You’re open six, maybe seven days a week.
The till’s ringing. Tables are turning. Staff are busy.
And yet…
You’re not sure if it’s working.
You don’t know whether:
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You’re really profitable
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You’re actually growing
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Your customers are coming back — or just passing through
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Your staff are thriving — or just surviving
It feels busy… but is it healthy?
Welcome to the foggy middle ground so many café owners live in.
The solution?
Stop guessing — and start measuring what really matters.
Let’s walk through how to actually know if your café is thriving.
1. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (AND DON’T AVOID THEM)
First, the hard truth:
If you’re not looking at your numbers regularly, you’re running blind.
Thriving cafés:
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Track daily and weekly sales
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Monitor cost of goods sold (COGS)
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Watch wage % and roster efficiency
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Understand average transaction value
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Compare performance week-on-week and year-on-year
You don’t need to be an accountant.
But you do need to know:
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What’s going in
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What’s going out
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And whether what’s left is enough
Tip: Block 30 mins each week to review numbers. Same time. Every week. Make it a habit.
2. MEASURE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE — NOT JUST HEADCOUNT
Foot traffic tells you something.
But feedback tells you everything.
Are your Google reviews increasing?
Do people mention your staff, the vibe, the consistency?
Are complaints rare — and handled well when they happen?
People vote with their feet, but they speak with their hearts.
A truly thriving café leaves customers talking — for the right reasons.
Tip: Ask for reviews. Respond to them. Talk to your regulars.
The gold is in the conversations you’re not having right now.
3. TRACK YOUR REGULARS (AND BUILD FROM THERE)
Thriving cafés don’t just attract customers — they keep them.
If you’re constantly serving first-timers but not seeing familiar faces return, you’ve got a leak in your loyalty.
Look for signs of:
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Growing regular base
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First-name interactions from staff
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Habitual ordering patterns
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Word-of-mouth referrals
A thriving café has its own ecosystem — built on trust, consistency, and care.
Tip: Train your team to remember names. Introduce a loyalty system. Encourage social follows.
4. ASSESS TEAM CULTURE AND MORALE
Is your team energised or exhausted?
Are they proud to work for your café — or just clocking in?
Because here’s the thing:
Your staff set the tone for every customer interaction.
If your team is thriving:
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The vibe is warm and cohesive
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Service is confident and cheerful
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Baristas are proud of their work
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Problems get solved — not avoided
Tip: Do a quick staff pulse check. Ask:
“What’s one thing that would make your week easier?”
Then actually act on it.
5. CHECK IF YOU’RE GROWING — OR JUST TREADING WATER
Are you doing better than you were 6 months ago?
Not just busier.
Better.
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Higher average spend?
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More coffees per kilo?
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More customers per hour?
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Better workflow?
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Less waste?
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More margin?
Thriving cafés evolve. They experiment. They improve.
Tip: Keep a simple dashboard with your key measures.
Even five numbers a month can show a powerful trend.
THE SIGNS ARE THERE — YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK
A thriving café isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about progress.
You don’t need 100 new customers a day.
You need momentum. Visibility. Clarity.
And the ability to make better decisions — based on facts, not feelings.
NEED HELP SEEING YOUR CAFÉ CLEARLY?
We help café owners:
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Understand their numbers
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Improve their flavour and consistency
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Build strong teams and culture
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Attract (and keep) loyal customers
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Grow with purpose — not pressure
If you're ready to stop guessing and start building,
we’d love to be part of your journey.
Because thriving isn’t just possible — it’s the goal.
Download our Cafe Partnerships Booklet