If you’re going to invest in a coffee shop business class, it’s a good idea to see what former students have to say about their experience. Many barista training programs or coffee education programs claim their classes will help you open a coffee shop. Can they prove it? Here are a few things to think about as you research the best coffee business courses:
Cold brew coffee is trending in 2023, and the menu item seems like it’s here to stay. The National Coffee Association found that 17% of coffee consumers drank a cold brew in the past week. Gen Z, in particular, is keen on the beverage. And even though iced coffee is selling year round, the summertime is sure to keep your baristas busy pouring cold brew.
In today’s world of convenience and on-demand everything, the customer experience can begin to feel pretty transactional. We order clothes, books, and tools online without asking a sales associate for help. People pull up to a drive thru, speak to a screen, and swap our card for a food order. And we slide into the backseat and stare at our phones during an Uber ride.
If a customer prefers to get what they need quickly and go on their way,
Our world seems to be moving at hyper speed. Chatbots are writing articles (but not this one), cars are starting to drive themselves, and we’re drinking cold brew from cans. It wasn’t long ago that Third Wave Coffee hit the scene, and words like “artisan,” “craft,” and “pour over” made their way into the mainstream population’s vocabulary. Now, one global pandemic and a new generation of coffee drinkers later, where does that leave us? Coffee shop culture and trends continue to evolve.
Have you ever heard of the 4 P’s of marketing? Popularized in the 1950s by a Harvard professor, the 4 P’s outline the most important parts of a business’s marketing strategy: product, price, place, and promotion. And they can help define how to think about your 2023 coffee shop marketing plan.
In your case as a coffee shop owner, the physical product is coffee. It should be great tasting and approachable specialty coffee that delights customers with every cup.