Identifying trends, particularly before they've gained momentum can give you an advantage over other coffee shops slower to react to the changing demands of customers. Not only can it a unique edge (at least until they click on), but it allows you to set the standard,...

Apologies from the start for the outright sales nature of this journal entry. But put quite simply, I don’t think i’d be doing my job if I didn’t communicate the cost saving benefits of free on loan equipment packages! For those of you who aren’t aware, these deals...

As the old saying goes “turnover is vanity, profit is sanity”. Keeping this difference in mind is central to keeping any business profitable.  Everyone knows that the gross margin on coffee is substantial, but the common misconception is that opening your own café is...

Ethiopia is widely understood to be where coffee originated, although technically it probably first evolved in Southern Sudan. What is certain is that Ethiopia is regarded by most industry professionals as the most captivating and hypnotic origin of all. At their...

The history of Rwandan coffee is probably the most interesting of all the African nations… Coffee is not indigenous to Rwanda. It was brought there by German missionaries in the early 1900s. The very first trees were planted in Cyangugu province in the southwest of...

From cycling to ‘Men in Sheds’, from coffee to marketing tips, we meet Paul and Jane Green, business owners, entrepreneurs, and all round fantastic hosts to discuss the ins and outs of life at Caffe Velo Verde. Because they are from the cycling community and have...

This is the start of a series of posts taking an in-depth look at various coffee producing nations. We’ll be thinking about the history, geography, quality, production methods and social welfare of farmers and producers along with the environmental sustainability of...

Large chains like Starbucks and Costa are major contenders in the current coffee market, since 2014 their share has been diluted by an ever-growing number of independent coffee shops.  Due to this rise, consumers have become savvier when purchasing their coffee and...

Any retail coffee shop has a great opportunity to make retail sales when displayed and marketed well.  Retail sales can generate a welcome additional revenue stream and an appropriate well thought out retail section of your shop can elevate your brand and your offer....