8 Small Kitchen Appliances you Shouldn't Live Without

You often see articles in magazines and online telling you which kitchen gadgets are a waste of money, or which small appliances you can live without. Well today I'm here to tell you which small kitchen appliances you really shouldn't live without. I'm not saying you need all of them in your life, but if you're a keen home cook like myself, then they really do help make life easier. Incidentally, I do own ALL of the items listed, and actually own more than one food mixer and food processor. Why, you may ask? Well, why not.

1. Food Processor

Admittedly they're not for everyone, and many people may have one lurking at the back of their cupboard that they may have used once or twice and then forgotten about. My top tip to make sure it gets used is to have it out on the worktop. Not everyone has the space, and let's face it, some food processors are pretty ugly, but if you do have a little corner space then there are some pretty sexy beasts out there that would look good on any worktop. 

2. Food Mixer

The same applies for a food mixer as it does for a food processor; they take up space and are often relegated to the back of the cupboard where they lay unused for years. If you want to impress your friends then I can guarantee that a Kitchen Aid classic stand mixer sat upon your worktop will get them swooning. So many colours are available now that they work in any kitchen and act as a piece of art as well as having a practical use.
click here to shop food mixers 

3. Blender

There are a few different types of blenders, and which one is best would really depend on what you're going to use it for. If you're a serious smoothie addict and don't start the day without a green smoothie then a Nutribullet is the must have blender. These are seriously powerful and can cut through frozen fruits and ice with no trouble. They also have the advantage of being portable - add a lid to the plastic jar and have your smoothie on the go. If you make a lot of soups then hand blenders are ideal as they save on so much washing up compared to a regular blender. They're not just for soups though, and (with the right attachments) can be used for milkshakes, sauces, batters, salsa and whipping cream. If you're all about looks and want something to sit on your worktop, then a jug blender could be for you.

4. Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is the must have small appliance for the busy family. Pop a few ingredients in the pot before you leave for work and hey presto you have a meal ready when you walk through the door later on. They're not just for soups and stews, and are ideal for cooking a whole chicken, pulled pork and even cakes and desserts.

5. Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

A pressure cooker is similar to a slow cooker, but the opposite, if that makes sense! I use my pressure cooker to cook many of the meals that I would cook in my slow cooker, but it's perfect for procrastinators just like me, especially those that work from home. I may have every intention of cooking a meal in the slow cooker but get distracted, and by lunchtime realise that I've left it too late, so out comes the pressure cooker and I can cook the same meal in a fraction of the time.

6. Microwave

Not everyone likes a microwave, and many people that get rid of them say that they don't miss it. I'm not one of those people, and use my microwave multiple times a day. It's used to defrost bagels for breakfast, heat milk for morning coffee, cook a spud for lunch and reheat a meal for those members of the family that aren't home for dinner. Microwaves usually have a one touch start, making them easy to use even for the kids, and mine can often be found making mug cakes in ours, or Mum's Emergency Microwave Chocolate Cake, for those moments when you need pudding in a hurry!

7. Toaster
We eat a lot of toast here, morning, noon & night, and it's one of the first small appliances that the kids get to use as part of teaching them to become independent. As long as nobody touches the dial you get a perfectly cooked meal every time. I guess we could manage without one, but think of all those wasted slices of burnt toast that are thrown away when the kids get distracted by their phone & take their eye off the grill. You can even get toasters that cook an egg on the side at the same time!

8. Air Fryer

If you love chips but are also trying to eat a little healthier then an air fryer is a must. Beautifully cooked chips, made with little oil, in around 25 minutes. They're not just for chips though, and depending on the model and the attachments it comes with, you can also make risottos, stir fry's, roasted veggies, crispy chicken, and so much more. I've even made bolognese in mine!

Which small kitchen appliances will you be buying next?

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4 good reasons why you should deep clean a commercial kitchen

Cleanliness is next to godliness, the saying goes, and nowhere is this more important than in commercial catering. Whether you are running an office canteen, a café, pub, restaurant or hotel, maintaining a clean and hygienic environment at all times is the foundation upon which the business operates.

It goes without saying that every aspect of the kitchen facility should be properly cleaned on a daily basis to ensure safe food preparation and handling. While daily and weekly cleaning schedules are an important part of your regular maintenance regime, this should be supplemented by periodic deep cleans carried out by commercial cleaning specialists to tackle dirt, grime and germs that can easily accumulate in commercial kitchens.

Here are 4 excellent reasons why.

1.     Unbeatable Levels of Cleanliness

No doubt your kitchen staff will have been trained to deliver the highest standards of everyday cleanliness as part of the general maintenance regime in the kitchen. What they won’t have, however, is access to specialist cleaning equipment nor training in specialist cleaning techniques that only professional cleaning operatives will be able to carry out.

A regular professional kitchen deep clean is performed by a team of highly skilled operatives for whom no cleaning challenge is too tough. This includes extractor fans, canopies and filters; ovens, grills and deep fat fryers; tiles and floors. It’s an operation that involves intense steam cleaning and meticulous attention to all those hard-to-reach places in order to eliminate dirt and germs and achieve unrivalled hygiene for your commercial kitchen.

2.     Health & Safety Compliance

The production, processing and distribution of food and drink is subject to a wealth of legislation that every food business must comply with. The Food Standards Agency addresses food safety issues at every stage of the food industry chain and it has a statutory role to play in protecting both public health and consumer interests.

When it comes to cleaning, specifically, it is a legal requirement that commercial kitchens must be professionally deep cleaned every 6 months. According to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, all outlets must have a cleaning protocol in place to prove that the required levels of cleanliness have been met.

3.     Caring for your Staff and Customers

In addition to fulfilling the legal requirements, investing in regular commercial deep cleans also means that you are doing everything possible to protect your customers and staff from any potential health issues that can arise from lack of hygiene or cross contamination.

It shouldn’t be underestimated that commercial kitchens are exposed to a wide variety of possible contaminants, with many staff members having access to the kitchen and able to potentially contaminate food. Uncooked foods in particular pose a health risk if kitchen surfaces are not sufficiently clean. Whether it’s washing dishes, food storage or disinfecting kitchen surfaces, a thoroughly clean environment is key to protecting people from harmful bacterial that can quickly thrive.

4.     Business Reputation

In the hospitality industry, your business reputation depends crucially on providing a first class customer experience. Happy customers are more likely to come back, and they’ll tell all their friends too. You need to be seen to show your customers that you care deeply about their wellbeing when they’re visiting your premises. Deep cleaning your kitchen (and the rest of the establishment) is an essential part of maintaining a welcoming environment for your clientele.

Of course, every customer wants to be reassured that they are eating and drinking in the safest and cleanest possible space, which is why cleanliness really is next to godliness in the hotel, pub and restaurant business.


image credit : Unsplash

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Seven pasta shapes and how to serve them

There is no doubting the popularity of pasta in the UK, but many people overlook the fact that choosing the right shape makes a big difference to the finished product. It’s important to pair your pasta with the sauce if it’s going to be as good as it can be. Before we get started on our guides, it’s also worth noting these general tips to get the most out of any dish.

• Don’t cook the pasta all the way through. Leave it al dente, drain it, add the sauce and let it cook for a couple minutes further. This cooks some of the sauce directly into the pasta
• Store your shapes in proper pasta packaging to keep it as fresh and delicious as possible
• There is no need to add olive oil when cooking – it is often quoted as a good idea to add oil to stop the individual pasta from sticking together but it won’t actually make any difference
• Do make sure that you salt your water properly, however

Follow these rules and you’ll be ready to start making stunning pasta dishes. So here is our guide to seven of the most popular pasta shapes alongside with advice on what to serve them with.

Tubes

Some of the most popular in the UK, the tube shaped pastas are extremely versatile and typically have ridges which allow them to pick up plenty of the thick sauces that they are paired so well with. However, tubes also worth well with everything from carbonara to a rich ragu. 

• Varieties: penne, rigatoni
• Serve with: thick tomato and vegetable sauces

Long strands

Perhaps the most famous pasta – the humble spaghetti – falls in this category. Like tubes, long strands are a very versatile pasta shape. Spaghetti is, of course, traditionally served with Bolognese (and the Italians would have you mix the sauce and pasta together thoroughly before serving). But you additionally, linguine is traditionally paired with seafood, while the noodle-like vermicelli works well with creamy dishes.

• Varieties: spaghetti, linguine, vermicelli
• Serve with: cream-based sauces or seafood dishes

Ribbons

The ribbon style of pasta are often overlooked in the UK in favour of spaghetti, but they certainly should have a place on your dinner plate. Wider and flatter, ribbons like pappardelle and tagliatelle do a better job of picking up chunky sauces, especially with strong earthy flavours like mushroom and game. They also work especially well with creamy and buttery dishes.

• Varieties: tagliatelle, pappardelle, fettuccine
• Serve with: rich and meaty or creamy sauces

Shells

Shells style pasta like conchiglie are perfectly shaped like cups to hold heavier sauces in place. Any time you are planning to enjoy a chunky vegetable sauce or something with minced meat, shells can be the perfect option. Their shape also lends perfectly to pasta bakes.

• Varieties: conchiglie, lumache
• Serve with: heavy and thick sauces with bite

Spirals

Corkscrew or spiral shaped pasta are another popular variety in the UK, and they come into their own when they are paired with lighter sauces. Anything where the sauce can become caught inside the spiral will provide a very satisfying bite when you come to sample your creation.

• Varieties: fusilli, spirali
• Serve with: lighter and thinner sauces

Speciality

Finally, there are plenty of pasta shapes that are only really used for a single specific purpose: the speciality types. Once again, these are some of the most renowned and loved varieties in UK kitchens. Lasagne sheets may be the oldest type of pasta in existence and we all know how to best utilise them!

• Varieties: lasagne, ravioli
• Serve with: depends on the pasta

Small shapes

Smaller pasta shapes like orzo are underused in the UK. A similar size to rice, they are best put to work providing bite to stews and soups. It makes a big difference from rice or noodles in your soup, so if you have never tried it before, give small pasta a try.

• Varieties: orzo, fregula
• Serve with: stews or soups

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Get to know all the 6 members of the onion family

Allium vegetables – the ones from the onion family – form an important part of our diet. In addition to regular onions and spring onions, they include shallots and garlic, leeks and chives. Allium is the Latin word for garlic. These highly versatile vegetables are high in beneficial sulphur compounds, which is what gives them their distinctive smell, taste and, of course, tear inducing pungency.

Recently, Price Kitchens, who know a thing or two about cooking, gave us a bit more information about onions and related vegetables. Widely available in the shops and easily grown in your garden, these kitchen staples form the basis of many delicious dishes you can prepare at home. What’s more, allium veg are also perfectly capable of being the star attraction – just think of the classic French Onion Soup, Braised Leeks or Roast Garlic.

Regularly eating vegetables from the allium family has a wide range of health benefits that include lowering cholesterol, reducing blood pressure and offering cardiovascular protection, providing anti-inflammatory effects and anti-cancer activity.

Onions

Originally from Central Asia and the Middle East, onions have been cultivated for a thousand years. In addition to culinary uses, they were also prized for their antiseptic properties and were used in mummification in Egypt.

The common onion – Allium cepa – has white, yellow, red or purple skin. The onions that you buy at the shops are dry or ‘storage’ onions that have a stronger flavour and thick, papery skins in comparison to fresh ones.

Pungent yellow onions are the best long term keepers, perfect for soups and stews. Red onions have a sweeter taste which makes them ideal for use in salads and sandwiches, but they won’t last as long. White pearl onions are the smallest type of bulb onion and a favourite for pickling.

Shallots (Allium ascalonium)

The name can be traced back to the Crusaders from Ascalon in Israel where shallots originate from. Like garlic, they grow as bulbs that are divided into a minimum of 2 cloves, which grow in clusters.

Unlike other types of alliums, shallots have a tapered shape and a copper brown, red or grey colour. The vegetable has a sweet, mild flavour that sits somewhere between onion and garlic, which is why shallots are often favoured by professional chefs.

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic originally comes from Central Asia and has always been known for its medicinal as well as culinary uses. Of all the allium vegetables, it has the strongest taste. Garlic is a hardy perennial that grows as a bulb, with each bulb being made up of individual cloves.

Elephant Garlic or ‘great headed garlic’ (Allium ampeloprasum) has been growing in popularity recently. Actually a variant of the garden leek rather than a true garlic, the bulb is almost comically huge, with each clove spanning up to 5cm in width. With its mild taste, Elephant Garlic is perfect for roasting and baking, or sliced raw into a salad.

Growing garlic is super easy, and there are lots of varieties for autumn planting. Just plant a clove in the ground and wait for the following autumn.

Spring Onions

Known as ‘scallions’ by our friends across the pond, spring onions are nothing other than the immature plants of a bulb onion that’s been harvested before the bulb has had a chance to fully develop. The white root bulb and the green tops can both be eaten. Allium fistulosum are bunching onions, typically sold in bunches in the shops, that have a milder taste than other varieties.

Spring onions are a tasty accompaniment to salads or a garnish for soups, and are perfect to add to quick stir fries.

Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum)

Also known as ‘poor man’s asparagus’, leeks look like enormous spring onions and are the largest vegetable of the onion family, able to reach up to 60cm in lengths and 5cm in width. The leek can be traced back to ancient Egyptian cooking, and it was a favourite vegetable of Emperor Nero who was convinced that leek soup benefitted the quality of his voice.

Leeks feature heavily in French, Dutch and Belgian cuisine and complement well with potatoes – as in Vichyssoise leak and potato soup. In eastern North America and Canada, wild leeks (ramps) are considered a rare treat.

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Unsurprising given their appearance, chives are a hardy perennial and closely related to grass. Together with tarragon, parsley and chervil, chives complete the classic French herb seasoning mix known as fine herbes. Garlic chives (Allium tubersosum) are also known as Chinese or Oriental Chives and make a good mild substitute for garlic.

Snip them with scissors straight from the garden or window sill and add with sour cream to baked potato or to give the finishing touches to dips, salads and soups.

30 Freezer Friendly Meals for the Family

Making healthy and nutritious meals for the family every day can often become a chore, and when cooking becomes a chore we may start to turn to fast food or ready meals in a bid to save our sanity. Whilst fast food is nice as a treat or when needs absolutely must, it's not good for us to eat foods high in saturated fats and salt  on a daily basis, and don't even mention what it might be doing to our bank balance!

Ready meals from the supermarket may seem like a better option, and often they are, but many ready meals also contain high amounts of saturated fats, salt and sugar, plus preservatives to keep them looking and tasting good for longer, plus quality ready meals can set you back a pretty penny too.

What if you found some time each week to batch cook a load of meals that could feed the family for the following week (and beyond), freeing up time during the week to spend more time doing the things you enjoy, instead of slaving over a cooker night after night.

This list of meals will keep the family fed for a month, and if you freeze individual portions everyone can pick and choose what they want to eat each night, which will please even the fussiest of eaters (don't forget to label the meals or you could have a meal time roulette on your hands!).

Many meals can be cooked in a slow cooker or pressure cooker so you won't even have to stand stirring, and if you buy ready chopped vegetables you'll save even more time. Beware of becoming too efficient though, or you might end up having to buy an industrial freezer to store the sudden influx of freezer dinners. 

Pies and pasties can easily be frozen individually, before or after cooking the pastry. If freezing the pastry raw, be sure to allow it to defrost fully before cooking. Most meals can be reheated in the microwave straight from frozen, although it's usually favourable to defrost overnight in the fridge beforehand, and always make sure the food is piping hot all the way through before serving.

You can find links to all the recipes mentioned (and more) on my Family Meals Pinterest board at the bottom of this post.

Curry

Beef and Vegetable curry

Chickpea & Spinach Curry
Mild Chicken Curry
Sri Lankan Vegetable Curry
Butter Chicken

Chilli

Chilli Stuffed Peppers
Double Bean & Roasted Pepper Chilli
Slow Cooker Beef Chilli

Stews & Casseroles

Chicken & Vegetables in bbq Sauce

Beef & Shallots in Red Wine Gravy

Sausages in Onion Gravy

Staffordshire Lobby (stew)

Mediterranean Chicken Casserole

One Pot Moroccan Chicken Stew
Lemon & Herb Chicken Potato Casserole
Beef Stew
Mushroom Strogonoff

Pies & Pasties

Chicken & Sweetcorn Slices

Lamb Keema Pasties

Cheese, Onion & Potato Pasties
Cheesy Chicken & Sausage Lattice Pie

Soup

Butternut Squash & Tomato Soup
Leek & Potato Soup
Minestrone Soup
Autumn Vegetable Soup

Miscellaneous

Middle Eastern Spiced Meatloaf

Bagel Breakfast Sandwiches
Classic Lasagne
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
Sweet & Sour Chicken


Don't forget to stock up on foil trays, individual meal containers, large freezer bags (perfect for soup) and freezer safe plastic boxes to ensure that you're fully prepared.

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Autumn & Winter Garden Party Ideas

Summer may be over, but don't let that stop you entertaining outside and making the most of the mild weather whilst it lasts. Even into the colder months, with a few fun ideas, a heat source and a party gazebo, you can enjoy quality time with your family and friends and show them that your hosting skills aren't limited to Summer.

End of Summer Party

Mark the end of the summer by recreating all the drinks you've enjoyed over the warmer months, whilst blasting out the best banging tunes of the summer. An English garden party isn't complete without a jug or two of Pimms and a Gin based English Garden Cocktail.

Outdoor Movie Night

Set up a large screen and projector, throw down a few bean bags and cosy blankets, and enjoy a classic movie under the stars. For the perfect movie night, don't forget the endless supply of popcorn.

Pumpkin Carving Party

Pick up a few pumpkins from your local farm shop, grab some carving tools, download a selection of pumpkin templates, and you're all set up for a fun and competitive carving party with both the young and the old. Be sure to keep the pumpkin flesh and seeds as roasted pumpkin seeds make a tasty snack, and the flesh can be used in a delicious and hearty pumpkin soup. 

Campfire Party
Keep everyone warm and cosy around the campfire, whilst singing your favourite campfire songs and toasting marshmallows. Set up a s'mores bar, with an endless supply of chocolate squares and graham crackers (digestive biscuits are the UK's closet alternative) to make the most popular campfire treat, whilst sipping on a mug of cocoa.

Photo by Autumn Mott on Unsplash

Halloween Party

Halloween parties are so much fun, and it gives us the opportunity to bring out our inner child, and go to town on the decorations and Halloween party treats.  Set up a few scary props around the garden, and let the kids loose on a trick or treat treasure hunt, whilst the adults enjoy some Dragon's Blood Punch! Make it even more fun by having prizes for the best costumes.

Sausage and Cider Party

BBQ's don't just have to be for summer. Cook up a few varieties of sausage, and have a fun 'guess the flavour' contest, whilst keeping your guests warm with a glass or two of mulled cider, with a non alcoholic version for the younger guests.

Oktoberfest

Dig out your Lederhosen, bake some giant pretzels and stock up on German beers for the party of the year. Set up a few long tables in your gazebo covered with checkered tablecloths, and serve platters of Bratwurst with German potato salad and sauerkraut. Don't forget to hire in an Oompah band or make a playlist of some of the best Oktoberfest tunes to make your party go with a bang.

SOURCE

Bonfire Night Party

If you've got a really large garden it's possible to set up a safe bonfire and firework display of your own. Make sure you follow all safety measures to keep everyone safe, and don't forget the sparklers, toffee apples and other home made bonfire night treats.

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10 Dinner Party Themes your Guests will Love

We all love a good get together with family and friends, so why not really impress them at your next dinner party by going all out with a theme night. These ideas will provide something suitable for everyone, whatever style and cuisine takes your fancy. It's also a good excuse to dust off your favourite dinner sets that you've been keeping in the dresser for a special occasion.

Mexican Fiesta

The sky is the limit when it comes to a Mexican Fiesta. Decorate the house with bright and colourful streamers, banners and piñatas. Serve platters of nachos and salsa, followed by fajitas and quesadillas, and invite everyone to come along in their biggest and brightest sombrero.

IMAGE SOURCE

Beach Party

Come dressed to impress in your beach wear (you may need to turn the heating up if it's winter!), chill some beers, blow up a few inflatable palm trees and serve up fish and chips in a sandcastle bucket.

Brit Awards

Decorate the room with Union Jacks and posters of all your favourite British pop stars and bands. Ask everyone to dress in evening wear, or even as their favourite Britpop singer - see how many Geri Halliwells you get in that union jack dress! Serve canapés and cocktails to your guests whilst having a game of 'name that tune'.

Hawaiian Luau

Build a Tiki bar in the garden from old pallets and employ a Hawaiian shirt clad barman to serve up Pina Coladas and Mai Tais in pineapple skins . Then give everyone a flower Lei to wear whilst partaking in a game of limbo.

Breakfast

Who says breakfast foods are just for breakfast. Set up an all night buffet of pancakes, waffles, croissants, fresh fruit and the good old full English, whilst everyone relaxes in their pj's, drinking Bloody Mary's and liquor coffees.

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Race Night

Don your best hat and fascinator, choose your horses and place your bets (with paper money of course), and see who comes out on top. 

Cheese Night

A must for all cheese lovers. Serve platters of cheese and biscuits, pair your cheeses with wines, fruit and chutney, and finish off with cheesecake for dessert. Why not throw in a game off blindfolded cheese tasting with some of the strongest cheeses you can find. Do you have the nose for it?

Retro Dinner Party

Dinner parties were all the rage in the 70's, so why not recreate the night by inviting everyone to wear their widest flares and highest platforms, and serve up a few 70's classics, such as prawn cocktail, fondue and black forest gateaux. Don't forget the Babycham and snowballs too!

Christmas in July

It may be summer outside but don't let that stop you from enjoying a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, pulling a few crackers, and wearing a hideous Christmas jumper. Don't forget the presents, the cheesy Christmas tunes, and a game of charades too.

Murder Mystery

Buy a murder mystery box set or download instructions from the internet, send out your invites, have everyone turn up in costume to meet the theme and era of the night, serve some themed food and drink, and use your powers of deduction to discover whodunnit!

IMAGE SOURCE

With a little advanced planning, whatever theme you decide to go for, it will be a night to remember.

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A staggering 73% of Britons have admitted they were unhappy with the way they sit

According to a new study by Urban Massage, Britons are spending more than thirteen hours a day using electronic devices, which has led to 73% of those surveyed admitting that they are unhappy with the way that they sit. They are spending more than thirteen hours a day using electronic devices.

Latest figures, from an independent report by Urban Massage suggest that the average Brit now spends more than four hours a day glued to their smartphone and more than six hours a day using their laptop. These figures demonstrate the way in which technology and content consumption have changed in recent years.

Per the survey, we’re causing our bodies endless damage through bad posture that comes from using these devices. 60% of respondents admitted to sitting in a slouched position working at a desk, arching their back over their computer screen. 

As we sit at our desks, we’re prone to tilting our necks up and down which can stiffen the musculature and affect the movement of your head. Additionally, sitting on a chair that is not set at the correct height can cause lower back pain which can be prolonged if not rectified in time. Try daily stretches or installing a second computer screen that will promote good posture throughout the work day. 

Of those surveyed, only 27% were happy with their posture, and an incredible 64% of respondents collectively expressed that they believe that their technology use is damaging their posture and their health. However, most Britons don’t think about their posture when they’re sat in the office or slouching over their smartphones waiting for the train.

To conclude, the data demonstrates just how ingrained technology is in all our lives – and how damaging that can be for our bodies.

About Urban Massage

Urban Massage is a leading mobile massage platform that connects users to hundreds of professional massage therapists across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Paris and Vienna.

Find out more about Urban Massage and how booking a treatment via their platform can improve your posture and overall wellness by visiting https://www.urbanmassage.com/en-gb/about.

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10 Things to Think About Before Opening Your Own Café

The UK is steadily moving towards the kind of café culture that France and Italy are famous for. Most high streets have a branch of Costa or Starbucks, but there are also a good number of independent and boutique cafés offering customers a cosy place to sit and read, or work on their laptops.

If you’re thinking of becoming part of the café culture and opening a business of your own, there are 10 things you need to think about before making the commitment.

1.     It takes time to set everything up

Even if the café you’ve bought is in great condition, you can’t start trading immediately. Why? Because the person selling the business is leaving and that might be because customers were unhappy with the service, the coffee, the food, or just the look and feel of the place. You need to find out what the problem was and deal with it. Your approach needs to be different from the previous owner, and you’ll probably have to make some changes to entice customers back to your new-look café.

Because of refurbishments and the installation of equipment, the average time it takes to open a café is between three to six months from when you start renting the space. (It’s a good idea to try to negotiate a rent discount for this time.) Delivery times of a new espresso machine are around 4 weeks, cups and saucers 5 weeks, a customised counter top and tables and chairs 8 weeks and outdoor seating approval up to 12 weeks.

2.     Your business plan

Your business plan in which you estimate the café’s monthly turnover, cost of materials, staff costs, and so on, is key to your success. (Tip: Increase your costs by 20%, and, if on-paper, you still come out ahead, there’s a good chance you’ll succeed.) Always confront your business plans realistically. If your bills exceed your estimates, then do something about it right away.

3.     Shop design and research

Apart from the design and the interior décor, you’ll have to research new food recipes so that your café offers something different and unique. Customers are very discerning these days and know exactly what they want. Mediocre service, food and drink is not an option.

4.     It’s a hands-on business

Unless you intend to hire someone to run the café, you’re going to have to do everything yourself, which can be a daunting task. If you do hire staff, you’ll need to train them properly and monitor their work ethic and customer service skills. (You’ll also need to be trained in the art of coffee-making and become a skilled barista – but maybe that’s the fun bit!)

5.     Paperwork and administration

There’s a lot of boring but necessary paperwork to complete – setting up the payroll, calculating payroll taxes, complying with food hygiene regulations, filing the day-to-day accounts, and preparing the work roster for your staff. Check out cloud based services and software to help you. For instance, Planday software simplifies the staff roster process.

6.     Liaising with suppliers

Try to develop a good rapport with your suppliers. They’re your support team, and it’s important that they always deliver your food ingredients, coffee beans and so on, on time – the last thing you need is to run out of some ingredients and disappoint your customers.

7.     All day every day

Be warned, running a cafe is not easy. You need to be there every day from opening time to closing, and this means you won’t have much free time for yourself or your family. And until you have staff who are fully trained and who you can trust, you won’t be able to take a day off or go on holiday.

8.     Staff … keeping them on board

Being a chef or serving coffee and food to customers is not the most glamourous of jobs. Realistically speaking, it doesn’t pay well either. Very few people are happy working in the food and beverage industry, but for you to succeed you need to try to find good dependable staff. In this industry, many jobs are part-time and people come and go, so it’s important to retain good staff, especially if you’ve spent time training them.

9.     Motivating staff

An equally challenging task is keeping your staff motivated. If you think just because you’re the boss, the staff will do everything you say, watch out, because they won’t! However, when they’re unhappy, they will look to you, their café guru, to motivate them. Good luck with that!

10.  Handling customers with aplomb

Unlike a lot of other businesses, you will be dealing with customers face to face, and they can be very demanding and difficult at times. But no matter what, try to be helpful, positive and friendly … and keep smiling!