Have you ever been in a coffeehouse and waited 10-15 minutes for your favorite drink with only two or three people in front of you? Have you ever been in a coffeehouse during a rush, only to see the staff stumble around each other? You'd think you were watching a football game behind the counter. Do you and your staff want to feel like you've been in a boxing match each day after work?

Unfortunately, these experiences are common to those of us who frequent both corporateand independently owned coffeehouses. More unfortunately, however, is the fact that these coffeehouses are losing thousands upon thousands of dollars because of inefficient equipment placement, improper menu layout, misguided marketing techniques, poor training,high employee turnover and horrible customer service. The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way.

...He had made about $60 in sales and 20 happy customers scurried off with cups of specialty coffee drinks in their hands. I figured he could serve and sell about 240 customers per hour at $3 per drink. Wow! That's $720. Not bad for one hour of work. I knew at that point that Armando was doing something right.

Understand the Ratio: A Key to Your Success

When I talk with clients about opening a successful, independent coffee business, I talk to them in terms of ratios. What is a ratio in the independent coffee business? Learn all about the ratio in our book, and how it will lead to profit in the coffee shop business.

We use this ratio senario with our clients because the numbers speak louder than words. It is the ratio that is the key to maximizing your coffee shop. Based on the number of customers who could potentially visit your shop each day, take a look at the profits you could yield.

The Seven Steps include details on:

1) Importance of Location - What makes a great location? Whether you want to open a coffee shop, espresso cart, kiosk or coffee drive-thru, there are lots of factors in selecting a spot that will generate high volume business. Regardless of how good your drinks are, if you select a poor space, your coffee business will suffer. Learn what makes a great location

2) Importance of Layout - Is your espresso business space set up to ease the flow of traffic? Learn how to arrange your counter and equipment, as well as how to train your baristas to maximize time, sales and profit.

3) Importance of Proper Ingredients and Equipment - Quality matters. Because of the demand for better coffee and espresso-based drinks, there has to be a commitment to using high-caliber ingredients and equipment (such as commercial espresso and cappuccino machines, etc). Learn how to get the best ingredients and equipment for keeping your customers coming back again and again.

4) Importance of Marketing - Generating recognition and enthusiasm for your espresso businessis crucial. Marketing incorporates everything from picking a name representative of your espresso business' personality to offering special promotions to menu set-up. Learn what type of business owners make great marketers, and how you can help your business get the exposure it needs to maximize traffic and sales.

5) Importance of Staff Training - Do not underestimate the importance of teaching your staff properly from the beginning. Experience has shown that proper barista training increases store profitability, reduces turnover and encourages customer interaction since baristas are able to engage in conversation about the ingredients, the equipment and the drinks.

6) Importance of Customer Service - Learn what it takes to obtain and retain great customer patrons in the coffee shop business.

7) Cleanliness - Learn the value of cleanliness - it sounds simple, but patrons remember how clean a coffee shop business is.