As a rule, cafe visitors are a fun-loving bunch. They embrace a good time as much as a coconut milk cortado made to perfection.
Hosting an event is a great way to rally the troops, show your patrons how much you appreciate them, and give new customers reasons to fall in love with your establishment.
So how do you transition from hot to cool without leaving your clientele cold? Here are some tips and tricks to make your cafe fall-ready and seasonally sensational.
Ready to get in on the fun?
Check out these ideas, then put your own spin on them, and knock your event out of the park–and into your customers’ hearts.
Join forces with a neighbor.
Coffee is all about community. Collaborating with a nearby business is a great way to generate some buzz and get new folks in your door. Pioneer Coffee Roasters in Seattle has seen success partnering with a local bakery to create a "coffee and pie" tasting experience that allows patrons to sample different pies paired with various roasts, highlighting how flavors interact.
Do you have a local eatery you frequent? Why not approach them and see if they'd like to join forces? There are so many opportunities out there. Vietnamese coffee and bai mei sampler? Yes, please. Espresso and ice cream pairings? Absolutely. Mexican hot chocolate lattes and churros? You bet. Be bold with your pairings. We believe in you.
Get artsy.
Cat & Cloud Coffee in Santa Cruz, California has had its share of crowd-pleasing events. One of our faves is their latte art competition, where local baristas compete to create the best designs with winners chosen by customers.
Debuting some new latte art can be a real hit on your socials, and Oatly's Barista Edition Oat Milk is the perfect canvas.
You could take the artsy vibes a step further by showcasing local (not foam-based) art. Putting out calls for local artists to display their work is a great way to liven up your space and support the arts in your community.
Promote coffee education.
If you work in a cafe, it can be easy to forget how much non-industry folks don't know about how their go-to beverage is made and where it comes from. Hosting an informational event that provides insights into the coffee-making process is a great way to engage with customers. Bonus points if you upload your talk to YouTube.
Here's a few topics to help you get started
- Where do we get our beans?
- What makes single-origin coffee unique?
- How do climate and geography affect flavor?
- What is the journey of a coffee bean from farm to cup?
- Why do we roast coffee beans?
- What's the difference between light, medium, and dark roasts?
- How does grinding affect the flavor of coffee?
- Why Barista Underground is your favorite place to get alt milks 😁
Get your patrons moving with a coffee run or bike.
Getting people moving is kinda what coffee is all about. Hosting a coffee run (or bike, we see you cyclist community) is a great way to engage your active and aspiring to be active customers. You could partner with other shops to give participants free espresso shots at every stop or offer a prize or discount for completing the run. Talk about generating buzz!
Coffee with a new friend.
There is a good chance your local pet adoption agency needs a hand. Hosting an adoption drive for a day is a wonderful way to help your customers connect with their potential new best friend. Offer a special discount or a free coffee to anyone who adopts a pet. And since Latte would be a great name for a cat, bonus points if new pet parents name their fur babies after caffeinated beverages.
