16 Most Profitable Items in a Coffee Shop

Whether you’re starting a new coffee shop or managing an existing one, it’s important to know what items will make you the most money. If you’re not sure what products will give you the most bang for your buck, this guide to the 16 most profitable items in a coffee shop will help you improve your bottom line while keeping customers happy.

Coffee Drinks

No coffee shop menu would be complete without simple drinks like black coffee or classic espresso. However, mixed drinks like café au lait, macchiato or latte can be some of the most profitable items on a coffee shop menu because you can charge a good markup over plain espresso or drip coffee even though you only added a few extra ingredients, if not only one. 

Flavored Syrups

Charging a significant markup for add-ons is always a good way to develop profitable menu items, so don’t forget to offer flavored syrups. Although syrups can be added to plain or iced coffee, they can also be used in mixed drinks to make everything from peppermint lattes to caramel macchiatos, the new flavor combinations serving as an easy way to expand your menu.

Tea Selection

Not everyone likes coffee, so don’t forget to include a wide variety of teas on your menu. Even though most people expect plain hot tea to be low-priced, flavored iced teas like peach mango or mixed tea drinks like chai latte, bubble tea or London fog can be very profitable because you can get away with charging a bit more. 

Hot Chocolate

In addition to tea, hot chocolate is another good non-coffee option to add to your cafe’s menu. Whether you make it by melting chocolate in hot milk or with a pre-measured mix, hot chocolate is easy, quick and relatively inexpensive to make, so the profit margin is very good. As with other menu items, be sure to charge for extras like marshmallows or whipped cream.

Fruit Juices

According to GoodNature.com, a 50-70% profit margin on juice is possible for a restaurant or business, making it one of the most lucrative drinks you can sell. Besides classics like apple and orange that are always in demand, more exotic options like passion fruit and mango are good because their uniqueness justifies a higher price.

Fruit Smoothies

With a margin of around 70%, fruit smoothies can be a profitable addition to your menu, too. As with other items in a café, be sure to charge for extras like protein powder, peanut butter or chia seeds. To ensure consistent quality and availability, use frozen fruit instead of fresh: frozen fruit is usually cheaper than fresh anyway, so it’s a win-win for both you and your customers.

Fresh Lemonade 

There’s a reason why the image of kids with a lemonade stand is a part of nostalgic American culture: it can be very lucrative. If you decide to skip the pre-mixed powders and make yours with fresh lemons and real sugar, your customers will taste the difference and will be willing to pay more for it.

Alcoholic Beverages

As explained in a CoffeeShopsStartups.com article, alcoholic drinks can be some of the most profitable items in a coffee shop. In addition to the long shelf-life that reduces loss due to spoilage, most people are willing to pay more for alcohol than coffee, the higher price point making wine, beer and drinks with fancy liqueurs more profitable than other café menu items. 

Cakes & Pastries

The sweetness of cake balances out the bitterness of coffee, so putting pastries on your menu makes good culinary sense: considering that baked goods are extremely profitable, it makes good business sense, too. Be sure to maximize your money-making potential by focusing on popular and profitable “menu star” items like lemon bars, blueberry muffins and carrot cake.

Healthy Items

Although sweets are sure to be a hit, make sure to include some healthy options, too. Wraps with scrambled eggs and sautéed vegetables would be a hit for breakfast while soups, salads and sandwiches would be ideal for lunch. Don’t forget to include at least a few vegan menu items, as well as plant-based milks, since customers are willing to pay a little more for them.

Grab-and-Go

If your coffee shop is anywhere near a train station or busy road, remember to keep pre-packaged foods in stock so customers who are on the go can get in and out quickly. Research on grab-and-go foods shows that most people want healthy options like sandwiches and salads, so giving people what they want will help you make the most money possible. 

Printed Books

A big part of café culture is being able to read a good book as you sip your coffee and enjoy your snack. Since you already sell the food and drink, why not offer the books, too: you’re sure to get a lot of impulse buys from people who weren’t planning on reading anything. People are usually willing to pay more for unplanned purchases, so you can price the books accordingly.

Local Art

The ambience of coffee shops is a magnet for artsy people, so why not turn your café into a focal point for the local scene by selling art. In addition to displaying paintings and drawings for sale, try showcasing the art by organizing exhibition days: the special art gallery event at your coffee shop will draw a crowd who’ll also buy items off your menu, maximizing your revenue.

Coffee Beans

If customers love your coffee, they’ll probably want to take it home with them. Many restaurants sell signature spice blends or hot sauces as a way to create more revenue streams, and coffee shops can do the same thing by selling coffee beans. Customers are more likely to buy what they see, so put bags of coffee beans on display near the front where they’ll be clearly visible. 

Coffee Machines

Customers are going to need a way to use their fresh beans, so why not sell coffee pots and machines, too. Offering complementary items is always a good strategy for maximizing profits, so remember to display the coffee equipment next to the beans. Considering the price point of small appliances, they’re probably one of the most profitable items in a coffee shop.

Branded Merchandise

Loyal, satisfied customers want to support your business and tell others about it, and one of the best ways for them to do so is by buying merchandise like T-shirts, stickers and aprons. If you’re having trouble thinking of other merchandise ideas, mugs with your logo seem very appropriate for a coffee shop.

Tips for Marketing Profitable Items

Offering money-making items at your café won’t help your business grow if they don’t sell well. If you’re looking for ways to promote the most profitable items in your coffee shop, here are some tips:

Menu Design

Designing your menu to promote profitable items is one of the simplest yet most-effective ways to increase revenue. For example, if you want to sell a lot of baked goods because their profit margin is high, mention those items at the top of the menu where they’ll be seen by almost everyone. 

Social Media

Promoting items on social media can be helpful, too. Try promoting seasonal items like peppermint mocha around the holidays and healthy smoothies in the summertime, as well as photos of your branded merchandise: just make sure the photos are high-quality.

Promote Sustainability 

In addition to attracting an artsy crowd, cafes tend to attract socially and environmentally-conscious people as well. If you think it would align with your brand, tell customers about how your coffee is grown sustainably in terms of its impact on both the environment and the local community. 

Provide Catering

You can make plenty of money by selling food and drinks from your primary location, but offering catering can be a great way to make even more. You’ll have to invest in catering equipment like a truck for making deliveries and insulated servers to keep coffee warm while it sits on a table, but you’ll make back your investment fairly quickly.