ASK AWAY MY FRIEND! :)

Hi Sophie! As one of the sponsors here, I'd like to welcome you to bX! If there is anything we can help with, let me know.
mike@selbysoft.com
800-454-4434

I just threw a bunch of money at an idea I had and then went out and built a bunch of relationships with people. Then when they started to come in for coffee everyday and I felt comfortable with how things were going, I went out and built relationships with people that were not coming in. Then, I make sure they have an experience they can find at no other. I will get back to you on your other questions later. You got me to thinking.

A good place to start in looking at what sales revenues you need to produce is a formula someone gave me...10X rent = $needed on a monthly basis. If you have a Strbk in your market area that could be good as they have already built the interest.
What is your vision, market area? This may help more directly answer your questions.

SOPHIE--
1) Never be afraid of Starburnt! :) I kick their butt in Plymouth and they know it! Starburnt actually helps me out.
For ex. when a person walks by my place with a cup of burnt crapocoffee I call them out and say "hey tell you what, I'll take that throw it in the garbage and let me make you a real drink. If you don't like it I'll refund your money for the cup and keep the one I just gave you. "
I WIN THEM OVER JUST LIKE THAT.
You see if you focus on Q/P= QUALITY+PERSONALITY you will be the best around!
2) Ditto to what RAY PECK said! :) You build relationships everyday in this business. If your not a people person DON'T DO IT!
Ray hit it right on the spot.
For ex. remember the t.v. show Cheers--well--THATS WHAT YOUR COFFEE SHOP SHOULD BE LIKE! When the customer comes in you should get to know :
1) name
2) drink
3) family
Plain and simple.
I even give out free doggie bones to the customers because 80% have their dogs waiting in their car for them. I'll run out there and feed them some cookies. That's personality and 100% positive customer experience!

not to sound snobby, but if you want to open a coffee house, the first thing you need to do is find quality coffee. this means fresh roasted. once you have found a place that'll roast coffee for you, the rest is easy. check out quality fresh roast coffee somewhere around you and the rest will be easy.

Hi Sophie,
Thanks for dropping by my page. Caffe' D'arte is strictly a wholesale specialty coffee roaster,
However we do own two espresso bars, one in Seattle and one in Portland, Ore
Our espresso bars were opened to allow us to sample all of our coffee blends
to the consumers, so that they recognize our special coffees. Additionally we
have a well educated and knowledgeable staff. (From bean to Cup) These top
baristas showcase how we train other cafe's and coffe bars to prepare and
serve our coffee.
That being said I have helped many owners get started in this business by
sharing things they need to do before they buy a business. Part of this is
recommending that they attend certain schools (ABC-Bellissimo), certain
business help organizations (SBDC), and other educational material. It is
just like going to a school before you begin a job.
The other thing I do is to show them similiar operating businesses that
resembles what they are wanting to open. Next, I discuss the red flags to
opening a business. I will be glad to field any questions that you may have.

Im in the same situation as you, only i'm trying to open one in los angeles county. I know you must cater to your locals. That being said, my idea is to open a shop that caters to the latin comunity as well as coffee enthusiast who may want to try their drinks in the traditonal way they are served in latin countries. I hope we both can share any ideas you may have.

Couple things hit me reading your response back. Again, these thoughts came to mind. First, coffee will be your bread n' butter. Meaning, that needs to be the focus, not card trading. Second, nice environment isn't good enough. It has to be "HOT". Hire a local creative designer for conceptual look that you want. Not talking about floor plan. I hired a fungShui (sp) designer to get into my head what I wanted. She came back with a design totally opposite. Then we set out to build it and of course there were a few changes but the "experience" of the design remained the same. Again, work with a creative designer as it will really move you forward. Your store should be unique from the others. Obtain a counter and sit outside those 3 coffee stores (inc. Strbk) and count how many people go in between open and 11 am., then 12-4pm., and evening if they are open. No need, really, to talk to people. They will always say what you want to hear. Is the building that you are considering attractive or is it unappealing? If you have to put an A-frame out on the corner for visibility this could be a problem. so, look to see if you will have good sign exposure. Also, start creating a logo. A logo and name that if it were to go National, would it would land. Ya gotta come out of the gate smokin'! First day of opening has to be HUGE!!! It sets the tone.

Sophie,

Not gonna lie, I'm with Ryan. Friends don't let friends drink Starbucks. Personally, my "regular" coffee spot is a laid back lil' spot where the barista's really take pride in what they do and give a shit about the products their customers get. As a long-time barista myself, I like going to places where the people behind the counter mirror my own personal values when it comes to drink prepping. To me, a perfect coffee shop is a relaxed environment where the barista's take their time with the drinks. I'd rather get a divine concoction that took 30 seconds longer to get than a rushed drink that could have been better given a little more time. It would be playing music that everybody seemed to enjoy, but that didn't interfere with having a private conversation. The coffee would be something to write home about. Use good beans!!! Factor good training for your barista's into your opening costs.

What would it take for me to go into a new shop? It would need to be conveniently located first...as in, I would need to walk by it in my everyday errands. I'll try anything once. All it would take for me to stay would be an exceptional drink. I'll suffer a shitty environment for a great cup of coffee. But, the heart and soul of a coffee shop are the barista's. They need to be happy about their work environment, so you should do your best to make that happen. Keep the machine running smoothly and give them the proper equipment to do their job and things should go well for you. Best of luck Sophie.

Cheers,

Matt

Hi, you asked me why I would drink coffee at Starbucks...well here is the deal, I guess i refuse to cut my nose off to spite my face, but when I am traveling i buy it...thats the only time. The reason being is that its soo so hard to find a little place when you are passing thru that has decent coffee...I at least KNOW what I will get from Starbucks and it will be better than someones 6 month stash of poorly roasted beans. I cant see what you wrote to me on here, so I will try to remember what else you asked me...I think was what I am looking for when I go to a shop, and what I like about it? I am looking for a friendly laid back atmosphere....a reverse snob is just as bad as a snob, if you get what I mean. Dont make me feel stupid if I am on my way to the gym and I accidentally wear my NIKE shirt in your presence. Its and old one and I am not gonna throw it out. Accept me for who I am. Use fresh beans, pull your shots correctly, be cheerful, I dont care if you remember my drink, just make what I order correctly, I dont need entertainment, I just want to hang with my buds. The truth is, I dont have a favorite shop where I live because there just isnt one available. Its too rural, (I make my own coffee)and when people are driving everywhere instead of walking everywhere I think they are less likely to stop in...if they walk past every day, they will. anyway..hmmm, this is a little disjointed, i hope it helps, if you want more feedback, just ask...good luck! What do you mean by south? south of what? I ask because I would love to try out your shop when you get it set up.

I go to a coffee shop for a treat - I want a drink to savor while chatting with my friends or working on my laptop. Being a coffee enthusiast, I go to all the coffee shops at least once, but I return to, and tell my friends about, ones with a variety of seating options (couches, tall chairs for people watching, cozy corners...) and ones with good baristas - they have to make good drinks & be good at customer service. Best of luck!

Oh, I was told you want your store such that the minute you open, you have someone wanting to buy it, no questions asked.

I like a coffee shop where you can have and make friends, where you are comfortable being yourself, have time to enjoy savoring your coffee or other drink. You need excellent baristas who KNOW coffee. Music is a good thing, open-mic or established musicians both do well for a coffeehouse. Wi-fi is also a plus, many people like to get online while relaxing. Seating should be varied...couches, comfy chairs with side tables, and comfortable tables and chairs for working or playing games.

ah, ok...i spose I wont become a regular customer..thats a ways from seattle..ha

What I hate about Starbucks the automatic machines!!! I quit working as a barista for them after 5 years because of this. I want someplace with the real art of espesso! not the push button crap! Sure starbucks claims to be enviromentally concious yet they have to offer a fair trade blend! WTF is that I want a place that really is green and pays a fair price all of the time. does no one realize those poor coffee pickers have families too should they only be getting minimum wage as well?

Ok, here it goes.....

Ok, here it goes...
I enjoy the occasional Starbucks, Caribou Coffee when convenience is key and I can deal with a 'functional' drink. Functional drinks put me in my working mood and help me focus.
I dislike these places for the same reasons. In being convenient, multiple stores had to open and train people that may (or may not) care about coffee. I believe that corners had to be cut and since a number of things are more 'automatic' or 'instant' than they would have to be at a singular (possibly not so convenient) coffee house, I expect nothing more than a cup full of dark liquid with a bit o' sugar and enough cream to muscle it into my stomach.
Not wanting 'functional' coffee is self explanatory.

A coffee shop built out of perfection…hrmm. In its foundation, a solid crew that lived and breathed coffee, had a forward looking view on the ‘big picture’ for the coffee house. A crew that not only wanted to converse with the public about coffee, but also wanted to educate it. Lots of different beans AND lots of ways to serve the bean (different types of pour-over, a French Press etc.). Atmosphere, everybody has a fireplace, wooden beams, free wifi, snuggly couches etc. These components are okay, they cover the basics for comfort. The furniture and the social attitude of the crew will give customers the assurance they need to be vocal and converse with others in the coffee house and maybe stay awhile – instead of “Hi” , “Bye”, “thanks for coming”. If you can walk into a coffee shop and instantly feel comfortable with talking to everyone – you have accomplished this. The coffee house I frequent here has a similar atmosphere…not perfect….but similar.

For me to go and try another shop, it would need only to be open. In order for me to defect to another coffee shop, I wouldn’t even consider it unless my current place REALLY messed up, went under, or others that I’m loyal to defected also.

Hope this helps. :)

i just wrote you the longest message and i somehow deleated it. Ill try again later.

in my eyes, starbucks has no soul. everything about that chain is for show. All the shops designs are predetermined, the music is chosen by the corporation, and the baristas work to have a job, not because they like coffee. However, there has been a change for better quality in the past year. You also have to take in consideration that without starbucks there would be no place for smaller shops. People who dont like coffee will go to a starbucks for the first time (because it is accessable and less serious than a local shop) and might have an interest in coffee sparked. Whenever i'm not near a small shop i go to starbucks or caribou for a cup because i know their product is consistent.
I like a coffee shop where anyone can come in, get a quality cup of coffee or speciality drink, hear good music, and there is good mellow vibes. There should be a mixture of tables and chairs. Be extremely careful when hiring staff. Make sure they care about coffe and have good work ethic. You want people who can and will commit to the shop. I'd try in house roasting. There needs to be something special to draw people into your shop. That special thing is up to you.

Well. 1. I actually think the concept of Starbucks is great. A third place. The idea is to make people feel welcome. It is paramount to all things, even so much as to instill a policy of "Just Say Yes". That being said, it becomes filtered with massive growth and the inability to force/police employees into being "nice". It's easy to have 1 coffee shop with 5 workers and all of them being nice and chatter bugs. 15,000? A little harder. Starbucks fails because it isn't possible to have that many friendly, nice, talkative, hard working people.

2. I like a coffee shop where the owner cares. When me and my friends find a new shop, we tend to critique the espresso but mostly - is the place friendly? Does the person working smile, say hi, ask us what we're up to and help us find a good drink? Do they go out of their way to make the drink good? You can tell a good drink because they, and this will sound corny, put love into it. You can tell they actually care about their work and about making the best drink they can just because they don't want to be lazy and fast.

That being said, for 3 I don't really have a good answer for you. I tend to go to many different coffee shops because I am a barista and the best part for me is finding new shops. I am not really a regular at any one shop. The people I know who are regulars at a local shop, though, go there because the owner is very friendly. He recently shared some extremely good award winning beans with us that his friend gave him. Just to share. He does the latte art and you can see him focusing on your drink.

The sad fact of the matter is if you want to be good, you are like him, if you want to be successful - you need to bend more towards the starbucks way. They made a lot of money doing what they do, a lot more then small time coffee shops tend to.

ok, try two...don't think this one will be so long. I dislike starbucks because the coffee tastes bad. It tastes bad because it is burnt and because the baristas don't know anything about coffee. They are excellent button pushers, but not good baristas. I do have to give some credit to starbucks though, they openeded the door and paved the way for smaller (more awesome) speciality coffee shops. They introduced america with espresso, and also paying five bucks for their daily cup. They made coffee matter in the world of serious beverages.....now it is our job to take the opportunity to take coffee so much farther. Micro roasters, cuppings, espresso that tastes good! velvety capps, late art...

Hiring experienced, excited, knowledgeable baristas should be you first priority. Without baristas that care, and are commited to espresso knowledge and excellence you don't have a leg to stand on. If you are not going to roast your own coffee find the freshest coffee you can. Find a roaster that can gaurentee that the coffee he or she sends you will be delivered to you in time to be used within 7 to 10 days. Don't sell any coffee that is any older than that. Being a small independent coffee shop can be hard in the shadow of larger brands....give people a reason to visit you. You have the freshest coffee around.

ok, enough for now....please let me know if i can help you in any way...have a good night! kate

The way your cafe looks should depend on what kind of customers you want to attract. Chestnut hill Coffe, for example, is in a ritzy old world part of philadelphia...so we look classy, refiened, very clean, very welcoming to families with children etc. If we were near one of the universeities and were attracting a different crowd we would look very different. Go to a ton of different shops and get ideas...and think about the neighborhood...who lives there....or who do you want to attract. Oh, also.....have wi-fi....free wi-fi. People have come to expect that...and they will stay all day (and buy another cup if you hastle them).

The only thing that would make me to go to a different shop would be all about quality, freshness, and taste of the final cup. I often walk right past the coffee shop near to my house because i know that if i just walk a few more blocks i will find coffee that makes me smile.

I read somewhere opening a coffee shop near a starbucks can help your business. Since all starbucks look the same, your shop can standout to the local public.

Would you like some consulting and training? I would love to help!

Can you make it down to the Atlanta area? I would be very happy to help you. I have been in this industry for 18 years, working for large and small coffee roasters in Portland, Oregon. I have worked with every niche in the specialty coffee industry, with start-ups beings my biggest niche. I have a commercial espresso bar set up in my home and can help you with everything from start-up to barista training. Let me know. It's not just my work, but what I enjoy doing.

I'll gladly fill out your questionnaire, though I'm not too familiar with the culture / market of the south as I'm sure it's quite different than the northwest. Starbucks sucks because of the homogeneity, the stupid arbitrary pricing (which seems to be an effort to encourage tips via odd change), the uniforms, the huge, sugary drinks (heck the drinks in general), and the overall fast food mold. I do, however, tend to enjoy the atmosphere of the sitting area to some extent. The painting schemes are alright, but it seems like a forced coziness.

I love a shop where the baristas aren't afraid to be themselves behind the bar, the environment is relaxed but it doesn't encourage people to spend all day there, the prices have $0.25 increments, "for here" drinks are encouraged, the cups aren't mismatched (kinda bugs me), there's a variation in the pastry selection, the menu is clean and thoughtfully organized, the origin on the press is displayed, the counters are clean, the baristas take the time to talk to anyone willing to listen, and probably the best thing is when a barista takes the time (and let's the customer know) to remake a sub-par drink. Yeah, there are lots of little things.

New shops need baristas that are easy to talk to (fairly outgoing but not too chatty), it would be nice to have some more late-evening shops (even if just until 10:00 or so) but I know that sucks, location means a lot, and reputation is important. Oh yeah the name of the shop is pretty important too, as well as the overall aesthetic appeal and artistic design.

Don't try to cater to a specific demographic but don't try to appeal to everyone (unless, that is, there aren't many coffee shops). I grew up in Bend where there are a very small handful of decent coffee shops and it was important for my favorite place, Backporch, to appeal to everyone since they need everyone to come in just to stay afloat, but living here in Portland it's easy to get away with a place that really focuses on making awesome drinks for people that are into awesome drinks. Adaptability is key: if things aren't working out, change something.

Hi Sophie, I am also in the planning stages of opening a coffee shop. I am trying to get others like us together and start an email chain so we can ask each other questions. Interested? Let me know your email.

Mark

Hi my Experience in the industry has value. I have more experience the most in this industry and you ca call me for help 401-580-4853. good day Ken Mansfield

Hello Sophie,

First of all I have rarely if ever had a out of an automatic machine; there is something about the ambiance of having someone control of the grind, tamping, not to mention physically watching the crema color, time and making sure it doesn’t "blonde out" or over/ under/extract. If you change beans and grind everything changes, if it rains outside and people are coming in and out or there is humidity in your brewing area, everything changes immediately. Secondly beans should "gas out" for three days after roasting, and be used within ten days after that. Does Starbucks care about any of this? Do their employees know any of this? Perhaps, some may. Does Starbucks really have Baristas? The original Starbucks store at Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle may have a few baristas only because they actually have a real espresso machine at that location. I personally have done the Starbucks passport twice and hope I never have to drink their stale drinks again. Money is Starbucks agenda not taste.

Regards,
Bart

Hello Sophie,
I am just getting ready to open. Matter of fact, my espresso machine arrives today! (Dalla Corte Evolution). My advice: Visit lots of coffee houses. I can't answer most of your questions because I'm just finding out myself. I do know this, if you borrow heavily to open your shop you may find the debt service to be overwhelming. Margins when you open won't be as good as you hoped and staffing and insurance more expensive than expected.

Sure Sophie, email me at loyl33@aol.com-Loylee

Sophie, ask away...

I'd be happy to share. I'm clearly no expert, but I can share my successes and my mistakes, and maybe in doing so help you to avoid some of the same!!!

thank you to be my friend, AND OF COURSE, email me at paipai57@hotmail.com, Ill be happy to help. and remember organics is the best

sophie,

sure. i just opened 2 months ago. my website is www.aromicafe.com i geared it towards a italian cafe more then a starbucks.

i have a 1,300 sq ft space...i build from nothing. i am at the new national harbor project in maryland. hard to believe but this is a new city in maryland. use to be trees/woods and developer turned it into a resort area / city. so when i took over i didn't even have concrete, so it was less then a white shell. i got discounted rent for 3 years because of this, but no help to build out. i put in $450k total, equipment, supplies, labor for contractors etc...i admit i went for the best, top of the line equipment. i suggest figure $225 per sq ft for your store. so 200 times the size of your store will get you a very close estimate to get you open. add in $40k for working capital and early inventory. hope that helps.

1 What kind of coffee machines do you use - Nuovo Simonelli 3 group espresso machine and grinders. Bunn brewers
2 How long do they last. Don't know, but quite awhile if you maintain them properly
3 How much is the rent for your store. I was able to purchase my building, and there are other tenants who pay rent, so I'm fortunate that I don't have much rent expense. I pay what is needed to cover the mortgage and property taxes.
4 After you found your location for your store, what condition was it in
and how much did you spend to fix up? Completely gutted the building. I don't recall exactly how much it was to do the build-out.

5 How much is store insurance a month Approximately $300.
6 how much are your utilities. $800-$1,000 a month.
7 When you were first in business did you ever need a payroll loan,
if yes how long did it take for your credit to become established to get a loan. No

8 how many different types of coffee do you brew a day. 4 kinds - our house blend, a decaf, a dark roast, and one other that might be a single origin, organic.
9 How many employees do you have a day I usually have 3 people working most of the hours we are open, sometimes just 2 during slower times. And I am here much of the time to help during rushes
10 How many pounds of beans do you order in a week. About 60 lbs.
11 Ball park customers and cash take in a month About 5,000 cust. a month, about $25,000-$30,000 gross/mo.
12 how big is your store and town located in. 1,800 sq. ft., town is 28,000
13 do most of your customers live or work in town. Yes, mostly
14 what hours are your shop open. 7-5 M-Th., 7-6 Fri., 8-3 Sat., 9-1 Sun. are current hours
15 how long has your shop been open Nearly 5 years