Americans drink approximately 400 million cups of coffee every single day. With a figure as high as that, it's no wonder that coffee shops can be found on nearly every street corner. If you've already set up a coffee shop but are wondering how you can beat your numerous competitors and become more successful, follow these five techniques.

1. Start a Loyalty Scheme

Customers love being rewarded for their purchases, so an easy way to encourage return customers is to establish a loyalty scheme. This doesn't have to be complicated. You can simply use a stamp card: Stamp a customer's card each time they buy a coffee, and on the fifth, tenth, or twentieth cup of coffee, they don't pay. It's simple! If you prefer, you could use a points-based system. Each dollar spent counts for 1 point, and points can be exchanged for money off in the future. Find a system that works for you.

2. Cater to Dietary Requirements

Studies have shown that the number of vegans in the US has increased hugely in recent years, with approximately 3% of the population now following a vegan diet. This means that if you're not catering to the vegan market, you could be missing out on more customers, and the same can be said of those with gluten-free requirements and other dietary needs. It's easy to cater to different diets. Buy plant-based milk and vegan food options like a vegan chocolate box. You could also provide vegan and gluten-free pastries and sandwiches if you offer more substantial food options.

Online communities of vegans and vegetarians are hugely popular, so if you can attract a few vegans, you'll probably see an uptake in custom in the long run.

3. Make Your Café Instagram Friendly

The power of social media in business success cannot be overstated. Young people, in particular, can be influenced by what they see online, so creating an online presence is essential. You'll also want to make sure that the food and drinks you offer are visually appealing to the Instagram generation.

Follow food trends and make sure you have something on your menu that caters to them, whether it's a rainbow bagel, latte art, or rose-gold cupcakes.

The décor of your café should also be Instagrammable, so consider the appearance of your tables and chairs, wall art, and coffee cups.

4. Offer a Weekly Deal

Keep your customers coming back for more by offering a weekly deal. You can have a different coffee or hot drink on sale each week for a reduced price. This is a great way to get customers to try new things, but you can also use it as an opportunity to get rid of any surplus stock. If you have an excess of caramel syrup, sell caramel lattes for $1.99 for a week-people love a bargain!

5. Maintain Quality

The main reason people go to a coffee shop is to drink good coffee, so it's crucial to keep the quality of your products as high as possible. Use only high-end coffee beans and the best milk you can afford. It will make an enormous difference to the taste of the end product, and that's what will keep your customers coming back for more.

Coffee shop competition is fierce, so take whatever steps you can to keep your café as successful as possible.