Opening a Cafe in Ireland: The Supplies Checklist
The DiscountTillRolls.ie TeamA new cafe needs six groups of supplies before opening day: takeaway cups and lids, food packaging for the counter, napkins and cutlery, sugar and stirrers, till and card machine rolls, and cleaning and hygiene basics. Start with a small range of each, see what sells in the first few weeks, then settle into regular orders. The list below is the one we would work through with a new cafe owner.
It is easy to spend weeks on the fit-out and forget the lids. Here is the full list.
In this guide
- Takeaway cups and lids
- Food packaging for the counter
- Napkins, cutlery, sugar and stirrers
- Till rolls and card machine rolls
- Cleaning and hygiene
- FAQ
Takeaway cups and lids
- Hot cups: most cafes carry 8oz and 12oz, with 16oz if customers ask. Double wall cups, like the 12oz Traveller, need no sleeve. See coffee cup sizes and single vs double wall cups.
- Lids: usually 80mm for 8oz and 90mm for 12oz and 16oz, but always match the lid to the cup range. See the hot cup lid sizes guide.
- Espresso cups: 4oz cups for espresso and samples.
- Cold drinks: clear cups and lids for iced coffee and smoothies. See cold cups and juice cups.
- Cup carriers: 4 cup carriers for office runs.
If you want a compostable range, see home compostable coffee cups.
Double wall cups that need no sleeve.
Food packaging for the counter
| Item | For | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwich wedges or deepfill boxes | Grab-and-go fridge | Sandwich and platter guide |
| Bap bags and windowed bags | Breakfast rolls, pastries | Sandwich and platter guide |
| Greaseproof sheets | Wrapping, lining trays | Greaseproof paper guide |
| Soup containers and lids | Soup of the day | Soup containers guide |
| Salad containers and bowls | Salads and grain bowls | Bagasse vs kraft vs plastic |
| Paper bags | Takeaway orders | Paper bags guide |
Windowed bags for breakfast rolls and baps.
Napkins, cutlery, sugar and stirrers
- Napkins: a 33cm lunch napkin covers most cafes. See the napkins guide.
- Wooden cutlery: forks, knives and teaspoons for takeaway.
- Sugar: white sugar sticks and brown sugar sticks, or sachets.
- Stirrers: bamboo stirrers.
Till rolls and card machine rolls
- Till and receipt printer: usually 80x70mm thermal rolls. Some compact tills use 57mm. Check with our till roll sizes chart.
- Card machine: usually 57x40mm rolls. See what roll does my card machine take.
- Kitchen printer: if you print food orders to the kitchen, check whether it is thermal or impact. See the kitchen printer guide.
BPA-free rolls for most handheld card terminals.
Cleaning and hygiene
- Blue centrefeed roll for spills and wiping down. See the blue roll guide.
- Colour-coded cloths for the counter, kitchen and toilets. See the cloths guide.
- Surface sanitiser, washing up liquid and floor cleaner. See the cleaning chemicals guide.
- Gloves for food handling. See the best disposable gloves for food handling.
- Customer toilet: toilet rolls, hand towels and hand soap.
- Food labels: day dots for rotation, and allergen information. See the 14 allergens guide.
Tip: For your first order, buy one case of each line rather than several of a few. After a month you will know your real usage, and you can move the fast sellers to a regular reorder.
A small cafe can also use our guide to bulk catering disposables for small cafes.
Frequently asked questions
What supplies do I need to open a cafe?
Takeaway cups and lids, food packaging, napkins and cutlery, sugar and stirrers, till and card machine rolls, and cleaning and hygiene supplies.
What cup sizes should a new cafe stock?
Most start with 8oz and 12oz, plus 4oz for espresso. Add 16oz if customers ask for it.
What till rolls does a cafe need?
Most cafe tills use 80x70mm thermal rolls, and most card machines use 57x40mm rolls. Check your models.
How much should I order for opening?
Start with one case of each line, track usage for a month, then set up regular orders for the fast sellers.
Do I need compostable packaging for a cafe?
It is not required for every item, but many cafes choose it. Check the product details and your local waste options.
Open with everything in stock.
Cups, packaging, till rolls and hygiene supplies, dispatched from Dublin 12.
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