Staff training is key to maximising sales of coffee in pubs, suppliers say
INVESTING in reliable equipment and staff training could go a long way to building a steady revenue stream from hot beverages.
Suppliers contacted by SLTN said tea and coffee offer a major opportunity for bars and restaurants.
However, efficient kit and knowledgeable staff were cited as key to maximising sales of hot beverages in licensed premises.
Heather Beattie, product/brand manager at Nisbets, said there are a number of factors to contemplate when choosing equipment.
“One of the key considerations when choosing which machine to purchase is to ensure you match the equipment to your outlet and that the beverage produced by the equipment matches the expectation of your customer,” she said.
“Understanding your drinks mix and estimated sales is also essential to selecting the right size machine.”
Garry McFall, sales director at Ionia Espresso, said lower running costs and improved reliability are two reasons why it may be cost-effective for licensees to invest in new equipment.
“Virtually all new machines have built-in efficiency programs that allow the machine to be programmed to power down drastically during closed periods, reducing the energy consumption while reducing technical issues that come with switching machines completely off in the evening when not in use,” he said.
“You really don’t have to spend a lot of money on new equipment to get a fantastic return. Choose your supplier carefully as not always the cheapest is best; but if I can give one piece of advice it would be to ensure that any supplier puts a high level of importance on your staff training, as this is the area that will make your coffee offer a success or a failure.
“This could be as little as some barista training for your staff as I believe that 80% of customers that have had a bad coffee in the last month is directly down to how it was made and not the bean or the equipment.
“Customers on the high street are more than ever these days looking for that perfect coffee and will almost certainly not return if that is not delivered every time.”
Images – Coffee and tea present a major sales opportunity for bars and restaurants, suppliers say.
