Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Hi,
I have some experience in Coffee Vans, so allow me to contribute.
Set a budget for your investment, then consider the sales required to make a return plus recover / re pay the initial investment.
A real simple formula might look like:
$50,000.00 investment
Average single transaction $5.00 (small coffee and cake of some description)
10,000 sales required to recover investment alone.
Alternatively
Weekend market attendance 1500 to 2000 people
10% likely minimum penetration of total attendance = 150 to 200 sales
$750 to $1000 Gross takings, less 40% cost
$450 to $600 net.
Invest in quality equipment and maintain it. mechanical failure can keep you from earning, and cost far more than the dollars saved by reduction in maintenance.
We used La San Marco coffee machines that are tough, easily serviced and very affordable.
Wayne.
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Hi Bantam,
Can you please read over http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1187136315 and resize your photos accordingly? They may well get removed because we all prefer to avoid excessive scrolling...
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Note that the last photo is of the lastest Classe 6e with the new steam levers instead of turn knobs. A great machine. Have built eight mobile units now and run three for myself.
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
A photo for you. Toyota Grandia. Tight fit buts works. Ford Transit is best as 300mm wider than Toyotas

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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Older S20. Go 3 group. Two group are just toys when it comes to steam recovery on gas machines

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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Heres a few photos for you. Rancilio 6e gas heated, invertor etc.

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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
I see there is a 2 group Expobar for sale...
mod edit- post modified in line with site posting policy
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Ive seen those jars thundergod, they were in a cafe i used to frequent a while back, gives it a home-made look. I really liked them! (the jars...and the cookies too come to mention it lol )
Another thought, another change of direction...
Would a market stall (6ft x 4ft - or something a bit larger) be a viable alternative to a coffee van?
It would be transported around in my car, generator etc would be covered in the back of the tent- but still make an unpleasant noise i expect. The tent/stalls can be erected with minimal effort from what Ive seen
It would be a far cheaper way to test the market, to see if there is a demand for mobile coffee in my area, but it would lack a part of the certain "mobility aspect" & it might not look as appealing to "would-be customers", but savings would include van, insurance, tax etc.
Im very aware Im straying off the topic with each post I make, so apologies on that part!
Just bouncing out some more ideas, see what opinions I get
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Thanks re bumbag.
The cash register vwould be a lot of extra weight too.
As far as display of brownies etc, it depends on how much stock youll be carrying and whether you can figure a way to display them and still keep them within your reach and out of theirs.
Think back to my suggestion of a small table you can use for a counter.
It would also delineate your work area from the customer space.
EDIT:
Ive seen cookies could stored in a glass jar.
You need to take off the lid, remove the cookie with tongs and bag it.
That keeps them in view but less likely to "walk".
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
haha they can keep the sugar, I was thinking along the lines of snacks like brownies, cookies etc
Alot of the vans have the back & side door open, one for display & one for service.
As it would just be me working, i could only cover 1 side at a time..
The idea of a bumbag is pretty smart - it would save space & the money needed to purchase a cash register.
Must check into it.
Cheers Thundergod
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
#1 Yes, canopy.
#2 Diagree - see pictures in the threads I posted for you. Setup can be as simple as opening a door or two.
#3 Placement - I cant think what could be stolen though. Sugar?
#4 Placement. Alternative is change kept in apron pockets or a bumbag.
Bumbags worked great for all the drivers when I worked at Pizza Hut.
Get one with several sections and its as good as a till (just without a receipt function).
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
This is really good advice, I have some reasons "pro stand-in van" though:
I thought about the "looking down" on a customer downside, never thought of the sweat one - even though it happened to me a lot when I worked in a shop years ago!
Anyways:
#1 When it is raining, I will be inside & not wet (I know you can purchase small canopys though to prevent this)
#2 Set up time on site, is dramatically reduced
#3 Chances of theft are reduced, as everything will be behind the counter
#4 Cash register out in open could be very very dodgy, depending on locations
I am for & against both options, but a van I stand behind would be significantly cheaper I assume..
But at 62" I might not be able to see my customers coming, maybe a convertible van lol
Think I will hold back on roasting for a bit, try & get a hang of the very basic aspects first.
Can hear the coffee trolley coming outside the office now.....instant....again.....
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
With over 600 dubious posts on my part, I thought it was time to comment on something I have a bit of expertise in! ;DOriginally posted by YeeZa link=1211811903/0#14 date=1212127171Tony, I thought it took you a while to come to the party on this one!
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Tony, I thought it took you a while to come to the party on this one!
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Re: which coffee equipment best suits a "Coffee Va
Id strongly advise against the stand inside option with a van, for several reasons:Originally posted by number123 link=1211811903/0#11 date=1212067401... Another factor I must decide is whether to get a van I stand in, or serve from the back (like in the link you told me about). I think one that I stand in would look better, more "organised", for lack of a better word, but standing at 62" that could be a problem lol ...
1) Youd be raised a couple of feet from ground level, & at 62", youd look imposing to customers - think retail psychology ... customers dont want the subconscious message (even though unintended) of being looked down upon;
2) During summer, standing inside a fairly enclosed van will be like working in a sauna (sweat dripping off you aint a good look to customers);
3) An operation structured so you are standing with customers behind the van is more personable & interactive with customers - believe me, they are mesmerised when they can see the whole art of making coffee when theyre virtually standing right next to you whilst youre in action.
Hope this helps
Cheers,
Tony
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