Market analyses and reports on the coffee and coffee machine markets
According to a recent survey by CoffeeBI, customers’ main criteria when making an espresso machine purchasing decision was “price”, the “ability to provide technical assistance” and the “front staff professionalism”. These three items received a higher score among the 10 that were put to the vote among manufacturers. Other main criteria listed were the “punctuality in delivering”, as well as
The lawmakers in Moscow have recently changed the rules for open-air cafes. The coffee shops now have an opportunity to implemet new formats for their pavement constructions using benches, platforms, and even window sills. It is a very important innovation because rules for summer cafes and terraces are very strict, and the permission to construct such terrace depends on the width of the pavement.
How do I compete with the chains?
We get asked this a lot, particularly at a time when an existing independent coffee bar finds itself with a new big branded neighbor. We have had a lot of experience of this over the last 10 years and in fact, we compete in our own business successfully against a much larger national chain.
But what are the key elements to effectively attract customers in the face of the big brands?
Brand Comfort
The biggest advantage the chains have over you is that the customer knows what they are going to get when they walk through their doors. The chances of them recognizing the brand or even having already visited this chain in another town are high. It’s the same reason we drink coke when we are in a foreign country, it’s the safe option.
To combat this feeling of safety you should look at your business from across the road. Does it look inviting, are there visual clues for the customers so they understand what to expect? Is your signage clear and does it say what you do and stand for? For example, do you provide take away? It’s a given that the chains serve take away coffee but it’s not always so obvious in independents. Are your windows clean and your frontage litter free and are your food hygiene standards clearly visible? All these things will either encourage or deter guests from stepping over your threshold.
Consistency
Lack of consistency is a key reason you lose your customers. Your independence is a strength but the freedom that you give your team could be your downfall.
The chains expend a lot of corporate energy in ensuring that the brand standards are adhered to throughout their estate of shops. Strict rules are in place, much training is given and audits are happening every day to ensure that all drinks are made the same way and so taste the same everywhere they operate.
In some independents the lower levels of training, the cult of personality, where each barista has their own style of drink and the turnover of staff. All work together to reduce the chances of a guest getting the same drink made in the same way. This lack of consistency will drive customers away.
The successful independents work really hard to ensure that their drinks are always consistent and that their guests can feel comfortable that the flat white they order on Tuesday will be the same as the one they drank on Monday.
Service
This should be an easy win against the chains as your guests already believe the big chains are faceless so you are halfway there. What little things can you do to that will make you stand out from your competition? [Sign in to continue]
MILAN – The value of a cup of coffee is the result of a sum of specific costs. According the Italian magazine BarGiornale, basing on the data of FIPE (Italian Federation of Public Restaurants and food outlets), in Italy the price the end consumer pays is seven times higher than the first cost, which is, for the trader, 0,02 euro.
MOSCOW – Russia is definitely not famous for being a coffee country. Most coffee terms come from Italy, like latte or cappuccino. Japan is known for inventing pour-over brewing. And so on. Nevertheless, there is a drink based on coffee that actually was invented in Russia – raf coffee. It was created around 1996-1997 in Coffee Bean, the first coffee shop in Moscow. Coffee
OTTAWA – Tim Hortons coffee chain has greatly influenced coffee drinking culture in Canada. With nearly all streets having at least one Tim Hortons’ coffee shop which has ultimately changed Toronto into a coffee drinking city. With virtually over 80 per cent of all coffee lovers in Toronto choosing Tim Hortons for reasons ranging from low prizes compared to other cozy coffee chains to the
MINSK – Coffee Fest 2016 is taking place in ARENA city mall on April 16-17. It is the largest even in the industry in Belarus where producers, suppliers, vendors, and fans can meet to discuss all important issues and to enjoy coffee. The program includes degustation, workshops, and masterclasses. The main event of the fest is Belarus Barista Championship which will be held by the rules
VILNIUS – Coffee Inn is the largest coffee shop chain in the Baltic States. It opened its first place in Vilnius in 2007. Now there are 32 coffee shops in Lithuania,14 in Latvia, and 7 in Estonia. This year Coffee Inn has started a new project – an open coffee studio called Coffee Inn Roasters. The studio is located in the Old Town of Vilnius and
RICHMOND – When you say “American coffee” your mind flies to a long coffee prepared by brewing espresso with added hot water. The name was probably given by Italians during the Second World War when, on the other hand, the term Italiano is sometimes used in the United States to mean a short Americano. In Australia, instead, the terms are different: an American
MILAN – Starbucks has officially announced that they will open in Milan in 2017 in collaboration with Percassi. Although only three stores are confirmed (Milan, Verona, and Venice), it is also likely for the shop to open in Rome and Naples. Howard Schultz, Starbucks chief executive, has always told that the history of the Starbucks was inspired from how Italians create their