Coffee Supplies You Should Always Have in Stock

New to the coffee business? Or finding that every time you place an order, you’ve forgotten something simple? You are not alone, and we’re here to lend a helping hand. This guide is here to help you build or tweak your coffee supplies checklist, so you’ll never be caught off guard without the essentials. Let’s review everything you should consider so you can get back to concentrating on what really matters: making great coffee and putting smiles on your customers’ faces.

To Go/Takeout Supplies

While the charm of your seating areas is surely alluring, a significant portion of your customers are on the go and need single use, disposable cups and containers. Running out of these coffee supplies could throw a wrench in your day, so it’s worth double-checking that you’ve got everything you need:

• Coffee Cups and Lids: Make sure your cups can handle everything from steaming hot lattes to iced cold brews, and that the lids fit snugly—no one wants a coffee spill!

• Straws & Stir Sticks: Consider your sustainability goals when making decisions on these products, as compostable straws and stir sticks can greatly help the environment.
  
  
• Safety Cup Sleeves: While this might seem like an item that wouldn’t stop production, you’d hate to have someone hurt themselves; always keep sleeves on hand for those piping hot cups of coffee and tea.
  
  
• Drink Carriers: If you’ve ever tried to carry even two drinks at the same time, you know how tough it can be to get out your keys and open doors, so don’t forget the drink carriers.
  
  
• Bags & Food Containers: Pastries are safe to place in paper bags, but if you’re serving breakfast burritos or anything more involved, proper containers are essential.

Cleaners & Linens

Nothing will turn a customer away faster than dirty equipment, or even an unkempt bathroom. Even with the best-trained team, having plenty of cleaning supplies from your wholesale coffee supplier makes it easier to keep everything running smoothly. Including these items in your regular orders keeps your shop as inviting and welcoming as it was on opening day.

• Coffee Equipment Cleaners: Equipment is one of your largest investments, so keeping it all clean and running smoothly will be a big help. Balls, liquids, and powders are all great choices, but our guide here will make things clear.

• Surface Cleaners and Sanitizers: A decent all-purpose cleanser will help you clean everything from counters to tabletops and display locations. You'll also need a powerful food-safe sanitizer to keep surfaces germ-free, particularly in places where food is prepared.

• Aprons & Towels: If you work with a linens service, then you’ll want to always be keeping them up to date with how often your staff feels like they are running short of aprons and towels. And don’t forget about napkins for customers!

• Dishwashing Supplies: Keep dish soap, scrubbers, and drying racks on hand for cleaning cups, glasses, and cutlery. Also, wear high-quality drying cloths that will not leave a lint on dishes or glasses.

• Restroom Cleaning Supplies: Things like air fresheners, toilet paper, soap, and disinfectant might not seem like a big deal—until they’re missing. Keep these stocked to keep both your team and customers happy.

Milk & Dairy Alternatives

Everyone has their own unique coffee ritual, and that’s part of what makes it special. Keep a good variety of milk and milk alternatives so you’re ready for anyone who walks through the door; from the lifelong vegan to the lactose-intolerant latte lover, you’ll have the coffee supplies they need.

• Whole & Skim Milk: Many people still prefer these classics, so make sure they are plentiful and stored properly.
  
  
• Milk Alternatives: While you can usually get away with only offering one or two alternatives, it might be helpful to have any preference on hand. Popular picks like almond, oat, soy, coconut, or even hemp are great options.

Filters, Cold Brew Bags, & Sachets

They might be cheap, but running out of these coffee supplies can be a big headache for your business. Be sure you have all the tools necessary to make coffee, cold brew, and tea, any time of day or week.

• Coffee Filters: Whatever your brewing method of choice, quality filters are the secret to crafting that clean, rich cup of coffee that keeps people coming back for more.

• Cold Brew Bags: Cold brew is ever popular, and making it isn’t too hard to whip up. Learn more about it here and then get to stocking.

• Tea Sachets: Always have prepackaged green and black tea on hand for those busy days, and for a more refined experience, use reusable stainless-steel infusers for your loose leaf tea. It’s the kind of thoughtful touch that keeps customer coming back.

 Syrups & Sauces

As we covered in our Upselling Techniques for Coffee Shop Owners blog, specialty beverages are great items to add profitability to your store. The wider range of syrups and sauces you have on hand, the more creative you can get with your offering. Keep these coffee supplies handy so you can whip up those seasonal favorites your customers love:

• Flavored Syrups: While we can’t list out all the syrups here, some of the most important ones to consider stocking are vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, and raspberry.

• Chocolate Sauces & More: From basic mochas to elevated treats, consider having dark, milk, and white chocolate syrups and sauces.

• Sugar-free Alternatives: Just about everything out there comes with a sugar-free alternative, so why not keep a few in stock for customers cutting carbs? 

Try Dilworth as Your Wholesale Coffee Supplier

You’ve checked everything on your list—now it’s time to place your order. At Dilworth Coffee Provisions, we stock over 2,000 SKUs of high-quality coffee supplies, all ready to ship from our North Carolina warehouse to the contiguous USA. Enjoy free shipping on orders over $1,000, or if you’re located in our 14 nearby states, join our Freight and More program for unlimited free shipping on orders over $79—just $99 per month.

Browse everything our well-curated store has to offer!