The average coffee drinker might not do most of their coffee drinking from a paid establishment, but it definitely is where they’ll go when they want something a little more special or different from the norm. As such, if you’re running a coffee shop, you want to make sure that you’re able to provide that. Being let down by a lackluster cup of coffee, poor standards in your service, or even inattention to detail in the environment that you serve in can help you scare away who should be your most reliable customers. Here are the aspects that you need to focus on if you want them to keep coming back.
Know how to make a really good cup of coffee
First and foremost, people are going to keep coming back because they have had a really good experience with a great cup of coffee. Take the time to test out your own product, and think of ways you can make your next cup of coffee the best one yet, whether it’s by being more selective with your choice of beans, focusing on improving the water you use for it or by choosing the right grind size for the machine that you use. If you can’t create a taste that the average person can’t get from their own pot in the morning, then why would they go for your more expensive option?
Offer plenty of variety
Of course, people come to coffee shops not just for a level of quality beyond what they get at home, but also to enjoy drinks that they might not be able to make, themselves. Take a good look at your menu, understand the most popular variations you can serve, and come up with a signature recipe or two, or even cycle between changing seasonal favorites to keep things fresh.
Ensure the standards of your cup
Of course, aside from the thought that goes into how you brew your coffee, you have to work hard to maintain the standards of the coffee you serve, as well. Show real care in serving in clean and well-kept receptacles, be they plastic cups or cups to be used in-store. Make sure you have everything you need to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of your machine, such as a coffee brush, and be mindful of the lifespan of any ingredients that you use, keeping them as fresh as possible. You don’t need one element of lacking care souring the whole experience of being your customer.
Systematise your approach
Developing a keen eye for detail and a solid dedication to ensuring the quality of your services is one effective way to improve the experience of being a customer of your coffee shop, but you might not be the only serving customers. If you have employees, then it’s a good idea to take your approach and to write it down, to turn it into sets of instructions that can be readily taught to anyone who takes up the role of serving customers, as well. You don’t want to lose your ability to serve a good cup of coffee because you lose the person who served it, you want their skills to be picked up by whomever comes after them.
Source good food, as well
How much food you serve in your coffee shop, and what kind of food it is, will largely depend on you. There are a lot of coffee shops that will serve a variety of well-known branded snacks and drinks, beyond their own coffee. While this can encourage visitors to spend a little more, you can get a reputation for quality and unique choices by, for instance, pairing up with a local food business, such as a bakery, to serve something that’s unique, freshly made, and comes with the bonus of supporting other local business owners, as well.
Create a great experience beyond the food and drink
No matter how great your cup of coffee is, if the person serving it is overly rude, they’re going to be turning people away. Make sure that your focus doesn’t become myopic. Offer customer service training to your team and make sure to reinforce the importance of positive interactions with the customers. Think about how to decorate the space, as well, to make it a more attractive location. Give the customers more reasons to keep coming back.
With the tips above, you should be able to ensure that your coffee shop continues to meet the standards of your customers, stick out against the rest, and maintain the loyalty that sustains it in the long term.
