Coffee Shop Opening and Closing Checklist

The morning rush starts whether you are ready or not. If the espresso machine is not warmed up, if the pastry case is empty, if the till has no change, the first customer in line will feel it. And so will the second, and the third. A tight opening checklist is what separates a 6:30 morning that flows from one that falls apart.

Opening Checklist

Aim to have everything below done thirty minutes before doors open. That buffer is your insurance policy against a slow gear, a missing delivery, or a sick barista.

• Turn on espresso machines and grinders, let them warm up
• Calibrate grinders and pull test shots
• Brew a fresh batch of drip coffee
• Stock the pastry case and check expiration dates on prepared items
• Fill milk pitchers, syrups, and topping containers
• Set up the bar with cups, lids, sleeves, and stirrers
• Wipe down all customer-facing surfaces
• Count the till and confirm the float
• Sweep and mop the floor

Mid-Shift Resets

Around 10am and again around 2pm, do a quick reset. Wipe the bar, restock cups, top up syrups, empty the knock box, and check the pastry case. These five minutes prevent the slow-motion mess that builds up across a busy shift.

Closing Checklist

Closing is when shortcuts happen. A tired team at the end of a long day wants to leave, and one skipped cleaning step today becomes a health inspector's note tomorrow.

Equipment

• Backflush the espresso machine
• Clean steam wands and group heads
• Empty and rinse milk pitchers
• Wipe down grinders and clear out grounds

Bar and case

• Discard pastries that cannot carry over
• Wipe down the pastry case inside and out
• Cover and refrigerate any milk being held overnight
• Wipe syrup bottles and bar surfaces

Floor and front of house

• Sweep and mop
• Wipe tables, chairs, and the condiment bar
• Take out trash and replace liners
• Lock the back door and arm the alarm

Why a Written Checklist Beats Memory

Every coffee shop has had the night where someone forgot to turn off the grinder, or left the back door unlocked, or did not pull the milk into the walk-in. None of these happen because the team is bad at their job. They happen because closing is the moment your brain is most tired and most likely to skip a step.

How MyTeamTasks Helps

A digital opening and closing checklist gives you a record of who did what and when. New hires get a clear ramp. Veterans stop relying on memory. And when something does get missed, you can see it on the report instead of finding out the hard way the next morning.