You must be here because you are considering opening your own coffee shop – congratulations! Whilst this is incredibly exciting, there is a lot to consider; it’s essential to have a clear understanding of the equipment needed to bring your coffee shop to life.
So where do you begin? Luckily, at Prime Coffee Suppliers, we’re here to guide you through the process and ensure you have all of the information you need.
Determining Your Equipment Needs
Before diving head first into the world of coffee shop equipment, it’s crucial that you understand your needs and goals. One of the first considerations should be your anticipated daily output:
How many cups of coffee do you expect to serve each day?
Answering this question (as best as you can) will help to determine the size and capacity of the espresso machine you will need. Here, we offer a range of 1, 2, and 3 group machines to suit your varying levels of demand.
Prices start from:
- £1,500 upwards for 1 group machines (100-150 Cups per day)
- £2700 upwards for 2 group machines (200-250 Cups per day)
- £4.5k upwards for 3 group machines (300- 350 Cups per day)
- £6k upwards for 4 group machines (400+ cups per day)
When estimating your daily output, it's wise to anticipate future growth. For instance, if you're estimating your coffee shop to serve 100 cups per day, consider investing in a machine suited for 150-200 cups per day. By choosing a machine with a higher capacity, you're allowing room for expansion and ensuring that your equipment can keep up with increasing demand as your business grows.
Exploring Your Coffee Machine Options
Once you've determined the size of your espresso machine, you can explore your options. At Prime Coffee Suppliers, we offer three main types of espresso machines:
Are you looking for reliability and consistency at an affordable price?
Our standard espresso machines such as the La Spaziale S5, CREM EX3 2 group, Rancilio Classe 5 & 7, and Sanremo Zoe would be suitable for this.
These are perfect for the traditional coffee shop.
Or are you interested in elevating your coffee offerings?
Our specialty espresso machines, including the Rancilio Invicta, Rancilio RS1, Sanremo Café Racer, and Sanremo Opera could be your match!
These deliver precision and performance tailored to the demands of specialty coffee shops.
Is convenience and automation a priority for your business?
Our bean-to-cup machines provide you with a hassle-free solution. With options for instant or fresh milk/steam wand features, bean-to-cup machines offer the ultimate ease and efficiency, albeit at a higher price point.
Instant bean-to-cup machines start from £4k upwards, while bean-to-cup machines with fresh milk are priced from £7.5k upwards at a minimum.
Note: The height of your espresso machine accommodates different cup sizes and serving styles. Espresso machines come in two main height options: standard and tall (ideal for takeaway cups).
Selecting the Perfect Grinder
Once you’ve established your predicted output and chosen the machine that best fits your needs, you can now select the perfect grinder to compliment your espresso machine. Here are a few grinder options to consider:
- On-Demand Grinders
Are you expecting to have customers rushing through the door?
On-demand grinders deliver freshly ground coffee with the push of a button, making them a great fit for busy coffee shops. These grinders grind coffee directly into the portafilter, ensuring maximum freshness and flavour in every shot.
- Doser Grinders
Are you looking for consistency and control?
Doser grinders allow baristas to grind a precise amount of coffee into a dosing chamber before tamping and brewing. These result in uniform shots every time, and are popular among traditional coffee shops.
- Stepless vs. Stepped Grinders
Will your baristas be experts or beginners?
Stepped grinders offer pre-defined grind settings, making them user-friendly and convenient for beginners. Stepless grinders, on the other hand, offer infinite grind size adjustments, providing unparalleled control over the extraction process.
Understanding Costs and Ongoing Expenses
Setting up a coffee shop involves more than just the initial purchasing of equipment. It's also crucial to consider the ongoing expenses to maintain your coffee shop's operations. These include:
- Maintenance: Yearly maintenance and servicing ensure that your equipment continues to perform optimally. Estimated cost: £200-500 annually. At Prime Coffee Suppliers, we cover all warranties, servicing, installations, deliveries, and returns, providing peace of mind.
- Coffee Bean Supplies: Sourcing high-quality coffee beans is essential for serving exceptional coffee. The cost of coffee beans will vary depending on factors such as quality and quantity. Estimated cost: £500-1000 per month.
- Cleaning Equipment: Proper maintenance of your coffee equipment is crucial for ensuring hygiene and longevity. This includes purchasing cleaning equipment such as brushes, detergents, and descaling agents. Estimated cost: £100-200 initially, with ongoing costs for consumables.
In addition to these expenses, you'll also need to invest in other essentials such as:
- Water Filter: Installing a water filtration system ensures that your coffee tastes clean and free from impurities. Estimated cost: £200-500 initially, with ongoing costs for replacement filters.
- Cups/Mugs or Travel Cups: Providing cups and mugs for in-house consumption or travel cups for takeaway orders is essential. The cost will vary depending on the quantity and quality of the cups. Estimated cost: £200-500 initially.
- Barista Kit: Essential tools such as a puck tamper, tamping mat, knockbox, portafilter, and barista clothes are necessary for your baristas to make perfect coffees. Estimated cost: £300-500 initially.
…and these are just the costs related to equipment! Check out this article which dives deep into all of the operational costs associated with coffee shops - including rent and overheads.
This YouTube video is also worth a watch:
Let's Summarise...
For equipment alone, standard coffee shop prices typically range from £3k to £10k, while specialty coffee shops may invest over £11k upwards. It's essential to choose equipment that aligns with your business model and budget, while allowing room for growth.
Setting up your own coffee shop is an exciting journey that requires careful consideration of various factors - we’re here to support you every step of the way with our wide range of high-quality espresso machines, grinders, and accessories.
Whether you're aiming to create a cosy café or a trendy speciality coffee destination, we have the expertise and resources to help you.
Fun fact: we can fulfil bespoke orders for customised machines or make them to order if they are not in stock!
Value-Added Services: Installation Delivery, and Leasing Options
At Prime Coffee Suppliers, we go above and beyond to ensure that your coffee shop setup is as seamless and stress-free as possible. That's why all our machines come with complimentary installation and delivery, along with a supply of coffee beans to kickstart your coffee-making.
Furthermore, we understand that investing in coffee shop equipment can be a significant upfront expense for many businesses. That's why we offer leasing options in partnership with select firms.
Leasing your equipment can offer potential tax benefits, making it a financially savvy decision for your business. Read more about the benefits of leasing here.
Contact us today to learn more, or try our finance calculator to help you assess your options and determine the best leasing arrangement.