Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brady on September 22, 2009 at 7:26pm

Are you talking ceramics or to-go?

Assuming you mean to-go:

Your capp and latte sizes sound good. I'd not recommend to-go for espresso. Pointless.

Regarding shots per drink, there are lots of threads on here discussing ratios. Depending on your blend, a double should be fine in those sizes. Taste and decide.

Your initial order will depend on how many customers you expect to see in a day and how they are available. Probably by case, so a case of each.

Extra shot price varies. 50 cents or so around here.

Flavor shots... depends on your preference and syrup. Use the back of the bottle for a starting point. Best to go light and have only a few simple flavors, this allow you to really focus on your most important flavor :).

Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Wray on September 22, 2009 at 7:45pm

I second the recommendation for just a few syrup flavors, but make them unique. It seems like every shop has vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut. Why not do Toasted Marshmallow, English Toffee and Coconut instead? These are just examples, come up with your own syrup list, but try to make it unique. If they can only get certain syrup flavors at your shop and they are "that kind of customer" that would seek out a shop for just a syrup flavor, you have won them over simply because of carrying a certain syrup. I definitely recommend going lighter on syrups.

I don't even want to think about a one shot 16oz latte. No, is the extremely polite answer for a one shot 16oz latte. I would say 3 shots for a 16oz, 2-3 for a 12oz, 2 shots in a 8oz, maybe one... depends on your preference. In the end all of this is up to you.

You're definitely going to have to do your own research as to how concentrated your syrups are and how sweet you want your flavored drinks to be.

How many cups to order is something no one on here could answer for you. We have no idea of your storage space, your projected volume, and your distribution. If it's going to cost you $300 to have the cases of cups delivered, then you'll want to order as much as you can hold and afford, regardless of how long it's going to take you to get through them. On the other hand, if you have a distributor in your area that is going to deliver the cups to you for free, then you should order the smallest amount that you think will get you through until your next delivery comes... you know... tracking inventory?

Most distributors are very helpful in the first week. If you order too few of any one particular item for your first couple weeks, they are usually more than willing to give you an extra delivery.

Extra shot at our cafe is actually a "double" (or triple depending on how you look at it, because we use bottomless portafilters with 21g baskets) and they cost $.75 extra, syrup costs $.50 extra as does whipped cream.

In the end, though, as I said earlier, these are questions no one can answer for you.

Give us a heads up as to whether you are referring to to-go or ceramic, although the responses will probably look relatively similar.

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Permalink Reply by Jared Rutledge on September 22, 2009 at 7:56pm

again, this is the barista exchange and travel forum, but this is a decent question at least.

pretty much what brady said, i really like a double 12 oz. latte. i think it's a good ratio.

i'm gonna use www.jacksboxes.com for my cups, they have good sizes and compostable stuff. prices are good too.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn E Donson on September 23, 2009 at 6:45am

Sorry, I was talking about ceramics...I am not so worried on the paper cup end of it. I agree on the shot ratio, that way you are not wasting any. Thanks

Bryan Wray said:

I second the recommendation for just a few syrup flavors, but make them unique. It seems like every shop has vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut. Why not do Toasted Marshmallow, English Toffee and Coconut instead? These are just examples, come up with your own syrup list, but try to make it unique. If they can only get certain syrup flavors at your shop and they are "that kind of customer" that would seek out a shop for just a syrup flavor, you have won them over simply because of carrying a certain syrup. I definitely recommend going lighter on syrups.

I don't even want to think about a one shot 16oz latte. No, is the extremely polite answer for a one shot 16oz latte. I would say 3 shots for a 16oz, 2-3 for a 12oz, 2 shots in a 8oz, maybe one... depends on your preference. In the end all of this is up to you.

You're definitely going to have to do your own research as to how concentrated your syrups are and how sweet you want your flavored drinks to be.

How many cups to order is something no one on here could answer for you. We have no idea of your storage space, your projected volume, and your distribution. If it's going to cost you $300 to have the cases of cups delivered, then you'll want to order as much as you can hold and afford, regardless of how long it's going to take you to get through them. On the other hand, if you have a distributor in your area that is going to deliver the cups to you for free, then you should order the smallest amount that you think will get you through until your next delivery comes... you know... tracking inventory?

Most distributors are very helpful in the first week. If you order too few of any one particular item for your first couple weeks, they are usually more than willing to give you an extra delivery.

Extra shot at our cafe is actually a "double" (or triple depending on how you look at it, because we use bottomless portafilters with 21g baskets) and they cost $.75 extra, syrup costs $.50 extra as does whipped cream.

In the end, though, as I said earlier, these are questions no one can answer for you.

Give us a heads up as to whether you are referring to to-go or ceramic, although the responses will probably look relatively similar.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dawn E Donson on September 23, 2009 at 6:47am

Well, I was definitely looking at ceremics for inhouse drinks...and thinks on the paper cup tip. I will definitely checkout Jacksboxes...

Jared Rutledge said:

again, this is the barista exchange and travel forum, but this is a decent question at least.

pretty much what brady said, i really like a double 12 oz. latte. i think it's a good ratio.

i'm gonna use www.jacksboxes.com for my cups, they have good sizes and compostable stuff. prices are good too.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Wray on September 23, 2009 at 6:55am

For ceramics I would go with 2oz, 5-6oz, 10-12 oz and maybe a 16oz, although there really isn't a need. The number of cups you are going to order is going to depend on on how much you expect to sell of a given product. If you anticipate your customers being largely traditional coffee drinkers then you are going to sell a lot of straight shots, maccs, and capps. I know in our shop the small latte is the most common beverage, even more so than brewed coffee, so we have a ton of 12oz ceramics (our latte size).

What do you anticipate being your top seller? Do you expect to have more than 10 straight shots out at a time?

As an example, our opening order when we bought our ceramics was this:
8- 2oz
12- 6oz
20- 12oz
15- 16oz

We quickly realized that we were running out of the larger sizes way too quickly so we ordered the same number of 12 oz and 16oz mugs again, and now we are doing alright. We still have to scramble to do dishes sometimes, but it's usually pretty controllable. Also, it should be noted, with our shop we are about 85% in house and we have seats for 170 people if we really need to cram them in.

-bry

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Permalink Reply by Dawn E Donson on September 23, 2009 at 1:08pm

Hey Bryan,
Only being here a short time and having gone to other coffee shops in the surrounding area...we will be educating many of our customers on esp, mach, and caps for the most part. I hope to be a coffee house that is a semi-2nd waver on the cusps of being 3rd wave. We are in the middle of Virginia Tech and Radford colleges, but 10/15 mile in distance either way. I have been a coffee enthusiast since the early 90's, but really in the last 4 years have I tapped in to the real coffee culture do to our envolvement with Muncie Alliance World Coffee. Why are you geared more towards the 6oz and the 10oz over the 8? I do so, appreciate you taking the time to brainstorm this with me. We have moved to Virginia from Indiana to do this coffee venture and there is just not a lot of coffee addicts to talk too. So, again thanks.



Bryan Wray said:

For ceramics I would go with 2oz, 5-6oz, 10-12 oz and maybe a 16oz, although there really isn't a need. The number of cups you are going to order is going to depend on on how much you expect to sell of a given product. If you anticipate your customers being largely traditional coffee drinkers then you are going to sell a lot of straight shots, maccs, and capps. I know in our shop the small latte is the most common beverage, even more so than brewed coffee, so we have a ton of 12oz ceramics (our latte size).

What do you anticipate being your top seller? Do you expect to have more than 10 straight shots out at a time?

As an example, our opening order when we bought our ceramics was this:
8- 2oz
12- 6oz
20- 12oz
15- 16oz

We quickly realized that we were running out of the larger sizes way too quickly so we ordered the same number of 12 oz and 16oz mugs again, and now we are doing alright. We still have to scramble to do dishes sometimes, but it's usually pretty controllable. Also, it should be noted, with our shop we are about 85% in house and we have seats for 170 people if we really need to cram them in.

-bry

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Permalink Reply by Dawn E Donson on September 23, 2009 at 1:34pm

Thanks for the tip on Jacksboxes...I was talking ceremic cups. We want to be 2nd wavers on the cusp of 3rd...

Jared Rutledge said:

again, this is the barista exchange and travel forum, but this is a decent question at least.

pretty much what brady said, i really like a double 12 oz. latte. i think it's a good ratio.

i'm gonna use www.jacksboxes.com for my cups, they have good sizes and compostable stuff. prices are good too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dawn E Donson on September 23, 2009 at 1:40pm

Oh man...you just opened my eyes to the naked portafilter. I was like, "what is he talking about this 21g bottomless porta...Now, I have to thank you. I read an article about the 21g and I am thinking we have to bring this to our shop. ABSOLUTELY INSANE! Thanks again...

Dawn E Donson said:

Hey Bryan,
Only being here a short time and having gone to other coffee shops in the surrounding area...we will be educating many of our customers on esp, mach, and caps for the most part. I hope to be a coffee house that is a semi-2nd waver on the cusps of being 3rd wave. We are in the middle of Virginia Tech and Radford colleges, but 10/15 mile in distance either way. I have been a coffee enthusiast since the early 90's, but really in the last 4 years have I tapped in to the real coffee culture do to our envolvement with Muncie Alliance World Coffee. Why are you geared more towards the 6oz and the 10oz over the 8? I do so, appreciate you taking the time to brainstorm this with me. We have moved to Virginia from Indiana to do this coffee venture and there is just not a lot of coffee addicts to talk too. So, again thanks.



Bryan Wray said:

For ceramics I would go with 2oz, 5-6oz, 10-12 oz and maybe a 16oz, although there really isn't a need. The number of cups you are going to order is going to depend on on how much you expect to sell of a given product. If you anticipate your customers being largely traditional coffee drinkers then you are going to sell a lot of straight shots, maccs, and capps. I know in our shop the small latte is the most common beverage, even more so than brewed coffee, so we have a ton of 12oz ceramics (our latte size).

What do you anticipate being your top seller? Do you expect to have more than 10 straight shots out at a time?

As an example, our opening order when we bought our ceramics was this:
8- 2oz
12- 6oz
20- 12oz
15- 16oz

We quickly realized that we were running out of the larger sizes way too quickly so we ordered the same number of 12 oz and 16oz mugs again, and now we are doing alright. We still have to scramble to do dishes sometimes, but it's usually pretty controllable. Also, it should be noted, with our shop we are about 85% in house and we have seats for 170 people if we really need to cram them in.

-bry

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jared Rutledge on September 23, 2009 at 5:32pm

dawn, i'm going to the tech-miami game this saturday. where's your shop? might stop by with my bro and have an espresso

and sorry i thought when you said case you meant to-go cups. i bought a couple of sengware 8 oz. blue ones and they're nice but seem to be discontinued

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Permalink Reply by Dawn E Donson on September 27, 2009 at 2:10pm

Wet, but a great game. Sorry, I didn't get back to you sooner. Our shop does not open until the end of october or november. Hope you had a good time and that you were for the hokies.

Jared Rutledge said:

dawn, i'm going to the tech-miami game this saturday. where's your shop? might stop by with my bro and have an espresso

and sorry i thought when you said case you meant to-go cups. i bought a couple of sengware 8 oz. blue ones and they're nice but seem to be discontinued

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Coffeehorse on October 1, 2009 at 6:23am

90ml piccolo,
7-8oz latte using a double for a base would be my preference.

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