The Complete List of Essential Kitchen Equipment For Every Cafe
Running a coffee shop is a dream for many people, but turning that dream into a reality requires having the right cafe equipment. It’s how you’ll whip up those delicious lattes, muffins, sandwiches, and salads that your customers love.
But what are the essential pieces of kitchen equipment for cafes? How do you choose the best options for your business? Where can you find it at affordable prices?
s.t.o.p. Restaurant Supply is here to help! We’re your one-stop shop for all things home and commercial kitchen equipment. With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, we understand the challenges of running a cafe, even with the right tools.
To make your life a little easier, we've compiled a comprehensive cafe equipment list that your business needs to create amazing dishes and drinks. Let's take a look!
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Essential Kitchen Equipment for Cafes in Canada |
Coffee and Beverage Equipment
Drinks are the lifeblood of cafes. Whether you’re serving coffee, frozen drinks, or tea, you’ll need the right coffee shop equipment to brew, steam, and pour the perfect concoction for your customers time and time again.
☑️ Espresso Machine: Espresso machines are the crown jewel of every cafe equipment list; they deliver rich shots of espresso for all your specialty coffee creations.
☑️ Iced Tea Brewers: Your gateway to refreshing, summer-day-worthy iced tea.
☑️ Hot Water Dispenser: Essential for quickly making tea, cocoa, or any other hot beverage.
☑️ Commercial Blenders: Frappe and smoothie blenders are the kitchen equipment for restaurants that help you blend up frosty and delightful concoctions.
☑️ Coffee Bean Roaster: Another must-have hot beverage equipment, these are the artisans behind those beautifully roasted ground espresso beans.
☑️ Coffee Filters: These are unassuming yet crucial pieces of equipment for cafes that ensure a perfect brew every time.
☑️ Coffee Grinders: A must for transforming coffee beans into the fresh grounds that make your signature brews so irresistible.
☑️ Coffee Brewers: Coffee is what gets people in the door, make sure yours is up to snuff with high-quality coffee brewers!
☑️ French Press: Keep one of these handy to brew cups with extra-rich flavour.
☑️ Tea infuser: These will help you brew loose-leaf or bagged tea more effectively.
☑️ Ice Machine: Aside from coffee machines, coffee shops need a trusty ice machine to create refreshing iced lattes and other chilled or frozen drinks.
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Refrigeration and Storage Equipment
Keep your ingredients fresh and your drinks chilled with high-quality refrigeration equipment. From walk-in coolers to under-counter fridges, this coffee shop equipment will keep everything cool until it’s ready to be enjoyed!
☑️ Walk-in Cooler: These are your food's best friend, ensuring that perishables and fresh ingredients stay cool and ready for action.
☑️ Reach-in Refrigerators: These hands-friendly fridges keep your ingredient storage organized and accessible.
☑️ Under-Counter Fridge: The unsung hero beneath the counter, under-counter fridges keep your frequently used coffee shop ingredients accessible yet out of sight.
☑️ Refrigerated Display Case: Showcase your daily offerings and entice your customers with tempting displays (i.e. sweet treats).
☑️ Blast Chiller: Rapidly cool things down with these, whether it’s part of the preparation process or a dish that needs to be served cold.
☑️ Proofing Retarder: These are your allies in controlling temperature and humidity during the proofing cycle of dough for better results.
☑️ Beverage Cooler: Your best drinks need a place to chill. This entry on our cafe equipment list keeps all your beverages ice-cold and ready for enjoyment.
☑️ Shelving Units: Shelving is the backbone of a well-organized cafe, providing a home for your essential coffee shop accessories.
☑️ Food Storage Containers: Food storage containers are versatile vessels that keep your ingredients fresh, organized, and ready for use.
☑️ Drawer Systems: You won’t understand the value of organizing your drawers until you’ve done it for yourself. Trust us on this one!
☑️ Storage Jars: Safeguarding spices and small quantities of precious ingredients.
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Cooking Equipment
Whether you're frying eggs, grilling sandwiches, or baking muffins, you'll need the right cooking equipment to prepare your menu items. From ranges and ovens to griddles and toasters, here’s everything you need to cook up a storm.
☑️ Gas or Electric Grill: Nothing beats the sizzle and aroma of grilled perfection.
☑️ Convection Ovens: This type of commercial kitchen equipment for cafes uses a fan to circulate hot air around the food for even baking and cooking.
☑️ Commercial Ranges: Boil, simmer, sauté, fry, or bake with ease and confidence.
☑️ Griddles: Craft signature breakfast dishes with these ultimate breakfast makers.
☑️ Fryers: Fryers are the champions of crispy goodness. They deliver perfectly golden and crunchy fried delights that everyone loves.
☑️ Induction Cooktops: Fast, safe, and space-efficient, induction cooktops offer cleaner and more efficient cooking.
☑️ Broilers: These are the secret weapon of any commercial kitchen, providing the fire and intensity needed for culinary finesse.
☑️ Microwave: Perhaps the most well-known thing on our cafe equipment list, these lifesavers are the quick fixer when you need a rapid heat-up solution.
☑️ Combination Oven: The multi-tasker in your kitchen, from baking to roasting. You can use them to bake, roast, grill, steam, or microwave your food.
☑️ Toaster: Make your bread even better by toasting it.
☑️ Panini Press: Use one of these presses or a griddler to craft amazing hot sandwiches.

Baking Equipment
If you're offering baked goods at your cafe, you'll need to stock up on cafe equipment that can withstand the heat. Fear not; the only limit will be your imagination when you have this equipment in your kitchen arsenal!
☑️ Mixers: The powerhouses behind your freshly baked pastries and sweet treats.
☑️ Proofing Cabinet: A proofer is a cabinet that controls the temperature and humidity of your dough, giving it the perfect environment to rise and shine.
☑️ Dough Sheeter: Essential for rolling out dough nicely and evenly!
☑️ Trays and Racks: From cakes to muffins to bread, every cafe needs a variety of trays and racks to serve all kinds of delicious offerings.
☑️ Baking Stones: Ensure your pizzas and bread have that coveted crispy crust with these pieces of ceramic or stone that absorb and retain heat.
☑️ Mixing Bowls: A baker's best friend for mixing, folding, and whipping up delicious creations. You can never have too many!
☑️ Measuring Cups and Spoons: Baking is a science; use these to measure your ingredients accurately for the best results.
☑️ Whisks and Spatulas: These are every baker’s magic wands that help smooth out lumps, scrape out bowls, and more.
☑️ Decorating Sets: Get the tips and nozzles you need to get your cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats looking delectable.
☑️ Scales: No cafe equipment list would be complete without these; weigh your flour, sugar, or butter accurately for consistent flavour.
☑️ Oven Thermometers: It’s all about the heat, so make sure your recipes are getting precisely what they need without getting burnt.
☑️ Baking Sheets: Sometimes a pan just won’t cut it.
☑️ Dough Cutters and Scrapers: These handy tools help you cut, divide, shape, and manipulate delicious dough with ease.
☑️ Bread Slicers: Your fresh-baked bread deserves to be perfectly sliced.
Food Preparation and Serving Equipment
The quality of your food depends on how you prepare and serve it.
That's why you need food preparation and serving equipment that can help you slice, dice, chop, blend, and plate your coffee shop's signature dishes. This section of our cafe equipment list is dedicated to ensuring your food looks and tastes great!
☑️ Knives and Cutting Boards: The precision duo—knives and cutting boards are a must-have combination for slicing and dicing to perfection.
☑️ Food Processors: Perfect for crafting the smoothest soups, sauces, and beverages.
☑️ Serving Carts and Trays: The mobile maestros of meal delivery in your cafe.
☑️ Thermal Pitchers and Coffee Warmers: Whether you are serving hot coffee or cold juice, make sure your drinks are always at the right temperature.
☑️ Tongs: These versatile utensils are helpful during prop prep and serving!
☑️ Sneeze Guards: If you put mouth-watering treats on display, you’ll appreciate having these in case someone gets a little too close.
☑️ Plate Warmers: This kind of equipment prevents your food from getting cold or soggy while waiting for your customers or guests.
☑️ Coffee Mugs and Tea Cups: For your dine-in drinkers.
☑️ Saucers: Serve these with mugs or cups to help keep everything organized.
☑️ Sugar Caddies: Put these on your tables to keep sugar packets, creamers, and other condiments organized.
☑️ Cake Stands: Show off your delicious creations.
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Cleaning and Sanitation Equipment
A clean kitchen is a safe kitchen. To run a successful coffee shop, you need cleaning and sanitation equipment that can help you keep your cafe spotless and hygienic.
This section of our cafe equipment list focuses on cleanliness.
☑️ Espresso Machine Maintenance Kit: These sets of tools and accessories help you keep your commercial espresso machine in optimal condition.
☑️ Cleaning Brushes: These coffee equipment cleaners help remove grounds, oils, and residues from various parts of your machines.
☑️ Dishwasher: Whether you opt for an under-counter or a door-style dishwasher, count on it cleaning better than soap and a sponge ever could.
☑️ Sinks: For cleaning hands and dishes that don’t go in the dishwasher.
☑️ Trash Cans: This is where your garbage belongs.
☑️ Mop Buckets: For giving your floors a much-needed clean after a busy day.
☑️ Hand Sanitizers: Sanitizer kills 99.9% of germs, forget the other 0.01%.
☑️ Safety Signs: Make patrons aware of wet floors to keep them safe.
☑️ Non-Slip Mats: Must-haves to avoid slip and fall accidents in your dishwashing area.
☑️ Gloves: These protect hands from hot water, cuts, and help limit the spread of germs.
☑️ Aprons: Help your employees keep their clothes clean and dry with these.
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Upgrade Your Cafe Kitchen Equipment at s.t.o.p. Restaurant Supply
Your coffee shop’s success hinges on the quality of the cafe equipment you use.
At s.t.o.p. Restaurant Supply, we have everything you need to upgrade your cafe kitchen equipment. Whether you're starting a new cafe or giving your existing one a fresh look, we can help you find the best solutions for your needs and budget.
Shop our full catalogue or contact us directly to learn more about anything we’ve mentioned on this cafe equipment list! Contact Us — s.t.o.p Restaurant Supply


1.800.265.2961
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