Coffee Shop Safety Tips

Safety needs to be an issue you give plenty of attention when you own a coffee shop. The products you sell are supposed to be hot and that can be a problem. You want to be able to serve each customer as quickly as possible. Yet you need to make sure you take the time to cover all the bases when it comes to safety. People can end up getting burned due to spills if you don't.
One of the best ways to keep all your employees safe is to train them well. Don't just assume that they understand the right way to operate your equipment. Even those that have worked in a coffee shop before may find your equipment to be different than what they have worked with before. One of the number one reasons why employees get burned at coffee shops is that they don't really know the right way to use the equipment.
It can get hectic in a coffee shop at various times of the day and everyone needs to be ready for it. Think about this when you are setting up the equipment in the coffee shop. You don't want your employees being in each others way while attempting to serve the drinks people order. Everything needs to be set up efficiently and all the cords need to be out of the way.
Don't cut corners when it comes to the quality of the cups you are offering your products in. They need to be sturdy and well insulated so that customers are protected. Collars that you can slide onto them also help to keep the heat in the cup instead of reaching the hands of the customers.
Lids that fit all the sizes of cups you offer are essential. If you run out of them you may as well close the doors for a while. The lids need to snap into place so that they are secure. Never hand a drink to a customer if you aren't sure the lid is going to stay in place. They don't want hot coffee all over their hands due to such negligence.
There are plenty of lids that offer a small lip on them for sipping the hot drinks. You can also choose those that close all the way. The customer will need to lid a portion of the top back. On some lids there is a piece that slides to the side. This allows an opening for sipping the coffee. It can then be closed back up to prevent spills and to keep the drink hot for as long as possible.
Each coffee shop will have its own dangers to be aware of as well. Keep floors dry so that people don't slip and fall. This can be tricky when the weather is bad so consider floor mats and even a removable carpet that leads up to the counter. Watch for cords in the way and take care of any equipment that is experiencing issues.
There are plenty of things to pay attention to when you own a coffee shop. Safety is one area that you don't want to overlook. It is too important due to the types of products you are serving. Most accidents can be prevented though if you work hard to have effective safety measures in place.

About the Author

Karyn Lewis is passionate about great coffee. If you are thinking of owning a coffee shop, and avoiding the common mistakes new owners make, you can read more at her recommended at her coffee business website.

by: KarynLewis
Total views: 63 Word Count: 563 Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 Time: 1:23 PM 0 comments