Jack Merriman

Content Marketing Manager

 

Coffee shops run on tight margins, and if your team isn’t on top of things, you could be losing a fair bit of money every day through unnecessary waste.

That splash of milk left in the bottom of your jug after each drink, or a few stray grams of coffee spilling out of the grinder – it might not seem like much at the time, but it adds up fast when you're making a few hundred drinks a day.

In this video, we go through some really simple things you can do straight away, plus a few longer-term ideas that are worth considering if you want to save money, reduce waste, and run a more sustainable coffee shop.

Quick Changes you Can Make to Cut Waste in your Café

Start With the Milk

Use the right jug for the right drink

One of the biggest areas of waste in any café is milk, and a lot of it comes down to using the wrong size jug. If you're making smaller drinks like flat whites or cortados, use a smaller jug to avoid steaming more milk than you need.

Understand How Much Milk Different Drinks Really Need

For drinks like cappuccinos, which are mostly foam, you can get away with using less milk. Flat whites and lattes, on the other hand, need a bit more – so make sure your baristas understand the difference.

Try a Team Challenge to Cut Down on Waste

Want a fun way to raise awareness? Replace your sink or pitcher rinser with a clear bucket for a day. Get baristas to pour leftover milk into it and take a look at how much is wasted at the end of the shift. It’s a great visual tool and can turn into a bit of healthy competition.

 

Keep an Eye on Coffee Usage

Watch your Dose and Dialling-in Habits

If you’re using a traditional machine, you’re probably aiming for around 18 grams of coffee in a double shot. Anything over that is waste. Make sure baristas are dosing properly, purging the grinder after making adjustments, and dialling in efficiently.

Tidy Up your Grinder Game

A messy grinder could mean it needs a clean or even a service. Grinder maintenance is something that often gets overlooked, but it makes a big difference to both consistency and wastage.

 

Reduce Energy Waste Where you Can

Don’t Over-Purge Between Shots

A quick three or four-second purge is all you need between shots. Some machines even let you programme a short rinse cycle to save water and energy.

Avoid Heating Cups with Hot Water

Unless a customer specifically asks for an extra hot drink, try not to preheat cups with hot water. Use the cup warmer on your machine and steam milk to the right temperature instead.

Tackle Single-Use Waste


Introduce a Reusable Cup Scheme


It’s quick to set up, and customers appreciate it. You could sell your own branded cups and offer a small discount to anyone who brings theirs in. It saves you on cup and lid costs and helps cut down on landfill.

Offer Used Coffee Grounds to Customers

Used coffee grounds can be reused as fertiliser, so if your customers are keen gardeners, why not let them take some home? It’s a nice touch and another way to reduce waste.

 

Bigger Investments that can Make a Real Difference

Invest in More Efficient Equipment

Automatic Milk Steamers

If you’ve got the budget, machines like the Marco MilkPal or Magrini Milk Base can steam the exact amount of milk at the right temperature and texture. It’s consistent, reduces waste, and takes pressure off your team.

Espresso Grinders that Dose by Weight

Grinders that measure the dose by weight, rather than time, help you hit your recipe every single time. That means no more overfilling or dumping under-extracted shots down the sink.

Energy-Efficient Espresso Machines

Machines like the Sanremo range are built with energy efficiency in mind. They’ve got smart features that help reduce power usage without affecting performance. When you consider your espresso machine is powered on all day, every day, this can have a big impact on your energy bills.

Final thoughts

If you think your café could be losing money through milk, coffee or energy waste, it might be time to take a closer look at your daily operations.

At Bridge Coffee Roasters, we work with cafés across the UK to help improve efficiency, train baristas, and get the most out of their coffee setup. Whether you’re looking to cut costs, reduce your impact on the environment, or just run a tighter ship, we’re here to help.