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Having a fully equipped kitchen is essential for the success of a café. You need to ensure that everything can run smoothly and you can serve customers within minimal time. The kitchen requires several kinds of equipment running from an oven, grill, deep fryer, freezer, sauté pans, baking sheets, etc. When it comes to kitchen equipment, the list is endless. Despite the long list of equipment, there are four major equipment types that are a must-have in your kitchen. Below are a few critical types of equipment your café needs to have in order to thrive.

1. Oven

When it comes to assembling your kitchen arsenal, the oven takes center stage. Ovens come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the type that your café needs will depend on the kind of restaurant and food served.

When choosing an oven, you must consider its quality, size, and function. Ensure you incorporate the type of food you want to sell by checking out the different ovens available. You can decide to go for a commercial, convention, or a pizza oven, depending on your café needs.

2. Freezer/ Refrigerator

It isn't easy to operate a café without a freezer or a refrigerator. However, it is an essential item in your kitchen since it helps to keep your food fresh. In addition, having a freezer or refrigerator is mandatory when adhering to food safety and health code violations.

You may decide to go for a walk-in cooler or sizeable freezer depending on the capacity that meets your café needs. You can also go for a used stainless steel three-door commercial freezer which is less costly than a new unit. It is important to find a quality freezer the operates efficiently so that your food stays fresh for longer. Utilizing a freezer with an inconsistent performance could compromise the quality of the meals you serve.

3. Kitchen Display System

The kitchen display system (KDS) enables you to operate swiftly, ensuring things are moving effectively. The KDS is usually on a counter stand or mounted to the wall. It facilitates the ordering process because all staff can view their orders on one screen.

Fulfilling orders becomes more manageable when using the kitchen display system. Orders are worked on accurately and on time.

4. Fire Extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is an essential item in any building. When it comes to your café's kitchen, you must ensure you have a fire extinguisher because it is a requirement. It comes in handy in case of a fire and can prevent further fire damage.

When operating your café, you will want to have every piece of equipment in place. When this is not accomplished, you may be forced to compromise. You will have to prioritize and go for the items needed most. The four items mentioned above are a must-have in your kitchen for the smooth running of your operations.

Just as it is anywhere else, sooner or later things will break down in a shop. Whether your shop is located in a large-scale manufacturing facility or is perhaps one that is much smaller, the fact is the things that break down will need to be fixed. However, once you start examining the individual repairs needing to be made, you may find some can be postponed, while others will need to be done immediately. To make the best repair decisions, keep these tips in mind.

Cafe Equipment

Your espresso machines, coffee-making machines, and any other equipment that you use daily to produce what your customers want is essential equipment. If any of that equipment breaks down, it needs to be fixed as soon as possible, especially if it directly impacts the production process. By delaying these repairs, you would likely lose a large amount of money daily, since other related operations may need to come to a standstill.

HVAC Repairs

When HVAC systems go down, you may be able to postpone these for a little while, depending on your circumstances. For example, if you need air conditioning repair, you may be able to postpone it a bit if the weather is not too hot. However, if your AC breaks down in the middle of summer, your shop will get plenty hot if it's not fixed right away. That being said, the comfort of your patrons is important so don’t put off any repairs for more than a day or two.

Roofing

When the roof on your shop begins to show signs of wear, the extent of the repairs that need to be made will determine how long you can wait. If your roof is relatively new and shows no signs of leaking, these repairs may be put off for a few weeks or perhaps months. However, if you notice any leaking or other damage that could impact other parts of your shop and its operations, don't delay in getting your roof problems fixed quickly.

Computer Repairs

If your cafe is like virtually any other place on the planet today, chances are you rely on computers for just about everything related to transactions, order fulfillment, and customer entertainment. Whether it's generating invoices for customers, communicating via email, or placing orders for parts or equipment, a computer is something you probably won't be able to do without for very long. Therefore, call the IT pro and make arrangements to get your computer up and running again very soon.

Though factors such as time and cost will almost always come into play when deciding what to get repaired first, remember that some things are far more essential to your shop's operations than others. By making smart decisions and catching small problems before they turn into big ones, you can get items repaired and perhaps save some dollars along the way.

Coffee shops with a high volume of customers need every square foot of space that is available, especially if you are a local or independent store. The space is especially valuable when you have frequent customer turnover, which is often the case when people order beverages and snacks rather than meals. If you need to open up your coffee shop and free more usable space, the following tips may help.

Stacked Storage

Look for out-of-the-way areas where wall shelving could be installed. Then, fill the shelves with colorful or thematic bins with supplies and products. The bins can also be decorated with signage or other items to make them more interesting and flow with the rest of the room. Also, check floor storage to see if there is space to place smaller containers on top of bigger ones. If you can’t find ahorizontal area to work with, go vertical.

Counter Storage

Use your available counter space for attractive packages and containers that will not only find a place in the shop to be stored but also attract the interest of customers as they step up to the counter for service. While you don’t want to wall-in the sales associates working behind the counter, there may be enough workspace to add some exciting displays that will accent rather than compete with the existing décor. You can also set up cap displays at the end of the counter where items can be readily viewed by customers.

Compact Equipment

Bigger is not always better. Look for smaller versions of your necessary equipment that will use less space in your coffee shop. For example, a touch screen POS system is generally lighter than a full-scale cash register or till. If feasible, consider smaller units for your dishwasher, microwave oven, refrigerator, toaster oven, and coffeemakers to make the shop look less crowded. Choose a style and color of equipment that blends with the decorating scheme. The only reason to have more space for some of these items is to use them to store more food or wash more dishes, but as you will need to be constantly washing and swapping out dishes and food, having more compact but quicker products will be sure to help.

Adjustable Seating

Avoid furnishings that are connected to the wall or floor. Store any unneeded seating like chairs or benches as well as tables in a back room to open up the café for customer comfort. Configure the seating area to meet customer need on a given day or time. Smaller tables and seating options will also provide more open space, along with a narrow counter. Consider adding options for outdoor seating, if possible.

Keeping your coffee shop accessible and convenient for guests is important as it encourages them to come back with a guest or two. Try these space-saving methods to avoid a cramped feeling in your shop and to keep customers happy and relaxed.