Pumps & Dispensers

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. The essence of the coffee that we enjoy comes from natural oils that are largely responsible for coffee's aroma and flavor. Just as we enjoy the elegant sophistication of this natural oil, if it is left to accumulate on coffee or espresso equipment, coffee oil will have a negative impact on... Read More ⇒

Fast, profitable and delicious: those are my first thoughts about iced tea programs for cafes. At a cost of about $.10/serving, iced teas produce some of the highest profit margins for a café. So why do I find many cafes aren’t implementing a consistent iced tea program? The most common barrier I’ve heard described by cafes is... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Iced beverages can deliver high profits and attract new customers, so they are an important part of a menu that most people overlook! As the season heats up, be sure you’re considering these menu musts. Iced Beverages Extend your day parts – iced beverages light, refreshing... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. A unique mocha is a wonderful drink and, as the most popular flavored beverage served in a cafe, becomes something of a signature beverage. For those do-it-yourself mocha makers, I would say that it's good to consider the following: Consistency is the hallmark of any successful cafe, so... Read More ⇒

Why Make Your Own Whipped Cream? In today's fast paced society it's hard to find time to stop and smell the roses, let alone make your own whipped cream! Consider, however, the final touch of authenticity and quality freshly made whipped cream can add to your drinks. With the effort and expense you put into filling your cups with the best... Read More ⇒

Getting through these tough times is on everyone's mind right now. We've been talking with a lot of our customers to come up with a list of ideas that might help you get ahead this year. Create your own stimulus package--sell prepaid drink coupons (buy 10 get 1 free) Be careful! You are creating a future liability by doing this (you owe the... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Everyone has their expectations when it comes to what flavors they want to enjoy during the holiday season. Pumpkin Pie Lattes, Peppermint Mochas & Egg Nog Lattes are what customers have come to expect as "standards" at any cafe throughout the holiday season. I often hear people say... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. As an owner or manager of a specialty coffee business, you are faced daily with almost unlimited choices of what to do with your time. There are a lot of chores involved with running any business - run to the bank, take out the trash, wait on a customer. All these things are important to a... Read More ⇒

Iced Tea We're always surprised at Barista Pro Shop that our customers don't sell more Iced Tea than they do. Why? We're not sure, but we're going to take some of the blame for this one. We haven't provided as much information and support in the past to help our customers sell more Iced Tea, but this article is a first step to changing that. Most... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. It’s clear… Americans love smoothies. Lately, these sweet blended beverages have been especially popular, with an 80% increase over the past five years. With our population’s ongoing quest for great tasting, drinkable snacks plus a general interest in health, experts say... Read More ⇒

I broke from habit today. I ordered a 16 ounce pumpkin pie latte instead of my usual Americano. What sparked this change? Besides the prominently displayed poster featuring latte art in the shape of a pumpkin, was the barista's suggestion that I try this drink because "It's the bomb! We use pumpkin pie sauce and it's to die for". So, I had myself a... Read More ⇒

Opening a new café can be a real challenge, especially if you have never done it before. Many of the problems that a new café owner encounters occur during the two months between signing a lease and getting a building permit. See article “Opening your dream café – don’t let it become a nightmare!” In... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Flavored syrups are more than just sugar water; they can add a unique touch to your shop and serve as an easy add-on for a variety of drinks. Flavored syrups have become a staple and a must have on the coffee house scene with their ease of use and endless possibilities. Did you say Blood... Read More ⇒

Have you taken a close look around your shop lately? Are things looking a cluttered, outdated, or even a little damaged? You can give your space an affordable face lift by investing in an often overlooked category--smallwares. Smallwares encompasses everything from condiment bar organizers and mugs to tampers and steaming pitchers. They are the... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Water - it's everywhere: in the oceans, in the puddles, coming out of the skies as rain and snow. It comes out of our taps and plays a very important role in our beverages. But what is water? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines water as follows: wa•ter (wôtr, wtr) The... Read More ⇒

Tips, tricks and surefire ways to incorporate signature drinks into your menu that your baristas will enjoy making and your customers will order again and again! Elaborate coffee orders still remind me of that scene from You’ve Got Mail. Joe Fox (Tom Hanks) observes that an indecisive person must make several choices to order a... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Ask a coffee shop owner about milk and you're bound to hear that they never knew they were going into the dairy business when they opened a café. After coffee, milk might just be the most used ingredient in a coffee shop. Even if a customer orders a drip/brewed coffee or an espresso,... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Opening a café or coffee shop can be a very challenging process. Every week, I talk to people who have just signed the lease and are very excited to get their café open as soon as possible. Over the last ten years in the café design business, I have heard the good, the bad... Read More ⇒

Should you serve food in your coffee house? Most coffee house owners recognize that serving some food in their coffee house is beneficial to their bottom line. The question for most is "To what extent should we serve food?" We hope to help you answer that question with some observations we've made over the past 14 years of working with... Read More ⇒

Opening a new coffee shop or café can be a daunting venture, you must first find an ideal location that’s within your budget, remodel the space to meet your needs, and then you’re faced with the overwhelming task of creating a checklist for stocking that new store.  From the vast number of brands available to the breadth of... Read More ⇒

Soda has been a staple of Western culture for three centuries, and a significant part of American life since the late 1800s.  A huge portion of wholesome pop culture in the 1950s literally sits in the middle of soda fountains. However, over the last fifteen years, soda sales have trended downwards for several reasons, health being the most... Read More ⇒

This is it. Eleven days before I leave on the final leg of my six month journey to Siren Studios, Hollywood, CA. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous. The other competitors aren't so scary. Although there are some big names to compete alongside, I'm competing against myself. I want to compete to the best of my ability. As the old adage goes,... Read More ⇒

Fruit Smoothies are: Fruit based or fruit flavored blended frozen drinks. Fruit Smoothies may or may not contain dairy products such as milk or ice cream. Fruit Smoothies may be made from scratch (and might include fruit juice, frozen fruit, frozen yogurt or ice cream and nutritional supplements). Fruit smoothies may also be made from powdered... Read More ⇒

Don't forget to check out our Drink Profit Calculator. Blended iced coffees, frappes, frozen coffee, or whatever name you choose for those popular blended drinks are a natural product for the premium independent coffeehouse. Any drink on the menu that can be served hot, can also be served frozen and blended. If your customers love a certain hot... Read More ⇒

How to Create and Capture Picture Perfect Specialty Beverages As a millennial in my mid-thirties, I remember when Facebook was just an informal network for college students. At the time, “social media” was merely a place for Myspace musings and covert searches to find out more about a crush. However, jump forward to today, social... Read More ⇒