How much does a coffee station earn? A worked example

How many cups a day does a coffee station need to pay off? We work through revenue, profit and payback with a simple example.

The most important question before launch is: what is left at the end of the month? The answer depends above all on one number – how many cups the station sells per day. We show the calculation with a simple example.

The starting values

For the example we use the values that the calculator on our home page works with: an average price of €2 per drink, 30 selling days a month and a margin of about 65 % after coffee, ingredients, cups and cashless payment fees.

Revenue

If the station sells 40 drinks a day, that gives 40 × €2 × 30 days = €2,400 revenue a month.

Profit

With a 65 % margin, about €1,560 a month remains. If there is rent, it is deducted from this amount. If the landlord takes a share of sales, the margin falls accordingly.

Payback

If the station in this example costs about €12,480, it is paid off after roughly 8 months. Locations with more footfall pay off faster; on average our stations pay back in 6–8 months.

What moves the number

The number of cups has the biggest effect. At 60 instead of 40 drinks a day, monthly profit in the example rises to about €2,340. That is why choosing the location matters so much: a good location with high footfall improves the numbers more than any other factor.

Your own calculation

In the calculator on the home page you can set cups per day, number of stations, period and rent yourself. For a specific location we prepare a personal business plan free of charge. All figures in this article are examples and not a guarantee of any particular return.