Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Publishes 2023 Guide on How to Start a Coffee Shop in Pennsylvania

kat’s Coffeehouse recently opened in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, through Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Coffee Shop Success program.

“If you’re thinking of opening a coffee shop in Pennsylvania or any other state, call 1-888-800-9224 to reach our startup team. We’re excited to share information and resources to help entrepreneurs like you.” – Greg Ubert, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

COLUMBUS, Ohio (PRWEB)
July 15, 2023

Want to learn how to open a coffee shop in Pennsylvania? Get tips on starting a profitable business in The Keystone State from coffee shop startup experts at Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea.

Through its 7 Steps to Coffee Shop Success program, Roast magazine’s 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year has taught over 400 entrepreneurs across the country how to open their own independent coffee shops.

In 2022, Crimson Cup published a series of startup guides to help entrepreneurs in each state achieve their dreams of opening their own coffee shops.

For 2023, the company’s 7 Steps coffee shop startup consulting team has updated its “How to Start a Coffee Shop in Pennsylvania” guide with even more tips and resources.

“Pennsylvania is a terrific place to start a coffee shop!” said Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert.

“Currently, the state has only eight coffee chain locations per 100,000 residents. And there are over 5,669 Pennsylvania residents for every existing coffee shop. That leaves many Pennsylvanians without a local coffee shop, especially in the smaller cities and towns.”

The 7 Steps program is based on Ubert’s book, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee, which he wrote to help coffee shop owners develop profitable businesses by mastering all aspects of successful coffee shop operations.

“We help entrepreneurs with little or no coffee experience become owners of thriving coffee shops serving their local communities,” he said.

“From choosing a terrific location and writing a strong coffee shop business plan to buying and laying out equipment, hiring and training staff and more, our team is here to guide you.”

To hear about the book in Ubert’s own words, download a free recorded introduction on Soundcloud.

Owners of coffee shops in Pennsylvania towns including Altoona, Bedford, Gibsonia, Irwin, Mansfield, Marleysburg, Springs and Trexlertown have learned how to open and run a coffee shop through our coffee shop startup program.

The Java Joint, a drive-through coffee shop located in Trexlertown, marked its 20th anniversary of successful operation on July 12, 2023.

A few months earlier, kat’s Coffeehouse opened at 617 Warrendale Road, Suite E, in the Pittsburgh suburb of Gibsonia.

At the shop’s April 25 Grand Opening, Owners Kathy and Todd Williams welcomed Allegheny County coffee lovers with a $1 special on all regular-sized specialty coffee drinks.

The new shop invites customers into a warm environment designed by Kathy Williams. Ample seating and free Wi-Fi invite guests to stay while they savor specialty coffee drinks, including espressos, mochas and lattes. A drive-thru window caters to Gibsonia coffee lovers on the go. Locally sourced pastries, subs and ice cream round out the menu.

“We want to serve the best coffee and provide an experience that the customer remembers as extremely positive,” Todd Williams said. “We focus on the details, from lighting to music, fiber internet to fast drive through. And we hire people who truly enjoy the dance of making outstanding specialty coffee drinks that make people happy.”

kat’s Coffeehouse is the latest in a series of enterprises for the couple. Before venturing into coffee, the entrepreneurs made waves in kitchen textile design, the steel industry and retail clothing boutiques.

Kathy has worked in fashion since she started in retail at age 15. Before opening two Kat & Willie clothing boutiques in Pittsburgh, she spent 14 years designing kitchen textiles.

Todd sold more than three million aprons and tea towels designed by Kathy to retail stores such as HomeGoods, TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Earlier in their marriage, he sold steel while Kathy raised their four children.

After the clothing boutiques got off the ground, the serial entrepreneurs needed something new to keep the momentum going. Then, encountering a local coffee shop for sale, they took a chance and made an offer.

The only problem? They had zero coffee experience.

“With no prior experience in the industry, we knew we needed a partner that truly understood coffee,” Todd Williams said.

Enter Crimson Cup. The award-winning coffee roaster helps entrepreneurs achieve their dreams of starting and running thriving independent coffee shops.

“I was researching coffee providers and got in touch with their amazing 7 Steps coffee shop startup consulting team of Scott Fullerton, Steve Bayless, Heather Syx and Dave Eldridge,” Todd said. He then read Ubert’s book.

“It was apparent from reading the book and talking to the consulting team that the business model Crimson Cup provides works,” Todd said.

As part of their due diligence, the couple visited the Crimson Cup Innovation Lab in Columbus, Ohio, where Kathy tasted a cup of black java with no additives. “It was the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had!” she exclaimed.

That was the deciding factor. “After an exhaustive three-month search, we knew we had found our coffee partner,” Todd said.

“The 7 Steps team is outstanding,” Todd said. “Each of them knows this coffee business and shares your joy when you succeed.”

“Weekly calls with Steve and Heather and learning from Dave, whom I call the expert of experts, have helped us avoid so many mistakes,” he added.

The coffee, roasted by Crimson Cup, is gaining a following among area coffee lovers.

“Customers say it’s amazing, the best coffee they’ve ever had. They even compare it to shops in Europe,” Todd said.

The company has received 20 five-star Google reviews in just over two months.

“This place is awesome!” wrote one reviewer. “I went for the first time today and was immediately greeted by a man named Todd. He shared with me that he was the owner and was just so kind and welcomed me in! The decor is really fun and cozy. I got an iced latte with oat milk and caramel drizzle, and it was great! Very smooth and not too sweet. They had lots of different options too. Will definitely be going back and bringing friends. Definitely check this place out!”

After completing the startup process, Todd had several thoughts to share with others contemplating opening a coffee business.

“Don’t do it alone!” he said. “Do it with someone who shares when you win and helps when you need help. Plus, work with a coffee business consultant that instills operations best practices so you can get to be profitable faster than doing it alone or just buying coffee from a roaster with a marketing pitch.

“Most important – if you don’t have great coffee and training nothing else matters.”

To help entrepreneurs learn about opening coffee shops, Crimson Cup will continue to post an updated state-level guide each week in 2023 until all 50 states are covered.

“Although the fundamentals of coffee shop operation remain the same from state to state, the economic opportunities, business formation and licensing requirements vary widely,” Ubert said. “We’re excited to share information and resources to help entrepreneurs expedite their startup journey.”

He invited anyone who is thinking of opening a coffee shop in any state to call Crimson Cup for guidance.

“If you run into any roadblocks or just want to discuss your vision with a coffee expert, you can reach our startup team by calling 1-888-800-9224.”

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazine’s 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup – driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs how to open and run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into coffee shop startup costs.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 400 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across more than 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and its CRIMSON café and retail store in Easton Town Center. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.