7 Low Cost Ideas To Start A Coffee Business

Love coffee? You can make money with your knowledge and expertise of coffee. It’s a popular beverage and there is a large (and growing) market for enterprising people to leave their mark. Massive as the potential of this business is, there is a lot of hard work and effort involved. There are no shortcuts, and get-rich-quick schemes don’t work. 

Here are some low-cost ideas to consider for your coffee business.

1. Sell Coffee Online

An online business model that’s flexible and can be easily scaled. You can start by selling regular or specialty coffee and build your business from there. It isn’t necessary to have a large array of offerings. You can choose to stay focused and solution-oriented.

An excellent example here is CoffeeBlenders. They have an interesting set of options at the online store, including pour over packs and pouches. There isn’t a huge set of options here. Instead, you get solution-oriented picks.

One of the most interesting options to see here are pour over pouches. They make an interesting mix of specialty coffee that can be used instantly and are portable. Why bother with instant coffee when you can take along high-quality coffee and have it ready instantly?

Lessons to be learned here are looking at quality and ensuring you pick the right set. Your store isn't supposed to compete with Folgers (well, maybe one day!). It’s supposed to get you a good start.

2. Start A Coffee Blog Or Coffee Gear Review Website

Share your knowledge of coffee with the world and use it as a way to earn yourself a tidy income. You can be specific and share your coffee recipes, or take on a wider approach and be a purveyor of information in the coffee niche.

Take a look at Caffeine Insider, and notice the comprehensive information available. The website shares tips, information, recommendations for coffee beans and K-cups, reviews on coffee makers, and more.

As a coffee lover, you’ve probably used several brands of coffee and sampled a good range of gourmet coffee as well. Share your impressions and ideas with the world. You can also help your readers pick the coffee they should try and provide them ideas on how to go about it.

Setting up a website requires investment in a domain name and hosting. Be sure to pick a reliable service! The technical aspects can be fairly affordable, especially for those starting out. The biggest investment here is going to be your time.

Prepare regular updates for your readers and provide them with detailed and useful content. If you’re looking for more inspiration, take a look at other coffee websites like RoastyCoffee, CoffeeMinister, Espresso Coffee Guide and more.

3. Start A Coffee Cart

Does your talent lie in brewing a stunning cup of coffee?

Well, a coffee cart can be a great choice. It is mobile and a low-cost idea compared to starting your own coffee shop. Before you start a coffee cart, do your research, and know your customers. Many customers just want a quick cup of coffee. They don’t care if it’s gourmet or simple coffee, they’d prefer a quick cup of coffee, please.

Gourmet coffee is more expensive and is likely to have fewer takers at a coffee cart. Of course, if your research says that the customers will be just as happy with gourmet coffee, listen to the customers!

Before you embark on a coffee cart business, take a good look at local regulations. You might need a permit and ensure compliance with local food laws. These can vary from place-to-place, so being in tune with local laws is necessary.

4. Roast And Sell Coffee Beans

There is an ever-increasing demand for artisanal coffee roasters. If you know your way around coffee roasting, this can be an immensely lucrative business. It is convenient and remarkably easy to buy unroasted green beans. It’s all up to your skills from there.

Buying beans and roasting them isn’t necessarily an expensive exercise, especially for a small operation. But, your skill comes in handy. Know your customers. Get the coffee to the right roast, make blends, and deliver coffee that your customers can love. Maybe even surprise them with something new!

This business can be run online or offline. You could even run a coffee subscription box online, which is a very popular method with coffee lovers. Additionally, it ensures a steady stream of revenue for your business. A similar approach can be taken offline where your patrons buy coffee directly from you.

5. Get Into Coffee Dropshipping Business

Dropshipping is a very lucrative method for an online business. It is necessarily an online store, but there is a small change that sets it apart from a conventional business. You (the seller) don’t maintain an active inventory or ship orders to consumers. Instead, you work with a manufacturer/roaster.

You forward the orders you receive to this supplier and they ship it directly to the customer. Look for a “white label” service. This essentially means that the supplier won’t plaster their own brand over the product. They will put the logo or packaging for your business over the product.

6. Sell Coffee Equipment And Trinkets

An online coffee-related business doesn’t necessarily have to be all about selling coffee. Instead, you can sell coffee-related equipment and some trinkets. Examples of equipment can be filters, reusable filters, French press, etc. As a coffee lover, you know the list is practically endless.

Similarly, coffee-related trinkets like keychains, bookmarks, mugs, phone cases, etc. These are often in demand and can be a lovely addition to any online shop.

You can be a conventional seller or use a dropshipping model to achieve this business.

7. Start A Coffee Podcast

Not everyone has the inclination or time to read a website to keep up with information on coffee. In such cases, a podcast can be immensely useful. Many people prefer to keep up with their interests through podcasts.

Share your knowledge of coffee brewing, equipment, and current trends through a podcast. The topic you choose should showcase your knowledge, listener interest, and have a touch of entertainment to keep your listeners coming back for more!

Quick Word For When You Get Started

Whatever you choose, networking plays a big role. If you have an online presence, whether for this or any other business, take time to learn a bit about digital marketing and SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

You’ll need to put in some work and effort. It’s not easy to make money. However, with a good strategy, you can get a good passive income. Or better yet, your very own full-time employment and business.