Turning coffee into cash

According to research published last year by OrSaveIt, Brits spend £122million every week just on takeaway coffee alone. Add to this the cash generated by those participating in true café culture and sitting down with a brew and perhaps a tasty pastry treat and what you have is a caffeine-charged market that seems set to rise further.

Who are the coffee drinkers?

The diversification of coffee products is one reason for its rising profile; the humble americano, cappuccino and latte is joined by new exotic-sounding breeds like cold brew, slow-drip and aero-pressed. Different markets are emerging – in one camp are the serious caffeine appreciators who frequent independent coffee shops and sip away at fruit aroma-d favourites, copy of Caffeine mag in hand. On the other side are those who prefer their coffee less intense and more caramel laden. Both camps seem to be growing.

According to research published last month by Mintel, a quarter of Brits are drinking fewer carbonated drinks than they were six months ago, with half of those identifying concerns about sugar consumption as a reason for the reduction. It follows that these consumers are likely to be quaffing more coffee instead and retailers are responding with grab and go options. The 99p store has announced it is to launch into the coffee market by bringing coffee machines and bakery items into their stores.

Coffee as a profession

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You might once have seen cafes advertising for waiters, waitresses and serving staff and may still in some places. However, passing a coffee shop window the other day this writer noticed the far more common advertisement for an ‘experienced barista’. As the consumer becomes more serious about the treatment of their coffee beans, far more people in the hospitality industry are starting to take coffee more seriously as a profession.

The UK Barista championships offers an excellent platform for the talent and passion within the sector and success in the competition can give a great boost to independent coffee shops.

Coffee training

Training is provided by many of the big names that rent out and sell coffee machines but there are other educational options emerging. You can study a City & Guilds barista course or attend barista schools in London and Scotland, ensuring your staff is at the top of their game.

Coffee events

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Savvy independent coffee shops are tapping into the interest in coffee as an art form and offering their own introductory classes to coffee making, charging customers for the privilege of learning how to make their own coffee correctly and languish love on it with latte art. The London Coffee Festival also promises to continue to stir interest in our favourite caffeinated beverage.

Considering a coffee shop?

The UK coffee shop market is certainly strong, so those considering stepping into the arena need to be sure of their business plan. If you’re considering open a coffee shop or adding coffee to your menu there are some important questions to ask; will you buy or rent a coffee machine? If you buy will you buy second hand? Who will train you and your staff? Will you just sell coffee? Even the most caffeine-focussed hotspots tend to have another offering running alongside, whether it be simple sandwiches or cakes and bakes and for those items you again need to decide if you will make them on the premises or buy them in.

Finally, you’ll also need to consider payment options and with cashless payment working particularly well to counter queues for coffee, you might want to check out our recent post on new payment types.