So, you’ve decided to open a coffee shop. Congratulations! Visions Espresso has been helping people open their perfectly crafted cafes for almost 40 years. In this specialty coffee shop buyer's guide, we identify 7 key decisions to make when opening your shop:
- Espresso Machine
- Espresso Grinder
- Water Filtration
- Hot Water Dispenser
- Pour-Over Brewing
- Barista Tools
- Cafe Cups
With our expertise and expansive catalog of products, we’re happy to guide you to an exquisite build-out that will set you up for success! Keep reading to walk through the process of opening your new specialty cafe.
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The heart of the cafe, and where you may spend the most time, is the espresso machine. With many different options from semi-automatic and volumetric to manual and even lever options, the espresso machine is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. For the specialty coffee shop, we recommend:
Slayer V3 Espresso Machine:
The Slayer V3 is known for its advanced technology and precision, allowing you to achieve exceptional espresso shots. It offers temperature stability, pre-brew options, and manual control over pressure profiling. Pair it with the below equipment for a comprehensive coffee experience!
The Slayer V3 is also fully customizable! Customize your new V3 here.
Once you’ve decided on an espresso machine, you’ll need a grinder that can produce high-quality and consistent grinds, for extracting the best flavor from your coffee. Some factors to consider are the speed of grinding, how accurately the grinder doses, and what volume of grinding it can handle. For the craft-focused cafe we suggest:
Mahlkonig E80S GbW Grinder:
The Mahlkonig E80S Grind by Weight is a top-of-the-line commercial espresso grinder that complements the Slayer V3. It provides precise and consistent grind sizes, which are crucial for achieving balanced and flavorful espresso shots. The 80mm special steel burrs can grind your espresso quickly, and the built-in scale means there’s no more checking to make sure your dose is correct. It just is, every time.
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When you’re brewing and serving hundreds of coffee’s a day to your loyal customers, you’ll need to make sure your water is of the highest quality. Not only will this keep your coffee tasting the best, but it will also protect your equipment from long term scale buildup and clogging that can result in costly repairs and lost service hours. We proudly work with Best Water Technology, who has an array of different, but interchangeable, water filtration options. For the highest quality coffee we recommend:
BWT Bestmax Premium Filtration System
BWT Bestmax PREMIUM is a filter system with which you can refine raw water to produce gourmet water that is outstandingly suited to making hot beverages such as coffee, espresso and tea. The patented and exclusive magnesium adding filters can help bring your water into the mineralization range the Specialty Coffee Association recommends.
More than just your espresso machine needs that filtered water, as customers are more often than ever looking for signature beverages, tea and simply great tasting water! While there are many options for hot water towers, we recommend something a bit more elevated for the specialty coffee enthusiast.
Marco Friia HC Plus (Hot, Cold, Sparkling)
A hot and cold water dispensing system is vital to producing those signature beverages that will wow your customers. With this Marco Friia HC Plus system, you’ll always have sparkling water to serve with your espresso, saving a huge recurring cost and storage challenge with bottled water. The under counter installation means fewer barriers between your baristas and their adoring fans.
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One way to truly display your craft is to make pour-over coffee a menu option. Rotating single-origin and uniquely processed coffees in small, manually brewed batches allows you to engage with customers in ways that excite them and encourage retail purchases and future visits. For a system that shines, we recommend the options below:
Fellow Stagg X Dripper
For customers who prefer pour-over coffee, the Fellow Stagg X Dripper is a vacuum insulated brewer is a forward thinking choice. It offers a clean and nuanced cup of coffee, highlighting the tasting notes we crave. It also includes a borosilicate glass server that can stand up to cafe use. To complete your pour-over setup, consider the following:
- Fellow Stagg EKG Kettle: A gooseneck kettle, such as the Fellow Stagg EKG, is ideal for precise pouring and controlling water flow during pour-over brewing. It allows you and your baristas to achieve a consistent and even extraction.
- Acaia Pearl Scale: The industry standard for fast, precision weight readings. The Pearl can be used in many different modes, including automatic timing to ensure your pours are perfectly paced.
- Mahlkonig EK43 grinder: The King of Consistency, The EK43 can be dialed in for perfect pour-overs while also grinding for batch brew and cold brew if needed.
Although we’ve made some excellent machine and electronic suggestions, we can’t forget the analog. Hand tools are a part of any craft experience, especially coffee brewing. For all of the tools you need, we have the Revolution line:
Revolution Barista Tools:
Invest in Revolution Barista tools to enhance your efficiency and precision! These include:
- Revolution Etched Pitcher - provides volumetric markings to increase consistency, as well as a gently curved spout to pour beautiful latte art.
- Revolution's Espresso Distribution Tool - available in smooth or ridged finishes. A distributor enables the consistent spread of your dose before tamping for optimal extraction.
- Revolutions Tampers - available in a range of woods and other finishes to seamlessly match your barware and custom espresso machine. Our tampers let you feel your perfection!
- Revolutions Tamp Mat - Save your countertops and your wrists with these easy-to-place and simple-to-clean essentials.
- Revolution Extra Wide Dual Spout Shot Glass - never miss a drop of your God Shot
To serve your delicious coffee creations, invest in high-quality cafe cups. You’ll want ceramic and glass for hot and cold drinks. Consider which sizes of drinks you’ll serve, and which color matches your motif!
With this specialty cafe buyer's guide, you'll have a well-rounded coffee shop setup that caters to both espresso and pour-over enthusiasts.
We also offer custom Coffee Coaching to train your baristas on equipment, brewing, and drink making. Ensuring you and your staff have all the tools for the proper use and maintenance of your beloved equipment will keep it performing for years to come. Visions Espresso can also be your partner for ongoing service needs, making sure that wear parts are replaced and regular preventative maintenance is completed. We want to see your dreams come true!
Need assistance with your cafe setup? We can help! Inquire Now >
BREW YOUR BEST!