Cafes tend to be small places, often ‘created’, they tend to pop up where traditionally there wouldn’t be one, and definitely not a kitchen. So, the main thing to consider when designing a kitchen in a café is to make the most of the space available. You need to use every inch of space while still being able to create a kitchen that is safe, comfortable to work in and where workflow maximises efficiency.
Types Of Layout
The layout of your café needs to promote easy flow from the prep area, to the cooking area, to plating and serving. This doesn’t mean that they will all look the same. Depending on the shape and size you may choose:
- The Open Kitchen: this layout is probably the best option for the smallest cafes. It doesn’t require a separate room, plus customers can see the cooking process, turning their visit into an ‘experience’.
- The Galley: this can work well if you have just about the right amount of space and the right shape to be able to fit one in. It is a kitchen with two parallel counters, with everything within easy reach. A well-placed prep space and cooking area can create a very effective space for fast operation.
- The L-Shape: if you have slightly more space the L-shape layout can be a great option because it ensures a good distance between the prep area and cooking zone: not only good for health and safety but also for allowing two people to work simultaneously.
- The U-Shape: this is only a good layout for slightly larger spaces. It allows enough space for the best workflow.
How To Choose?
If you’re not sure which layout is the best for you consider that in any café kitchen, you will need the following:
- A storage area for deliveries, boxes etc
- A prep area for chopping, mixing etc
- A cooking area for grilling, frying, etc
- A plating area where you can prepare the dish for serving
- A cleaning area for washing dishes, cutlery and cooking equipment
For maximum flow keep the prep and cooking areas close so that it’s easy to move between them but separate enough to avoid contamination.
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Equipment
Of course, equipment is also of paramount importance – this is where your profits are made – or lost! The right café commercial kitchen equipment will save you space, set up costs, and time and can even add to the appeal of your café; an attractive oven will sit front-of-house, fill your café with freshly cooked aromas and look great!
So, depending on your café and menu, consider the following products:
- Espresso Machine: Essential for any café. Preferably one with a grinder so that fresh coffee beans can fill the room with aroma. With a steam wand to froth milk and make any of the multitude of fresh coffees you’d normally expect from a coffee shop.
- Blender: Very useful for smoothies and frappes but also soups and sauces. A high-powered blender can add to your profits because smoothies and soups have a high return.
- Griddle: These are great for cooking small amounts of eggs, bacon and halloumi but are also versatile. There’s no reason why you can’t make a grilled sandwich on these.
- High Speed Oven: Combining convection and microwave these ovens are fast and perfect for front-of-house. Sausage rolls, pasties, pizzas, and a whole host of other food items are prepared in the time it takes to make the coffee. They are generally ventless which means you can put them anywhere and save yourself the expensive set-up cost of having to install a canopy.
- Countertop Fryer: Turn a potato into chips or fries and you are increasing your profits already. There are numerous types of countertop fryers that are small enough to operate in a reduced space but will work as much or as little as you need them to.
- Refrigeration: Great under-counter refrigerators and freezers for easy access and saving space. There are also slim ranges for spaces that are particularly tight.
- Tables and Sinks: You don’t have to worry about finding an off-the-shelf table or sink that will fit in your small kitchen. It is fully possible to have stainless steel furniture made for your exact space at a similar cost. We can do this, more below.
- Dishwasher: The right dishwasher will also wash glasses as well as dishes. There are plenty of options of different sizes and you are likely to want an under-counter one for space considerations.
Optional items:
You may want to consider some additional items depending on the type of food and the amount of space you have spare in your café kitchen.
Induction unit: so that you have a way to cook with a pan, think primarily of sauces.
Microwave: for the back kitchen to prepare ingredients that are not able to be cooked front-of-house.
Juicer: a dedicated juicer is also a great way to expand your menu and add healthy drink alternatives, especially for children. Oranges too can give you a great return when turned into juice!
Ice Machine: for particularly hot days you may need to add ice to your juices and smoothies. An ice machine is not essential but it can add a bit of pazazz to your drinks.
Bain Marie: you may consider having a bain marie with anything from 2 - 6 pots, these can make it very fast and easy to cover, say, a jacket potato in beans straight from a warmed pot.
Potato Baker: maybe not as traditional as they once were, but a potato baker is attractive enough to keep front-of-house and will prepare perfect jacket potatoes ready for serving. If you’re looking to increase your profits then a jacket potato on a cold day might be just the thing!
Kitchen Solutions: Why Choose Us?
We have designed and set up plenty of cafes, whether on the high street or in church buildings, in kiosks or schools and have a very good idea of how to maximise your space. One of the ways we are able to do this is by designing perfectly fitting stainless steel furniture, tables and sinks that will use all the available space in your kitchen, however small.
We understand that budgets are tight so we will always consider the best way to maximise your profits and minimise your outlay & overheads, without compromising on quality. We know our equipment and can fully advise you on which products are best suited for your operation.
Our main aim when setting you up in your coffee shop is to ensure that you have the ability to sell the best food you can as fast as possible so that your customers aren’t waiting but instead returning again and again…
If you would like to improve the efficiency of your coffee shop but are unsure about which café kitchen equipment is best suited for your needs, please get in touch.
