Coffee Risk
Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about its health effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation—a few cups a day—coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits. The September issue of Harvard Women’s Health Watch weighs the pros and cons of this popular beverage and eases the concerns of moderate coffee drinkers.The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn’t cause harm, it’s also uncovered possible benefits. Studies show that the risk for type 2 diabetes is lower among regular coffee drinkers than among those who don’t drink it. Also, coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in long-duration physical activities.
For those who drink coffee to stay alert, new research suggests that you’ll stay more alert, particularly if you are fighting sleep deprivation, if you spread your coffee consumption over the course of the day. For instance, if you usually drink 16 ounces in the morning, try consuming a 2-3 ounce serving every hour or so. Again, moderation is the key.
However, as the September issue notes, coffee is not completely innocent. Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient is a mild addictive stimulant. And coffee does have modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat that should be considered. Studies have been largely inconclusive regarding coffee and its effect on women’s health issues such as breast health, cancer, and osteoporosis. But, the negative effects of coffee tend to emerge in excessive drinking so it is best to avoid heavy consumption.
Finding Ways to Roast Your Brew
If you want to start a coffee shop, there are a lot of options that you need to consider with the equipment, upkeep and gradual success towards the shop. Often times, jumping into starting a corner cafe can cost a large investment and can be slow on return. If you need a boost to get you started, there are several resources that will help you to get your coffee shop started.
The first evaluation to make is exactly how much money you will need. This will help you to analyze what is best, and will also provide you with funding options. Not only will you want to start with a business and marketing plan, but also estimated costs. These costs should include things like:
- equipment
- rent / location
- advertising
- hired help
- food and coffee needs
Depending on your vision and what you need to work, having these different parts towards your funding determined is your first step towards getting started.
Once you have this in mind, you can start working towards finding different options for funding. This will depend on your locality, as well as the availability for finances. For example, if there is a small business development center in your area, you can receive help for funding as well as getting set up with everything that you need for your coffee location.
Another option is to look into business grants that are given from the government or specialized funding areas, such as angel investors. These will allow you to get the boost you need to get started, without having to ask for a return for the shop. All you will need to do is put a proposal and presentation together so that you can work with the investors in finding the best solution.
If you are passionate about your coffee, you can find ways to get started and into the community with your coffee shop with help from the investment that you need. Finding your best options and beginning to pursue the order will allow you to put your best roast out there.
Thinking Environment
If you are starting your own coffee shop, there is only one thing that will set you apart and let you succeed. The environment that you set it up in.
No matter what type of coffee you are selling, how you want to set up the equipment or what location you decide to go in, it’s what is on the inside of your shop that will get the people coming. The environment that you consider should include thoughts on some of the following:
1. Lighting. If the light is too dim or too bright, it’s going to drive people the other way. Because coffee shops are now a popular place to work, read or mingle, having the lights too low will not help your customers. However, having neon lights or fluorescents are going to drive away the masses.
2. Think of themes. What will really set your coffee shop apart from others is if they can remember you outside of the name. Putting art on the walls, having a theme to go with the coffee and branding your entire shop to be unique will appeal to those who want to experience a little atmosphere.
3. Comfort first. There was one time where I went to a coffee shop that had all wooden benches and chairs, some of them wobbly, most of them uncomfortable. Make sure that you have the lounge areas and couches combined with the tables that will work for good conversation or work combined with comfort.
4. Put in the extra. If you have a coffee shop that has the games, free wireless, books, magazines and the things that people love to do when they are lounging and relaxing, you are going to drive more people to your front door. Don’t do this just through the quiet things, but allow the shop to become a community area with performances, classes and things that will attract the right people. Don’t be afraid to invest in the small conveniences that let people think of a coffee house as home away from home.
5. Thrive off of the smell. One of the most important things about a coffee shop is having the right smell. Even though this sometimes can’t be helped because of the aroma of coffee, it can still be controlled. If you sell homemade food, don’t cook it in the front. If you are making a stronger coffee, cover up the espresso machine after it’s done in order to stop the strength of the coffee from taking over the place.
A few small things for starting your coffee shop can result in a great place where kids and adults alike love to be a part of. By making the right environment, you are allowing those who are in the community to have a place of comfort, relaxation and joy.
Your espresso machine
The most important piece of equipment in any coffeehouse is the espresso machine. Are you going to get an old school espresso press that you can make the perfect shot with? Or will you go for a second hand Starbucks espresso machine that gives you the convenience of pushing a button for your espresso shots?
People might like the ease and convenience of the push button shot, with every shot being exactly the same every time. Consistency is a good think for business, and your customers will know exactly what they’re getting every time.
But there is a case to be made for the hand press. If you are willing to put in the effort to train your employees on the hand press, you can have something to draw customers that no one else has. You’ll have a higher perceived value because you are not using a machine to make your espresso shots, your coffee has now become an art.
This will take more training for both you and your employees, but having a hand made espresso shot allows you to have higher prices for the quality you’re providing to your customers. Customers won’t mind paying extra, and you can keep your prices competitive.
You could always have both. It’s a higher investment up front, but then you can have two sets of prices, one for hand pressed drinks and one for machine shot drinks. This will show your customers that hand press shots are worth more, and increase the perceived quality of the hand pressed espresso beverage.
Coffee Mugs
You don’t have to bring out the fine bone china for your coffeehouse to get a good reputation. Some of the best coffeehouses in the world have very interesting ways of serving the coffee.
Thrift Store
While I don’t recommend this personally, I’ve seen coffeehouses decorated entirely in “Modern Thrift Store” with furniture and coffee mugs that look like they came out of someone’s alley on garbage day. Sure they did a little sprucing up and cleaning, but you can tell that the chairs, couches, and tables are all second hand (or even third or fourth hand.) This inspires a certain type of customer. Loyal people that just want a place where they can be comfortable and don’t have to be pretentious or try to be someone they aren’t. Of course, they may just be acting like they don’t care, but either way they tend to be repeat customers.
New but Not Matching
Another way you can go is to have fun retro or plain mugs, but they don’t match any formal scheme. You could have a fun mix of old company logos, solid colors, and wild patterns. Your customer won’t know what mug or cup the coffee will come in on any given day, they just know it’s going to be fun, fresh, and different. If you let your customers decide by color, they’ll love you for it.
Business Chic
Maybe your demographic does want the fine bone china. If that’s the case, just make sure it matches the rest of your décor. If you’re looking for a high class coffee clientele you want to make sure you don’t have anything too dainty or flowery. Even ladies in business don’t necessarily want to drink espresso out of a cup that looks like it belongs in grandmother’s kitchen.
No matter what style you choose to go with for your coffeehouse, remember that it was your choice and be proud. If you seem secure in your choices, your employees will be as well. This will translate through to the customers as well, and everyone will feel good about your choice.
Coffeehouse Music
Whether your taste is for Starbucks or Caribou Coffee or the little cafe on the corner, coffeehouse culture is alive and strong.
While the exact ingredients that go into a successful creation of coffee house culture may be elusive to most…the first thing that should be revamped or rechecked is the music. If your CD collection you’re playing for your customers doesn’t have some great mellow tunes that aren’t Kenny-G…you need to rethink your coffeehouse music philosophy. Don’t get me wrong, all coffeehouse music isn’t mellow. Lisa Loeb had some great funky tunes that were totally coffeehouse music without being slow and mellow.
Coffeehouses do not have Musak piped in through muted speakers. Coffeehouses do not have the Top-40 radio station on in the background. They have artists with “soul” – that bring a special vibe to the coffeehouse so it becomes a place where you feel things, not just a place where you drink a beverage.
If you’re looking for coffeehouse music, look no farther than your nearest and dearest Indie labels. Sure Amy Winehouse is huge and on a big label now, but she still qualifies as coffeehouse music. Also make sure to check out Alice Smith and her fabulous album For Lovers, Dreamers & Me. It has an India Arie vibe that is pure coffeehouse.
Usually you can tell if you’re listening to coffeehouse music if you can picture yourself with a steaming cup in your hands while you’re swaying to the music. It makes you feel like you could be more than you were before hearing the music.
It makes you feel artistic, creative, and deep.
That’s what makes it such an important part of coffeehouse culture.
Coffee House Equipment Basics
It is important to have good equipment in your coffee house. After all the equipment will greatly affect how the coffee tastes. The equipment is imperative because you will definitely lose customers if your coffee isn’t the finest in the area.
You’ll need top-quality water filters. The purer your water, the better your coffee and espresso is going to taste. Tap water can ruin a good espresso, cappuccino and coffee.
You will of course need a good coffee grinder. Coffee grounds go stale after about half an hour after they’ve been ground. You’ll get lots of use out of your coffee grinder to provide the richest and freshest coffee in your coffee house.
Top quality espresso machines are important to provide customers with espresso made to order. You can even grind the beans for these for a fresh flavor that your customers will come back for on a regular basis.
Top quality coffee machines are a must. There are many to select from to fit virtually any coffee house budget.
Many fine coffee houses also offer teas to their customers. If you are going to do this you will need good tea making equipment as well.
Roasting Coffee in a Barn
When Mark and Lisa Verrochi lost their “three Boston coffee stand leases to large corporate landlords,” they decided to start over — in a small, red, rent-free barn in their back yard.
Out of that barn in Hopkinton, Mass., Red Barn Coffee Roasters was born.
The company soon grew to include 7 locations.
It’s still in the process of expansion, but faces stiff competition:
Red Barn sits in a state flooded with chain coffee stores. Dunkin’ Donuts has 900 stand-alone Massachusetts stores along with 83 combination Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins outlets, while Starbucks has 151 stores and Honey Dew Donuts has 110 locations.
To help this local business stay afloat, visit one of Red Barn’s Cafes in Westboro, Southboro, Hopkinton, Milford or Boston.
Source: Milford Daily News
Coffee Messiah, Seattle, WA
Coffee Messiah
1554 E Olive Way * Seattle, WA * (206) 861-8233
http://www.coffeemessiah.com/
Conveniently located on Olive, Coffee Messiah is an artsy grungy coffee dive that will delight your hot beverage palettes. They go with coffee grown in the traditional manner, the traditional way. Global Thinking, Global Friendly. Eco Friendly. The appreciation of community. 5 years old they are a symbol on capital hill countering corporate coffee like the Starbucks one down the street serving as competition. A great meeting space for groups or just a place to sit and enjoy a cup o’ joe. Love the aesthetics, and the service. On my visit recently, though, they did give me a coffee when I ordered a chai. Mistakes happen. 4 stars out of 5.
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