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  • #16
    Re: open at last

    Originally posted by GrindOnDemand link=1204830552/0#14 date=1205896631
    Originally posted by askthecoffeeguy link=1204830552/0#13 date=1205895562
    actually the guy who complained was back again for coffee today
    was he armed with a stopwatch Pat? :
    Hi Pat,

    I suggest that you install a Cafe Bar for those like him who want it fast mate  ;D

    Chris

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    • #17
      Re: open at last

      Originally posted by GrindOnDemand link=1204830552/0#14 date=1205896631
      Originally posted by askthecoffeeguy link=1204830552/0#13 date=1205895562
      actually the guy who complained was back again for coffee today
      was he armed with a stopwatch Pat? :
      actually, he had a newish looking mobile phone - one of those ones with a large screen - and he appeared to be counting off the seconds!

      thankfully new coffee machine had it sorted today! ;D

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      • #18
        Re: open at last

        180 coffees today and thats with us still running on a limited food menu!

        Next week some commercial kitchen equipment arrives which will enable us to go into full production mode - looking forward to a corresponding increase in trade!

        having said that the students are on holidays now for two weeks (lucky students!) - so I cant see us being too busy in the interim

        oh well... good time to put procedures in place and to focus on staff training and customer satisfaction

        on a positive note new coffee machine seems to be working well. still experiencing a steep learning curve with same, but appear to be making some progress

        enjoying dialing in preferable temperature on the group heads to complement the flavour profile of the SO Honduras coffee that were using

        Have a happy easter!

        Pat

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        • #19
          Re: open at last

          2 minutes pat? Seriously...you should be ashamed of yourself mate!

          K10 upgrade fever? I say go for it.

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          • #20
            Re: open at last

            Originally posted by Wushoes - David S link=1204830552/15#18 date=1206356033
            2 minutes pat? Seriously...you should be ashamed of yourself mate!
            actually, Im thinking of keeping a broom by the door to sweep the annoying ones out before they get a foot in!

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            • #21
              Re: open at last

              Hows the progress, how many coffees you up to a day now?

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              • #22
                Re: open at last

                270 coffees today!

                Each day were improving upon the day before

                Were now an agent for the Herald Sun, the Age, and the Australian, and theres a special deal available for students, so we literally getting 500 pax plus a day through the door - which is a wonderful start for a new cafe!

                And thanks to Chris from Talk Coffee we also now have the perfect (IMHO) paring of a G10 with a K10 (Expobar espresso machine and Compak WBC grinder, that is)

                Still going through a bit of a learning curve with both machines, even though I have a K10 in my other store - but it still takes time to run-in a new machine, and being a new grinder I find that the grind has to be constantly monitored until the machine finds its level

                Ive purposely put off actively promoting the store, as I want to get our procedures and staffing in place first, but now with this whole being a newspaper agent thing, that theory has flown out the window, as were very busy each day for the two staff we have on (me and the store manager) - and Im now furiously searching for an additional employee to fill the gap

                Kitchen Mark I is starting to come together, with pie oven arriving tomorrow and upright freezer on the way

                But Im going to invest in a commercial glass washer tomorrow - as Im damed if Im going to spend he rest of my days up to my elbows in soap suds...

                Kitchen Mark II will be introduced in a matter of time

                At the moment we buy nearly all our food in from a couple of very good suppliers who make fresh to order each day, and chances are that we will retain some aspect of this in future operations

                But the plan is to put our own kitchen in as soon as prudent to do so, so that we can be more self sufficient, supply multiple stores, and achieve a better return on our produce at the end of the day

                For now though business is good, customers are happy, and we are seeing a noticeable increase in trade each day

                Once we start running with more staff and a fuller menu (in a week or two at the most?), I think that this will have a dramatic impact upon trade, as at the moment a significant part of our earnings is derived from our coffee sales (which Im happy to see continue by the way) - but there is definitely room for improvement in the food department, and this should have a corresponding impact upon all sales

                Were also furiously changing over bench-tops, commercial refrigeration, and putting up shelves, to make the place half-way functional - but these changes are all mostly cosmetic, and a complete over-hall is planed for later in the year

                So I would have to say that business is good and future prospects are good - which is really the most that a new cafe owner can expect to hope for

                That and Im blessed to have found Lucy, our store manager - may she stay with us for many years!

                Cheers,

                Pat

                PS: Still no photos - I have some on my phone but that means switching to a PC to load them up and even the thought of doing that is painful at the moment

                PPS: Got a phone call from the Tax Department in the middle of a busy coffee rush today, and it was one of those calls that you just gotta take ! Man, the look on the customers faces when I was haggling with the tax man (er... woman actually she sounded kinda cute) was priceless!

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