Choosing the Right Coffee Shop Equipment

One of the larger investments cafe owners put into their business is for the equipment to make their delicious beverages. The cost of coffee shop equipment can cost as much as $300,000. But choosing coffee shop equipment is not just a financial devision. Preparing your expertly-crafted drinks requires the right equipment. From brewers to grinders to the espresso machine and more, your investment in the right equipment may be the largest and most important one you make in your coffee business. With so many options, where do you start?

The Essential Coffee Shop Equipment List

 The kind of equipment you have in your shop will depend on the type of beverages you offer your clientele. Here is a short list of some of the more popular coffee shop equipment you may need to serve the best and trendiest beverages to your customers:

Coffee Making Equipment

• Commercial Espresso Machine: The backbone of any coffee shop, vital for espresso-based drinks.
• Coffee Grinder(s): To ensure the freshest brew, have separate grinders for espresso and regular coffee beans.
• Coffee Brewers: Drip coffee makers, single-serve pour-over stations, and possibly a French Press or Aeropress for specialty orders.
• Cold Brew and Iced Coffee Maker: For cold coffee beverages, especially important in warmer seasons.

Barista Tools

• Tamper: For pressing ground espresso before brewing.
• Milk Frothing Pitcher: For steaming milk for lattes and cappuccinos.
• Thermometer: For measuring milk temperature.
• Scales: For precise coffee and water measurements.
• Shot Glasses or Timers: For pulling espresso shots.
• Cleaning Brushes: For the espresso machine and grinders.

Serving Ware

• Espresso Cups and Saucers.
• Coffee Mugs
• To-Go Supplies and Lids
• Glasses for Cold Drinks
• Spoons, Stirrers, and Straws
• Napkins

Additional Equipment

• Refrigeration: For storing milk, cream, and perishable items.
• Blenders: For making smoothies and blended iced coffee drinks.
• Microwave or Oven: For heating pastries or small food items.
• Dishwasher: For cleaning serving ware and utensils.
• Water Filtration System: To ensure the quality of your coffee and protect equipment from hard water damage.

Optional Equipment

• Ice Machine: For iced beverages.
• Pastry Case: To display food items.
• Retail Shelving or Displays: For selling bags of coffee, branded merchandise, and coffee accessories.

Partnering with Dilworth for your Coffee Shop Equipment

Fortunately for us, when we started, the options were more limited and other café operators were kind enough to help us learn and understand so we could find the right espresso, doser grinders and brewers for our first café. Using the lessons we learned during our own journey, we've created a roadmap that we use now to help our wholesale customers open their stores and successfully bring their vision of a coffee shop to life.

If you are just replacing a piece of equipment or an entire espresso bar, and you know what you want, that’s great! We have tons of equipment from all the top brands.

If you're looking for something more custom, we offer a consultation service to help you develop a shopping list of features for an equipment package that works for your vision. Let's chat and figure out exactly what you need.

Starting with the right equipment is the key to preparing and serving quality coffee drinks and keeping your café or coffee shop humming.