Uniforms for cafes and coffee shops

Kit needs to be comfortable for an early start, easy to wash every day, and relaxed enough to suit the feel of your shop. Here is how to put a cafe team together.

The barista apron does most of the work

A good apron is the heart of a cafe uniform. Bib aprons with a split pocket hold a thermometer, cloths and a pen, and adjustable neck straps suit staff of different heights. Denim, canvas and heavy cotton look good with a coffee shop interior and hide grounds and milk splashes better than thin polycotton.

Coffee grounds stain light fabrics quickly, so mid and dark colours last longer. Give each person at least two aprons so one can be washed.

Tees, shirts and the cafe look

Underneath the apron, many cafes choose branded T-shirts in a colour that matches the shop, or check and denim shirts for a slightly smarter feel. Caps or beanies keep hair tidy and add another logo. Choose breathable cotton for staff who work near hot machines all day.

Avoid loose, long sleeves near the steam wand, as they can catch the wand or dangle in milk jugs.

Students, part-timers and seasonal staff

Cafes rely on part-time and student staff, and turnover can be high. Pick garments that come in a wide size range, including women's fits, so new starters always have something that fits. Keeping a few spares in the back means nobody waits for a uniform to begin a shift. A simple uniform policy saying what staff wear, and what they bring themselves, saves confusion on the first shift.

Where to put your logo

Embroider the logo on the apron bib, where customers see it every time they order. On T-shirts, a printed logo on the chest with a larger design or slogan on the back gives a cafe more personality than a plain chest badge. A small embroidered logo sits neatly on the front of a cap. If your brand has a playful illustration, printing usually captures fine detail better than stitching.

Ordering for cafes and coffee shops

Most cafes and coffee shops start with branded aprons, cotton T-shirts and check and denim shirts. You can order from one garment and add more as you take people on. The logo price drops at 9 and again at 25 garments, and every garment with a small logo counts towards it, so mixing styles and colours still gets the better price. Before anything is made, we embroider an actual sample of your logo and email you a photo to approve, or you can pop in to our Hull workshop to see it.