If you want to offer coffee through cupr, this page explains what you may need to do to stay compliant in the UK. If you already operate from a rated food premises, you’re typically good to go.
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Requirements can vary by local authority. Always follow your council’s advice and current FSA guidance.
cupr is designed to work best with people and organisations already operating within existing food safety rules. That includes many small operators you’d never normally find on a high street.
In most UK areas, you must register your food business with your local authority before trading, and you should do it at least 28 days before you start. Registration is free. (Inspection timing varies.)
Makers will be able to state whether they’re already rated, and (where relevant) display their rating / scheme. If you’re not rated, cupr can still show you the steps to become compliant before you go live.
| Step | What you do | Time / effort |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Decide your setup | Are you serving from an existing rated premises, or starting a new (possibly home-based) food business? If you’re starting new, your local authority is the starting point. | 1–2 hours of thinking and planning |
| 2) Register | Register your food business with your local authority at least 28 days before you start trading. Registration is free. | 15–30 minutes (form) |
| 3) Basics in place | Make sure you can produce coffee safely: clean surfaces, handwashing, sensible storage, cleaning routine. Keep things simple: fewer drink options is easier to control. | Half day to a few days (depends on setup) |
| 4) Food safety management | You’ll need a basic documented approach to food safety (how you keep things safe day-to-day). This is often what “confidence in management” comes down to in practice. | A few hours to write down and follow |
| 5) Inspection + rating | A local authority officer inspects and issues the rating under FHRS (England/Wales/NI). | Inspection timing varies by council |
| 6) Improve + re-rate (if needed) | If you want a higher rating, you can request a revisit once improvements are made. Re-rating revisits may have a fee (varies by nation and council). | As needed |
In many areas you can start trading once registered (you do not always have to wait for the first inspection), but you must still comply with food hygiene law from day one. Your council will advise.
Costs vary a lot depending on what you already have. This is a “ballpark” view so makers can plan sensibly.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Food business registration | £0 | Registration is free. |
| Basic training | £10–£60 | Depends on course provider and level. (Commonly “Level 2 Food Hygiene” style training.) |
| Equipment & hygiene basics | £20–£200+ | Cleaning materials, storage containers, thermometer(s), labelled bins, etc. |
| Coffee kit (if you don’t already have it) | £30–£500+ | Kettle + cafetiere is cheap; espresso setups vary widely. |
| Insurance (recommended) | Varies | Public liability / product liability is sensible even for small operations. |
| Re-rating (revisit) inspection | £0–£250+ | Some councils charge for re-rating revisits (England: some councils; Wales/NI: councils charge). |
For many people, the main “cost” is time and getting organised (clean routines, documentation, and consistency). The safest path is to start small: limited menu, clear process, clean prep.
cupr is designed to align with existing systems rather than invent new ones.
Tip: if you’re building this into your onboarding later, store a maker’s scheme/rating and last inspection date (where available) as structured fields.