Tree Trunk Table

Poser table at Tap in Wardour Street.

The Future?

At the end of our London Cafe Tours we are often asked what is the future for cafe design if now it is all about the industrial, retro, natural, recycled, comfortably worn look.  I asked the knowledgeable boss of Matthew Algie coffee's Irish business Lachlan MacGillivray his thoughts and he quoted two examples:

Baker D ChiricoMelbourne Bakery Starbucks Tokyo 

Third Floor Espresso

 Banana bread presentation plus upsell toasted and served with honey and cream cheese at 3FE, Dublin

 3FE in Dublin is serious about coffee - see why 3rd Floor Espresso is called what it is at http://www.3fe.com/about/our-story/ and how the owner Colin Harmon went from investment banker to one of the best Baristas in the world.

The slot in the table for the menu card was a neat, simple idea.

Coffee tasting menu 

Ace Display

Ottolenghi's flagship cafe in Islington - still No 1.

Certificate of Excellence

We noticed several cafes in Dublin proudly showing their Tripadvisor rating alongside their menus.  KC Peaches is a wholefoods shop and cafe and is worth visiting.

Recharge

Guest Spot

Mobiles running out of charge are a problem for most of us.  Clever Westfield shopping centre who provide 30 minutes free charging so we stay and shop.  An idea for cafe operators who want to look after every special interest group?  Thank-you to Tony of Esquires Coffee Houses, Ireland for the contribution.

Hanging Herbs

Boskke Upside-down herb growing pots look like a great way of enhancing cafe ambiance and your local sourcing.

If you attended the HTA's Garden Centre Catering Conference yesterday, welcome to the Great Cafes Blog especially written for professional cafe operators.  Sign up to receive the blog by e-mail - we put up a photo of something new and interesting every working day.

To get the most from the blog, check out the Pinterest Photoboards on the right hand side and look at our archive.

If it makes you think you need some specialist consultancy advice to start up for the first time, make more money, improve standards, bust queues or get from good to great; do get in touch.