Please HeLp !!!

I  am making my signage and I am going back and forth with the coffee price.  It is a 12oz cup, so about 10/11 oz of Yuban. I want to charge $1.50 per cup and $.50 refill but I think that is to high. Should I charge $1.oo?  for any of you who serve coffee what do u charge? I was going to carry Farmers Bros but the cost is to high.  I appreciate any help u can givve me.
Thank You, Mehlin

What kind of way would you be handling refills? Is this going to be at a farmers market?
 
Some people get wicked about refills (like it is a sport or something). My sister owns a ff restaurant in Cali and they get  a tub of soda for something like $.59 and will keep the same cup in the car (eww) and sneak it in until it disintigrates and blech.
 
Are you going to be in San Diego?
 
Here a 12 oz. to-go cup of coffee will be between $1-$1.50 at the local corner store. If you are doing events...$1.50 is fine. Unless you have stiff competition that is gong really low on the coffee...to motivate additional business. Then I would take it down...but not below a dollar for sure. No refill discounts then....and make sure you have unique cup or stamp their hands or something.

I would say 12oz coffee $1.25 no refills .........I use Farmer bros  whole bean $4.38lb.....................Bill

U make good points regarding the refills. I will be in a farmere market in corona. North of San Di.  I will be the only one selling coffee. My cups are very bland. I ordered other cups and have yet to get them.
I wonder if any one sales refills. I suppose I could stamp their cups, boy that would time consuming.

Billy B,
do u have a contact number ofr any info for the coffee. The best price I could get was $5.70Lbs.

mehlinchan


Billy B,
do u have a contact number ofr any info for the coffee. The best price I could get was $5.70Lbs.

Are you looking for whole bean or ground.....You want to use Yuban??????????? is that because its instant coffee????????????? Its ok if the cups are bland as long as the coffee isn't...............Bill

Billy B,
I am interested in ground. I could grind it myself though.  I purchased a Bunn coffee maker so I will be serving brewed coffee.
Where in Oregon do u live? we go up there alot. We like Gold Beach.

If you decide to go with the everyday coffee (not upscale) I would suggest looking out for great sales (retail) on Eight o'clock coffee. A popular and highly rated everyday coffee. It is available whole bean or ground. Most of the time there are machines on-premises to grind whole beans at purchase point but if you have the ability to do it yourself...you should do it yourself.
 
In this neck of the woods it is sold at A&P and goes on sale for $3.99 a lb quite often.
 
In Cali it is available at Sams Walmart & Save-a-lot.

I am going to Sams in the morning and I will look for the coffee. I decided I will go for the $1.25 per cup and maybe give refills to the other venders

Disclaimer to say...I am not a coffee drinker. I do know that this coffee is good and when it is on sale...watch out. It flies out of the place. People love it and it has been around a long time.
 
I think a small or regular cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts is around $1.12 currently....so the added element of the upward venue of a Farmers Market should call for a few extra cents without much thought.
 
Again...if it is possible to be supplied by any coffee vendors at the market who are not brewing but would love a live-action n-site "demo" experience for potential customers who never sampled their goods...that is a great incentive to supply you at a great price. Start making friends and contacts  and "work the room"  ASAP and see if you can get an attractive price on some upscale blends to fit the market of the market.
  
 

mehlinchan


I am going to Sams in the morning and I will look for the coffee. I decided I will go for the $1.25 per cup and maybe give refills to the other venders

If you have your own coffee maker then you should be paying in the $3.99 range. Is this a once a week gig?????????????   I think its a good idea to give the other vendors a refill, they will take care of you also................Make sure Farmers knows you have your own coffee maker, see if whole bean is cheaper........We are in the Blue Mountains in Oregon..............Bill

The worst mistake you could make is selling Maxwell House coffee for one week because it was on sale at Sam's, Farmers Bros the next week because it was on sale at Costco, Eight O'clock coffee the next week because it was on sale at Safeway, etc.

Stick to one brand and you will build up regulars. You don't want customers saying that, 'last week the coffee was so good but this week it tastes like slough water'.

If you do have a grinder, make it visible to the public as it implies very fresh.

Like anything else, you've got be consistently good!

Good luck in your venture.

 
 

I just got a Coffee price list from Vistar Corp.

Vistar Of Ontario
Ontario, Ca 91761
1-800 298-6658.........................................I have the price list, I could fax it to you if you have a fax machine. The prices are in line with your needs ...................Bill