Coffee Bean Shelf Checklist for Coffee Shop & Cafe
A Coffee Shop & Cafe bean shelf holds two risks. Beans sit too long and lose their flavor. Or the shelf runs out and the shop loses the sale. This 8-check routine covers both. Check the roast date on every bag. Sell the oldest bags first (FIFO). Store beans cool, dry, sealed, and out of light. Keep the shelf stocked to par. Pull any bag past its best window. Keep grind-on-request equipment clean. Check every price and tasting-note tag.
The checklist · 8 checks
Check freshness before you stock
1. Check the roast date on every bag before you shelve it.The roast date tells you how fresh the bag is. Do not guess.
2. Store extra bags cool, dry, sealed, and out of direct light.Heat, air, moisture, and light all break down flavor. Keep the stockroom cool and dark.
Rotate stock so beans sell fresh
3. Rotate stock. Put the oldest roast dates at the front.This is FIFO (the oldest stock first). New bags go to the back, not the front.
4. Keep the shelf stocked to par level.Par level is your set stock target for each bag. Reorder before you run out.
5. Pull any bag past its best window off the shelf.Stale beans taste flat. Remove the bag right away and record what you pulled.
Get the details right
6. Clean the grinder and hopper before you grind for a customer.Old grounds left in the hopper change the taste of the new order.
7. Check the price on each shelf tag.Match every tag to your current price list. Fix any tag that is wrong.
8. Check the origin and tasting notes on each tag.The tag must match the bag in front of it. Wrong notes mislead the customer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a bag of coffee beans is still fresh?Check the roast date on the bag. Compare it to your shop's freshness window. If the bag is past that window, pull it from the shelf.
What does FIFO mean for a coffee bean shelf?FIFO means first in, first out. Put bags with the oldest roast date at the front. Sell those first. Put new bags at the back.
How should whole bean and ground coffee be stored?Store bags cool, dry, and sealed. Keep them out of direct light. Heat, air, moisture, and light all break down flavor.
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Sources
Every statistic on this page comes from public inspection and food-safety data:
This is the manual version
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