Traditionally, pubs are known for serving beer, wine, and spirits. But expanding the beverage menu to include and promote tea and coffee sales can be a game-changer for a pub’s profits.
Offering these non-alcoholic options diversifies the pub’s appeal and creates new opportunities to attract a wider audience.
6. Attract a Wider Audience
Not everyone visits a pub for alcohol. By serving tea and coffee, pubs can cater to:
- Morning and Daytime Visitors: Tea and coffee are staples of daytime culture. Adding them to the menu helps draw in customers during traditionally quiet hours, like mornings and early afternoons.
- Designated Drivers: Drivers accompanying friends often appreciate non-alcoholic alternatives.
- Non-Drinkers: Some patrons avoid alcohol for health, religious, or personal reasons. A quality cup of tea or coffee ensures they feel welcome and included.
By broadening the demographic appeal, pubs can increase foot traffic and enhance their reputation as inclusive, community-focused venues.
5. Encouraging Longer Stays
Tea and coffee encourage patrons to linger. Whether they’re catching up with friends, reading, or working remotely, customers tend to spend more time (and money) when they have access to hot beverages. Offering free Wi-Fi and comfortable seating can enhance this experience, making your pub an appealing spot for casual gatherings or solo visits.
4. Enhancing Community Engagement
Tea and coffee lend themselves to social events that bring people together. Pubs can host:
- Coffee Mornings: Perfect for local groups or clubs, these events can foster a sense of community while drawing in new customers.
- Afternoon Teas: Featuring a selection of teas, sandwiches, and cakes, these events are a popular way to attract a diverse audience.
These initiatives not only drive traffic but also position the pub as a central hub for social activities thoughout the day.
3. Appealing to Trends in Health and Wellness
The growing interest in health-conscious lifestyles has increased demand for non-alcoholic options. Tea, especially herbal and green varieties, aligns perfectly with this trend. Offering organic, fair-trade, or locally sourced teas and coffees can further appeal to ethically minded customers, enhancing the pub’s brand image.
2. Complementing Alcoholic Offerings
Tea and coffee can complement a pub’s traditional focus on alcohol, rather than competing with it. Patrons may appreciate a hot drink after a meal, as a way to extend their visit without overindulging. Providing specialty options, like espresso martinis or Irish coffees can seamlessly compliment a pub’s range of alcoholic drinks.
1. Increasing Profit Margins
Tea and coffee are high-margin items, especially when elevated with seasonal flavors and premium ingredients.
The profit percentage a pub can expect to make from an average cup of coffee varies based on factors like location, pricing strategy, and operational efficiency. However, on average, pubs and restaurants can achieve a profit margin of 70% to 80% per cup of coffee.
While the cost of syrups, spices, or toppings like whipped cream is minimal, customers are often willing to pay a premium for the experience. Seasonal coffee options can be priced slightly higher due to their limited availability, further boosting profitability.
So, if you’d like your pub to make more profit (and who wouldn’t?), promoting more tea and coffee sales can be a particularly effective route to success. And if you or your staff would like to improve your coffee-making skills, we even have an online course for that:
‘Coffee Skills’ Online Course
