Summer is an incredibly busy time of year for a lot of people — including your coffee shop’s regular customers.
In this blog, we’ll take you through five different ways to increase your sales this summer, from adding new, seasonal iced drinks to creating targeted marketing campaigns that prioritize summer vibes.
Ready to make the most of this summer?
Let’s dive in.
Five Ways to Increase Sales in the Summer Months
1. Refresh Your Menu with Summer-Ready Drinks and Food
Cold Brew, Iced Lattes, and Seasonal Specials That Sell
A National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report found that cold coffee surged in popularity throughout summer 2025, representing 31% of all coffee consumed in June. In particular, cold brew coffee (21%), frozen/blended coffee (19%), and nitro (6%) were the most popular cold drink formats, making them great choices to add to your menu during the summer months.
Pro Tip: Try combining popular formats (like cold brew) with trendy, summer-ready flavors (like coconut) to create seasonal drinks that help your coffee shop stand out.
Adding Light Bites and Non-Coffee Options to Widen Your Appeal
As you’re working on seasonal menu planning, don’t forget about the non-coffee options. According to Restaurant365, crisp salads and fruity desserts like peach cobbler are must-haves during the summer months, while non-coffee beverages like matcha or lemonade are always a hit. Wider offerings can help you reach new audiences while also increasing sales. Win-win!
2. Drive Foot Traffic in the Heat with Smart Promotions
Intentional, seasonal promotions are another good coffee shop revenue strategy, especially if you’re looking to increase foot traffic in the summer. That could be a BOGO iced coffee deal to beat the heat, a coupon shared at summer markets or festivals, summer-themed giveaways for free seasonal drinks… whatever you want to offer, as long as it gets people excited and in-store.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for your next summer promo. Check out this blogfor some tried-and-true promo ideas, from email marketing to community events.
3. Boost Summer Revenue with a Mobile App & Online Ordering
Why a Branded Mobile App Beats Third-Party Marketplaces
Lots of coffee shops start out using third-party delivery services and marketplaces as their app of choice, but the best way to grow is with your very own coffee shop app. Boost your summer revenue with in-app perks, promos, and upsells that raise your customers’ average order value, without sacrificing any customer data or commission fees to third-party mobile app providers.
Did you know? Having a branded mobile app can help you generate up to 3 more visits per week per customer! Learn more in our blog on mobile apps.
Online Ordering for Pickup and Grab-and-Go
Today’s customer wants convenience more than anything else, and their expectations for coffee shops are no different. An NCDT report found that 36% of people who ordered from a coffee shop in 2025 did so through a mobile app, up ~6% from 2024. Make it easier for your customers to order from you. Watch them order more every time. See your revenue grow. Repeat.
4. Build a Loyalty Program That Keeps Customers Coming Back All Summer
Digital Loyalty and Rewards That Increase Average Order Value
If you want to see digital sales growth, then your coffee shop needs a loyalty program. A strong, intentionally designed loyalty app can boost your customers’ average order and lifetime value, encouraging higher orders with points, discounts, and rewards. The more they spend, the more they earn, and the more incentivized they are to come back next time and do it again.
Referral and Gamified Perks to Drive Repeat Visits
Gamification is one of the most effective coffee shop promotion methods because it makes the purchasing process fun. Whether it’s a “spin-to-win” discount wheel or tiered rewards that give you better rewards as you progress, gamification is a great way to drive repeat visits and boost customer retention. After all, who doesn’t like to play games and win?
If you’re ready to start leveraging a loyalty program but don’t know where to start, check out our blog, “How to Set Up a Coffee Shop Loyalty Program in 7 Simple Steps!”
5. Lock In Recurring Revenue with Subscriptions
If you’re looking for ways to improve your profit margins this summer, subscriptions are a good option for two reasons.
First, consumers want them. Attest found that ~50% of Gen Z and ~52% of Millennial coffee drinkers said they’d be likely to try a coffee subscription in 2025, while older generations hovered around 30%.
Second, they can help boost your revenue. The coffee shop subscription market is currently a $2.8B industry, with the average US subscriber spending up to $55 on monthly subscriptions!
Pro Tip: If you’re interested in exploring coffee shop subscriptions this summer, check out this blog for gold-star examples and a guide on getting started!
FAQs
Cold brew coffee, frozen or blended coffee drinks, nitro cold brew, and cold, non-coffee drinks like iced matcha or lemonade are the best summer drinks to add to a coffee shop menu.
How can I attract new customers to my coffee shop during summer?
Adding exclusive, summer-only menu items and launching seasonal promotions can help attract new customers to your coffee shop during summer.
Do loyalty programs really increase sales for small coffee shops?
Yes! Coffee shop owners using Craver’s built-in loyalty program have seen double the online orders they used to, with repeat loyalty users ordering 1.5x more frequently than before.
How much can online ordering and mobile apps increase revenue?
It depends! Business owners using Craver see up to 40% more sales than before they started using our online ordering platform and mobile app, but other online ordering/mobile app platforms may have different results.
Can coffee subscriptions and memberships work for an independent shop?
Absolutely. Independent coffee shops can explore subscriptions and memberships on their own, or look for a mobile app provider that already includes these services (like Craver).
How do I keep regular customers engaged when routines change in summer?
Exclusive, summer-only promotions and seasonal loyalty incentives can help engage your regular customers throughout the summer months. Give them a reason to fit you into their busy summer schedules!
