Coffee Shop & Cafe Opening Checklist
A Coffee Shop & Cafe opening checklist covers two jobs before the doors open. First, get the espresso machine and grinder ready. Second, set up a safe shift for staff and customers. Below is the complete 8-point checklist our team uses across Coffee Shop & Cafe with many locations.
The checklist · 8 checks
Get the espresso machine ready
1. Turn on the espresso machine and let it warm up to temperature.A cold machine pulls a weak, uneven shot.
2. Check the water filter is not due for a change.A worn filter changes the water taste and can damage the machine.
3. Dial in the grinder and set the dose (the amount of ground coffee) for the day.The grinder drifts overnight, so it needs resetting each morning.
4. Pull a test shot and taste it before you serve any customer.Tasting confirms the shot is balanced before you sell it.
Set up for a safe shift
5. Stock the handwash station with soap, hot water, and paper towels.Staff need a working handwash station to keep drinks safe.
6. Check that staff wash their hands before they start work.Handwashing at the start of a shift stops germs moving onto food and drink.
7. Mix fresh sanitizer for wipe cloths and check it is at the right strength (ppm).Weak sanitizer will not kill germs, and strong sanitizer can be unsafe on cloths.
8. Ask every staff member about illness before their shift starts.A sick staff member can pass illness to customers through food and drink.
Frequently asked questions
What should a coffee shop opening checklist include?Eight checks in two groups. The first group gets the espresso machine ready: warm up the machine, check the water filter, calibrate the grinder and set the dose, then pull and taste a test shot. The second group sets up a safe shift: stock the handwash station, check that staff wash their hands, mix sanitizer to the right strength, and ask staff about illness before the shift starts.
Why pull and taste a test shot before service?A test shot is the only way to check the machine and grinder together. If the shot tastes wrong, fix it before any customer orders coffee.
How long should opening checks take?Most teams finish these checks in 15 to 20 minutes. Tick each check as you go, and note the time.
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This is the manual version
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