Improve Your Cafe's Efficiency And Ambience By Relocating Your Smallwares
Posted on: 7 March 2016
By definition, smallwares are small restaurant equipment supplies. Per the IRS, smallwares are items that cost less than $500 and are used in the food service industry. The category includes things like glassware, bar supplies, storage supplies and utensils used for food prep. Although small, the placement of these items has a big impact on a coffee shop's efficiency and feel. If you manage a cafe, here's how to place your coffee shop's smallwares so that they improve the speed of service and add to the atmosphere.
Put Steaming Pitchers on the Right of Your Espresso Machine
Espresso-based beverages, such as cortados, cappuccinos and lattes, are some of the most time-consuming drinks coffee shops offer. They're also some of the most popular drinks. Thus, even a small change that reduces how long it takes to make these beverages will have a significant impact on the total efficiency of your cafe.
To speed up how long it takes to make these drinks, place the steaming pitchers that baristas use on the right side of your espresso machine. This has two benefits.
First, if your espresso machine only has one steam wand, it's likely on the right side of the machine. Keeping the steaming pitchers on the right will reduce how far baristas need to move them when steaming milk.
Second, most baristas are right handed. Placing pitchers on the right of the machine ensures they don't need to reach across their body to grab the pitchers. Not only does this shave a few seconds off the time it takes to make a drink, but it also reduces the likelihood that baristas spill. Cleaning up spills takes a few moments and breaks the workflow, so anytime they can be avoided will improve overall operations.
Keep Portafilters in Group Heads
Portafilters, the handled smallwares that hold espresso grounds, should be kept in your espresso machine's group heads when they aren't being used. (The group heads are where steam comes out to make espresso.) Keeping portafilters in the group heads will do the following:
- prevent them from being misplaced and lost
- make sure the counter is free of clutter, so baristas have space for other tasks
- give your espresso machine a traditional look that customers expect
Place the Dump Box on the Left of Your Espresso Machine
Your dump box, into which used espresso grounds are dumped, ought to be close to your espresso machine so that baristas don't need to reach far. Assuming your steaming pitchers are on the right of your machine, the next closest space is on the left side of it. Keeping the box on the opposite side of the milk pitchers will also prevent any grounds from accidently getting into the milk being steamed.
Display Fancy Coffee Makers Opposite Your Espresso Machine
Fancy coffee makers, such as iced coffee brewers and pour-over stations, ought to be prominently displayed opposite your espresso machine. By putting them on the opposite side of your cafe as the espresso machine, you'll ensure that baristas have plenty of room to use the espresso machine. Some of these fancy coffee makers, after all, can require a lot of space.
You'll also create two visual anchors in your coffee shop. On one end, customers will see your espresso machine, with steaming pitchers, portafilters and a dump box all in their place. At the other end, they'll be able to watch iced coffee and pour-overs be made. Both are artistic ways to make drinks, and keeping them away from each other will create balance in your cafe
If you haven't reviewed the layout of your coffee shop recently, consider where smallwares are placed. Perhaps rearranging these small restaurant equipment supplies according to these four tips could have a big impact on your cafe's efficiency and ambience.
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