Thinking of starting a mobile coffee business

[Andi RoH]

I've been trying to assess the feasibility of selling coffee from the back of a small van or car by installing an espresso machine.

Thing is I'm not sure what I need. I know I need local authority approval and public liability insurance but and of course insure the vehicle but does anybody know what else I will need and roughly how much it will cost?

Also do I need food hygiene to sell drinks?

Any feedback would be welcome.

 

[wevet]

In these cash tight days you had better be sure of demand in your area to establish how many people are still interested in the £2+ cup of coffee. Obviouslyif yours is a £0.50p cup I will have it black no sugar.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Have a look at this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mobile-Coffee..._B_I_Business_for_Sale_CV&hash=item4aa46f5c47

Or this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Citreon-Relay...0?pt=UK_Commercial_Trucks&hash=item2309a37614

 

[filtuh.com]

Actually not a bad idea, find a business park where most the offices have rubbish vending machines. You should probably get a basic food hygeine certificate, think it's a half day course.

Have you looked at technical feasibility? I think espresso machines need a decent water supply, and anecdotally they're known to be fairly unreliable iirc

 

[David Earle]

I guess the main thing you need is a good location to work from. Everything else you can deal with afterwards, but I'd make the location your number 1 priority.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Hot and cold sandwich van with cakes and hot food is popular, but how many coffee cars do you see nowdays, give them a miss i would say

 

[Vending Siting Services]

Actually not a bad idea, find a business park where most the offices have rubbish vending machines. You should probably get a basic food hygeine certificate, think it's a half day course.

Have you looked at technical feasibility? I think espresso machines need a decent water supply, and anecdotally they're known to be fairly unreliable iirc

I don't deal in the drinks market yet, but there are quite a few not so rubbish drinks vending machines around now - we have one in our office and it makes great drinks from all top brands - brewed from fresh ground coffee beans, Columbian, Espresso, Cafe Noir .... real tea leaves, lovely hot chocolate ..... things have changed a long time ago in the drinks vendor maket, but I do agree - there are some crap ones around.

Barbara

 

[warnie]

I dont see how it would work on its own. As an add on to a van offering sandwiches hot pies and snacks etc yes but on its own i just cant see it, we have a coffee machine in one of our shops and despite a good amount of footfall the machine only just about pays for itself despite the competative price poiint