We have curated responses from industry professionals discussing branding tactics and what makes a good coffee shop stand out from the crowd.
We have curated responses from industry professionals discussing branding tactics and what makes a good coffee shop stand out from the crowd.
Summer Moon Coffee is an incredible locally owned coffee shop that uses a wood-fired coffee roasting process that results in a smooth, balanced coffee. Summer Moon Coffee was born in the Texas Hill Country and every batch of the coffee is roasted in Summer Moon's handmade brick roasters over seasoned Texas oak. Summer Moon Coffee's logo with the fire pit pays homage to the wood-fired coffee roasting process, which is cool. Summer Moon is also known for its delicious Moon Milk, which is its signature sweet cream that helps set its lattes apart. Summer Moon Coffee has expanded greatly over the years but each one of its coffee shops have the same homey feel, making it an even better place to grab a cup of coffee.
I started a global branding and digital marketing firm 19 years ago in Cambridge, MA. As a small business we are always pivoting to respond to market changes but I am very concerned about the spread of this virus and the short and long term impact it will have on the economy. Before Covid I went to several coffee shops but now my preferred spot is Forge they reopened quickly and are not just for coffee & treats now they sell produce too so I am spending a lot more there than before. I love how scrappy and resourceful they have been and want to show my support. They have done an amazing job being resilient and flexible with all the uncertainty.
Rooster Joe opened its doors in late 2019, just a few steps from where I work at Totally Promotional in West Central Ohio. We live in a small farming community and the owners, Joe and Michelle McClurg, are no strangers to agriculture. The name of their business is very appropriate for their roots and the wonderful coffee they sell! The McClurgs always dreamed about opening a shop where they could serve high-quality coffee and espresso. They also wanted to sell healthy foods; Michelle is a dietitian/foodie and her parents operate an organic dairy farm a few miles from the coffee shop where she grew up. The couple accomplished their goals by doing a lot of research and seeking out the quality ingredients they needed.
Rooster Joe’s team worked with Copperheart Creative of Nashville to create a full on-brand customer experience. Rooster Joe is decorated in warm, rustic tones with soft lighting and inviting furniture. It has nooks where you can sit comfortably while sipping espressos or iced tea and chat with friends. It is also the perfect venue for brainstorming new ideas or kicking out a report on your laptop in between meetings. Their menu includes freshly made breakfast pastries and sandwiches, as well as lunch-ready salads and desserts made from a favourite local baker. All of their food items are homemade and unforgettably delicious! Despite the COVID-19 outbreak just a few short months after they opened, they have managed to thrive due to their tasty offerings, friendly staff and excellent service. The staff at Totally Promotional, who helped provide Rooster Joe with many customized items including coffee mugs, patronizes Rooster Joe frequently.
My favorite coffee shop in Austin is Houndstooth Coffee. They have a wide selection of local coffees and teas as well as beer served a little later in the day. They do some bean roasting in house, getting the beans from ethical sources. It has a very relaxed atmosphere, as well. A lot of the coffee shops in Austin are too up-tempo for me, for lack of a better word. Before the pandemic, I would sometimes camp out in a corner here and work during the day.
I'm a big fan of The Boy & the Bear. They roast everything on site using sustainably sourced Colombian beans, and you can definitely tell the difference. I've tried a number of items and the iced latte is one of my favorites. A great drink to get in California, no matter the season. I especially like it made with almond milk. It's a pricey place, but a lot better than any of the chain coffee shops.
I adore Noble coffee in the little southern Oregon town of Ashland. Everything is top quality - from the welcoming, precise and efficient service of the baristas to the sourcing of the beans. Brewed perfectly, each cup feels like an indulgence and there is no extra charge for oat, nut or other milks.
Salvation is veteran owned and operated and I love that they offer a wide variety of coffees and creamers. So many coffee shops offer only oat or soy if you prefer non-dairy but Salvation also offers up alt milks like Milkadamia. The owner’s grandfather works at the shop every once in a while and has even learned how to be a barista at the tender age of 93!
Since much of my work is doable from home, especially since the COVID 19 pandemic, I have been relying even more on the great environment at Hello Coffee in Lakewood, Colorado. Hello is known for their creative specialty lattes, my favorite of which is the PB&J. They have new ones constantly, as well as a constant stream of happy customers of all ages including children. You can always find something new and exciting on the menu.
This coffee shop also does an amazing job of supporting youth in the community. The walls are decorated with art and photography created by local youth and it is listed for sale, providing exposure and incentive for the students who have worked hard. Hello Coffee purposefully hires young students so that they can learn what it is like to have their first real job under the constant but casual supervision of the shop's owner, Michelle.
Easy Luck is a neighborhood coffee bar featuring locally-roasted Ligature beans alongside other roasters from across the country. The coffee shop serves as a community hub, sharing a bright, mid-century inspired space with a bar and package store featuring a brise-soleil accent wall, murals designed by Secret Society Goods, and very Instagrammable bathrooms.
My favorite local coffee shop is Café Au Lait in Roswell, Georgia. Everything about this experience is wonderful. From the wood burning fireplace to it’s homemade-looking décor (as if you’re sitting in your living room) to the friendly staff, it’s is a best-kept secret in East Roswell. If anyone visits, please don’t forget to get a blueberry muffin to go with your specialty coffee.
Found Coffee is my favorite locally owned coffee shop because they are incredible at cultivating community and often feature local coffee roasters, local artists' work, and pop-ups of local food businesses (pre-COVID). As a small business owner myself, I love being part of a community that supports and uplifts each other.
My name is Liz Jeneault and I'm the vice president of marketing for Faveable, a popular beauty, fashion, and lifestyle product review website. I'm also an award-winning former news anchor who spent many years living and working in Austin, Texas, which is exactly why I'm recommending Summer Moon Coffee as an awesome local coffee shop. I've now been with Faveable for over a year. Faveable has a team of writers and researchers who thoroughly go over products in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle niche and provide readers with all they'd ever want to know about those products. Faveable makes it easy for people to find the best possible beauty products out there to use. As the vice president of marketing for Faveable, I work to make sure our website is viewed by as many people as possible. I regularly communicate with companies that send Faveable products for review and also with the publications interested in our product roundups.
Paige Arnof-Fenn is the founder & CEO of global branding and digital marketing firm Mavens & Moguls based in Cambridge, MA. They are a global network of seasoned marketing experts who can do anything a marketing department, market research shop, public relations firm or ad agency does on an as needed or outsourced basis. They have resources in major metro areas across the country and around the world. They work with companies like Microsoft, Virgin, The New York Times Company, Colgate, venture-backed startups as well as non profit organizations to help them find the right words and pictures to tell their stories. She graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Business School. Paige is a popular speaker and columnist who has written for Entrepreneur and Forbes.
My name is Shelley Grieshop and I work as a creative writer in the marketing department at Totally Promotional. We are an online retailer and manufacturer of customized promotional products. I write blogs and other content for our growing company. My career with Totally Promotional began in 2016 following more than 18 years as an Associated Press journalist. I enjoy the freedom to showcase my creative side and the every-growing selection of promotional products we offer.
Our company in 2018 celebrated its 25th anniversary in the promotional products industry. That's a long time! Our experience in graphic design, numerous printing methods and a vast array of materials is a big plus for the customers we serve. Our staff knows how to make all types of events - from trade shows to weddings - a huge success! We are located in a small community in Ohio where people look out for one another. That caring attitude and empathy is what our customers appreciate and keeps them coming back to Totally Promotional.
Dan Bailey, President, WikiLawn
My name's Rex and I'm the CEO of Superlativ Media, a top publishing company with several brands like Discuss Diets and Gadget Review, that has thousands of product reviews and ratings of the top consumer products online.
Sabina King is a entrepreneur with a passion for seeking out efficiency and top quality value. Her companies offer both of those attributes. Sabina King is the founder of Hempure CBD and TaZa.co. With more than twenty years of experience in the wellness industry, Sabina has focused on natural health that brings the body back into balance for optimum health and vitality. She believes that if people get in touch with their own bodies and gain a deeper understanding of the things that affect them, we can create a world that feels better. She is also a speaker, writer, and traveler who has been featured on HuffPost, Elite Daily, and others.
I am COO of Scout 22, a marketing and PR agency that serves companies in the vegan, plant-based and conscious capitalist space.
My name is Bryanna Fissori and I am the Content and Compliance Manager for Receptra Naturals CBD in Colorado
Zac Alfson is the Executive Director of The Milk District, a Main Street community in Orlando, working side by side with independent businesses and community volunteers to promote and improve their neighborhood. The Milk District operates to raise funds to enhance the interests of our diverse community. We provide the voice of our district in community affairs and act as the cultural hub for our area in the City Beautiful, no matter age, creed, color, or preference.
Zac's background is in the performing arts, working in marketing and audience development for The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park and Mad Cow Theatre, both in the Orlando area. He moved to Orlando to study Stage Management at the University of Central Florida. Moving to nonprofit administration, he has extensive experience in the Main Street America programs, having previously served on committees with Mills50 and Church Street District in Orlando.
He was a Founding Steering Committee member for Emerging Arts Leaders: Central Florida has served on the board of directors of the Orlando International Fringe Festival. Zac holds a certificate in Post-Crisis leadership from the University of South Florida,
Alexis Nicole White, PMP, SMC Senior Project Manager & Consultant
Michelle Chu is the Founder & CEO of Kono’s Kitchen, a brand of freeze-dried raw dog treats. She graduated with a degree in Psychology from UC San Diego. After college, Michelle moved to Beijing for five years and worked in various roles doing social media marketing, PR, and teaching English. After moving back to the States, she taught herself web development and worked her way up to a director-level role at a global digital marketing agency. When she adopted her dog Kono at the end of 2018, Michelle began immersing herself in the world of dog training and nutrition. Her journey as a dog mom led her to putting Kono on a raw diet, and she recognized that other dog parents were interested in doing the same but didn't know where to start. She launched Kono's Kitchen to make raw feeding easier for other dog parents, starting with freeze-dried raw, single-protein treats. Dog rescue is a hugely important cause to Michelle, and 10% of all profits are donated to the medical needs of a featured rescue dog each month.
