Drive through coffee keeps people going. People across the country start their day by going to get a cuppa, and everyone has their favorite shop. Some people head to Starbucks and Dunkin', but many people are turning to small, local shops.
And this is your opportunity to open a coffee drive thru in your area.
Statistically, the U.S. coffee shop market is valued at $48.5 billion, with an estimated 38,000+ shops across the nation. You can carve out your own market share in your town - no matter its size - and do so while having fun.
In fact, the following are nine fun reasons to open a drive through coffee shop.
1. Customers LOVE Drive-Thrus
You may not realize it, but nearly 50% of people who drink coffee went to the drive thru yesterday. Imagine an industry where people are willing to go out of their way to get your coffee.
Drive-thrus are addicting. Sure, it's the smell of the coffee and the friendly face passing them the coffee, but drive-thrus also allow customers to:
- Grab a coffee before work
- Stop in to get coffee even when they're in a rush
For many people, myself included, coffee is a ritual that helps them get through the day. If you want to cater to the highest number of people possible, it's as simple as offering them something they love already: drive-thrus.
But there's also an obvious revenue upside to opening a drive-thru.
2. Increased Revenue and Less Overhead
Do you remember just a few years ago when restaurants and coffee shops couldn't have people indoors? The establishments with drive-thrus were able to remain profitable. Compared to 2019, 25% more sales are coming through drive-thru windows.
Increasing revenue as a coffee shop is as easy as offering a higher level of convenience, which is exactly what drive-thrus offer.
KELLOGG Insight reports that, "Americans are rediscovering the drive-thru," and this comes at a time when people are ditching costly delivery options. Consumers are back to filling up drive-thru lines, and for business owners, this means:
- Lower overhead
- Higher profits
The boost in revenue comes with the added bonus of simpler menus.
3. Simpler Menus Means Fewer Hiccups
Most drive-thrus have simple menus, and while this may seem like a potential downside, it also means fewer hiccups for your staff. When people place an order from an already small menu, it leads to a lower number of mistakes and happier customers.
Coffee shops already have simple menus, and with a drive-thru, the menu is simple enough for people to order quickly.
4. Reduces Indoor Congestion
If you have an indoor dining space, adding a drive thru coffee shop to your space may help reduce indoor congestion.
Customers may opt to go through your drive-thru instead of coming indoors, freeing up your dining space and allowing you to serve more customers as a result.
5. Perfect Option for Sick Customers
One big advantage of drive-thrus - for both customers and staff - is that they require limited human contact.
Traditional sit-down restaurants do all they can to maintain a clean and safe environment, but illness can easily spread when customers are sitting in close proximity.
Drive-thrus eliminate this issue.
If customers are sick or it's cold and flu season, drive-thru coffee shops can meet customer demand without compromising on health and safety.
6. Opportunity to Offer Online and Mobile Ordering
Drive-thru coffee shops can also make use of online and mobile ordering to make their lines less congested and their staff less burdened.
In fact, giant coffee chains like Dunkin' and Starbucks have mastered mobile ordering, and their drive-thrus are more efficient as a result.
Customers also expect restaurants to offer online and mobile ordering options. New research shows that two-thirds of consumers have used a food-ordering app at least once for takeout or delivery.
Many coffee shop POS systems that integrate with online ordering platforms can also accommodate pre-order functionality, making it easy for shop owners to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.
If you want to optimize your productivity, a drive thru coffee shop can help.
7. Parking Won't Be an Issue
Lack of parking can be a major turnoff for some customers - if they plan to stay awhile. The beauty of a drive-thru coffee shop is that your customers are only passing through. Parking will never be an issue unless you decide to offer walk-up service or a small area to sit and dine.
Not having to worry about parking also makes it easier to find a great location for your coffee shop.
But, don't forget that even with a small drive-thru coffee shop, you'll need some space for parking for your employees, cleaning staff and any other work crew that you may need to hire.
8. Utilize Unused Outdoor Space
Opening a coffee drive through is a great way to utilize unused outdoor space in a parking lot or commercial space.
Most drive-thru-only shops have small footprints (as little as 100-300 square feet), and if permitted, may even be able to be set up in busy strip malls.
9. You Get to Give Out "Pup Cups"
One of the most rewarding parts of running a coffee shop drive thru is making your customers smile - including your four-legged customers.
Family pets often get taken along for the ride when visiting drive-thrus, and many eateries are now handing out treats for these loyal companions. You can do the same at your coffee shop.
Offer a complimentary small cup of pet-friendly whipped cream to customers with pets. Not only will you make the pet's day, but you'll also help build up a loyal customer base and enjoy the pleasure of putting a smile on everyone's face.
There are so many great reasons to open a drive-thru coffee shop, but these are some of the top ones. Low overhead, increased revenue and a simple menu are some of the most attractive benefits of drive-thrus, but don't overlook the rewarding aspects of serving customers in any weather (and health condition) and putting smiles on the faces anyone who drops by.