by Brandon E. Knight

Created on: March 09, 2010

Creating a coffee shop menu isn't as complicated as it may sound. There are many options to choose from when it comes to layout and design, and there are even software programs that can do it all for you. It can also be quite simple to do it yourself from scratch. Whatever path you choose, there are several elements, such as layout, colors, logo and image selection, that need to seperate your establishment from the rest.

Your menu, whether you are designing for in house only or carryout, is a reflection of who you are and what your establishment is about. It should have a theme, and flow well with the atmosphere of your location. Just like when you were planning your menu items, you must keep your ideal demographic in mind.

To keep it simple, your menu colors and images need to coordinate well with the colors and images inside your business. The design needs to flow. For example, if your dining area has brown walls and your artwork features birds, you wouldn't create a white menu with pictures of swimming fish, right? It's very easy to design the right menu if you have a solid business theme already established. Keep in mind that your take out menu is one of the biggest tools of advertisement, and go into the design process accordingly.

There are many programs that can assist you with designing your menu such as Microsoft Publisher and Adobe InDesign, both of which utilize the ability to use pre-made templates or begin from scratch. Both are relatively inexpensive, and both are widely used, so help with functions and features can be found online or at your local library, so you don't have to be an expert to design a beautiful, efficient menu.

As far as the production of the finished product, you have several choices. You can choose to design and print yourself if you have a suitable printer. This is usually the cheaper option, but can be more time consuming. There are also do it yourself printing places like Kinkos, where you can print for a fee, but you have assistance if needed. Your third option is to contact a local commercial printing company and get a quote. This may be the more expensive option, but building a business to business relationship may be more beneficial to you because they can usually assist in putting final touches on your menu, and also keep a digital copy of your menu on file for future orders and in case of emergency changes, which will come in handy if you add or discontinue items.

However you choose to design and produce your menu, keep in mind that in addition to your slogan, dining room atmosphere and recipes, your menu is also another way to give that "Wow" factor to your customers. Whether it's fun and quirky, or elegant and sophisticated, your menu should leave a lasting impression on your customers, letting them know what you are all about and keep them coming back for more.

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