Stepping out of my comfort zone, things I should keep in mind? Setting up my coffee cart.
Posted by Direct_Community9233@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 47 comments
Guys! I’m finally taking the leap and setting up my coffee and matcha stall in a very small event near my house. I love iced lattes and matchas and I live in Buckinghamshire and haven’t been able to find that perfect flavoured matcha lattes and coffee lattes that London has to offer. I make it for myself and home and I’ve always had the dream to have my own matcha and coffee cart for events and private events but was too scared to do anything. I thought 100 times about going into this small event but I’ve finally filled the form and made up my mind.
Please can you share what to keep in mind to make sure I do nothing wrong? I’ve already requested a pat test for my coffee machine but anything else? Thanks
LadyMirkwood@reddit
You can do food certification online.
You'll need liability insurance.
Do you have adequate equipment to keep ingredients at a safe temperature? Do you know the correct temperatures and how to measure them accurately?
You need to be scrupulous about allergen information. If you are offering non dairy milks, do you have a way to throughly clean utensils and equipment between drink orders?
Do you know how to brew different coffee types and how long for? The ratios for different drinks, how not to scorch the grounds and the different milk foam density for different types of coffee (microfoam for Flat Whites, dry foam for Cappuccino, etc). You will idealwant a blend of Robusta and Arabica for the best coffee
Source: Ex Barista.
apple_kicks@reddit
Lots of paper cups and more
Gold-Creme-9597@reddit
All the boring stuff, food hygiene cert, insurance etc. Controversial maybe for your area but I would ditch cash entirely, most people dont have it anyway and for the agg it'll cause you it wont be worth it, it also slows you down.
Try and have a USP, people really care about things like zero waste, where stuff comes from, eco packaging etc. Cannot stress enough that you should look at selling things like cans of sparkling water, cartons of regular water and pre packaged snacks if you dont want to get into the baked goods game, this will instantly increase your spend per head. Things like chocolate covered dried fruit etc keeps the GF crowd and everyone else happy and there's LOADS out there. Look at wholesalers who you'll need for milk etc anyway.
You'll need to think about how you keep things cold enough especially in summer and offer alternative milks. Basically, know your people and make it at a price point where you going to get as much trade as you can.
WanderWomble@reddit
Not sure if you'll be selling snacks but if so please have gluten free because they're really hard to find in a lot of coffee spots!
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
I will in future is we get any positive response from this event :)
theblandal0rian@reddit
Seconding the snacks, I love a wander around with a nice coffee and a treat. Don’t forget about cross contamination and celiac’s too, gluten free doesn’t always equal celiac friendly so up to you on where you land on that but it would definitely be appreciated
Past-Obligation1930@reddit
OP should sell snacks. You can increase your profits significantly per interaction simply by selling a bar (which takes zero prep time, unlike the coffee). Choose some shelf stable bars (flapjack?) that won’t melt if it’s hot, and maybe some cake bars (again, shelf stable). I would not get more than 10 % GF, since they might be less likely to sell, and you don’t want money tied up in stock.
worldworn@reddit
Might be obvious, but you can batch make your matcha.
I freeze mine, dead easy to portion out for later.
There's a bit of a trick to making sure it mixes properly, but not all that difficult.
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
That’s amazing tip! Thanks how do you store yours?
worldworn@reddit
I have large ice cubes trays.
Once I figured out the right water to matcha ratio, it was pretty easy to portion up.
I put them in boiling water and whisk, seems to work well.
Past-Obligation1930@reddit
Have you got the food hygiene certificates you need?
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
No but it’s on my priority list to get it sorted. Any idea what do they check as this will be my first time. Will they come and check at the event?
Rusty_Tap@reddit
It's unlikely they'll visit you at an event. Possible, but unlikely. What will probably happen is that when you set up your business and register as a mobile food handling entity, you'll appear on their radar and they'll eventually contact you to come and see what you're up to.
You will need your food hygiene before they visit you or you'll get a slap on the wrist. If you don't get one before they come back then they'll likely take some action towards having you shut down until you've sorted yourself out.
Get yourself the Safer Food, Better Business book. This is something that will protect you, there's a huge amount of information in it for your food safety and also is a daily diary that you will fill out so that if they do visit you, you can show them that you're keeping track of things like deliveries, events that happened and how you handled them, like if you were to accidentally drop a bag of coffee beans you don't then sweep them and pour them straight into your grinder, temperatures of your fridges etc.
The SFBB book used to be around £30-45, but there are pdfs online that you can print for free if you wish (I would buy one, then print the extra diary pages if you need them).
CautiousAmount@reddit
SFBB is here https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/safer-food-better-business-sfbb
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
Thank you x
Rusty_Tap@reddit
Appreciate you.
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
I’m happy to contact them myself to sort out insurance and food hygiene certification once I start my cart. Want to do it the right way
Past-Obligation1930@reddit
I have no idea, I’m not in food prep, but it was my first thought.
gingerchris@reddit
Best bet is to speak to someone at your local council. They will be fully geared up to help you with all the requirements to pass their checks
No_Ring_3348@reddit
How will you control for EGCG levels in your matcha?
rc_bris@reddit
There may be people attending who've never tried matcha and so won't want to buy a full drink. You might want to consider samples to draw in a crowd?
tiorzol@reddit
Yea that's a really good idea. I wish I could've sampled it so I could've just got a coffee instead l
QuantitySharp2662@reddit
This comment reads like you were killed before finishing it lol
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
Good advice, will do that
iamdadmin@reddit
Public liability insurance, you’ll need business car/vehicle insurance for moving the cart, food hygiene, you’ll need some Point of Sale stuff, banks like Monzo do a card reader you can use through your phone, and you can attach it to a business bank account.
While you don’t need accounting software per se, something like Xero can make tracking invoices and costs etc because you just upload it an attach it to the bank transaction. So it makes doing taxes much simpler.
katie-kaboom@reddit
Not something you'd be doing wrong, just a suggestion: get some bottled water and sell it for a reasonable price. Water can be really hard to find at these events and standing in line twice is very frustrating.
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
That’s a great idea! Thanks
struwilkie@reddit
Where in Bucks?
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
Aylesbury
Temporary-Zebra97@reddit
Sounds a bit daft, but I saw this recently at a Uni event. Coffee stall with limited offering, really nice coffee great homemade cakes and snacks and very popular solid line of customers, by 2pm they stopped serving as they ran out of milk. 2 staff there just stopped and were about to pack up until someone said there was a Tesco express over the road.
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
Yes it can be a sell out if the coffee is good. Hoping to get a good turn out too
gingerchris@reddit
Make sure you give due consideration to branding and design - especially as a new business it’s really important how you present yourself. So many businesses are starting up now with AI designed logos and menus and it all looks the same, low effort and lack of care. I saw somewhere yesterday selling “wing’s” and that apostrophe triggered something subconscious in me
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
I agree! I do know a bit of content creation so I will be doing it all organically without using AI. Will try to make it as aesthetic as possible
CautiousAmount@reddit
Make sure there's enough power available at the event
Card reader or cash only? Some people won't have cash
Get a clear sign with prices/options. Otherwise people will just walk past
How to handle a busy queue - is it just you?
Get feedback! So important for this
Also the boring stuff - get insurance, look at the FSA, etc
One for the future - web/social media presence so people can see where you're going to be next and also maybe a loyalty card?
Make a note of all income/costs so you can forecast for future events
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much!
Yes I’ve asked for the power.
Cash and card both.
I have designed and printed menu with prices. Since it’s my first time I’m keeping the menu very simply with 2 type of matchas and 3 types of coffees.
It will be me, my husband and a friend of mine.
I do know quite a bit of social media so I’ve already started creating content for it.
WhoLets1968@reddit
Insurance...for when it goes wrong otherwise you could be failed at the first step.
A good local broker should get you cover..there are plenty of schemes and insurers who do retailer insurance.
If you don't have a broker ask any local friendly businesses...or look at FCA website.
And make sure they are registered with FCA...if they are they will show their FCA reg number on documents and website which you can check on the FCA website
AggressiveAd5248@reddit
Best of luck! Please reply to this thread or make a new post and link it here or something about what you ACTUALLY did and how it ACTUALLY went. I’d find that interesting.
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much! I will post an update for sure :)
HeverAfter@reddit
There should be a local business enterprise set up near you to help you with everything. They will be so valuable in terms of knowledge and advice.
hairlikebrianmay@reddit
How do other people like your coffee?
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
People who have tried it, really liked it. Especially the matchas. I do flavoured lattes and matchas. For example
hairlikebrianmay@reddit
I'm not a coffee drinker but I do know it can be something people take very seriously so if you are confident in what you make and you think you can offer something different that coffee lovers will appreciate then give it a try. Get some really small cups to lure people in with a free taster. Good luck
JoeDaStudd@reddit
You need insurance, hygiene training and certification.
Have you done a test run?\ Eg making say 15 different versions in 15 minutes aiming for no longer than a 2 minute wait between ordering and serving.
There will also be the logistics of getting power and water along with keeping anything that needs to be cold cold and ensuring you have enough supplies for the event.
MaximumRequirement60@reddit
A provision for hand washing within the cart
summerloco@reddit
What’s the name of the business and where can you be found? If I’m passing through bucks I’d stop by.
Direct_Community9233@reddit (OP)
Thank you so much! I’m just starting so I don’t have a formal place yet. However I will be setting up in events and will be available for private events.
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