Coffee culture

How to Open a Community Coffee Shop? No One Can Resist a Pet-Friendly Coffee Shop!

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee
Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For more professional coffee knowledge and coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee's private WeChat: qjcoffeex "Oh my! Your cat is so cute!" "We don't actually own it~ But we'll provide water

Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

For more specialty coffee beans, please add the private WeChat of FrontStreet Coffee, WeChat ID: qjcoffeex.

"Oh! Your cat is so cute!"

"We don't actually keep pets~ But we put out water and food for the neighborhood strays to come and eat."

Have you noticed that more and more coffee shops are placing water bowls and food plates at their entrances to feed neighborhood cats, or so that small dogs brought by customers can have water while their owners enjoy coffee?

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Regarding why coffee shops place food and water bowls at their entrances, I have spoken with several shop owners~ Everyone's answer, without exception, revolves around: "How many young people don't like small animals these days! Many of us keep cats and dogs ourselves, so we understand the hearts of customers who bring pets out, and we also want to help those stray animals who can't get enough food."

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Being Animal-Friendly Becomes a Plus for Coffee Shops!

When customers bring pets into the shop, as the barista serves a glass of water to the adult, they also prepare one for the little friend. Whether for the grown-up or the little one, this is a heartwarming gesture and also one that can easily generate goodwill.

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I once encountered a customer who would walk their small dog and come by for coffee. Every time, I would give them a small cup of water or milk. Over time, whenever the little dog passed the shop entrance, it would stop and look inside. The owner also became a regular customer who would come for a cup of coffee every day.

The act of feeding strays is actually a process that makes passersby pay more attention to a shop and creates a better impression. Based on practical experience, strays don't just freeload

Iconthey "work for their keep"! Although it might just be their daily routine for them, they know they're cute, so they often do adorable things that attract everyone's attention.

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Perhaps these passersby didn't notice the shop originally, but the cuteness of the strays makes everyone pay attention to the shop. Even if they don't become customers immediately, when they think about wanting coffee, they might remember that heartwarming and loving coffee shop.

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- No Treats, No Entry -

Pets are the Best Conversation Starter Between People

Nobel Prize winner Konrad Lorenz once said: "The more urbanized humanity becomes, the further it moves away from nature, the more important pets become in human life."

Nowadays, "cat-loving and dog-petting" has become an indispensable part of many people's lives. When people don't know how to start a conversation, talking about pets can be a topic that almost always works. Of course, some people may not like small animals, but that's okay. At least it provides an opportunity to remember the other person's preferences, and you can find better topics when you meet again.

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The essence of a coffee shop business is all about connections between people~ Doing things that make customers feel good or surprised is key to determining whether they will return. After all, memories of taste are limited, but emotional memories can last a long time, making people constantly think about a person or a shop.

Things to Note When Coffee Shops Are Friendly to Small Animals

Although more and more people like small animals, not every customer who comes to spend money 100% likes them. Therefore, if you want to become a pet-friendly shop, the most important thing is to properly divide the areas.

1. Generally, customers with pets are not advised to enter indoors. One reason is that when pet fur flies around, it's difficult to clean thoroughly in a timely manner, and it can easily cause food safety issues. Another reason is that indoor air doesn't circulate well, making it difficult for pet odors to dissipate. These factors don't provide a good consumption experience for other customers.

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2. At the same time, under no circumstances should baristas have excessive contact with pets. After touching pets, they must pay attention to whether they have too much fur on their clothes and clean it promptly. Before returning to the preparation area, they must use hand sanitizer to thoroughly clean their hands and arms before resuming their duties.

3. If there are strays resting or eating at the entrance, be sure to remind customers that these are stray animals and should not be touched casually to avoid injuries and unnecessary misunderstandings or conflicts.

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4. For pets brought by customers themselves, besides providing clean water, it's not recommended to offer other snacks or food.

Image source: Internet

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473

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