Before Opening a Café, Ask This First: Who Are You Brewing For?
Before opening a coffee shop, the first thing you need to figure out isn’t the menu—it’s who you want to drink your coffee . When it comes to starting a café, the most overlooked factor isn’t cost, location, or even the menu. It’s a simple question that ends up determining 80% of your shop’s future: Who do you hope will walk in? Or to put it more directly— Who are you brewing for? In many owners’ workflow, this step barely exists. They start with equipment, roast levels, interior style, or screenshots of café aesthetics from Instagram. But here’s the problem: You can do everything well and still have no one willing to drink your coffee. Not because you’re not good enough— but because you don’t even know who you’re making it for. 01. A café “without users” becomes nothing more than the owner’s personal portfolio I’ve seen many shops where, the moment you walk in, you can sense one thing: This café is made for the owner , not the customer . He loves dark roasts, so eve...