Five basic tips for those who want to make their first steps in the coffee business!

How difficult is it to start your own cafeteria and what are the pitfalls to deal with? Everything becomes easier when one knows and loves the basic product of his business: coffee.

Coffee is a favorite habit for most Greeks, so deeply rooted in our everyday life, which is one of the few areas that did not experience any particular downturn despite the many years of economic crisis. As Greek coffee culture is connected to coffeeshops, coffee businesses continue to grow despite financial difficulties. If we add to this, the trend for "coffee to go" and tourism, we see that a coffeeshop is a popular choice for many entrepreneurs.

Like any form of entrepreneurship, a cafeteria that focuses on coffee presents difficulties, risks and havoc. We have gathered some key issues around the focus on the coffee sector that must be taken into account by anyone who is making their first steps in the field, as well as anyone who wonders how he can move his business one step further.

The basic tips around a new cafeteria essentially develop around a main and prime tip:

Do not forget what your main product is!

Sure, in a coffee shop the environment, design furniture and the right marketing are extremely important, as the competition is particularly high and the choices available to the consumer are many. Nevertheless, what is most important for a coffee-based restaurant is none other than coffee itself! A company that does not serve proper and quality beverages has no future in the market, no matter how much money are spent on marketing and how excellent the design and its interior is. To get a coffee to serve the coffee that its customers deserve, there are several steps to be taken, from the choice of the machine and the coffee, to the recruitment of the staff and the variety of drinks!

  - Get to aqcuire deep knowledge in coffee

The first step in creating a successful cafeteria is to get to know the coffee in depth. The Greek public is now up-to-date, well informed and knows what to expect from a cup of coffee. Try different blends, learn about the characteristics of single-origin coffees, familiarize yourself with different brewing methods, "unlock" the secrets of coffee. Learn firsthand what blend it takes for a proper freddo or on the other hand, which brewing method highlights the fragrances of a single-origin coffee from Kenya and how fresh the coffee to be served is. This experience, in addition to allowing you to make important decisions about your shop's physiognomy, will help you considerably in the next steps.

  - Pick your audience, know your competition

Carefully select the location you plan to open your cafeteria, and then research to get to know the competition and identify your audience. A visit (and a coffee) to all businesses that will be near you, is a must. What kind of stores does the area you have selected? How can you make your own coffee shop stand out? Observe the people who drink coffee around you and try to guess not only what coffee they like but also what their coffee is missing based on the experience you have gained from your walks in the neighborhood.

  - Define your business character

The more clear your coffee shop's character is, the more sure it's the way to success. If you plan to set up a coffee-based business, it's inconceivable to discount the quality and variety of your basic product. If, on the other hand, you plan to emphasize fast food solutions and want coffee as a supplement, you can limit the variety of beverages you serve by choosing quality options from the most popular coffees. Determine the character of your store according to your knowledge, your taste, but also the competition, the location and the target audience you are addressing.

 - Choose a coffee supplier

One of the most important steps for your cafeteria's success is choosing your coffee supplier. Have you chosen to serve a coffee brand, or would you prefer to give your customers more choices? Whatever your choice, it is important to work with a supplier who will understand your needs, have profitable wholesale prices, and you will be sure that he will never let you run out of coffee. It is especially important that you shop with which you choose to work with people who know coffee so that they can find solutions and suggest changes when necessary.

 - Pay certain attention to your coffee machine

It is no exaggeration to say that the coffee machine will be the most important piece of equipment in your store. Do a relevant market research, checking both the new machines and the used ones. Consider finding a loan solution only if you have reached a particular brand of coffee you want to serve and always by thoroughly checking the terms of the contract and comparing market prices. You always keep in mind that it is important to be able to set up your machine as you like, but you also have the freedom to choose the coffee you serve, as well as its accompanying goods.

  - Invest on your staff

You have chosen quality coffee blends, you have bought a good coffee machine... but both can not perform as it should in the hands of an inexperienced barista. Every employer, from service to cleanliness is extremely critical for a successful cafeteria, but discounts to the barista are impossible to do. During the interview, discuss with the barista candidate: Does he really know about coffee? Does he have the same passion for you as your favorite drink? Does he attend seminars, is he evolving and studying? Has he proposed solutions around coffee? The same reasoning must be followed for existing cafeteria staff: your staff, but also you, you should always be aware of the developments around coffee and competition.

Setting up a successful coffee company naturally does not stop at the above, since it is a long, often painful road, but it compensates with its results if done properly. A well-established cofee shop, investing in quality coffee and knowing how to move, can be a highly profitable business - but also a pleasant, constructive work. What matters, but what ultimately remains, is good coffee.