Coffee shops are a common meeting place for people. Coffee shops are a great place to get work done, catch up with friends or relax. Many coffee shops focus on selling coffee, teas, and other drinks, while others specialize in serving food and even CBD products.
A busy coffee shop usually has two main types of people. The first is the casual customer who stops in for their morning cup of joe and then goes on their way. The second is the regular customer who visits twice a week or more often.
Both types yearn to get out of the house and enjoy a hot beverage in common.
The average bustiest hours for a coffee shop are usually 6:30AM or 7:00AM depending on location. Pay close attention to peak times in the early morning, afternoon, and after work. During these peak times, count how many people visit your coffee shop daily then try to average it out for the week, weekend and month.
Who Are Your Customers?
The best way to figure out who your coffee shop customers are is by talking to them. Ask questions about their likes and dislikes and see how often they come in.
The casual customer might be on their way to work or school and want to get their caffeine fix before they get there. They don’t want to deal with the hassle of waiting in line or having to talk to employees to place an order. That’s why these customers order ahead via mobile app or online—they can pick up what they need at their convenience without interacting with other people or waiting in line.
The second type of customer comes by regularly because they love coffee so much that they can’t get enough of it! Maybe they’re used to drinking cheap coffee from vending machines while at work, but now they’ve discovered this amazing new place where you can get all kinds of drinks made with fresh ingredients. Or maybe they want something other than the same old thing every morning—no matter what it is, these customers love coming back again and again because of the good coffee and experience.
Peak Times
Coffee shops are busy in the morning as people are on their way to work and need a quick cup of coffee before they head out. The afternoon is another peak time because people need to reenergize after working most of the morning or are just waking up. After work is also hectic because people want to unwind after a long day or gear up for more work into the night.
The busiest times for coffee shops are usually in the morning and afternoon. Most shops will generally see more customers during these times than any other. However, this isn’t always the case. Some shops have specific open and close hours; their busiest time could be noon or even later in the day. The same goes for location: if your shop is near a college campus or office buildings where people get off work at 5 PM, then you’ll probably have a lot of customers coming through right around that time.
The type of shop also affects how busy it gets during these peak hours; an ice cream shop will likely be less busy than a coffee shop serving hot drinks because ice cream is usually viewed as a dessert or a snack, while coffee can be for any time of day.
If you’re considering opening up a new business, it’s important to remember these times. You’ll want to ensure that your business is ready to handle the traffic during these peak hours. There may be more customers than you expected or fewer.
Key Considerations in the Design and Location of a Successful Coffee Shop
Early Morning
The start of a new day makes us want to do things. Maybe it’s because we feel like we’ve got a fresh slate, or maybe it’s just because we’re full of energy and ready to take on anything.
In the early morning, many people come in to get their coffee before work. And if you’re one of those who need your morning cup of joe to start your day right, then you know what I mean!
People often find the nearest coffee shop by their house or job because of its convenience. This is usually around 6:30 AM or 7 AM, depending on how early people have to be at their jobs. When people rush to work, they usually don’t have time to sit down and have a conversation over coffee. So, if you want people to notice your coffee shop, it’s best to have an efficient team during this shift to get orders out quickly without mistakes.
Because the morning shift is one of the busiest in a coffee shop, it’s when most people start their day, so there are lots of orders coming in. If you don’t have your staff trained properly, you can expect mistakes and long wait times for orders. Bad service can cut down on how busy your shop is.
Afternoon
The average busiest hours for a coffee shop are during lunch. People get coffee during their lunch break because they need a pick-me-up to make it through the rest of the day. This is also when most people start feeling hungry, so if someone is looking for an afternoon snack, this would be the best time to grab something sweet or savory from a local roaster.
The afternoon slump can hit hard during a long day. Caffeine is a well-known stimulant. It’s popular for its ability to keep you awake when your energy levels are dropping and wake you up in the morning and afternoon.
Coffee shops can compete with other businesses in the afternoon because of the extra perk.
In the morning, coffee shops compete for customers with other businesses with similar products and services, but later in the day, it’s a different story. As people get tired of working and want to take a break, they may want to go somewhere they can sit down with friends or colleagues and relax. Coffee shops can provide this type of atmosphere because they offer free Wi-Fi and serve food.
This is especially important for businesses that cannot afford expensive office space or don’t want to pay for employees who will sit around all day. They can still compete with other companies by offering a place where people can relax while they do their work remotely—and maybe even get some snacks on top of it!
How to Start a Blog for Your Coffee Shop
After Work
The after-work rush is the most common time to find a long line at your local coffee shop. This is because, after work, people are in a rush to get home and relax. However, many people will still stop at a neighborhood coffee shop on their way home. That’s why this period tends to be the busiest for most shops—they’re filling orders for commuters who need their caffeine fix immediately to get to their next destination.
The after-work crowd includes many commuters (who may have worked from home that day) but have been stuck in traffic or want an excuse to stop somewhere. Either way, there’s no shortage of customers looking for something stronger than black tea or hot chocolate during this time!
This is also a great time to get some work done if you’re a freelancer or telecommuter. The coffee shop can be the perfect place to complete some tasks while still feeling like you’re in an office.
The data shows that peak times to visit a coffee shop are in the morning and afternoon. I think this makes sense because most people have time during those hours to go out for a drink or snack with friends or co-workers. After work is also a good time to go because people often look for something fun to do before they go home and relax after their long day at work (which is why it’s so popular).
However, fewer people visit these shops at night unless they are workaholics or night owls. This makes sense because most people who work during the day will be too tired and want to rest.
Best Hours to Operate Your Coffee Shop
Frequently Asked Questions
To find a good location for a coffee shop, research the areas near businesses, neighborhoods, or college campuses. People frequently visit coffee shops in these places. Also, consider downtown in certain cities. Coffee shops are a popular attraction in downtown areas.
For the first few years, you may need to aim for using 75% of your profit to keep your coffee shop running. That is about $80k of their annual profit for most coffee shops.
Yes, coffee shops serve other things besides coffee! Yes, coffee shops serve other things besides coffee! The most popular items on their menu are typically drinks like tea, hot chocolate, smoothies, and juices. Breakfast sandwiches or croissants, lunch, and cookies are also offered.
To learn more on how to start your own coffee shop checkout my startup documents here
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Hi! I’m Shawn Chun
My adventure in coffee began when I first launched my first coffee shop back in the early 2000s. I had to figure out so many things on my own and to make it worse within 2 years of opening two large corporate coffee chains moved in just blocks away from me!
As I saw smaller and even some larger coffee shops in the neighborhood slowly lose customers to these giant coffee chains and slowly close up shop, I knew that I had to start getting creative…or go out of business.
I (like you may be) knew the coffee industry well. I could make the best latte art around and the foam on my caps was the fluffiest you have ever seen. I even had the best state-of-the-art 2 group digital Nuova Simonelli machine money could buy. But I knew that these things alone would not be enough to lure customers away from the name brand established coffee shops.
Eventually, through lots of trial and error as well as perseverance and creativity I did find a way to not only survive but also thrive in the coffee/espresso industry even while those corporate coffee chains stayed put. During those years I learned to adapt and always faced new challenges. It was not always easy, however, in the end, I was the sole survivor independent coffee shop within a 10-mile radius of my location. Just two corporate coffee chains and I were left after that year. All told the corporate coffee chains took down over 15 small independent coffee shops and kiosks and I was the last one standing and thriving.
Along the years I meet others with the same passion for coffee and I quickly learned that it is not only “how good a barista is” that makes a coffee shop successful, but the business side of coffee as well.
Hence why I started this website you are on now. To provide the tools and resources for up and coming coffee shop owners to gain that vital insight and knowledge on how to start a coffee shop successfully.
Stick around, browse through my helpful blog and resources and enjoy your stay! With lots of LATTE LOVE!
Shawn
