Business liability
Pays for scalds, allergic reactions and guests' falls, on the terrace too.
Insurance broker / Business types / Hospitality
Insurance for cafés, ice cream parlours and cake shops in Germany
In a café most of the money sits in two machines: the espresso machine and, in an ice cream parlour, the chilled display counter. If either fails, the day is lost, and in summer a broken compressor quickly turns into a week without takings. Add hot drinks spilt on guests, nut allergies and the terrace in a storm. This page shows what you need and what it costs.
The question almost everyone asks first
Is my espresso machine covered if it simply breaks down?
Not by standard contents insurance, which pays for fire, burst pipes, storm and burglary. A short circuit in the control board, a burnt out boiler or an operating error are matters for electronics or machinery insurance. With a machine costing €10,000 to €20,000 that almost always pays off; wear and limescale are excluded there too, though.
What goes wrong in this trade
- 01
Hot drinks
A tray tips, a high chair knocks the table: scalds from coffee and tea are the typical injury claim in a café.
- 02
Allergens in the cake
Nuts, gluten, milk: if a label is missing or orders get mixed up, an allergic reaction can be life threatening.
- 03
Machine or counter fails
Espresso machine, ice cream maker and chilled counter run all day. If one fails in July, your most important takings are gone.
- 04
Spoiled ice cream and cakes
One overnight power cut, and the entire ice cream stock and the weekend's cakes are lost.
- 05
Terrace in a storm
In a thunderstorm, parasols, awnings and furniture become missiles, hitting cars and passers by.
- 06
Water from the machine
The plumbed in water supply and the dishwasher run all day. A burst hose often floods the cellar or the neighbours.
Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.
The insurance you need
Essential
Strongly advised
Business contents
Replaces furnishings, machines and supplies after fire, burst pipes, storm and burglary, with spoiled refrigerated stock included.
Electronic equipment
Covers espresso machine, ice cream maker, display counter and till against short circuits, power surges and operating errors.
Business interruption
Keeps paying rent and wages if the café is closed after a fire or water damage.
Depends on the business
Business legal expenses
For disputes with your landlord, staff or the town, for instance over the terrace permit.
Cyber insurance
If the till system or ordering app is hacked and guest data is affected.
What it costs: example prices
A café is cheaper to insure than a restaurant with a deep frying kitchen. What counts is turnover, number of seats, terrace, whether you bake yourself and the value of machines and counters.
| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Business liability | Daytime café, around €40,000 turnover, €3 million cover | about €80 to €170 a year |
| Business liability | Café or ice cream parlour with two to five staff and a terrace | about €170 to €600 a year |
| Business contents | Furnishings, machines and supplies worth €60,000 | about €200 to €500 a year |
| Electronic equipment | Espresso machine, gelato counter and till worth €30,000 | about €200 to €450 a year |
| Business interruption | Loss of income for up to twelve months, added to the contents policy | about €80 to €250 a year on top |
For comparison: Basic cover of public liability and contents insurance costs about as much a year as 100 cappuccinos.
Guide prices as of September 2026, based on published tariff examples and on our own quoting practice. If you bake your own cakes or make your own ice cream, liability costs a little more; we obtain the exact quote for you.
Our suggestions: three packages
01
Starter
For: small daytime café or coffee bar without a terrace
- Business liability
- Business contents
Together about €300 to €650 a year
Request this package02
Café
For: café or ice cream parlour with terrace, staff and expensive equipment
- Business liability
- Business contents
- Electronic equipment
- Business interruption
Together about €700 to €1,500 a year
Request this package03
All round
For: large café with its own bakery, till system and online ordering
- Business liability
- Business contents
- Electronic equipment
- Business interruption
- Business legal expenses
- Cyber insurance
Together about €1,400 to €2,800 a year
Request this packageThe worst day in the café
Six claims of the kind cafés and ice cream parlours really see, all on one hot Sunday in July. Click through the day and see who pays.
Damage so far€33,200
-
A power cut overnight: the ice cream stock and the cakes in the counter have melted.
-
The espresso machine dies with a bang; the control board has burnt out.
-
A pot of tea tips over a toddler sitting on his mother's lap. Scalds, hospital, compensation.
-
A guest with a nut allergy asks, is still served the wrong cake and needs emergency treatment.
-
A thunderstorm gust tears a parasol from its stand and damages two parked cars.
-
The machine's water hose bursts and water runs into the building's cellar.
Which package would you have had?
Illustrative amounts before any excess. Whether and how much is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
- Insure the espresso machine, ice cream maker and counter with electronics or machinery cover, otherwise the most common fault is not covered.
- Include spoiled ice cream and refrigerated stock, expressly also when the power cut comes from the grid.
- Label allergens properly and train your team: it protects guests and helps in a dispute.
- Check that terrace, parasols and awnings are insured against storm and that liability covers damage from flying parasols.
- Tell the insurer if you run your own bakery or make ice cream, as it changes the risk.
- Include damage to rented premises if you trade from a rented shop.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We look after your machines
As a broker we compare several insurers and make sure your most expensive equipment does not fall between contents and electronics cover.
We know claims from the inside
In boat insurance we settle claims ourselves. We know which questions follow a machine breakdown and which evidence counts.
Café and private cover together
Café, car, your home and your team's pensions sit with one contact.
Family business since 1989
Advice is free for you, as the insurer pays our commission. You speak to the same people, year after year.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
What insurance does a café in Germany need?
Public liability is essential. Contents insurance, electronics or machinery cover for the coffee machine and counter, and loss of income cover all make sense.
How much does insurance for a café cost?
Public liability for a small café starts at about €80 a year. With contents insurance, basic cover usually costs between €300 and €650.
Is melted ice cream covered after a power cut?
Only if spoiled refrigerated stock is in the policy. Make sure a failure of the public grid is included too.
Do I need separate insurance for the terrace?
No, the terrace belongs in your public liability and contents policies. Check that outdoor furniture and parasols are covered against storm and theft.
Am I liable for an allergic reaction?
If you labelled or served something wrongly, yes. Public liability pays medical costs and compensation and checks whether the claim is justified.
Are my casual staff insured?
At work through the BGN, the statutory accident insurer for food and hospitality, including mini jobbers and pupils in holiday jobs.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Café
The recommended covers are already ticked. Change what does not fit; we obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. You can write in English.
Thank you, we have your request.
We will be in touch within one working day. If it is urgent: +49 3375 29 12 77.
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