Mom and Pop Coffee Shops - No Small Beans

Take a second glance at any busy street and you're sure to find at least one - oftentimes two - major chain coffee shops. As many as four Starbucks can be found within one square mile in some cities. McDonalds has even launched a plan to feature a barista at each of its locations. With the over saturation of big business coffee sites, how do those smaller, mom & pop coffee stops stay in business?

It's not rocket science, however, it's no walk in the park for independent coffee shops to compete with the big guns. Starbucks is armed with business model abiding staff to shuffle customers in and out as quickly as possible, but how does a four person staff keep their business afloat? The secret is offering something different.

Both Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts have keyed in on their individual demographics and brand themselves accordingly. Starbucks lures the professional on the go, adding touches of culture (and consumerism) in every store. Dunkin Donuts on the other hand appeals to the blue collar crowd that appreciates coffee for what it is. Coffee. Smaller shops though have to find the customer in the middle. Or - offer something to branded customers that they're currently not getting from their coffee source.

The succesful independent stores credit their victories to quality coffee. They employ coffee experts - or at least enthusiasts that know not all coffee beans should be brewed the same and can coax the most complex flavors to appear in every cup. It is also recognized that many consumers just started drinking coffee a few years ago, and are only now learning what a good cup of coffee really is.

Indpendent shops also have the freedom to do basically whatever they want. A family owned coffee shop in Phoenix, Arizona even brings a DJ in each week to spin old school music. Other shops offer homebaked goods, decadent desserts, and even vegan dishes.

The cost of coffee (over $1.50 for Starbuck's smallest size) irks even the most faithful big company coffee fans. Smaller shops often boast a lower price point while providing better quality coffee.

Other small coffee shop owners welcome the addition of Starbucks and other bigtime corproate coffee giants with open arms. Just as the earth spins, Starbucks will draw throngs of people. It's valuable real estate and brings even the non-coffee fans out of bed. With the masses of coffee drinks buzzing around Starbucks or other popular coffee names, there's a high probability at least a few will ditch the long lines and head to the nearest local spot.

Independent coffee shops are no different that other small businesses competiting with corporate bigwhigs. Adaptability is key however, and the small shops that survive are a force to be reckoned with.