5 Coffee Shop Ideas that Drive Reoccurring Business

If you want a coffee shop that stands out and has strong profit potential, you need a vibe that grabs customers and keeps them coming back for more. We’ve put together a list of five coffee shop ideas and strategies to help you build a loyal following.

Out-of-home coffee consumption is at its highest level since January 2020, according to the National Coffee Association. At least 45% of Americans enjoyed specialty coffee in the past day, and the popularity of cold brew is helping coffee shops ramp up sales. Although demand for specialty coffee is surging, building a loyal following can be challenging, especially when you’re trying to compete in a crowded market. Having a good coffee shop theme can make all the difference.

Here are five coffee shop ideas to attract repeat customers:

  1. Eco-friendly coffee shop: Appeal to environmentally-conscious consumers by turning to locally sourced ingredients and eco-friendly packaging.

  2. Pet-friendly coffee shop: People love pets. Create a coffee shop that has a pet-friendly patio and pet treats. A cat café where you can enjoy your coffee while petting a friendly feline is a popular alternative.

  3. Coworking coffee shop: At least 37% of job seekers want a fully remote role. While they enjoy the flexibility of working remotely, many turn to their local coffee shop for a change in scenery. Provide a workspace for remote or freelance workers with plenty of plugs, comfortable workspaces, and high-speed Internet access. Having a meeting space can make it easier to host events and provide a solution for people who need a welcoming space to meet with clients.
     
  4. Charity coffee shop: Launch a coffee shop that donates a portion of its proceeds to charity. Investing in your local community shows customers you’re a good neighbor.

Coffee shop franchise: If you want to break into the lucrative coffee market, a coffee shop franchise provides a turnkey business designed to attract repeat customers. It can ensure you have the tools and marketing strategies to compete with other large chains.

Why Repeat Customers Matter

Whether you open a cat cafe or a coffee franchise with a welcoming, casual atmosphere, you’ll need to find a way to make your location stand out from the competition. Repeat customers are the backbone of a coffee shop business. Regulars are more likely than one-time customers to try new offerings, join loyalty programs, and spend more per visit, increasing their overall value to the shop. Current customers spend 67% more than new ones. A loyal customer base provides stability and resilience in a competitive market, where customers have many options. When customers are invested in a particular coffee shop, they’re less likely to be swayed by new competitors or pricing changes.

Let’s explore some surefire ways to drive repeat business once you open your location:

  • Offer food: Having a robust menu creates a dynamic experience and higher average ticket prices. You should have breakfast, lunch, and snack options that cater to multiple dayparts.
  • Launch a rewards program: Loyalty programs encourage repeat visits by giving customers a goal to work toward with each coffee purchase. You can also use the program to advertise specials to keep your business top of mind with customers.
  • Craft seasonal beverages: Rolling out seasonal specials and deals will keep your menu fresh and remind people to visit your shop frequently.
  • Focus on convenience: Creating a welcoming vibe is important, but not everyone has time to enjoy it. Incorporate technology to improve convenience for grab-and-go customers. Providing mobile ordering and contactless payments shows customers you value their time.
  • Solicit feedback: Your customers are your No. 1 resource. Their insights can help improve service, menu offerings, and the overall customer experience. The majority of customers feel higher levels of loyalty to brands that resolve their complaints.
  • Host events: a book club, open mic, or game night is a low-cost way to drive traffic while building community. You can also partner with other small businesses to host a paint and sip, yoga session, pop-up art exhibit, and more.

Provide coffee alternatives: Not everyone loves coffee. Offering alternatives, like energy drinks, matcha, or specialty sodas, can bring in more customers and enable your shop to become a go-to destination for groups. Coffee alternatives also increase business during hours when traditional coffee consumption might slow down.

Learn the Beans & Brews Franchise Difference

Beans & Brews Coffeehouse is searching for single and multi-unit franchisees to help grow our brand. We debuted our first location in 1993 and have more than 80 coffee shops nationwide. We set ourselves apart by serving high-altitude roasted coffee, a smoother alternative.

We’ve honed our strategies and prototypes to generate repeat business. Beans & Brews offers several types of coffee shops, including freestanding, end caps, in-line, and kiosk-style designs. One location that recently opened in Spring, Texas, has comfortable seating for 30 guests and a private conference room for meetings and events. The 12-seat conference room can be reserved for a small fee.

We offer a comprehensive menu with rotating specials. In the fall, Beans & Brews is all about pumpkin spice. We offer a Pumpkin Pie Fritalia, a latte with real pumpkin and spices, topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with nutmeg and cinnamon. Last summer, our orange-flavored Beansicle Swirl helped guests beat the heat. Our line of energy drinks is a great coffee alternative.

Beans & Brews is passionate about supporting the local community. We launched our Brew Good program in 2022, which makes donations to different local organizations and nonprofits. As part of the program, customers vote on which organization receives donations.

Join the Beans & Brews Family!

Get started to learn more about how our franchise coffee shop can help you achieve your entrepreneurial goals. A franchise business consultant will reach out shortly.