Vincent’s Two Cafes

“I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.” Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh’s two ultra-famous caf

]]> http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/analysis-of-the-night-cafe-vincent-van-gogh/feed 5 http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/how-to-start-a-cafe-coffee-shop http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/how-to-start-a-cafe-coffee-shop#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:00:21 +0000 admin http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/?p=7

The first thing to think about when starting a Cafe or Coffee Shop is your level of passion for people. Yes, people not Coffee, although that certainly helps. Make no mistake, the Cafe Coffee shop business is all about people. People are looking for quality, comfort and somewhere they can go where they are made to feel welcome and ultimately, remembered.

If you place your focus for a cafe or Coffee Shop business on being about your customers experience you will trump any competitor because your customers will feel important and loved and you will stand apart from any service that is lacking. Simple.

Secondly, you need to be able to be organized and assertive enough to train and manage staff. This is important because your staff will model your culture and have to be guided into making the experience for the customer ‘all about them’ the minute they walk in your door. Never rest making sure this happens for your customers daily and every single customer will love you for it. Remember, return business is the lifeblood of success.

if you are able to take the lead and create a staff culture that is friendly, efficient, highly attentive and serve good quality food and coffee, you will be way ahead of 90% of your competition. So many Cafes and Coffee shops worldwide let themselves down. Its not hard to cater to your market once you know who they are and what they want.

That brings me to the next fundamental item you need to be able to deal with. Your appearance and hygiene have a lot of impact on how you are perceived by your customers. Don’t kid yourself that customers won’t notice sloppy appearance and hygiene. This goes hand in hand with the environment and ambiance you create in your cafe Coffee shop. Make yourself, your staff and your cafe sparkle and shine in every way possible. You will gain huge points for this simple effort.

Once you have mastered the above in your cafe, you then implement the finer touches of customer satisfaction. Remember it’s the little things that count. For example, having fresh water available with a sprig of mint or rosemary is a small touch that impresses people and moves your cafe toward the magical place you want it to be. Then your customers will do what you want them to do most of all. That is, return again and again.

These are fundamental points for anyone considering opening a coffee shop or starting a cafe. Go for it live the dream!

By: Alan N Robinson

About the Author:

Website content

I work in a delightful complex. We have a small, efficient caf

]]> http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/the-cafe-a-cup-of-coffee-and-a-job-interview-a-dangerous-brew/feed 0 http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/last-poems-from-the-coffee-cafe-three-poems http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/last-poems-from-the-coffee-cafe-three-poems#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:06:44 +0000 admin http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/?p=19

1

Live on T.V.
[The Rating War]

“Ratings went up
last week,”
the fat, rich
T.V. station
manager said.

“Due to what
coverage…?”
asked my wife.

“It was
a battle in
Iraq
(or was it
Afghanistan?)

“I’m not sure
but the
enemy just killed
one-hundred
U.S. Marines:
Blacks
Jews
Spanish
Poor Whites!

“The analysis
will now
repeat
the scenes
(verbally)
on the
radio–
cash in,
while they
can!…

#1264 3/7/06

2

Pale-Faced

It took a while, but the while
was willing to wait; pale-faced
one that never saw lightness–,
lightness being something you
give-off, radiate, and receive; but
it never comes from a pale face,

either way.
This maybe hard to believe, but
for some it takes a lifetime to conceive.

#1265 3/7/06

3

Bitter Patience
[At the Bookstore Caf

]]> http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/last-poems-from-the-coffee-cafe-three-poems/feed 0 http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/french-cafe-chair-vs-french-bistro-chair-vive-la-difference http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/french-cafe-chair-vs-french-bistro-chair-vive-la-difference#comments Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:44:51 +0000 admin http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/?p=9

Even if you’ve never been to Paris, you’ve probably seen them in movies or magazines: those colorful little French café chairs and tables that have been the hallmark of the Parisian cafe for over a hundred years.

And you’re probably aware of the part they played in the history and culture of the last century, when the likes of Hemingway and Sartre, Fitzgerald and Picasso sat in these very chairs at these very tables, defining the art and literature and philosophy of the Twentieth Century.

Serious stuff.

But there was a lot more going on in Paris a century ago than just philosophical discussion.

A lot more. And a lot wilder!

And it was happening right there amid the chairs and tables of the French bistro!

Oh, to be sure, to the untrained eye (or mind), café chairs and tables certainly look exactly like bistro chairs and tables.

However, French café chairs and tables signify coffee, croissants and philosophical debate; French bistro chairs and tables are more about wine, music and romance. That magical La Vie En Rose.

For rather like werewolves of French furniture, the cerebral café chair is transformed into the exotic bistro chair when the Parisian sun goes down.

And the names that come to mind are less Hemingway and Sartre, more Josephine Baker and Bricktop.

Which is not to say that never the twain shall meet.

For if Hemingway eschewed the bistro for the café, he apparently took a peek every now and then. He is purported to have said of Josephine Baker that he considered her to be “the most beautiful woman there is, there ever was, or ever will be.”

And Josephine Baker said, “I wasn’t naked. I simply didn’t have any clothes on.”

But she also said, “Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one’s soul; when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood.”

Hmmmm. Could it be that the legendary Josephine Baker, toast of the Parisian bistro, was, at heart, actually a café philosopher?

By: Gregory Kerwin

About the Author: ]]> http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/make-your-internet-cafe-a-hit-through-poster-printing/feed 0 http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/how-to-open-a-cafe-coffee-shop http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/cafe-culture/how-to-open-a-cafe-coffee-shop#comments Sun, 19 Oct 2008 07:35:01 +0000 admin http://www.brewbakerscafe.com/?p=13

Opening a cafe is exhilarating and exciting and if done well can be the most rewarding business for anyone who loves people (see my other articles on being a people person). Sales is what it’s all about and sales come about by being proactive and friendly while offering a quality range of products.

In the case of a Cafe Coffee shop your products are food and drink and your environment where they enjoy your products.

The qualities YOU need to have in the culture of your business to succeed are:

An open mind to sell at all times: Your mindset is your best asset. Do not be afraid to sell and by that I mean be friendly helpful and interested in your customers and don’t be shy at asking for the business. This is sales. Do whatever you can to find out about your customers needs and wants. This is sales. Never be afraid to ask for your customers input you will be well rewarded and often surprised. This is sales. Upsell in a helpful friendly and non intrusive manner. Practice, practice, practice.

Humour: People want to feel good and resonate with humour. Use it to create a happy fun place to work, it rubs off on everybody and when people feel good they anchor the feeling to you or your cafe. I have a favourite Cafe where I visit and every time I go there, Ken the owner puts a smile on my face because he is someone who laughs loud and often. It’s contagious and makes me want to visit again just to hear the laughter. The Coffee and food is superb too.

Reliability: Your opening hours must be consistent and reliable. Your customers will build their habits around this and you will build your hours around their habits. So make sure when you first open your Cafe Coffee shop have enough lag time at each end of the day to establish a wide enough range to capture people. It’s easier to trim a few hours at each end of the day once you know where the demand is.

Know your personal strengths and weaknesses: If you have a weakness then delegate the tasks around it to someone who is stronger on it than you. Don’t procrastinate on this one because being successful is all about making the weak links strong. The strong ones look after themselves. If you cant delegate then you have no choice but to work on those weaknesses. A mentor or someone to be accountable is the best way to help with working on weaknesses.

Be healthy: Your Cafe Coffee shop business will be demanding and time consuming. Your health needs to be steady so you can be reliable and energetic. Make sure you look after yourself. Get a good nights sleep, eat nutritious food and don’t go overboard on stimulants like Coffee. They work against you in the long run if you overdo them. When you feel sluggish you look sluggish. Customers see everything and more than you think. Being healthy is large a part of good presentation.

Presentation: Your presentation personally and environmentally is critical. How many times have you been put off because someone serving you is sluggish in appearance and attitude? It’s a turn off. Be sharp, efficient and friendly and the world will beat a path to your doorway. Make your doorway open friendly and attractive and they will want to venture inside. Make the inside warm comfortable and relaxed and all the above will synchronise into one successful and exciting ride.

By: Alan N Robinson

About the Author:

Kansieo.com

The discerning traveller may have heard just how great Sydney’s cafes are. There is no doubt that the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are impressive and a must see on your visit to Sydney, but stop a while and relax in one of its many cafes.

Australia is actually well known for its exceptional coffee and the locals really do enjoy nothing better than having a late breakfast (brunch) on the weekend with at least a couple of cups of the cities finest coffee, whilst reading the local paper.

There are lots of great cafes where you can enjoy a good breakfast. The best place for something a little different is Kazbah at 308 Darling Street in the suburb of Balmain. You can catch the ferry over to Balmain East from Circular Quay. It really is worth the walk (or bus ride) up the hill.

You will be delighted by the middle Eastern offerings here including the breakfast tagine. But you can also order fresh juices, turkish toasts and eggs. If you can get a table of 8 together then I cannot recommend enough the degustation menu which is just $20 for a feast. You won’t need to eat until that evening and you will get to try some really interesting and incredibly tasty food. Make sure you remember to book in advance though.

There are lots of great places to enjoy breakfast with a view too in Sydney. If you have the cash, try Bathers Pavilion in Balmoral near Mosman at 4 The Esplanade. You can’t get much closer to the water and the view is lovely. The food is also fantastic but prices are a little steep at $20 a dish. It’s worth it though just for that view.

What about heading to Bronte Beach near Bondi Beach? Take the 378 bus down to the beach and take your pick from the colourful strip of cafes offering a wide selection of juices, coffees and breakfasts. Afterwards, take the picturesque walk from Bronte to Bondi along the coast and be blown away by the views.

Perhaps you have heard of the famous Australian Chef, Bill Granger. He has three cafes/restaurants in Sydney and makes the best scrambled eggs in town. Choose from Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Woolhara. Get there early as you can’t book.

It’s hard to find a cafe in Sydney that doesn’t do great coffee. Whilst some may look no more than a small hole in the wall, these are often the best places to get a great cup of coffee. It is such a part of the culture here that many locals attend coffee courses. For $150 you can learn everything you need to know about coffee, the espresso machine and how to texturise the milk.

As part of your visit to Sydney, act like a local. Kick back, relax and watch the world pass you by in one of Sydney’s infamous cafes.

By: Jennifer Schillington

About the Author:

Kansieo.com

I would say most up-to speed cafe or restaurant owners have somewhat capitalised on a small percentage of the power that the internet offers their respective businesses. By that I mean the things we see now as the everyday norm:

- Food review sites that allow customers to give a rating, read other feedback comments and check out the average score.
- Food blogs that people post up on multiple places that they have visited and dined at (or simply chilled over coffee)
- Generating a word-of-mouth reputation so strong, that the city food guide magazines and other publications get onto it to publish a review
- Having a website where subscribers are posted on deals and specials.

Having said that, I have not seen a large number of them do this effectively. Surely, I’ve seen major restaurants and established cafes making a killing by hiring technologists to set up the systems for them and really drive the advertising to get volumes of customers to their stores. However, not many small business owners are aware of how cheaply available these marketing and value-creating strategies are given the fact that we are currently in an internet era. For example, the simple three step value-chain:

1) Give people intangible value/solutions upfront to a problem they have (or a desire)
2) Build the relationship continuously (i.e more of 1)
3) Monetise at the end of the process

To put this concept into context, I know of one cafe (which I am not going to name) which has effectively and powerfully implemented this concept. So simple and subtle that it doesn’t even pass off as sales. They integrated a persona of arts and cafe culture into one single business to answer a desire people had…”A cafe with a persona matching the business owners”. To give you an illustration of the congruency of the theme:

1) They open three days a week (face it, artists are not workaholics..they’d prefer to be lateral and work smart, not extremely hard)
2) They are located on a hidden lane, and the cafe is in a courtyard with a mezzanine level.
3) They use Facebook and social media and all they ever notify people about is their art events (studio shows) for which people literally pay nothing to attend. They tapped into a powerful concept. No matter how good a cafe is, people do not go into cafes that are empty and there are a dozen substitutes for your service otherwise.

To top this article off, I’d like to share a few opinions/ideas to stimulate the reader’s thoughts. Consider that we are all critics (I know, everyone but you right?). Businesses who offer full transparency and honour feedback (constructive or destructive) will find that they are a touch above 95% of the masses. Say sorry, restore integrity and your worst customer could become your best customer and a ricochet word-of-mouth marketer for your business. Business owners can even do a “behind the scenes” blog so people know exactly how their kitchens are run. This transparency is also a form of expressing the posture you have with your business. There is a large market out there, and those members are really really picky with how their food is made.

Now my last point before I close out on this article. If you are a cafe owner and you’re not offering free internet…what are you doing? People love it and will bring traffic to your cafe. Additionally, if you interact with customers and they share with you what they are doing or searching up on their computer (like, “hey how you doing? work or surfing?”) you are starting to get a feel for what customers want. Of course, you have to somewhat regulate it so you do not get saturated with University/College students looking for a free ride. But it is just an idea. We’re in a technological era, people want to experience the traditional coffee culture, but still have their email/Facebook/YouTube screen next to them. If you’re done effectively implementing the above, start worrying about how you’re going to fit people in!

By: Jonathan Tien Onn Low

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Caffeinated Content

Restaurants play a large role in our culture, as eating out can be convenient and easier than cooking at home. The recession has meant that people are eating out less than before, but large numbers of customers still visit favourite restaurants in a regular basis, for special occasions or just for an evening out with friends or family. People commonly go out for a meal to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or graduations, to name just a few instances. Those who go to an establishment to eat and to drink have certain expectations, and being kept safe and comfortable is one of them.

For those new to the catering industry, the amount of work that goes into running professional restaurant or caf

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