After attending my coffee shop course, the client approached me to design his coffee house in Woolwich town centre.

The Brief
Equitable House was the Grade-II listed former headquarters of the Woolwich Equitable Building Society. The client’s primary needs were to create a bright, welcoming coffee shop, with a large counter area and space for lots of seating. They also wanted to take advantage of the available outdoor seating area, with views onto General Gordon Square.

Key Design Considerations

1. Pricing.
   The drawings provided were issued to their team of building contractors, allowing them to prepare accurate cost estimates.
2. Equipment.
   The equipment layout and the corresponding legends that were provided ensured that all counters were built to sufficient depths and heights, to allow for their installation. The drawings future proofed the counter and kitchen areas, allowing for potential changes in the food operation at a later stage, as the coffee shop grew.
3. Building Control approval.
   My plans included the necessary mechanical and electrical information required for full building control approval.
4. Seating.
   Seating plans allowed for estimates for indoor and outdoor furniture arrangements.

Subject to the above considerations, I was able to produce detailed proposed layouts of the following:

1. Cafe Counter Plan
   This drawing outlined the layout of the counter, including the location of the coffee machine, grinders, the glass food display, tills, and other essential equipment and storage.
2. Cafe Front and Rear Elevations
   These were intended to provided a visual representation of the counter’s height, depth, and the placement of shelves, cupboards, and equipment.
3. Detailed Working Kitchen Plan
   These included details of a small baking area, the dish wash area, refrigeration, dry storage area, and mandatory spaces, such as a secure chemical cleaning cupboard.

To streamline operations and ensure consistency, I provided the client with essential tools such as my excel staff rota template, excel supplier stock and product list, and a sample job advertisement. These resources helped us to interview, recruit and organise staff, to place orders and to control stock.

Prior to the grand opening, my barista training sessions were designed to elevate coffee skills and standards throughout the team. Key topics covered included:

• Espresso Knowledge: Understanding the characteristics of Arabica coffee, and it’s impact on their espresso flavour profile.
• Machine Operation: Proper startup procedures, maintenance techniques, and the art of extracting a perfect espresso shot.
• Milk Texturing Techniques: Mastering the skill of creating velvety microfoam milk, essential for crafting exceptional caffe lattes and cappuccinos.
• Coffee Drink Preparation: Learning how to prepare a variety of espresso-based drinks, including flat whites, lattes, and cappuccinos.
• Ingredient Storage: Proper storage techniques for milk and coffee beans to maintain freshness and quality.
• End-of-Day Cleaning: Essential cleaning procedures to ensure optimal machine performance and hygiene.

Additional barista training was also conducted during the first week of trading, where I assumed the position of store manager, opening, closing and running the premises whilst staff grew accustomed to working procedures.

The Result
The Coffee Lounge continues to serve expertly made coffee to the people of Woolwich. The cafe and the building have become prominent landmarks in the surrounding area.