I have a random and bizarre question. For those of you who have owned or have experience with restaurants, what do you know about soda guns vs. soda machines, in terms of costs, preference with customers, etc? With a soda machine, do you contract out with Coke and Pepsi? Do they provide the machine, or do you still buy it? What kinds of costs are we looking at? We spoke with a restaurant supply store, and they said those machines run $8000 new. I'm finding them on EBay at $1000 or less (as low as $300), so something weird is going on here. Any info/thoughts are appreciated.
To clarify, by soda machine, I am referring to the dispenser where people fill up their Cokes/etc, not a "insert coin, get can of coke" machine.
You dont have to pay for those things. Companies offer the guns, you just have to buy the sodas and juices from them.
Thanks! Do you know if they have any size requirements or types of companies they work with? (I am opening up a coffee shop)
It'll be at the corner of Riverside and S. Congress here in Austin (in the center with Freebirds)... The goal is early July, but we'll see if that happens. We've spent the last 6 months negotiating a lease that normally takes about 30-45 days, so our timetable is already way off schedule (finally signed it last week). I'm hoping we can stay on schedule now, but I've learned not to count on that.
I own a few coffee shops in Houston, so let me know if you have any questions. IMHO I don't think a coke machine is a good idea in a coffee shop. You want them to buy coffee right? Just keep a few bottles of coke, sprite, etc. But of course every operation is different and it might be perfectly suitable for your location.
Thanks - I just send you an email through the BBS. On the coke thing - yeah, we debated that. Along with coffee, we're offering a full line of drinks - juices, smoothies, sodas, etc. We debated the soda gun vs. soda dispenser, but are leaning towards the latter simply to make it easier on the staff - they can spend their time making other drinks rather than refilling coke glasses. With the way the market is in Austin, if we don't offer a full line of drinks, then people who prefer that to coffee will simply go elsewhere since there are so many options here. There's both a Starbucks and another local coffee shop within about a 1/2 mile of us, in fact.
Where? BTW, this new coffee shop in Austin's going to be awesome. I may even move back there because of its awesomeness. * *This ad paid for by employees of Dominican Joe's co-owner.
The coffee shops I run are located in various high rise buildings throughout downtown and med center. Most of them are kiosks, so there isn't really a sit down place. The coolest one is in 3 Allen Center and building a pretty nice one in the Fulbright Tower. Clutchcity discount for anyone. Currently most of them use Italia D' Oro Espresso and Coffee. I hate it. Switching over to Seattle's Best Coffee soon enough.
I am an account/project manager for a new restaurant equipment dealer. Email me if you have any equipment questions... ldoctoroff@conceptserv.com
Dyna Flow is the compnay that we use. I asked one of their delivery guys today and he said there is no minimum purchase/month. I had the 800 number but I lost it. Let me know if you need the number.
Awesome! I live on Riverside (the ghetto part across I-35), but I'll be sure to stop by next semester! What's the place going to be called?
