Equipment

[Amy]

What do you think is essential equipment for a coffee shop? I am looking at a list from a company that has a coffee house package, and I am not sure I want or need some of this stuff. I know the espresso machine is a given, but what else? What piece of equipment could you not function without?

[miKe mcKoffee aka Mike McGinness]

Good espresso grinders, quality fresh beans, good balanced tamper that fits your hand, multiple of multiple size steaming pitchers, hotwater tower or equivalent for pour over/Americanos/press pots/teas.

What type of shop are you looking to open? Have you worked at a coffeeshop(s) before?

[Jared Rutledge]

don't buy a coffeehouse package. this is gonna sound super arrogant (for which i apologize in advance), but if you're considering that option it's probably time to take a step back and do a lot more research. now granted, this is from a guy who's just now working on opening his own coffeeshop, but i've been in the biz nine years. i've never seen a company that offers those "packages" give anything close to decent value or good equipment. here's a few bullet points (and expounding on your vision and experience in this thread will help us all throw some good info your way as well):

a) get a good local roaster that's a coffee nerd. i pulled my first shots from my roaster's espresso tonight, and instant notes of buttered toast, peanut butter, caramel. and i hadn't even dialed in the grinder properly.

b) read read read read. i'm still learning so much about coffee (much of it from this site) and the rabbit hole just never ends.

c) if i had to do this process over again, i would have planned so much more specifically for certain things. i made the mistake of thinking people were clairvoyant and that i didn't have to very clearly tell them what i planned to do and what my expectations were. from the banks to the city to the sign guy to the plumber. be very sure of what you want and tell them exactly.

if that helps you, cool. if it doesn't, ignore me. but don't buy a package deal.

[Jay Caragay]

Follow Jared's "C" advice. Most important.

Want a nice package? Here:

La Marzocco GB5 2EE espresso machine
two Compak K-10 WBC espresso grinders
Reg Barber tamper
Six 20 ounce S/S steam pitchers
Six 12 ounce S/S/ steam pitchers
Bunn G1 Coffee Grinder
Fetco 2031 coffee brewer
Airpots for Fetco 2031
Beverage Air UCR-27 undercounter refrigerator (for service under and to the right of the espresso machine)
Turbo Air upright refrigerator (for milk backup storage)
- Check out your local Restaurant Depot for the best prices or online at superprod.com but it's better to find and work with a great local restaurant equipment supplier for the refrigeration, hand sink, dump sink and other miscellaneous foodservice equipment your local health department is sure to require.

[Jared Rutledge]

lol jay that's almost exactly what i got for my shop. i'm just waiting on one K-10 doserless (already have a wbc, which is KILLER). i got a used 3-group gb/5 EE too.

[Joseph Robertson]

Yes, read Jared's advice above and then read it again. I have had my shop open for a little over a year. We are commercial roasters. That's not to say I produce those kind of spro shots Jared refers to all the time but his advice on finding a local roaster to you like and can work with is Gold bullet #1.
Like he says research more. I researched this business for 3 years, spent a bunch of $ and I wish I had more time but had to open the door.......the door to the sweet rabbit hole Jared refers to. I Took the blue pill and will never regret it.
Stay with us on this list and you will never find a friendlier bunch of coffee folk anywhere. I just wish Matt and this forum / networking site was here 3 years ago.
I could have had time for other preparations.
Good luck to you and come back often help is a mouse click away....
Joe
--
Ambassador for Specialty Coffee and palate reform.

[Jason Shipley]

all nice stuff, but do you think a CBS 2031 is enough? We started with CBS 2032 and will be moving to a CBS 2052e as soon as I can get some wire pulled. Most of the time the 2032 is enough for our demand but when we have a couple of caterings on a weekend morning we really need the volume.

Jay Caragay said:

Follow Jared's "C" advice. Most important.

Want a nice package? Here:

La Marzocco GB5 2EE espresso machine
two Compak K-10 WBC espresso grinders
Reg Barber tamper
Six 20 ounce S/S steam pitchers
Six 12 ounce S/S/ steam pitchers
Bunn G1 Coffee Grinder
Fetco 2031 coffee brewer
Airpots for Fetco 2031
Beverage Air UCR-27 undercounter refrigerator (for service under and to the right of the espresso machine)
Turbo Air upright refrigerator (for milk backup storage)
- Check out your local Restaurant Depot for the best prices or online at superprod.com but it's better to find and work with a great local restaurant equipment supplier for the refrigeration, hand sink, dump sink and other miscellaneous foodservice equipment your local health department is sure to require.

[Jared Rutledge]

i'll find out if it's enough! haha. i'm gonna focus on pourover/chemex though

[Daniel Mueller]

is there such a thing as... higher quality steaming pitchers? are the generics generally just as good as say, alessi or some other brand i dont know about?

[Jared Rutledge]

i got a motta 16 oz. and i really dig it. just feels so nice and sturdy. the rattleware standards are great though, for cheaper ones