blog
coffee guides, city spotlights, and stories from the indie coffee world.
guide
how to find a wholesale coffee supplier for your cafe
finding a wholesale coffee roaster starts with minimum order quantities, lead times, consistency, and support. here's how to vet suppliers in 2026.
8 min
guide
the best pos systems for coffee shops in 2026
Square offers the best value with a feature-rich free plan, Toast excels with advanced hardware for cafes, and Lightspeed handles multi-location inventory.
12 min
guide
how to price coffee drinks on a cafe menu
calculate cost of goods sold, add overhead, then apply markup. most cafes use 60-75% gross margin on espresso drinks to cover rising labor and coffee costs.
10 min
guide
coffee shop profit margins, explained
most cafés operate on 5-15% net margins in 2026. labour takes 25-40%, rent 10-15%, and COGS 25-35%. honest numbers on what stays in your pocket.
11 min
guide
how to choose a commercial coffee roaster machine
match batch size to two years of projected weekly output, choose drum for control or fluid-bed for speed, and budget $3,000–$30,000 based on tier.
8 min
guide
the best espresso machines for a new cafe
choosing the right commercial espresso machine means matching budget to volume. here's what works for new cafes in 2026, from $5,000 to $23,000.
9 min
guide
how to start a coffee roastery business
starting a coffee roastery in 2026 requires a commercial roaster ($10,000–$80,000), green bean sourcing strategy, and monthly operating costs near $21,600.
9 min
guide
the cafe equipment checklist for a new coffee shop
a complete equipment list for opening a new coffee shop in 2026, organized station by station with named brands, honest costs, and barista tools.
9 min
guide
how much does it cost to open a coffee shop in the usa
opening a coffee shop in 2026 costs $80,000 to $300,000 depending on format, with equipment at $20,000 to $100,000 and buildout at $75 to $150 per square foot.
9 min
guide
how much does it cost to open a cafe in the uk
opening a uk cafe in 2026 costs £50,000 to £150,000 for most sit-down shops. here's the full line-item breakdown by fit-out, kit, and rent.
12 min
guide
how to start a coffee shop in 2026
Opening a coffee shop takes 6-12 months and $80,000-$300,000. Here's the step-by-step process, real costs, permits, and timeline for 2026.
9 min
city guide
the many names of red eye coffee
red eye coffee, a filter blend spiked with espresso, isn't just a caffeine powerhouse. it's a drink with as many names as flavours, from sludge cup to hammerhead.
9 min
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