Ok, I know YOU HAVE TO BREW FRESH GROUNDS, ALL THE TIME, but what about the customers that dont care about grinding it themselves, or dont have a grinder? Do I just grind it up for them? I dont want them to think my coffee is junk because it was ground 2 days before they brewed anything. Should i just refuse to grind? Tell them to use a blender? (Thats what i used to do, works ok). I am just concerned about the quality of the cup that is brewed at home, because if the customers experience is not awesome, then they wont buy anymore, know what i mean? Now that I typed this out I think I am going to refuse to grind. Any opinions? Or facts if youve got them. Or experiences.
Thank you
If you put yourself into the customer's shoes for a second . . . . . more than likely they haven't yet experienced totally great coffee, but they're in your shop looking for something that's better than what they've been used to (Folgers, supermarket coffee, etc.). If they don't have a grinder, but they're still looking for coffee that's better than what they're used to, even if you grind it for them, the coffee that they have at home is still going to be better than what they're used to.
Then, if you mention that the exact same coffee will be even more better if they grind it themselves before brewing, they'll be tempted because most people are in search for something better than what they have.
Enjoying and appreciating good coffee, especially when you make it at home, can be a gradual process. I've watched people go from being okay with Folgers, to buying pre-ground coffee from a roaster, to buying a grinder, and then to buying a better coffee brewer. It's a process.
Why try to force customers to get whole bean coffee right from the start? If they're not quite ready for that step, you're going to lose them as a customer, and they'll miss out on the opportunity to be gradually educated so they can really appreciate good coffee.
Let's admit it......grinding coffee at home can be a messy process. Lots of people don't want to bother using a grinder and cleaning up the little pieces of beans that end up all over the place. Pre-ground, good roasted coffee is the lesser alternative. But if it makes them happy, why turn away a potential customer because you don't want to be bothered to grind it for them?
When I go to my local roaster to buy whole beans, I watch people ordering the exact same beans and having it ground for them. The person grinding the beans doesn't try to convince them to get a grinder and do it themselves. They just smile and grind the coffee. They sell tons of roasted coffee, both whole bean and ground.
Why lose a customer just because you "think" they should have it your way???
I don't understand that logic, especially from a customer's point of view.
Rose
