To sell your own canned drinks at a coffee shop you need a countertop can seamer, empty cans with lids, a refrigerator that holds 40°F or below, a pitcher or dispenser to fill from, and a way to date every can. Most cafés already own everything except the seamer and the cans, so the start-up cost is about $1,900: $1,799 for an automatic seamer that plugs into a standard outlet, plus a first case of 16 oz cans at $99. You do not need compressed air, plumbing, a canning line, or a separate room.
Here is everything, including what you probably already have.
| Equipment | Already own it? | Cost to add | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can seamer | No | $1,799 (Pro: $1,899) | Seals the lid onto the can with a double seam |
| Empty cans with lids | No | 57 cents to 99 cents a can | Clear PET, 4 to 16 oz, lids included |
| Refrigerator at 40°F or below | Usually | None if you have one | Keeps sealed drinks safe and cold |
| Pitcher or dispenser | Yes | None | Fills cans to the line |
| Dating method | Usually | A label roll or a marker | Every can gets a sell-by date |
| Sanitizing routine | Yes | None | The same routine as the rest of the bar |
Machine prices include free shipping. Can price depends on size and volume.
A lot of canning advice is written for breweries and beverage brands, so it lists equipment a café never touches:
A one-button automatic. Manual seamers save money up front but take 30 to 60 seconds of cranking per can, and the seam depends on the operator. An automatic seals in a few seconds, the same way every time, so any barista can run a batch during a slow hour.
Two things to check before buying: the machine should raise each can size to the seaming head on its own (no spacer stacks), and it should hold the can still while the head rotates, so layered drinks are not spun. Every Canned seamer does both.
Start with 16 oz clear cans: they are the grab-and-go standard for cold brew, iced lattes, and matcha, and the clear wall shows the drink. A case of 16 oz cans is $99, lids included. Add 4 oz cans later for shots and samples, or 12 oz for tea and juice.
Plain cans with a sticker are the fastest start. Once a drink is selling, cans printed with your logo start at $1.25 a can at 1,000 cans.
Fill and seal at the back bar during a slow window, then load the fridge. The Canned seamer measures about 9 × 16 × 24 inches, so it shares counter space with a grinder or blender. The grab-and-go fridge goes where customers can see the cans, ideally near the register.
About $1,900 for a café that already has a fridge: the $1,799 seamer plus a first case of cans. Financing through Affirm or Klarna is available at checkout, subject to approval.
Rules vary by location. Most cafés are told to keep the cans cold, date them, and sell inside a short window. A call to your local health department settles it.
Yes, if it holds 40°F or below. A glass-door grab-and-go fridge sells the most cans because customers see them.
Unbox, plug in, seal. The seamer needs no install, no air line, and no plumbing, so most cafés seal their first can the day it arrives.
Countertop sealers from $1,799, shipping free on every model. Add a case of blank cans in any size and start the day it lands.