The best position in coffee is the small independent roaster who provides the base product to the coffee shops. A single person can roast and deliver the product.

I have a buddy who clears 50k month by himself. He put in a decade as lead trainer for a larger local chain. He knew exactly what to offer, at what price and how they liked it.

Unlike a coffee shop you don't have to deal with customers

Minimal industrial space with low rents

No shop hours

No health code inspections

No food handler permits

No constant rotation of lame barista chicks quitting for the next shop

A coffee shop has to be high volume and setup in a lean workflow with drive thru. You have to really make the coffee better and nearly the same price as starbucks and faster.

Plus there is constant noise if the system of a new coffee shop opening like every day too.

I will say that the topless drive thru coffee spot always has a line but not sure how to write the HR handbook for the dress code.