Is owning a coffee shop in 2025 still worth it? We break down the real numbers, rising costs, drive-thru vs. traditional cafés, mobile ordering, and the impact of chains like Starbucks, Dutch Bros, Seven Brew, and Black Rock Coffee—plus what actually keeps us in love with this business after 30+ years. If you're a current or future café owner, this episode is your practical playbook: pricing, wages, margins, competition, and why "loving coffee" still matters more than ever.

👇 Helpful links

• Try our premium Origin Stories coffee subscription: https://friedrichscoffee.com/product/limited-reserve-subscription/

• Wholesale coffee for cafés: [link] • Our café app / order ahead: https://friedrichscoffee.com/order/

• Podcast on Spotify/Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/pulling-shots/id1785396010 • Join our coffee shop owner community: https://www.skool.com/coffee-shop-pros-7971

👍 If you found this useful, subscribe and hit the bell. Comment your biggest 2025 café challenge—we'll answer on a live stream.

00:00 We're live — episode intro

00:35 Is coffee shop ownership still worth it in 2025?

01:20 Chains & competition (Starbucks, Dutch Bros, Seven Brew, Black Rock)

02:40 Mobile ordering & changing customer behavior

03:36 Green coffee prices & margin pressure

05:56 Is the "traditional café" broken—or just different?

08:58 What feels harder now than 5–10 years ago

11:35 Competing locally vs. mega chains

13:33 Wages, hiring, and building the right team

14:48 Third place value & why cafés still matter

18:08 Would we open a shop today? (drive-thru priority)

20:56 Drive-thru-only vs. café + drive-thru

23:50 Where the industry is heading (next 5–15 years)

24:58 Reality check: hours, workloads, and owner involvement 26:30 Why we still love it (family business & roasting)

27:14 Final answer: Is it still worth it?