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Permalink Reply by Stephen Robert Thomas on July 2, 2013 at 4:02pm

Norris,
Good luck to you. I was hoping you would get some responses from people with a little more experience than me. I've only been open for a month and my food menu vexes me. Especially requests from people I never see again. All I can say is watch your cost of goods, try to stock things with a little shelf life. Paninis seem to go over well, I make mine small, charge three bucks.
Good Luck,
Steve
Ferry Street Cafe

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Permalink Reply by Norris Jones on July 2, 2013 at 8:59pm

Stephen,

 

Thank you my friend Steve, well,I am think to offer at least 3 different types of coffee, 1 from South America, Africa and India. But I am not sure how to three different type of coffee from the same machine. Maybe, i have daily menu, which on cetian days i offere certain. Also, Can some tell me if the same machine can also make espresso?

 

Thank you
 
Stephen Robert Thomas said:

Norris,
Good luck to you. I was hoping you would get some responses from people with a little more experience than me. I've only been open for a month and my food menu vexes me. Especially requests from people I never see again. All I can say is watch your cost of goods, try to stock things with a little shelf life. Paninis seem to go over well, I make mine small, charge three bucks.
Good Luck,
Steve
Ferry Street Cafe

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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on July 3, 2013 at 6:59am

Your Bio says you're from Slovenia, working on your Doctorate in management, love coffee, and have NO coffee skills. Your questions so far support "no skills" or even basic knowledge of various coffee equipment and brewing methods. I don't know what's available in Slovenia. In the US there are schools like The American Barista & Coffee School that teach the basics of being a Barista and running a coffee business.

 

My advice attend a coffee school then go to work at a coffee shop you want to model one yourself after someday. You need to start by learning coffee and the coffee business.

 

Your opening premise is equivalent to me saying I love flying on small private planes. I have no experience flying a plane. I want to open a private charter airplane business. Tell me what I need to do. Makes little sense!

 

I have seen countless coffeeshops opened and go out of business by people who thought because they loved coffee that's all they needed to open a coffee business.

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Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on July 4, 2013 at 6:27am

My best advice to you is to find a coffee shop that does what you have in mind (or whose model you like) and work for them for a year. Learn the business on someone else's dollar. Then you'll know what works, what doesn't and have a much better understanding of what you want to do and what it will take to execute.

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Permalink Reply by Norris Jones on July 5, 2013 at 12:51am

Thank you Jay,

I work in one coffee shop before, this shop was not focusing alot on coffee. It main business was snacks along with coffee. I worked with this shop for about 3 years, it was going very well, I am now trying to fine a niche in the market.

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Permalink Reply by Norris Jones on July 5, 2013 at 12:53am

Hello Mike,

 

Thank you very much. However, I work for a shop that offer self server coffee and snacks for 4 years. However, Now am presently trying to find a niche in the market from a coffee view point.

 

Thanks 
 
Mike McGinness said:

Your Bio says you're from Slovenia, working on your Doctorate in management, love coffee, and have NO coffee skills. Your questions so far support "no skills" or even basic knowledge of various coffee equipment and brewing methods. I don't know what's available in Slovenia. In the US there are schools like The American Barista & Coffee School that teach the basics of being a Barista and running a coffee business.

 

My advice attend a coffee school then go to work at a coffee shop you want to model one yourself after someday. You need to start by learning coffee and the coffee business.

 

Your opening premise is equivalent to me saying I love flying on small private planes. I have no experience flying a plane. I want to open a private charter airplane business. Tell me what I need to do. Makes little sense!

 

I have seen countless coffeeshops opened and go out of business by people who thought because they loved coffee that's all they needed to open a coffee business.

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Permalink Reply by Brady on July 6, 2013 at 6:14am

Norris, despite your previous experience with what might seem to be a similar environment, I'd repeat Mike's advice.

The operational and business aspects of retail coffee are different enough from deli or other food-related operation to make both of these steps a good idea. There is just too much you don't know for you to have any hope of doing it all by yourself.

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Permalink Reply by Jay Caragay on July 7, 2013 at 7:38pm

Norris,

I think you're missing the one key point that both Mike and I are trying to make. It's good that you have some coffee experience - at the very least, you now know what you don't want to do.

What we're telling you is to find a coffee place whose standards are similar to yours and work with them. Believe me, there's no rush. Don't rush yourself, especially if it's your money and life-savings on the line. Take your time, learn all you can and hedge the bet in your favor.

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Permalink Reply by vane on July 9, 2013 at 11:25pm

In my opinion, good location is the first step to success.Secondly, you need to do a detailed budget, including the coffee machine, raw material, of course, the rent should be the most important part.When conditions permit, coffee machine and coffee beans must be carefully chosen, because the quality is an important part to attract guests.

In my country,most people like eat something with coffee,so we had to do pizza and sandwich.

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Permalink Reply by Norris Jones on July 10, 2013 at 2:06am

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Permalink Reply by Norris Jones on July 10, 2013 at 5:01am

Hello

Thank you very much fior your insights, which machine would you suggest, I want to offer coffee from Ethiopia. But i can not find a roaster in my area or in Europe.

I have idea to offer some small bagels with a cup of coffee, or with with inclusive price.   or some very small croiasants

vane said:

In my opinion, good location is the first step to success.Secondly, you need to do a detailed budget, including the coffee machine, raw material, of course, the rent should be the most important part.When conditions permit, coffee machine and coffee beans must be carefully chosen, because the quality is an important part to attract guests.

In my country,most people like eat something with coffee,so we had to do pizza and sandwich.

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Permalink Reply by Keith Eckert on July 10, 2013 at 10:59am

Norris,

I would first explore any local businesses that are thriving and observe what they are doing. 

It has been a few years since my last visit, but Cijna Hisa on Stari Trg was doing things well.  Back in the early 2000's it was surrounded by other cafes serving Barcaffe that sat nearly empty, yet finding a spot to sit at Cihna Hisa usually was difficult and required a wait. I have friends who say it is still doing well.

While positioning themselves as a Tea house primarily, they offered lunch type food and a coffee program typical for the area (espresso, cappuccino, and my favorite pol kave pol čokolade), only they served a northern Italian brand of coffee (wasn't Illy, but don't recall name). 

There was a Starbucks clone that opened on Slovenska Cesta about the same time, seemed to attract the teenage crowd, but most people avoided it as it served large, sweet, mostly milk drinks that seemed rather overwhelming to most people at the time. 

All that to say is the coffee culture now in Ljublijana is likely quite different that cities in the US, so copying a business model from across the pond may not be helpful for you.  Get to know the area, do market research, and build a business plan on paper first with all the numbers.  Contact the SCAE and find some specialty roasters in your area and pay a visit.  They will likely have great business advise more specific for your area. 

Keith

www.VeniaCoffee.com

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