Are Cafés Still a Good Business in 2026?

Why has Dan Dick stepped back from the cafe industry? After over a decade of operating successful Melbourne venues Nigel and then PaperBoy, Dan has called it quits. Our conversation was had in the midst of handing the reins over to new operators; an equally emotional and practical decision that has catapulted Dan into a new chapter of his career. We discussed the problems facing cafe owners today… and why it has become so much harder to run a profitable cafe.

If you're new here (welcome), our show dives into some of the best coffee conversations on the internet, but we will always remind ourselves at the end of the day - It's Just Coffee!

Dan Dick: instagram.com/danielpeterdick

CHAPTERS

Why Running a Café Is Harder Than Ever
Why Dan Is Leaving the Café Industry
Are There Too Many Cafés?
How to Open a Successful Café in 2026
When Should You Sell Your Café?
Are There Too Many Coffee Roasters?
Why Direct-to-Consumer Coffee Is Growing
Why Dan Didn’t Build a Roastery
How to Sell Coffee Online
Why Co-Fermented Coffee Is Selling
Should Your Café Start Roasting?
The Mistakes That Nearly Broke the Business
A Public Holiday Café Meltdown
Wages, Coffee Prices and Café Closures
What’s Next for Born and Raised