Automation · Think Local Reviews

Automated Review Requests for Coffee Shops (Without Annoying Your Regulars)

Coffee shops are busy, and your team’s priority will always be the in-person experience: pulling great espresso, keeping the queue moving and creating a welcoming atmosphere. That doesn’t leave much time for manually asking every happy customer to leave a review.

This is where automated review requests for coffee shops come in. When they’re set up correctly, they quietly turn satisfied customers into online advocates – without turning your café into a spam machine.

Start with consent and a clear value exchange

Automation should never feel sneaky. Make sure customers explicitly agree to be contacted. Common routes include:

• Wi-Fi sign-up forms with a clear opt-in checkbox.
• Loyalty apps or stamp cards that capture email or SMS details.
• Online ordering or click-and-collect systems.

When you ask for details, explain the benefit: free drink after X visits, early access to seasonal menus, or occasional news about events. Reviews then become a natural part of that relationship.

Time your review requests thoughtfully

Timing is crucial. You don’t want to ping customers while they’re still in the queue. Instead:

• Send a review request a few hours after their visit, or the next morning.
• Avoid early mornings, late nights and weekends unless it fits your trade pattern.
• Steer clear of sending multiple requests close together.

The goal is to catch customers when the experience is still fresh but not intrusive.

Write short, human, café-style messages

Automated doesn’t have to mean robotic. Your messages should sound like your café, not a corporate call centre.

“Hi [Name], thanks for grabbing a coffee with us at [Coffee Shop Name] today.
Your feedback really helps our small team. If you have 30 seconds, we’d be grateful for an honest Google review here: [Review link].”

Keep it short, friendly and clear that you’re asking for an honest review, not just five-star ratings.

Set sensible limits so regulars don’t feel pestered

Your regular customers might come in most days. That doesn’t mean you should ask them for a review every week. Build limits into your automation:

• Only send a review request after every Xth visit, or
• No more than one review request every 60–90 days per customer.

This way, your most loyal customers see review requests as occasional nudges, not constant noise.

Use a review platform to manage and measure

Manually stitching all this together is hard. Platforms like Think Local Reviews can:

• Trigger review requests after visits while respecting frequency limits.
• Personalise messages with the customer’s name and store location.
• Track how many reviews each campaign generates.
• Gather all reviews in one dashboard so you can respond quickly.

With thoughtful automation, your team can stay focused on brewing great coffee while your online reputation steadily grows in the background.