An eye-popping logo represents your brand in the best way possible. Consumers resonate with your brand and connect with what your brand has to offer. In the coffee business, it’s no different. Independent coffee shops face some fierce competition, but they still have every opportunity to stand out. So where do you start? One of the best places is by looking right at your logo design! Let’s look at how you can design a coffee shop logo that stands out among your competition.
Keeping it Simple
Why does the most successful company in the world have a simple apple as their logo? How about Nike? Certainly the “swoosh” logo isn’t a magnificent piece of art with a wow factor. However, these brands invested constant reinforcement into their branding until these simple logos turned into something iconic.
A simple logo should represent your brand colors, but it should also be capable of being easily recognizable. It doesn’t always have to have your brand name because people already know who you are! However, designing a
A simple logo should represent your brand colors, but it should also be capable of being easily recognizable. It doesn’t always have to have your brand name because people already know who you are! However, designing a strong logo conveys your quality, values, and vision. Let’s look at Nike again, for instance: the simple swoosh represents motion, speed, and fluidity.
strong logo conveys your quality, values, and vision. Let’s look at Nike again, for instance: the simple swoosh represents motion, speed, and fluidity.
Think Longevity
The coffee industry doesn’t appear to be dying out anytime soon; in fact, it’s trending upwards. 50% of the American population over the age of 18 drink lattes, espresso, cappuccino, or cold coffees. With coffee’s continuous rise in popularity, you have to think about building a long-term brand. It may be tempting to create a trendy logo for your coffee shop, but beware that trends are meant to change and you could find yourself with an outdated logo.
- Overlapping Letters
- Arcs
- Slogans (Too much text)
- Several Shapes or Dots
- Multi-layered Text
- Dull Colors
Stay Consistent with Colors
Your coffee shop logo will stand out with eye-popping colors and designs that are consistent with your brand. Part of successful brand awareness means that consumers see your logo and immediately know what to expect. You know that the coffee chain juggernaut Starbucks has deep green, black, and white for logo colors. Actually, Starbucks labels their shade of green as their own color, “Starbucks Green”. Yes, the brand awareness of Starbucks is so strong that they have their own color shade!
While you have all kinds of colors to choose from, you should usually incorporate no more than three colors to make your brand logo stand out. Everything from your website to the inside of your coffeeshop should be decorated with these colors. Your coffee cups and lids are also great for brand colors because customers take these items outside of your store. It won’t be long before people are asking your customers, “Oh, I like those colors, where did you get your coffee?”
Create Deeper Meaning
This may sound tricky because we already mentioned keeping your logo simple. So how do you include a deeper meaning with your coffee shop logo while keeping a minimalist approach? The important part is to know what your brand represents as a whole. Define your vision, mission, and core values and write them down. A coffee shop could be many things:
- Energetic
- Soothing
- Natural
- Business-Oriented
- Affordable
Your colors are also a crucial element here because they create meaning for your brand. Think about a deep red which is passionate and exciting. A green may represent good health, nature, or money. Purple expresses sophistication while blue is calm and loyal.
Standing Out Sells
Making your logo stand out is a vital part of establishing a successful coffee shop. You have tough competition out there, but your logo gives you an opportunity to shine. Successful coffee shops benefit from loyal customers who emotionally connect with their brand. While you’re at the drawing board for your coffee shop logo, think about what your brand represents. If you need a starting point, begin with your colors, values, and have a minimalist approach in mind.
Drew Thomas
Drew Thomas is a graduate of Georgia College & State University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in English Literature. He is an expert in brand marketing and has experience in freelance writing on topics ranging from sports to music reviews. He has also spent time as an editor, having revised website copy and press releases for local businesses. In his free time, Drew enjoys performing music, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends.
