What's the Most Important Thing When Opening a Coffee Shop?
Before opening my shop, I always thought the most crucial factors were how good the coffee tasted, the quality of the equipment, and whether the location was prime real estate. But after observing the industry for several years—from booming spots to struggling ones, from newcomers to veterans—I've come to a counter-intuitive conclusion: The most important thing for a coffee shop's survival isn't the coffee itself, but whether it has its own "reason for being." Because once you actually open a shop, you'll realize that coffee is just the entry point. What truly affects a shop's destiny is its purpose, its consistency, its memorability, and how you interact with your customers. Let's break down this "most important thing" below. 01 Why Do You Want to Open a Coffee Shop? More Important Than the Menu Most people think the first step to opening a shop is choosing a location. But it's not. It's "why you want to open this particular s...