Coffee Shop Design & Layout Tips (With Examples)

Coffee Shop Design & Layout

Coffee Shop Design & Layout

Designing Your Coffee Shop Success

The thought of designing your coffee shop is a lot of fun. After all, you get to showcase your creativity that reflects your vision and coffee brand.

Coffee shop design isn't simply about the look and feel of your space but also functionality and effective workflow.

The design of your coffee shop impacts each customer's mood, energy, comfort level, and overall experience – but it also affects your efficiency, effectiveness, and capacity to fulfill orders quickly.

 In other words, your design can increase customer satisfaction and generate greater sales.

Indeed, not every coffee business concept fits every physical location. So, while you may have a design in mind, such as a concept that is bursting from the inside, you may have to adjust your design and layout due to the available space or money.

Your Coffee Shop Design & Layout

What do you want to accomplish?

Our physical surroundings can impact how each of us feels. For example, a space can make us feel comfortable and energetic, cold and unwelcome.

How your customers feel about your coffee shop space – and your business – will ultimately determine your level of repeat business, word-of-mouth recommendations, and profitability.

Do you want your coffee customers to stay around and linger? Do you want them to leave as soon as they get their coffee? Your design and layout will be decided.

Further Reading: Coffee Shop Ideas & Concepts

Before Starting Construction on Your Coffee Business

Your coffee shop or coffee design will be based on several factors:

• Lease agreements
• Zoning regulations
• Building codes
• Budget

If you have a vision in mind for your coffee business space, designing your coffee shop will be lots of fun – however, there are a few things that you will need to consider first. 

Let's discuss a few essential items you must consider as you plan and design your coffee shop business.

Coffee Shop Design & Layout Elements

Get the Help You Need

Getting the help you need to design your coffee shop may be essential. Indeed, paying for the experience and expertise of an interior consultant may help make your life much easier.

If you hire a professional designer or architect, ensure they have experience designing coffee shops, cafes, or restaurants in your state. Again, this is because regulations can change from state to state.

Coffee Shop Building & Health Code Regulations

You will likely need to submit a plan to your county's building department. In addition, you will need to make sure that your property is in the correct zone for your business type. For example, your proposed coffee shop startup may be fine, but starting a coffee roastery would not be.

Understanding what your specific location is zoned for will help you determine the appropriate course of action. This may include signage for your coffee business and placement of outdoor seating, for example.

After you understand the parameters you will work with, much of the design will ultimately depend on you and your coffee business vision.

Your health department will have its own set of regulations – everything from design materials and ventilation to the number of sinks you'll need. So be sure to check with them first before finalizing your design and layout.

Further Reading: How to Choose Your Coffee Shop Location

Situated in the historic Pike Place Market, the “first” Starbucks has a minimalist setting – no seating and no public restrooms. The above graphic is an approximate drawing of their coffee shop design and layout.

Your Coffee Shop's Physical Space

Each physical space will generate its own set of possibilities. This is exciting. A space can be your canvas for your creativity and vision.

However, remember that there will be factors you may be unable to control. These may include load-bearing walls that can't be removed or other specific regulations that must be considered before remodeling. So there will be several variables to consider before tearing down any walls.

Sometimes, you might have plenty of freedom and flexibility with wide-open spaces. Other times, you might be heavily restricted by design, tenant lease terms, regulations, permit issues, as well as your budget.

Consider your design layout possibilities and any potential restrictions and anticipated costs before signing your coffee shop lease agreement.

Your Coffee Shop Lease

Your coffee shop property lease terms should be written to help you develop your coffee shop how you see fit. However, it is common that a coffee shop business lease may dictate what your final concept will look like.

Before you start tearing down any walls, you want to make sure that you can remodel your coffee shop's design with the landlord's approval you are leasing from. Unfortunately, some leasing agreements may prevent you from doing anything to your space – so be sure to check. Additionally, ensure that you have the consent in writing – that expressly permits you to proceed.

Further Reading: Your Coffee Shop Property Lease 

Milstead Coffee & Co.'s design and layout are both functional and streamlined for maximum efficiency and enjoyment of coffee. Its large windows offer plenty of natural light, and its high ceilings maximize the spacious setting for customers to linger.

Your Coffee Shop Budget

Developing your coffee shop budget should factor into the equation when creating your design ideas and concept.

As you develop your budget, you'll have to see how much your account will go towards building out your café.

The coffee shop design budget will include the following:

• Cost of materials.
• Cost of contractors, such as certified plumbers, electricians, carpenters, interior designers, and architects.
• Cost of hiring a café design specialist to develop scaled plans and help you with permitting.

 The more elaborate your concept and unique your design, the more money you will spend.

Further Reading: Requirements to Open a Coffee Shop

Other Coffee Shop Design & Layout Considerations

Does your coffee shop design complement the coffee?

Ultimately, your coffee shop is about the coffee it serves and the experience it provides. Will the design of your café help you deliver the best coffee, the best service, and the most appealing space and experience?

Consider the following factors:

Your Coffee Shop Menu

Your coffee shop design should complement what you are serving. For example, will you need a slow brew bar? Will you serve ice cream or sandwiches? How will your menu choices and customer seating mesh together to offer your customers an ideal experience? Do you want to highlight the culture of the countries you get your coffee from? Or do you want to provide a sleek design next to a minimalist menu?

Your Customer Service

What type of service will you provide? For example, will it be coffee on the go, or will you offer table waiting? Is your business a small mobile business or a full-on cafe with seating? How will your design, tables, chairs, and space be designed to create the best customer experience?

Further Reading: Your Coffee Shop Permits & License Requirements

Coffee Business ADA Compliance

Your coffee shop design should be ADA-compliant and offer accessibility to all your customers and employees. The ADA is an important law and a moral obligation to your staff and customers. Offering accessibility is central to businesses in the United States and other countries. Following guidelines is not only the right thing to do, but it’s profitable to do so because you alienate fewer people.

Coffee Branding

Your coffee shop brand is an important connection that you will have with your customer. It’s important to invest in. Will your café layout and design work with your overall branding goals?

Your Coffee Furniture

Your choice of furniture will impact the feel of your café. Will your coffee shop have a modern, clean look? Will it be more rustic-looking? What will your furniture look like?

Lighting

How will your lighting play into your design? Will you have to spend money on lamps and fixtures? Your lighting plays a role in the “look and feel” of your café.

The Need for Speed

Your design must consider the speed at which your customer wants their service. Are they on-the-go customers looking for convenience, or are they looking for a slow pace, relaxation, and seclusion? This will impact your layout, seating, and service area.

Uptown Espresso's West Seattle location offers the perfect place to camp and study or meet with your clients. Its large space allows for customers to enjoy their coffee and time with each other. 

Design Your Coffee Shop with the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed on July 26, 1990. It was a historic piece of civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities.

• The ADA ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to opportunities and programs.
• Entities with 15 or more employees must comply with ADA and provide accommodations to their employees.
• If state and local laws are stricter, businesses must comply with the more stringent regulations. (In Washington, companies must comply with ADA regulations with only eight employees.)

Take steps to avoid lawsuits or fines.

• Stay up to code with physical accessibility.
• Call the local ADA center for advice; the staff can come for personal consultations.
• Make sure employees follow positive customer service practices and provide employee training.

Victrola Coffee Roaster's 15th Ave. location in Seattle offers a cozy environment where customers can linger, talk to neighbors, or work at tables. Their use of space, furniture placement, and lighting create a welcoming environment for customers and create an efficient coffee bar that allows for fast service.

Mistakes coffee business owners make in complying with ADA

Inaccessible entrances: steps rather than ramps, narrow entrances, high thresholds, etc.

Limited wheelchair access in the seating area: not enough space between tables, or tables cannot be moved.

Inaccessible restrooms: inappropriate doors, narrow stalls, no space under the sink, etc.

Parking: no designated spots.

Employee attitudes toward people with disabilities.

It's essential that about half of anticipated accommodations can be very inexpensive, especially when thought of in advance. So, for example, even sign language/translations are not very expensive. The employee attitude doesn't cost you anything other than appropriate employee training.

Further Reading: Steps to Open a Coffee Shop Successfully

Your Beautiful Coffee Shop Design

Your design and layout play important roles in your ability to do your job and create a unique customer experience.

Before deciding on a coffee shop location, you may want a sketched-out layout, color scheme, and a list of materials you'd like to use. And then only set out to look for an appropriate coffee shop location that can contain your vision and layout.

Indeed, your design is personal and essential – allowing you to embed your vision, creativity, and heart.

By embedding accessibility and an efficient workflow into your design, comfortable seating, and inviting ambiance, you'll be better positioned to maximize your sales, improve your customer's experience, and create the coffee shop you've always dreamed of.

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Coffee Shop Startups

Based in Seattle, Washington, USA, Coffee Shop Startups is dedicated to providing you with the most relevant information on how to start a coffee shop business successfully. Over the last 11 years, we've helped thousands of aspiring coffee business owners worldwide. We harness the experience, wisdom, and knowledge of many successful coffee shop owners to help you increase your chances of success and profits. We support business owners who want to start a coffee business by providing them with valuable information on starting their coffee business successfully.