How Big Do Tables Have to Be in a Coffee House?

If you're starting a small boutique coffee shop then ambience is everything. You need to find a tilt that will set you apart from the corporate sterility of one of those mass "specialty coffee" stores that loves to declare itself hip. One of the biggest concerns should be how big do tables have to be in a coffee house.

What type of tables you choose depends on the look that you're going for. If you want the cozy conversation feel of a French café then look for a small spindly quaint glass table for two. Couples can cuddle up over a cup and have a nice romantic conversation. Ring the tables around the outside wall of the store or out on the sidewalk so your couples can avoid being distracted by others around them.

If you're catering to the harried corporate worker that uses your café as a surrogate office then they'll need a bit more room to lay out the laptop, PDA, cell phone and such things. A bistro table is a bit larger in width. This can let your client spread out. Try and arrange the tables so that each person can have a little privacy when working.

If you want the funky feel of a college art house coffee shop then you'll go for plush comfort. Look for low long coffee tables set in between comfy couches. This lets the crowd sit around, play board games and chat. Your customers can kick back and prop their feet up and listen to poetry slams, local bands, and open mike nights.

If you're looking for the full restaurant experience to go along with your coffee shop then you'll want to set some tables more conducive to eating than sipping. You can put in some standard dining room tables or booths that will accommodate four to six people. You can arrange different sized tables for different sized parties. Be sure to get tables that are an identical height so you can move them together for larger parties.

Setting up a boutique coffee shop is nice but to maximize profit you'll want to mix these elements together. There are a few floor plans available for it. You want to be able to cater to the corporate drone, the cozy couple, and the art crowd.

Set up your more private tables outside, in corners and along the outside walls for privacy. You can then fill in the interior of the café with your larger table set ups. For instance you can use one corner for a couple couches and coffee tables. Then set up another area that is better suited to dining. And leave an open space for a stage and microphone set up. By combining these elements you'll be able to bring in diverse crowds all looking for something better than a mass produced cup of Joe. Setting up the shop involves quite a few elements; one of them is how big do tables have to be in a coffee house. Just plan everything out and pick up the furniture you need.

By Jennifer Akre