I am doing research into starting a coffee shop. I have some vacant store front in a fairly high foot-traffic area, and am looking to pay off my investment. I have done some research into a coffee supplier, and I have chosen a supplier out of Ann Arbor, MI. Now I am looking for the best, reasonable priced, coffee maker and a similarly high-quality espresso maker. If anybody has any advice, please reply.
Jacob, you have provided far too little in the way of information for anyone to make any type of meaningful recommendations . . . all we can do is to "give a shout out" for our favorite machines, and that is hardly helpful to you, nor is it what you seek.
jmc734 Said:
I am doing research into starting a coffee shop. I have some vacant store front in a fairly high foot-traffic area, and am looking to pay off my investment.
What sort of traffic are you expecting? You need to decide what sort of "coffee shop" you want to be. What sort of seating, what sort of food, what sort of ambiance you will have. Are you in a college town? Will you offer free wi-fi? Etc., etc., etc. All of these (and more!) will affect your business, AND the demands made upon your equipment.
jmc734 Said:
I have done some research into a coffee supplier, and I have chosen a supplier out of Ann Arbor, MI.
Is this a large, commercial roaster? Is this someone who supplies equipment, too, at a reduced price based upon using their coffees and other supplies, or is this a small quality roaster with a rock-solid reputation and following among the locals?
jmc734 Said:
Now I am looking for the best, reasonable priced, coffee maker and a similarly high-quality espresso maker.
Are you planning on brewing drip coffee and having customers serve themselves from air pots? Will your employees be pouring the cups themselves, from an urn or glass carafe, or will you be brewing cups individually? As far as an espresso machine is concerned, do you need a two-group? a three-group? something larger? Will you need only two grinders ("regular" and decaf), or will you want to feature special SO espresso coffees on a rotating basis?
And what do you mean by "best" and "reasonably priced"?
More info from you means more appropriate responses from us . . .
Most places with commercial coffee makers have either a Bunn, Fetco, or Bloomfield. Anymore, most people brew into the brewpots that have the pump lids on them. Be sure to get one that has the ability to plumb water directly to it, and put a good filtration system so the city water "flavor" is erased.
There are many solid brands of equipment but just as important if not more so is how well the service for brand x is in your area. Downtime is murderous for a retail coffee bar. I can recommend brand x as being among the best, but if it has poor support in your city, then it is not a good choice for you. Ask around to see what is well supported where you are located and use that as a short list of brands to look into purchasing.
I have chosen a supplier out of Ann Arbor, MI. Now I am looking for the best, reasonable priced, coffee maker and a similarly high-quality espresso maker.
If they're supplying coffee, they probably have some expertise in this area.
Have you asked them what they recommend, and why? They have a vested interest in your success - you'll keep buying their product if you keep selling it.
Also, it doesn't make sense for us to recommend installing a V60 bar if you're looking for an airpot brewer. What capacity are you looking for? Are there other features you need? What does the restaurant equipment service company you've chosen say seldom breaks down and is ridiculously easy to fix?
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