Nicole Loomis
Opening a juice bar can be a complex, confusing process. But it doesn’t have to be. Armed with the right information, you can position yourself to reach high levels of success within this exciting new market place. Follow our simple tips and you’ll be well on your way to running the best juice bar in your community.
The first thing to consider before opening a juice bar is the equipment. As the popularity of juicers has risen in recent years, there is no shortage of great juice bar equipment to choose from. But often times this can lead to more confusion than clarity. Depending on the variety of your menu, you will want to consider acquiring a few different types of commercial fruit juicers.
An automatic citrus juicer is the staple of any great juice bar. As citrus fruits require special care when compared to other fruits, it’s important to not cut any corners on your citrus juicer. It’s often best to have one machine that is dedicated to citrus alone. Consider options that allow for quick output, clean up, and pulp control. Investing in a juicer that can handle lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit is a key to producing high-quality citrus juices in a timely, orderly manner.
Of course, when you’re opening a juice bar, you’ll want to include a variety of options. For Americans, apples are the number one fruit of choice. Apple juice consumption totaled 14 pounds, or 1.6 gallons, per person, while the consumption of fresh apples totaled 10.7 pounds per person in 2015. Similarly, in that year, the average American consumed 3.3 pounds of dried, canned, and frozen apples. Offering popular fruits like apples, pineapple, and mango will do wonders for your menu. You should also consider investing a good wheatgrass juicer and offering health-conscious vegetable choices like carrots, beets, and celery.
As with any business, it’s important to inform yourself before opening a juice bar. By purchasing high quality equipment up front, you will save yourself valuable time and money. Regardless of the machines you buy, you should always keep a few key factors in mind. Speed of juicing is important for productivity and customer satisfaction. Keeping noise levels low will create a more welcoming atmosphere. Size and capacity are key to keeping up an efficient workflow. Finally, ease of cleaning will ensure your workplace is free of clutter so that you can operate the best juice bar possible.
