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The Best Equipment List for A Coffee Shop or A Café

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    If you are someone opening up a new café, it can be really difficult to understand where to start when it comes to the essential equipment. Therefore, here is a comprehensive coffee shop or café equipment list to get you started. Additionally, if you are looking for any of the below equipment, you must look for a reputed catering equipment supplier and refrigeration manufacturers in South Africa for all the necessary equipment.

     

    Coffee machines: A coffee shop or café is nothing without the right coffee grinder or machines. Therefore, first start out by looking for a commercial espresso machine, a commercial espresso grinder, coffee brewers, regular coffee grinder, hot water dispenser and frappe and smoothie blenders.

     

    Ice machine: Ice is an essential ingredient in ice coffees, smoothies, and other cold drinks. Therefore, you need an ice machine that is reliable and can rapidly make large amounts of ice because your customers will not wait all day for you to freeze ice for a simple ice coffee.

     

    Cooking equipment: A cafe may not offer four-course meals, but they are meant for freshly baked goods. Baked goods, along with breakfast and lunch sandwiches, are very common in cafes. Therefore, light cooking equipment such as high-speed ovens, microwave ovens, and countertop convection ovens are essential to diversify your menu.

     

    Refrigeration: Refrigeration is very important to any café because the menu involves perishable food items, as well as items that are served cold. You can start by looking for a quality reach-in refrigerator where you can store extra milk, smoothie ingredients, drink garnishes, and food items. Another refrigeration option you need is an on the counter or worktop refrigeration unit that fits directly under your drink prep counter so that your baristas have quick and easy access to the supplies. There are many refrigeration manufacturers in South Africa to help you with your refrigeration needs.

     

    Display cases: This is important equipment needed in any café because they typically have baked goods such as doughnuts, croissants, pastries, etc. that can be displayed in display cases. Display cases are not only for storage but are also excellent marketing tools since they increase the impulses of sales due to visual appeal experienced by customers. They come in both refrigerated and dry versions depending on your menu.

     

    Sinks: When it comes to sinks, a café can do with two types. The first one is an underbar sink. This sink will fit directly under your counter, giving your barista a convenient and efficient space to wash small hand tools and dump remaining liquid from used mugs. The second sink needed is a 3-compartment sink. It is primarily used in the back-of-the-house area for washing and sanitising dishes, and cleaning fresh fruits and vegetables that will go into a smoothie or a salad.

     

    The above-mentioned list of café or coffee shop equipment is just some of the basics and essentials you will need to start off. Always opt for quality equipment and do not slack by opting for cheaper alternatives for longevity and money savings in the long run.