Coffee Shop Equipment List

Espresso Machine

Choosing the correct espresso machine for your shop allows you to transform coffee beans into your signature lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, and other specialty drinks. These espresso-based drinks will not only draw in customers, but they will boost your revenue more than selling only plain, black coffee. Your espresso machine will be the workhorse of your coffee shop, so make sure to do due diligence when researching the right one to purchase.

Espresso Grinder

Freshly ground coffee beans remain crucial to an excellent cup of coffee. Therefore, an espresso grinder is a must-have for your coffee shop. Grinding fresh coffee beans throughout the day increases the surface area of the bean to draw out the distinct taste and aroma of different coffee brews. Waiting to grind beans even 10 minutes before brewing can cause a noticeable decline in the flavor. Since many of your specialty drinks require using your espresso machine, using an espresso grinder ensures the beans have the ultra-fine grind the machine needs.

Regular Coffee Grinder

Not every customer will want an iced pumpkin spiced latte with low-fat milk and three extra pumps of vanilla syrup. A regular commercial coffee grinder prepares beans for brewing regular and decaf drip coffee. Since this will likely be in lesser demand than your espresso-based drinks, you should only need one.

Coffee Brewers

There are many different coffee brewers out there, each with unique benefits. Automatic brewers allow you to quickly brew coffee without any additional supervision while pour-over brewers provide more control over the coffee-making process. If you serve a large number of customers in a short period, a coffee urn might be the best choice for you with its large capacity.

Decanters, Airpots, and Satellite Servers

Coffee often brews into glass decanters, but airpots and satellite brewers keep coffee warm for longer when separated from their base. These are great options for a self-serve station that will lessen wait times and increase distribution within your coffee shop.

Coffee Roasters

While many coffee shops choose not to roast their own coffee beans, some capitalize on the benefits of buying coffee roasters and roasting their beans in-house. This offers you more control over the roast of your beans and provides unique flavor profiles of coffee. Additionally, roasting your own coffee beans can save money that you might spend paying someone else to roast your beans.

Frappe and Smoothie Blenders

If you offer frozen espresso-based drinks, you need frappe and smoothie blenders for those iced lattes, frappes, and macchiatos. Be sure to purchase one with a sound shield, which will allow you to make drinks without disturbing the relaxed ambiance of your establishment. Choosing a high-speed blender creates a smoother consistency and faster service, while using a granita machine keeps iced and frozen drinks ready to serve.

Iced Tea Brewers and Iced Tea Dispensers

From traditional iced tea to southern sweet tea, iced tea is a classic drink that customers love to sip in the summer. Purchase an independent iced tea brewer and dispenser if you have enough space but buying a combination coffee and tea brewer saves counter space for smaller establishments.

Hot Water Dispenser

Hot water is used for beverages and cleaning in a coffee shop, so having an independent hot water dispenser increases efficiency. Although many coffee machines come with a built-in hot water faucet, a standalone hot water dispenser reduces long lines of people trying to get their drinks.

Espresso Tampers

An espresso tamper is a small handheld tool that compresses ground espresso beans into the portafilter basket before brewing. This process ensures that the grounds are packed evenly inside the basket, making it vital to creating the perfect espresso shot. Make sure that the size of the tamper matches the size of the portafilter baskets on your espresso machine.

Frothing Pitchers

Used with the steam wand on your espresso machine to foam milk, frothing pitchers help in making specialty drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. The convenient spout on the pitcher also allows baristas to add the milk in artistic designs to the espresso.

Knock Boxes

Knock boxes collect spent coffee and espresso grounds to keep wet, heavy grounds out of your trash can. A knock box has a bar across the middle so you can knock grounds out of the portafilter and basket for easy disposal.

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Having the right amount of every ingredient is crucial, so purchase plenty of measuring cups and spoons. Some manufacturers even make measuring scoops specifically for coffee applications.

Portion Scales

Scales help maintain inventory by portioning out ingredients or bulk coffees to bag and sell. A simple electronic scale or mechanical portion control scale will meet the needs of most coffee shops.

Tea Ball Infusers and Lemon Wedge Bags

Designed to infuse delicious flavors into beverages without leaving any debris behind, these tea accessories will make your tea drinkers feel at home. Plus, tea ball infusers allow you to serve loose leaf tea to your customers so they can steep their tea to their tastes.

Syrup Pumps

Quality syrup pumps keep your flavoring syrups flowing. Designed to dispense a certain amount of syrup with one pump, they make consistent drinks and manage your inventory simultaneously.

Frothing Thermometers

Specifically designed to attach to frothing pitchers, frothing thermometers aid in precise temperature monitoring of your drinks.

• Coffee mugs and tea cups: For customers who choose to drink their coffee inside your shop, keep a stash of ceramic coffee mugs and tea cups of different shapes and sizes to serve them their drinks.
• Espresso cups: Smaller than traditional mugs, espresso cups are designed to hold a 1 oz. shot of espresso or a 2 oz. double shot for customers who need an extra caffeine boost.
• Sugar pourers: Simple and easy to use, sugar pourers let customers sweeten their drinks themselves, and they are easy to refill when they run low.
• Creamers: Offering fresh cream in creamers at your condiment station or on the table helps cater to the different tastes of your customers.
• Coffee filters: Brew coffee easily without worrying about the grounds getting into your coffee pot by using coffee filters.

• Coffee and Espresso: Naturally, coffee and espresso are essential ingredients for coffee shops. While espresso is used as a base for specialty coffee drinks, regular coffee possesses a lower caffeine concentration and caters to on-the-go customers. Having different roasts and flavored varieties of coffee offers more opportunities to customize your daily menu.
• Tea Bags or Loose Tea: Served hot and cold, bagged and loose-leaf tea is a refreshing and versatile drink with many flavors like standard black, white, green tea, fruity or herbal teas, and special organic options.
• Hot Chocolate: Enjoyed by many customers all year round, hot chocolate has transformed over the years from a simple treat into a gourmet beverage with different seasonal flavoring options.

• Milk: As a staple ingredient to specialty coffee and espresso drinks, keeping a supply of milk on hand ensures that you continue serving customers’ favorite drinks all day. For your vegan customers, offer to use a plant-based milk option in their drinks.
• Chai: Full of naturally energizing botanicals, chai is a popular drink around the world. With the addition of milk and espresso, you can even make chai lattes or frappes topped with whipped cream as one of your specialty drink options.
• Flavoring syrups: For customized drinks and seasonal favorites, use flavoring syrups to offer traditional flavor additions or a holiday spin for customers’ drinks. There’s a large assortment of flavors available, including traditional French vanilla, holiday-favorite pumpkin spice, and unique toasted marshmallow.
• Sweeteners: Whether you offer them on individual tables or in a central location, it’s important to provide sweeteners to allow your customers to sweeten their drinks to their individual tastes.

• Paper hot cups and lids: With options for different styles and materials, paper hot cups and lids keep customers’ drinks warm and secure while they’re on the go.
• Plastic cups and lids: Use plastic cups and lids to provide a to-go option for your iced and frozen drinks. While heavy-duty cups are great for your specialty drinks, consider keeping a supply of small, thin cups for people who just want water.
• Custom coffee sleeves: While custom coffee sleeves protect people’s hands from getting burned on their hot cups, they also provide an opportunity to continue showcasing your logo and brand.
• Straws and stirrers: Some customers prefer adding sugar and creamer to their drinks, so be sure to have straws and stirrers available to help them blend their drinks.
• Take-out cup carriers: For the intern picking up drink orders for the office, cardboard take-out cup carriers make carrying multiple cups easy and mess-free.
• Coffee to-go boxes: If you plan to cater events, coffee to-go boxes are a must-have. There are options with dispensers or spouts to pour coffee, as well as ones with storage compartments for cups and straws.

Coffee Equipment Cleaners and Coffee Pot Cleaners

Commercial coffee brewers should be cleaned every night to prevent the buildup of coffee debris and oils inside the machine or carafe, which cause odd tastes and smells if they accumulate. Use a special coffee equipment cleaner and wipe down both interior and exterior parts, and thoroughly wash any removable parts. This helps extend the life of the machine and saves you money in the future. For more information, check out this guide on how to clean a coffee maker.

Espresso Equipment Cleaners

The best way to clean your commercial espresso machine is to backflush it with a specialized espresso equipment cleaner at the end of every night. Also, remember to soak portafilters and baskets once a week in a mixture of the same cleaner and water. This prevents the buildup of espresso grounds and their oils in the group heads, shower screens, and portafilter baskets.

Milk Frother and Steam Wand Cleaners

Cleaning the equipment used in conjunction with dairy products is doubly important, and these milk frother and steam wand cleaners are specially designed to break down milk protein buildup to keep your machines sanitary.

Beverage Equipment Cleaning Brushes

Brushes allow you to clean tough stains more easily as well as get into the cracks and crevices that are often missed during regular cleaning.

Espresso Machine Maintenance Kit

Keeping items like a stubby flathead screwdriver and an awl on hand to tighten screws and change gaskets on your machines allows your staff to complete small maintenance tasks quickly and get back to serving your customers.

Water Filters for Hot Beverage Equipment

The basic ingredient of any drink is water, so installing a water filter will improve the flavor, smell, and overall appearance of your products. Additionally, many filters remove sediment and reduce scale build-up to protect the inner components of your equipment, which cuts down on maintenance and prolongs the life of your brewers.