Choosing the right equipment for your yet-to-be-opened coffee shop is one of the major budgetary decisions you will have to make before you set up shop. It’s essential that you start on the right foot to avoid operational complications and over-shooting your capital.
Use this guide, to find out the list of basic coffee shop equipment that you need so you can avoid spending on the extras and frills that you can always add later on.
Equipment That You Need To Set Up Shop
Table of Contents
We have divided our checklist into three major categories:
Section 1: Coffee And Beverages Equipment
Your drinks are the highlights of your menu. You need the right machinery and other equipment to help you create creative and innovative drinks in a jiffy.
A High-Quality Espresso Machine
A vast majority of drinks you serve in your coffee shop will have a shot of espresso – either by itself or along with milk. Espresso machines range from thousands of rupees to lakhs. An espresso machine is the cornerstone of your café, so make sure that you don’t compromise on its quality.
Drip Coffee Makers
Apart from Espresso, black coffee is another popular drink at coffee shops. Look for a drip coffee maker that allows you to brew large quantities, without having to switch on the machine for each order.
An Industrial-Grade Coffee Grinder
As a coffee shop, you will be roasting and grinding coffee beans in-store to retain the freshness of your coffee. The right grinder plays a crucial role in determining the flavor profile and aroma of your espresso and other coffee drinks.
Blenders
Blended drinks are quite the rage now – frappes, cold coffees, lattes, etc. You need a high-quality commercial, fast-speed blender with a sound shield so that the blending noise doesn’t disturb customers.
Apart from these, you also need tea brewers for tea lovers, ice makers, decanters, and hot water and hot milk dispensers.
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Section 2: Cooking Equipment
While drinks are the highlight of your coffee shop menu, most customers like something light to snack on like sandwiches, pastries, desserts. To include light bites on your menu, you need the following equipment:
Oven, Toasters, Panini Press, one or more stovetops
A countertop convection oven helps you serve freshly baked cookies, scones, muffins, and cupcakes. A toaster and Panini press is essential to whip up sandwiches quickly.
Food Prep Tables
Apart from cookware, you need sufficient counter space for food prep. Chopping vegetables, slicing meats, or pouring drinks – can become messy, if you don’t have sufficient counter space. Instead of cluttering the counter, you can opt for a couple of commercial worktables that make it easy for the baristas to do their job.
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Section 3: Other Miscellaneous Equipment
Pastry Case – Refrigerated And Non-Refrigerated
Display cases are essential to increase product visibility and to boost impulse sales. There are two types of display cases:
- Refrigerated – to store deli sandwiches, cupcakes, pastries, and other desserts
- Non-refrigerated – for pies, doughnuts, etc.
Refrigeration Units
Apart from the refrigerated display units, you require commercial fridges to increase the shelf-life of ingredients like milk, fresh cream, and other dairy products. A refrigeration unit is perfect for storing all odds and ends and can even help you store unsold items at the end of the day.
Sinks And Dishwashers
Having an industrial 3-component sink to wash, rinse and disinfect helps you keep your glassware, serve-ware and other kitchen equipment clean and spotless. If budget permits, you can invest in a dishwasher to speed up cleaning.
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POS And Security System
Apart from the kitchen equipment, you also have to invest in a tailored Point-of-Sale system to bill customer orders, track inventory, and more.
There you have it – a basic checklist to help you start planning the required equipment for starting a coffee shop. Make sure to consider the available floor and counter space when choosing equipment.
Worried if you can raise the capital required for investing the equipment required for your upcoming shop? No worries.
Reach out to Indifi, India’s leading digital lending platform, tailored to offer customized loans MSMEs. Choose the right business loan product for you and embark on your entrepreneurial adventures.
