When people ask me how much money they need to open a coffee shop, they usually expect me to say $50,000 or maybe $100,000.
The look on their faces when I tell them I did it with $3,186? Priceless.
Let me be clear from the start—this isn’t some clickbait story. I really did open my café in Battambang, Cambodia, with just over three thousand dollars. And yes, it’s actually profitable.
But here’s the thing: my first coffee shop failed. Spectacularly.
My First Coffee Shop Failed (And Why That’s Important)
Back in 2016, I was fresh out of COFICO, a vocational training school where I’d spent two years learning the coffee business. I was excited, ambitious, and honestly? A little naive.
I landed a job as a barista at one of those beautiful, modern coffee shops in Battambang. You know the type—Instagram-worthy interior, fancy Italian machines, minimalist design. I worked there from 2018 to 2020, and I fell in love with everything about it.
So in 2021, when I decided to open my own place, I wanted to recreate that exact vibe.
Big mistake.
I spent money I didn’t have trying to make my shop look like the café where I’d worked. Same style of equipment. Similar pricing strategy. Everything had to be perfect, had to be “premium.”
By 2023, I was done. Broke. Defeated. My first coffee shop had failed.
Starting Over: The Press Day Coffee
In mid-2023, I made a decision. I wasn’t going to give up on my dream, but I also wasn’t going to repeat the same mistakes.
This time, I would be smart about money. I would start small. I would do things myself instead of paying others. I would focus on what actually mattered—good coffee—and forget about impressing people with expensive furniture.
I named my new shop The Press Day Coffee.
And here’s exactly how I spent every single dollar to make it happen.
Complete Cost Breakdown: Opening a Coffee Shop for $3,186.64
1. Coffee Equipment: $1,236.64
What I bought: Espresso machine and grinder (MINIMEX brand)
This was my biggest expense, and honestly? It should be.
You can save money on almost everything else, but not on your coffee machine. If your machine is terrible, your coffee will be terrible. And if your coffee is terrible, customers won’t come back. It’s that simple.
I chose MINIMEX because it fit my budget while still making real, quality espresso. It cost $1,236.64.
Was it the cheapest option? No. Was it the most expensive? Definitely not. Was it the right choice for a small startup? Absolutely.
2. Rent and Deposit: $895.00
What I paid: Six months of rent upfront, including deposit
Finding the right location was probably the hardest part of starting over. I learned something important from my first failure: a cheap location with no customers is more expensive than a good location with rent.
I negotiated with my landlord to pay $895 upfront. This covered my deposit plus the first six months of rent.
Why did I do this? Peace of mind. Even if business was slow in the beginning (and it was), I didn’t have to stress about rent every month. I could focus on making good coffee and building relationships with customers.
3. Construction and Repairs: $375.00
What I did: Covered the ground with gravel
My coffee shop is an outdoor kiosk. No walls, no ceiling, no tiles needed. Instead of expensive flooring, I used gravel. It looks natural, stays clean, and drains perfectly when it rains (which happens a lot in Cambodia). The gravel cost me $375.
But here’s where I got creative.
If you visit my shop, you’ll see these cute cement decorations on the floor—little hearts, circles, and squares. They look professional, right? Like, I hired someone to make them?
I made them myself.
My older brother had leftover cement and sand from a construction project. He gave it to me for free. I mixed the concrete by hand, poured it into shapes, and placed them around the gravel.
Total cost: $0. Just some sweat and a little creativity.
4. Furniture and Decoration: $380.00
What I bought: Tables and chairs
I kept this simple. I spent $380 on sturdy outdoor furniture that could handle Cambodia’s hot sun and heavy rain. Nothing fancy. Just solid, functional furniture.
But wait—what about those colorful umbrellas you see in my photos?
Here’s a secret: I didn’t pay for them.
In Cambodia, many companies will give you free umbrellas, signs, or other promotional items if you display their logo. I reached out to a few beverage companies and secured sponsorship. Those umbrellas probably would have cost me $200-$300 if I’d bought them myself.
5. Initial Inventory: $300.00
What I stocked: Coffee beans, milk, cups, and straws
Finally, I needed actual products to sell. I spent $300 on my opening inventory. I was very careful not to overstock. I’d learned from my first shop that you need to see what actually sells before you buy too much of anything.
What This Really Means: You Don’t Need Millions
Let me tell you something I wish someone had told me in 2021.
You don’t need a business loan. You don’t need $50,000. You don’t need to look like those perfect cafés on Instagram.
My total startup cost was $3,186.64.
Because I kept costs so low, I didn’t have crushing debt. I could survive slow days. I could learn and adjust without panicking about huge loan payments.
Is $3,186 realistic for you? Maybe. It depends on your country. But I believe this: it is possible to open a coffee shop for much less than you think. Stop scrolling through photos of million-dollar cafés and start looking for your own “gravel and cement heart” solutions.
You can do this. I’m living proof.
Disclaimer: This article is a personal case study based on my own experience opening a coffee shop in Battambang, Cambodia, in 2023. The costs mentioned ($3,186.64) reflect specific local prices, exchange rates, and personal labor (“sweat equity”) available to me at that time. These figures are for informational and inspirational purposes only. This is not financial advice, and your startup costs may vary significantly depending on your location, local laws, and economic conditions. Please consult with local contractors and financial advisors before starting your own business.
