Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Davenport on June 2, 2009 at 6:49am

Where is the wastage coming from? (ie. grind adjustment, shot spillage, etc.) I think you will have to find this out then address each area seperately. I don't know a percentage but if it was my shop I think the 10 and 20% numbers are unaceptable.

Permalink Reply by Dave Crothall on June 2, 2009 at 6:54am

wastage can come from grind spillage during dosage; excess grinds during the dosing; badly pulled shots being tossed.

Permalink Reply by Charles Lampard on June 10, 2009 at 2:32pm

You might want to count how many shot you get from a pound of beans. One pound of beans yields 54 single shots of espresso, based upon 9 grams of coffee per shot. I base my profit margin at 52 single shotsof espresso per pound to accommodate the inevitable and normal waste.

Permalink Reply by Dave Crothall on June 10, 2009 at 4:42pm

I appreciate all of your comments but I have done my homework on how much coffee I use and need for each shot as well as how much waste I produce. Further I am making efforts to keep that waste as low as possible. My question is: what amount of espresso wastage do others account for as a percentage? For example, if you purchase 100 pounds of espresso each week, how much shows up on your till as sold? 90 pounds worth of shots plus whole bean sales? 80 pounds? Obviously, this would translate into espresso wastage 10 and 20 percent respectively. So anyone out there have experience measuring this?

The main reason I am asking is to get a general idea of what is normal and what is a realistic goal for me to shoot for.

And to be honest, 2-5% espresso wastage would translate into tossing zero shots a day; this simply is not the practice of a discerning shop in my opinion, unless I am missing something.

So, anyone got some goals or numbers of their own to share? I'd love to hear them.

Thanks

Permalink Reply by jamie on June 1, 2010 at 11:15pm

44 shots per lb. is the model we use. This number allows for waste/grind adjustment, etc. I do not have a percentage, but this 44 shots per pound allows a realistic margin and has been accurate in tracking waste and usage.