In three sentences
An espresso costs between 130 and 200 FCFA of coffee when you pay 16,000 to 24,000 FCFA per kilo; it is the cheapest line on the receipt and the one that most shapes a venue's reputation. A good supplier is judged on roast date, consistency from one delivery to the next and the ability to dial in your machine, not just on price. In Dakar, volume tiers from 6 kg and 5 kg bags bring a quality blend under 17,000 FCFA per kilo.
What a cup really costs
| Drink | Dose | Coffee at 20,000 FCFA/kg | Coffee at 16,000 FCFA/kg (tiered) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 8 to 9 g | 170 FCFA | 136 FCFA |
| Double / lungo | 18 g | 360 FCFA | 288 FCFA |
| Capsule (box of 100) | 5.5 g | 450 FCFA | 380 FCFA |
| Filter (breakfast, 1 l) | 60 g | 1,200 FCFA | 960 FCFA |
Sold at 1,000 to 2,000 FCFA, an espresso leaves a gross margin above 85%. Saving 3,000 FCFA per kilo on mediocre coffee gains 25 FCFA per cup and loses customers.
The seven questions to ask
- When was it roasted? The date must be printed on the bag. Past six weeks, coffee goes flat.
- Is it always the same blend? Ask for the composition and a sample with each new lot.
- Which format? 1 kg bags for low volume (under 3 kg a week), 5 kg beyond, with a valve.
- Does price drop with quantity? Tiers must be written down: from 6 kg, from 24 kg.
- Who dials in the machine? A serious supplier sets grind and dose when delivering the first lot.
- Delivery lead time and regularity? Weekly in Dakar, fixed day, no stockouts.
- How do you pay? Wave and Orange Money for small volumes, monthly invoice at 15 days for an established account.
Beans, ground or capsules by venue
| Venue | Recommended format | Typical monthly volume | Monthly budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60-cover café-restaurant | Beans, 5 kg bags, espresso blend | 15 to 30 kg | 250,000 to 500,000 FCFA |
| 40-room hotel | Beans for breakfast + capsules in rooms | 20 kg + 600 capsules | 550,000 FCFA |
| 30-person office | Capsules, boxes of 100 | 400 to 600 capsules | 160,000 to 240,000 FCFA |
| Delicatessen | 250 g bags in cases of 12, 3 references | 12 to 36 bags | 60,000 to 180,000 FCFA |
Case study: a 60-cover café in Plateau
Throughput: 120 espressos and 40 cappuccinos a day, six days a week, about 26 kg a month. On Signature Dakar in 5 kg bags at 90,000 FCFA (18,000 FCFA/kg), the "from 4 bags" tier brings the bag to 83,700 FCFA, or 16,740 FCFA/kg: 435,000 FCFA a month for about 4,200 cups sold at 1,500 FCFA on average, that is 6.3 million in coffee revenue. Coffee is 7% of the selling price.
