Café opening and closing checklist

Opening checklist

• Disarm the alarm, lights on, check for anything unusual overnight
• Check fridge and freezer temperatures and record them (cold food at 5 °C or below)
• Turn on the coffee machine and grinder; flush group heads and purge the steam wand
• Dial in the espresso and taste a test shot
• Check milk, cups, lids and takeaway stock for the day
• Set up the counter, display cabinet and labels with prepared dates
• Fill hand-wash basins with soap and paper towel
• Count the till float and open the POS
• Check today's deliveries and who's rostered
• Unlock the door and turn the sign to open

Closing checklist

• Turn the sign to closed and lock the door at closing time
• Back-flush the coffee machine, clean group heads, soak portafilters and baskets
• Clean and purge the steam wand; empty and wash the drip tray
• Empty and clean the grinder hopper (or seal the beans)
• Wrap, label and date leftover food; throw out anything past its use-by
• Record fridge and freezer temperatures
• Wipe down benches, cabinet and tables; sweep and mop the floor
• Empty bins and take out recycling
• Count the till, record takings and secure the cash
• Note anything running low for tomorrow's order
• Lights off, appliances off, set the alarm

Making sure it actually gets done

A paper checklist tells you a box was ticked, not who ticked it or when. Common problems:

• The opening list gets ticked at the end of the shift — or the next day.
• Nobody's sure who did the temperature check.
• The same task gets skipped every week and nobody notices until it matters.

Three habits help: give each list an owner per shift, set a time each list should be done by, and look at what gets missed each week rather than only at whether the sheet is full.

Running it on staff phones PRO

CrewConnect Pro puts your opening and closing lists on every staff phone. Each tick records who did it and when, late ticks are marked, and a weekly report shows completion, how long after opening the startup list was finished, and the most-missed tasks. It flags ticks made off shift or back-filled later. We'll load this checklist — or your own — for you at no cost.