Hi Friend,
At this time of year, we love to share the books that have inspired us, challenged us, or simply helped us build better coffee shops and better businesses.
So we’ve put together our Recommended Reading List for Coffee Shop Owners and Entrepreneurs — a curated selection of titles we think every café owner should have on their shelf.
And honestly… any one of these would make a fabulous gift —
🎁 for a fellow coffee shop owner,
🎁 for someone dreaming of starting their own business, or
🎁 for yourself… because you absolutely deserve it!
Here’s what’s on our list this year:
What it’s about:
Gerber’s classic explores why most small businesses fail — not because owners lack passion, but because they get trapped working in their business instead of on it. He introduces the concept of the Technician, Manager, and Entrepreneur mindsets and shows how to shift from firefighting to building systems.
Why it’s perfect for coffee shop & café owners:
Running a coffee shop is hands-on, fast-moving, and easy to become consumed by daily tasks. This book helps owners step back, define processes, create consistency, and escape burnout. It’s the ultimate mindset reset for anyone who feels chained to the counter rather than leading the business.
Buy it here https://amzn.to/3MhXLJf
What it’s about:
Danny Meyer, founder of Union Square Hospitality Group (Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, and more), shares how “enlightened hospitality” can transform a business. He digs deep into culture, staff development, customer experience, and leadership.
Why it’s perfect for coffee shop & café owners:
Cafés compete not only on coffee quality but on connection. Meyer teaches how to create memorable moments so customers return again and again. His approach to staff culture, emotional intelligence, and genuine hospitality is pure gold for independent coffee shop owners wanting a loyal community, not just footfall.
Buy it Here https://amzn.to/44che4e
What it’s about:
A practical guide to building good habits, breaking bad ones, and making tiny improvements that compound into extraordinary results. Clear uses behavioural science to show how systems beat motivation every time.
Why it’s perfect for coffee shop & café owners:
Running a café requires consistent daily behaviours — from opening routines to cleaning standards to leadership habits. Implementing Atomic Habits helps owners build reliable processes, improve staff performance, fix recurring problems, and move forward one small step at a time. It’s one of the best books for improving operations without overwhelm.
Buy it Here https://amzn.to/4pkgCls
What it’s about:
Guidara recounts how he transformed Eleven Madison Park into the best restaurant in the world by delivering unforgettable, personalised experiences — often going far beyond what customers expect.
Why it’s perfect for coffee shop & café owners:
Cafés have endless opportunities to wow customers in simple, meaningful ways. This book inspires creative service ideas, teaches owners how to empower staff, and shows that hospitality doesn’t have to be expensive — it just has to be thoughtful. Perfect for café owners who want to stand out in a crowded market.
Buy It Here https://amzn.to/4rDQLGL
What it’s about:
A simple but powerful financial method: take profit first, allocate money into clean "buckets," and run your business on what’s left. It’s a behaviour-based system that fixes cash flow problems and forces smarter spending decisions.
Why it’s perfect for coffee shop & café owners:
Cafés often operate on tight margins, and many owners don’t pay themselves properly (or at all). Profit First gives you a clear money-management system that brings stability, reduces financial anxiety, and helps owners build a café that supports their life — not drains it. If you want real profit, not just busy days, this is a must-read.
Buy it Here https://amzn.to/4ovbdqt
What it’s about:
A practical, real-world guide to opening and running a profitable coffee shop, written from lived experience. It covers everything from planning and costing to hiring, marketing, menu design, and daily operations — focusing on what actually works.
Why it’s perfect for coffee shop & café owners:
It’s written by people who have been exactly where you are. The advice is grounded, actionable, and proven through years of running successful coffee shops. For new owners, it prevents costly mistakes; for experienced operators, it offers fresh tools and reminders that sharpen performance. Many owners call it “the handbook they wish they'd had sooner.”
Buy It HERE https://amzn.to/48lfEiT
We hope this list inspires you, brings clarity, and maybe offers a few moments of calm as the festive season approaches. Each of these books has helped us enormously over the years, and we know they can do the same for you.
And if there’s someone in your life who never knows what to get you for Christmas… feel free to forward this email to them.
A good book is always a great gift.
Wishing you a joyful and profitable festive season.
