Blog · Hospitality
Videos for cafés: 10 Reel ideas that whet the appetite
A café has something few businesses have: movement, steam, colour and texture all day long. That is exactly what works on Reels, TikTok and Shorts. You don't need to invent anything; you need to film well what already happens at your counter.
10 Reel ideas for your café
- The heart of latte art. Milk pouring into the espresso until the pattern appears. A few seconds, a very tight shot.
- The first batch. Trays coming out of the oven first thing in the morning, with the steam.
- The crepe on the griddle. The batter spreading in a single shot: hypnotic and easy to film.
- The milkshake with cream. From empty glass to topped glass, in one fixed shot.
- The savoury counter. Sandwiches, toast and pastries laid out at opening time.
- The full breakfast. The tray arriving at the table, seen from above.
- Hands at work. Kneading, filling, cutting: people want to see the craft.
- The afternoon snack. A different audience and a different light: it deserves its own video too.
- Seasonal products. What you only have this month, to give people a reason to visit.
- The team. Who makes the coffee every morning. Closeness sells too.
How to film them so they work
Film vertically in 9:16 and, if you can, horizontally at the same time for the website. Each video should show one single action and start already in motion: the first second decides whether someone keeps watching. Window light or soft LED, a tidy background and no other brands' logos in the foreground.
When to post them
Post breakfast videos first thing in the morning and afternoon-snack videos in the afternoon: they match the craving. It is better to keep a pace of two or three pieces a week than to make ten in one day and disappear for a month.
One day of filming, lots of videos
In one morning we film the coffee, the bakery and the counter, and you get pieces for weeks: Reels, clips for Google Maps and a horizontal video for the website. See our café examples or the video for cafés service.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a café Reel be?
Between 6 and 15 seconds is usually enough: one clear action, looped, with no filler.
Do I need to close the café to film?
No. We film during service with a light kit and pick the quieter moments for the close-ups.