How to curate the perfect soup selection for a café menu

23/09/2025

Soups are one of the simplest ways for cafés and coffee shops to keep customers happy. They’re versatile, filling, and work brilliantly as both a main meal or a quick bite alongside coffee and a sandwich. The challenge for café owners isn’t whether to offer soup, but how to pick the right flavours to suit everyone who walks through the door.

A well-balanced soup menu makes sure no customer feels left out. Here’s how to cover all the bases with five types of soup every café and coffee shop should consider.

A crowd-pleaser (for fussy eaters)

Every café needs a safe choice that even the pickiest eater can enjoy. Tomato and Basil is the ultimate classic, loved for its smooth texture and familiar taste. It’s comforting, reliable, and pairs perfectly with a crusty bread roll or a simple cheese toastie. Having this on the menu reassures customers that they’ll always find something they like.

An adventurous option

Cafés and coffee shops are also places where customers discover something new. An adventurous soup such as Indonesian Chickpea and Coconut adds excitement to your menu. Bold spices, fresh herbs, and unusual flavour combinations appeal to foodies and customers who like to try something different. Offering one standout adventurous soup can elevate your café’s reputation and set you apart from local competition.

A health-conscious choice

With more customers looking for lighter, nourishing meals, a health-conscious option is a must. Country Vegetable is a great example: high in fibre, packed with nutrients, and satisfying without being heavy. Soups like this appeal to those seeking a balanced option for lunch, making your café or coffee shop a go-to spot.

A vegan-friendly pick

Inclusivity matters, and a vegan-friendly soup ensures no one misses out. Our Leek and Potato soup is naturally plant-based, hearty, and gluten free too. A soup like this not only caters to vegan diners but also appeals to flexitarians and anyone curious about plant-based eating. Having at least one vegan soup available shows your café values choice and accessibility.

An indulgent treat

Sometimes customers want comfort in a bowl. An indulgent option such as Spiced Parsnip and Honey delivers exactly that. Rich, warming, and satisfying, these soups are ideal for colder days or when customers want a little luxury alongside their coffee or sandwich. Offering something indulgent makes your menu feel complete.

How Real Soup makes stocking a variety of fresh soups easy for cafés

Balancing all these choices may sound like a challenge, but Real Soup makes it simple. With a wide range of freshly prepared soups, cafés and coffee shops can stock everything from timeless classics to bold, adventurous flavours without the hassle of making them in-house. Their soups are delivered ready to heat and serve, helping cafés save time while still offering high-quality, wholesome meals.

By curating a soup menu that includes a crowd-pleaser, an adventurous choice, a health-conscious option, a vegan-friendly pick, and an indulgent treat, your café or coffee shop can appeal to every type of customer.

With Real Soup, keeping your menu fresh, varied, and inclusive couldn’t be easier. Get in touch with our team and we’ll help you find the best soup selection for your customers.