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Starting a new café can be a tedious task, but having a solid plan will alleviate most obstacles new business owners face when opening a restaurant.

Business Plan

The most important step to opening a new business is to formulate a proper business plan as a guideline for the startup process. Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, are located throughout the United States, and local offices will help you develop a business plan specifically for your local café. It is important to have ideas regarding location, brand identity, types of ownership, and funding sources before meeting with your local SBDC.

Infrastructure

Every business has regulations for building requirements, and cafes are some of the most restrictive due to fire and food safety. Keep in mind that proper flooring such as Slip-Resistant Tile, Drop-Plumbing, Fire-Suppression Systems, Exhaust-Hood Ventilation, Fire Resistant Paneling, and Waterproof Lay in Ceiling Tile is mandated. All food-contact surfaces must be fire resistant, water resistant, and easy-to-clean- as outlined by the FDA and must meet your local health, building, and fire code regulations.

Permits & Insurance

Although some permits vary by city and state, every new café will need to obtain the following permits to operate: City and Fire Permit, Building Health Permit, and Employee Health Permit. Having the proper infrastructure in place will be the first step in obtaining the Building, Health, City, and Fire Permits for the business. It is always a good idea to conduct a walk-through with each inspector weeks in advance in order to make any necessary changes. Employee Health Permits require café managers, and in some cases employees, to be nationally certified by passing a Serve Safe test, so be certain to have a proper food-safety training program in place. Lastly, if your establishment serves alcohol, a Liquor License will need to be acquired.

Equipment

The quality of equipment inside the business can make or break your new café. Restaurant equipment must meet certain standards and follow FDA and local health code regulations, including proper cooling and electrical components. It is imperative to have an experienced individual guide you through purchasing and installing this type of equipment.

Opening a new business can seem very daunting, but remember to have fun doing so. Creating a fun atmosphere from the start will help you maintain a positive culture your new café can build on for years to come! Follow the plan, work hard, train well, and have fun with your new café!

Coffee is a great way to wake up your body when you’re having a rough morning start. It's also a drink that many people enjoy throughout the day as their tasty beverage of choice. If you're one of these people, you may be wondering about the best ways to enjoy coffee even on broiling hot summer days. Here are a few tips that can help you enjoy coffee all-year ‘round.

Hot Drinks Can Keep You Cool

This tip may sound like a contradiction, but we promise that it is true. Sweating is an important part of how our bodies keep us cool when the weather gets warm. Grabbing a hot coffee on an equally hot day does add some heat reserves to your body. However, drinking this coffee can also increase how much you sweat. Sensors in your mouth or throat register the heat from the coffee and make you sweat more to compensate. Just make sure you're not wearing heavy clothing that might prevent the sweat from evaporating and cooling you down.

Grab Iced Coffee

Even if you’re not interested in sweating out the heat, you can still enjoy your caffeine fix on hot summer days. Iced coffees have become increasingly popular. They're a great way to get the boost you want without adding unnecessary heat to your body. Don't forget that just like regular coffee, iced varieties include unique flavors and combinations of ingredients. However, you’ll want to make sure that anything you want to be dissolved fully into the coffee is added first, otherwise, the cold temperature will make it harder for the new additives to mix in completely.

Add Some Cream

Many people like to sweeten their coffee with a dash of cream or milk. If you want to drink hot coffee on warm days, this technique can both enhance the flavor of the beverage and keep the coffee at more tolerable summer temperatures at the same time. The nice thing is, the cream also thickens black coffee and cools it at a slower rate overall. You can stock up on some affordable flavor and cream cups from a place like 11th Street Coffee, keep them chilled for when your coffee is feeling too hot and put them in as needed.

Make a Float

Speaking of cream, Ice cream is another great staple on hot days. There's no reason you can't enjoy the ice cream with the taste of your favorite beverage. This dessert will cool down your coffee and combine the flavors of your favorite roast with the sweet taste of heavy cream. You don’t have to stick with plain vanilla, either. There are a variety of fruits, including strawberries, that taste amazing with coffee. Therefore, you can spread out to strawberry ice cream in your coffee float or any other flavor that piques your fancy.

Coffee is a good choice when you need to get something warm inside you. But as you can see from our tips above, there are ways to enjoy its goodness even when you don't need an extra boost to your body heat. Find ways to combine your favorite cool flavors, creams, and even ice cream to help turn winter’s favorite drink into summer’s new creamy cocktail.

Can anyone tell me what is the best espresso machine on the cheaper end that's for espresso only?