At one point or another, every shop owner encounters the tough decision of how much food to have on their menu. We delve into why it’s a great idea to have some options in your coffee shop and how to deal with some of the challenges food presents.

Adding some simple breakfast items can increase your shop’s daily revenue at minimal cost. Pastries are a cafe go-to for good reason: they pair perfectly with coffee. Put them on display near the register and your customers will be tempted to tack on a croissant to their daily drip purchase.

For something more substantial, toasts are highly flexible – put your own spin on them to reflect your coffee shop’s vibe. We’ve seen several delicious variations, all Instagram friendly of course. Avocado toast is a versatile, easy to make favorite that has been adopted from Australian cafes, sure to be a crowd pleaser. (Scroll down for one of our favorite recipes!)

Of course with foods, there are risks and challenges involved. Most produce and other ingredients don’t have the longest shelf life, potentially making them an irritating expense. According to the Small Business Development Center’s 2012 report, food costs take up about 15 percent of revenues on average. How do you get your hands on affordable, fresh produce in order to make these dishes?

When considering adding food, you must assess if you are able to turn a profit given the costs. Reliable, accessible suppliers are hard to come by, but the Supply Store offers tons of affordable produce and more.

Take a look at the recipe for our favorite Avo Toast:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 loaf crusty French or Italian bread, sliced
• 1/2 cup Spreadable butter with olive oil & Sea Salt
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 large ripe avocados, pits removed
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Sea salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. (Or use your toaster :))
• In a small bowl, mix together butter and garlic. Spread generously over each slice of bread. Place slices on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until the butter is melted. Turn the oven to broil and broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until the bread slices are golden brown. Remove from oven and let slices cool slightly.
• In a medium bowl, combine the avocados and lemon juice. Mash with a spoon or fork.
• Top each slice of garlic bread with mashed avocado. Season with sea salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.
• Serve immediately.

(Recipe and Directions taken from Two Peas and Their Pods.)

Need more info? Check out these useful links for more ideas and recipes for your shop:

• Here is a resource on how to make the perfect toast.
• Another useful article on keeping avocados fresh and knowing when they are ripe.
• Or another article on the recipe for top notch looking chewy cookies.