, financial projections, and established goals. For the most utility, you should have two versions of this document. One version should be a one-page summary that you can easily hand out to potential investors, while the other should be a lengthier document that goes into more detail.

Furthermore, it should look professional. A great concept and a solid budget won’t be enough if investors never get past the first page. To increase the production quality of your business plan, consider hiring a freelance graphic designer to give it some polish before taking it in. This is a relatively inexpensive way to increase your chances of early success if your numbers are solid.

Pay Attention to Aesthetics

To be successful, you will need foot traffic and a façade that invites new customers inside. Come up with a design and unique aesthetic that will draw people in. And enlist the help of a commercial realtor to find the location that best fits your design and demographic needs. Fortunately, whether you’re going for trendy, cozy, or something in between, creating the right aesthetic and offering a high-quality product doesn’t have to sink your budget. When it comes to furnishings and décor, you should always shop around for the best balance to make sure what you pay is going to return on your investment.

Don’t Skimp on Product or Equipment

Your catchy slogan and warm lounge may bring people in. But it is quality coffee that will keep them coming back for more. Look for fair trade beans that consistently brew delicious coffee and make sure that your commercial coffee makers are up to the task. At the end of the day, it will be your ability to find a balance between cost and quality that will truly make your coffee shop a success. SC Beverage is here for all your needs, from water filters to beer fountain machines.

Share this post:

The Top Coffee Trends to Adopt in 2020

July 7, 2020

A cappucino sits on a table in a modern coffee shop that clearly follows 2020 coffee trends.

Although older Americans were more than satisfied with any run-of-the-mill coffee, millennials and Gen Z are pretty picky when it comes to their favorite brews. The result is that an increasing majority of potential customers are looking for delicious, unique, and ethically-produced coffee. In response to demand, 2020 coffee trends are emerging.

To compete in the foodservice industry, you have to offer a wider variety of beverages on your menu. Incorporating specialty coffees with customizable flavors is one of the best and easiest ways to please your customers without having to worry about the additional licensing required to serve beer, wine, and liquor. Unfortunately, if you aren’t a coffee drinker yourself or you prefer a more straightforward coffee experience, then it may be difficult to identify what 2020 coffee trends are capturing the palettes of your target audience.

It Starts with Location

More than ever, people want to know where their food and drink come from. This is especially true with coffee, given its complex history regarding colonialism and continued economic exploitation. Therefore, it is essential that you invest in brands that are guaranteed Fair Trade. To explain the additional cost to your customers, include a detailed description of where the coffee is grown. Even add the particular processes that make it unique on your menu. In most cases, the brand will already include this on their packaging.

Ditching Milk and Cream

Although fewer Americans add sweetener to their coffee, they aren’t drinking it black. Instead, coffee drinkers are opting for milk alternatives and natural flavors to customize their experience. Initially, coconut and almond milk were center stage, but industry experts are noting a rapid rise in oat sales that indicate oat milk may be the new fan favorite. To keep guests happy, you should offer at least 2-3 options to help them enjoy their gourmet drink.

Although it may be more complicated to include on your menu, cascara is another natural flavor to watch. Cascara is the dried husk from a coffee cherry. It adds a subtle sweetness to any drink and comes naturally packed with antioxidants. Given the parallel spikes in coffee and health food culture, including cascara coffees and teas, it is a great way to finish off your gourmet coffee bar.

Ice is Always Nice

The global community may find the American obsession with ice-cold drinks odd, but there’s no denying the truth of the matter. As a society, we like the vast majority of our beverages filled to the brim with ice. It was only a matter of time before iced coffee took over the American market.

Now, iced coffee and cold brew coffee remain two of the most popular ways to serve our favorite caffeinated beverage. Both of these options are easily made. Especially in a busy restaurant where it can be challenging to keep fresh, piping hot coffee available at all times. Keeping iced coffee or cold brew on the menu will give your staff a break during peak times. Even more, it also gives your customers options they’ll love.

Bringing Coffee to Your Customers

These three easy steps show your customers that you have invested in providing a superior experience. If you wish to, you can certainly take this a step further by investing in espresso equipment and training staff in its use. However, the three core trends listed above require no specialized equipment or training other than your standard commercial coffee system.

By offering sustainable beans, multiple milk alternative options, and an iced option, you can participate in the most popular 2020 coffee trends with minimal additional investment. If you are considering purchasing your first commercial coffee system or need to upgrade your current system, contact SC Beverage to learn more about our high-quality options for commercial coffee makers.

Share this post:

How Does Coffee Work?

May 7, 2020

In North America, 90% of people drink coffee daily. Coffee is technically the most commonly used drug in the world. Fortunately, coffee isn’t a dangerously addictive substance. But how does coffee work?

You or your co-workers may be a little crabby before your morning cup of joe. And, you might experience a headache if you go too long without. True, these are symptoms of caffeine dependence. But it is not addiction, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse defines it. The difference is that a regular coffee drinker can decide to stop drinking coffee without engaging in destructive behavior.

Coffee and Your Health

If you weigh the scientific evidence surrounding coffee, then it is hard to deny the health benefits. Of course, as with all good things, moderation is key. Additionally, those with acid reflux should abstain, as coffee will aggravate the condition. For the rest of us, drinking a cup of coffee every day comes with two major benefits. We get a boost in mental performance and improved organ health.

Boosting the Brain

When it comes to your brain, coffee causes two responses. How does coffee work? It results in adenosine suppression and dopamine production. Normally, adenosine works with natural chemicals in the brain to make you feel gradually more tired throughout the day. With coffee, caffeine prevents adenosine from performing this function. That’s one of the reasons why caffeine makes you feel awake.

At the same time, your brain is producing slightly increased amounts of dopamine in response to the caffeine. As a chemical messenger that we also associate with pleasurable sensations, dopamine works as a mood booster and a stimulant. If you notice that you’re a little sharper, you’re right. You will better remember things 20 minutes to an hour after finishing your morning cup of coffee. So, it isn’t your imagination. It’s science.

Lesser-Known Benefits

Most of us are already aware, at least tangentially, of what coffee does when introduced to the brain. However, recent research shows that we should also be paying attention to the role coffee plays in the rest of the body.

Given that the research is new and occasionally contradictory, scientists must continue research. They must work to better understand the complex interactions that result from coffee consumption. The American Heart Association warns that the near impossibility of eliminating all possible factors aside from coffee means that it will take years of research to get closer to the truth. However, early studies are promising.

Keeping Your Organs Healthy

Based on the current data, caffeine and chlorogenic acid appear to be the primary elements with beneficial qualities. As discussed previously, caffeine blocks adenosine receptors. It keeps you alert, but it also seems to reduce arrhythmic heartbeats and positively benefit cardiac health in general.

More definitively, recent research has shown that the chlorogenic acid found in coffee prevents pancreatic cell death. And, caffeine simultaneously works to block harmful proteins from attacking cells. Yet another study found that patients who consumed at least 2 cups of coffee a day saw a notable reduction in hepatic fibrosis symptoms. The researchers are less certain as to what element in coffee has this effect, but further research will help to narrow down the possibilities.

A Cup of Coffee for a Healthier You

Simply put, as long as you don’t suffer from a medical condition that coffee is likely to exacerbate, drinking a cup or two while at the office is probably in your best interest. Now that you know how coffee works, go drink some. SC Beverage offers commercial coffee makers, allowing you to make strong, black coffee for your entire office in a matter of minutes. No gimmicks, just pure coffee.

If coffee is not your cup of tea (see what we did there?), we also have a range of other beverage supplies. Perhaps you need professional-grade soda dispenser equipment. We are also a top provider of beer dispensing equipment in Los Angeles.

Share this post: