Little Stove & Little Stump Coffee Shop & Playground / NITAPROW. Image © NITAPROW Share Share
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https://www.archdaily.com/1022569/the-rise-of-prosumer-coffee-experience-designing-beyond-traditional-interiors
Coffee culture continues to thrive in the modern world, with a notable shift from the dominance of chain and franchise stores to a growing market for prosumer coffee. More and more coffee consumers are becoming prosumers, individuals who both produce and consume, turning coffee making into a hobby and even a ritual, and they expect coffee shops to catch up. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable, paying close attention to the origin and type of beans, brewing methods, and equipment. They also appreciate coffee machine design, not only in terms of functionality, but also in terms of aesthetics, efficiency, space management, etc. This growing interest, especially in Asia, has also led to changes in coffee shop operations. Many independent coffee shops are responding to the growing purchasing power and interest of consumers by focusing on creating unique and immersive experiences for an ever-growing and marketable audience.
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Coffee shops have simple and functional architectural requirements. In many cases, a well-designed water bar for brewing and serving coffee and thoughtfully arranged seating is all you need. This inherent simplicity allows architects and designers to experiment and create innovative coffee shop environments that emphasize materiality, color palette, and visitor experience. Coffee shops also offer opportunities for architectural interventions that can reshape interior spaces and even influence the broader built environment.
Birdie Cup Coffee / FOG Architecture. Image ©INSPACE
When it comes to design, coffee shops are emerging as architectural fast fashion. More investors are trying the coffee shop model because it has relatively low start-up costs compared to other businesses and requires less staff and equipment. Flexible areas from 10 square meters to entire skyscrapers further facilitate this trend. Many coffee shops operate on short-term rental agreements and employ design strategies to quickly attract attention and establish a strong brand image. This often results in a continuous cycle of building and rebuilding. However, there are facilities that last for a long time depending on the vision and financial strength of the investors, and a variety of coffee shop projects are being created.
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Creating tranquility: How a minimalist palette can enhance your coffee space
A very restrained material palette is a notable trend in modern coffee shop interiors, especially those that have adopted a fast fashion model (minimal investment, quick delivery, short-term contracts). When carefully selected and implemented, this approach offers several important benefits. First, it creates an atmosphere of minimal intervention and spatial tranquility, as if inviting visitors into a quiet, self-contained dimension. This simple sensation helps patrons escape distractions, taking their attention away from the chaotic urban environment and allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the coffee shop experience.
The restrained palette also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the coffee itself. As light roast coffee grows in popularity with the new coffee wave, its diverse aromas are celebrated both in the cup and in the store. Just as galleries and museums design discreet spaces to highlight their art, minimalist interior design, like a blank canvas, allows coffee to take center stage. In this case, coffee is the focus, from the beans to the finished drink.
Additionally, this approach requires machines and processes to be cleverly hidden behind the scenes, creating an understated elegance. Although the space looks simple, it hides a carefully designed and executed workflow, from sourcing the beans to brewing the perfect espresso shot, with the focus on the customer experience. A restrained palette also helps with budget control. By selecting the same materials in bulk and sourcing them from similar manufacturers on a continuous basis, you can streamline the design and construction process and avoid unnecessary risks such as shipping delays, price surprises, and mismanagement.
TON Corner Coffee Shop / TON Architects
TON Corner Coffee Shop / TON Architects. Image ©Ton That Hoan Anh
Hakodate Senshuan Sohonke Cafe / Tsune Nagasaka + Schemata Architects
Hakodate Senshuan Sohonke Cafe / Tsune Nagasaka + Schemata Architects. Image © Yurika Kono
SooSoo Coffee / LABOTORY
SooSoo Coffee / LABOTORY. Image © Yongjoon Choi
Coffee shop in 2050 / TEKI Design
Coffee shop in 2050/TEKI design. Image provided by: Kenta Hasegawa
Design for interaction: a playful and immersive coffee environment
An alternative approach in modern coffee shops requires more time and capital investment to create an immersive spatial experience for patrons. In these spaces, the interior design and architectural elements are no longer just a backdrop to celebrate coffee, but are thoughtfully crafted to engage visitors on multiple levels. These design strategies actively engage users through playful features such as slides, private terraces, and staircases that provide unique spatial experiences, and more passively through water features, framed views, and other elements that engage visitors and immerse them in the environment.
Kpi Cantel Braga, for example, takes a bold approach by using bright, monochromatic colors throughout the interior. In addition to clearly defined zones, there are playful slides for both adults and children, encouraging interaction with the space. These features allow users to linger longer while enjoying their coffee in a dynamic and engaging environment. Design becomes the focal point, turning the coffee shop into a destination rather than just a place to have a drink.
This interior strategy shifts the focus from just coffee to creating a consistent experience where the space becomes part of the appeal. Rather than acting as a neutral canvas like a gallery, the space enhances the aroma of coffee and forms a harmonious connection between the interior and the products. Design and coffee come together to create a completely immersive experience. In this approach, the quality of the coffee is inseparable from the success of the architecture and design, making drinking coffee a rich, multisensory experience.
Copi Cantel Braga / Studio ASA
Copi Cantel Braga / Studio ASA. Image © Arte Haus, Bymonsoon
Seven Island Coffee / mttb
Seven Island Coffee / mttb. Image © Yongjoon Choi
Time to B Cafe / NONE SPACE
It’s time for B Cafe/NONE SPACE. Image © Ki-eun Hong
Birdie Cup Coffee / FOG Architecture
Birdie Cup Coffee / FOG Architecture. Image ©INSPACE
Beyond interiors: A coffee shop that pushes the boundaries of architecture
These coffee shops leverage architecture itself, not relying on the surrounding built environment or context to attract customers, but instead using architecture as a creative playground and experimental investigation. Design often pushes the boundaries of both interiors and architecture, exploring new possibilities within specific constraints. For example, the design process for Ka CCoffee embraced the challenge of creating an architecture within tight investment limits. Design architect Nguyen Khac Phuc Architects said:
“A coffee shop with 8×20 meters of land, 5 years lease period and low investment cost (500 million dong) to maximize construction time, reduce labor force and reduce concrete construction part. These are the conditions and background for an architect to propose a model.” — Nguyen Cac Phuc Architectural Design Office.
Often the purpose is to promote commerce, tourism, or foot traffic to the surrounding area. Unlike the flexible, temporary “guerrilla” approach of other coffee shops, which rely on the success of their neighborhoods to move and adapt as urban conditions change, this strategy places the coffee shop itself in the future of the area. We aim to use it as a catalyst for development and success. , contributing to a more lasting and impactful urban fabric.
A prime example is the Yellow Submarine Coffee Tank, which was named Project of the Month by ArchDaily in 2016 and won the 2017 Building of the Year Award (Hospitality). Designed with an exploratory architectural approach, this coffee shop pushes the boundaries of indoor and outdoor space. The creative use of brick and outdoor piloti structures challenges the interplay of light and shadow. Subsequent expansions further explored the boundaries of architecture, experimenting with cantilevers, staircases, and abandoned, ruin-like structures. The Yellow Submarine Coffee Tank reimagines interiors through the lens of a coffee shop, rethinking architecture and turning it into an opportunity for architectural innovation and development.
Yellow submarine coffee tank / 2nd floor architectural design office
Yellow Submarine Coffee Tank / 2nd Floor Architect. Image ©Ketsiree Wongwan
Little Stove & Little Stump Coffee Shop & Playground / NITAPROW
Little Stove & Little Stump Coffee Shop & Playground / NITAPROW. Image ©NITAPROW
Ká Coffee / Nguyen Khac Phuoc Architects
Ká Coffee / Nguyen Khac Phuoc Architects. Image © Trieu Chien
Greater Goods Coffee / Michael Hsu Architects
Greater Goods Coffee / Michael Hsu Architecture Office. Image © Chase Daniel
This article is part of an ArchDaily series that explores interior architectural features from our unique project database. Each month, we’ll highlight how architects and designers are using new elements, new features, and new features in interior spaces around the world. As always, ArchDaily values the opinions of our readers. If you think a particular idea should be mentioned, please submit a suggestion.
