Favourite Coffee Shops

[Epiphany74]

I'm taking over a coffee shop next week and I want to introduce some new ideas and make it a reall ynice place to chill, hang out and relax with friends.

What do you like best about good coffee shops? What's really great? Any quirky ideas? What are the things that make you want to go to one place and not to another? What do you think are bad things in a coffee shop? Would you go to a night out in a coffee shop - quiz night or karaoke?

Music? Fairtrade Coffee? Big Cakes? Staff? Display? Kids Options? Magazines? Book Shelf? Any ideas or suggestions gratefully received.

[devilwoman]

a juke box would be great, also magazines
nice cakes and sandwiches would make it more entizing
a quizz night

[redcrx]

Is this coffee shop near any schools or playgroups? Many women with young children like to meet up on a regular basis. They often do this at the least busy times so that they can all sit together (mid morning, mid afternoon) but there is never enough room for pushchairs.

If im meeting friends for a coffee i tend to go to the one thats easiest to get into with a pushchair and has room. Tiny tables are of no use if you have to then take a table for 4 or 6 over just to have room. Also changing facilities for a baby are a must.

Of course, you may not be wanting to attract mothers with you children as customers so this may not be of any use at all to you.

[raysparx]

Good quality coffee,Fresh food,don't skimp on the portions,tastefully decorated,clean and offer refills free or half price, have a few magazines, also do a breakfast bap for workers,they are so popular,go round to local offices and tell them you are doing a sandwich service lunch-time, you can also have some vouchers printed giving a discount, Good luck, Ray

[suzi-q]

I think it should be light, airy and clean. Not too cluttered and your staff be friendly, helpful and looking immaculate in clean overalls.

Best of luck.

[Supernick]

So we get to mould it to our own imagination. Great

1. Cakes definitely. And not just slices of millionaire shortbread or flapjack etc, but proper cakes that I can have a slice of. A selection of sandwiches might be nice as well.

2. A selection of the daily newspapers. Maybe some general interest magazines

3. Good looking 20-something female staff ;)

[Supernick]

I also like to people watch. I like places that have a long bar-like table across the main window so that I can look out. I always feel a bit stupid if I'm on my own and I'm taking up a table.

Sofas.

[caz21]

Yeah, big comfy sofas, interesting artwork (not ikea if you can get it!) a proper coffee maker if it hasnt already got one, selections of teas, paninis, jacket potatoes, salads, etc.

where i used to work we made smoothies each morning for example use 1 banana, handful stawberrys, half carton apple juice, half carton orange juice splodge yoghurt, or any other ingredients you like, this is something you'd need to monitor popularity of though coz can be wasteful and only lasts couple of days in fridge!

Hope it goes well i would love to own a cafe/bar!

[Scarlett]

I like a peaceful atmosphere, big squashy sofas, the fact that in Starbucks you can sit round the corner with your laptop and a drink and not get disturbed.... QUIET music, if any, so you can still talk! Local artists' paintings on the wall for sale... you could make it a gallery too and hold the private views in the cafe...
Also, make it into a place where acoustic music can be performed. Maybe just 2 musicians at al time and no amps- just singing and guitars etc.. People LOVE that sort of unplugged live music! You could do your own unplugged night every week where members of the audience can get up and sing etc. Not nasty karaoke, but something a bit different.

For food, I would go for Cranks-style. Homemade as well as bought in cakes and verging on the veggie- wholefood type of hot food, Paninis, posh stuff, but not too expensive. People always come back if they get a decent portion of NICE food too!
You should make the interior classy- maybe whitewashed with water/pebbles/bamboo, spotlights and ultra-violet hanging lights/fairy lights. Aim it as a sanctuary for students too, as they have disposable income, hours to spend during the day drinking coffee and they will bring all their mates!!

[alijangra]

More reasonably priced food!

[IggyB]

comfy big leather arm chairs or sofa in one corner - maybe cushions on the floor, great for hanging around but also great for people with kids in prams etc as dealing with child at the tabel can get a bit tricky so a nice safe area for them to sit near you is great.

Non-smoking is important for me - but i guess it would put the smokers off so thats a call to make based on your customers.

Homemade icecream! yummm and hot chocolate that is actually nice rather than powdery mess.

coffe that isn't given silly names e.g. its not grande its large, it isn't americano its a black coffee etc etc - this one is really important to me and i refuse to order in the silly way they try and make you in the highstreet ones VERY irritating for some reason and will go out of my way to a normally labled coffee place.

ummmm also can you make loads of flapjacks - they're lovely with a coffee... mmmmmmm

[Imp y Celyn]

It seems I use coffee shops differently to the rest!

1. good coffee (and a selection is helpful) fairtrade coffeee is in my opinion not always very nice
2. absolutely no smoking whatsoever at all at all
3. light background music, not too loud
4. books newspapers mgazines are useful
5. lots of armchairs and maybe also a few sofas
6. low lighting
7. private / secluded booths are quite good for working or having meetings
8. fair pricing and table service or free refill??
9. an abundance of attractive people coming and going is always useful
10. polite cheerful staff
11. no gimmicks
12. clean toilets / freshen up area
13. after coffee mints
.... i could go on!!

[IggyB]

ALSO games!

let people play games in there like chess, connect four, scrabble etc. so you had them out from behind the counter (obviously taking a deposit)... i think thats great in pubs and would love to spend a lazy hour or so playing games and drinking coffee (and eating flap jacks)

[redcrx]

another thought, clean highchairs. As a mum i always make sure that i clean the chair before i put it back but many parents dont bother. the result is a disgusting health hazard of a chair and often the staff dont clean them either.

If you have no rrom for highchairs there are always totseats which are great and can be used on a normal dining chair. If cafes supplied these (I often have mine with me for restaurants) they take up no extra room just a seat at table for child.

[China Doll]

Sounds stupid but actual china cups would be good... I hate getting my coffee in plastic beaker things.

[Cheekystar]

big mugs of coffee, with free treats - short bread etc, yummy puddings, magazines, home made food
Good luck

[Veggibear]

The thing I most like is the 'take out' option.
I have been put off going to one of the coffee shops in town because of a member of staff, both her manner and the state of the drink she served me.
Fairtrade coffee is a good idea. I dislike loud music - it does not make me drink more - it makes me want to leave.
Ice cream would be nice and maybe fruit salad (something that is an alternative to all the cakes/pastries).

If you attract one demographic it can put off others - but I suppose that is just one of those things. If you are near a college/university it would make sense to target that market.

[spudqueen]

I don't actually drink tea or coffee but I do go to coffee shops with friends and what I like is a nice soft drink, smoothies or fresh orange juice or coca cola in a proper glass bottle. I also like proper home made cakes, chocolate or perversly coffee and walnut cake or a victoria sandwich. If it was dinner time (or lunch time - depending on where you live) I would like homemade soup or a jacket potato with cheese, chilli or prawns or a sandwich possibly made with local ingredients, ham, cheese etc.
I'm sure you won't be able to achieve everyones ideal coffee shop but you should get some good ideas off here. Good luck!

[unruliejulie]

Magazines would be a great idea.

[emmay35]

When I'm shopping I like to drink coffee in M&S because they use Fairtrade, organic coffee.They make my skinny latte with skimmed milk, not semi skimmed as many others seem to do, the regular size cup is massive and you get a nice little bit of shortbread on your saucer!

When I'm in my local coffee bar, as well as the good Italian coffee, the service is second to none; they always make you feel welcome which is why that's my regular.

Good luck!