I love that it takes 200 Million dollar of venture backed funding for businesses to learn that people enjoying talking to and getting to know people in their community.
This idea worked for about a year. Now, the Blank Street coffee shops in London don't know how to do latte art, the coffee tastes terrible, and the baristas chat and joke with each other instead of the customer. Definitely support your local coffee shop instead of this Starbucks clone.
I stopped going to coffee shops when they stopped being small communities, places I could go and work, 'pay rent' with periodic orders, and see people I knew--which is a model I don't know how on earth we could get back. There's a couple sorta-like-that where I live, but they are overcrowded, so there's demand but not sufficiently paying demand. I make my own coffee, and only grab something out (and usually to go) when my day's timing is off. Blank Street is oddly great for how I'd use them now, but the opposite of what I miss deeply; and I am skeptical about them being able to match the truly talented baristas that my overcrowded neighborhood shops still nurture.
Like it or not, it is actually a good strategy. There is not much money to be made in coffee as a shop, the entry barrier is low as much as the margin profits. The only way to compete in the market is to leave consumers with enough reasons to come back: strong customer service, good-enough product, and consumable culture on-site. Automation is offering solutions, void them is more harmful than wise. Baristas are usually Uni students who do not give a crap (rightfully) while making barely $19/hr. Soon or later they quit for a better paying role elsewhere. Every time you change staff, you are changing your business. Consistency and convenience is what truly majority of the people are looking forward, and the increase in coffee consumption corporate based and home based prove it. The strategy sounds fine to me.
That's just not true. Looking at the one closest to me, a plain large latte is $4.15. The coffee shop next door, only have one size (12 oz), is $5.25. The Starbucks on the same street is $4.45 for a tall (12 oz). So it's 7% less than Starbucks and 23% less than the local option. It's hard to do straight comps without knowing the sizes, but in general they are 10-20% less expensive.
It's funny how people think a manual machine keeps you from interacting with people. Quite the opposite. I'm able to really make someone something and connect in conversation while doing so. You can keep the craft while maintaining the good interactions.
theres a company in the Philippines that copied their exact model and even branding called ''pick up coffee'', they started with one little truck style place in the center of the city then absolutely exploded to like 100 branches in no time across manila. They're also venture backed too.
Love the vibes of smaller local coffee shops. Try to stay away from starbucks as much as possible, due to being extremely overpriced. Australia/Europe have a different coffee scene with a lot of individual coffee shops that offer a variety of experiences. Would love to see that come to north america more.
I wonder if this would work in Australia where coffee culture is different. Likewise in Europe etc... The value proposition is in relation to the Starbucks model and their "culture of ritual".
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I love that it takes 200 Million dollar of venture backed funding for businesses to learn that people enjoying talking to and getting to know people in their community.
I’ll teach that same lesson for 100 Million. Just saved you 50%
This idea worked for about a year. Now, the Blank Street coffee shops in London don't know how to do latte art, the coffee tastes terrible, and the baristas chat and joke with each other instead of the customer. Definitely support your local coffee shop instead of this Starbucks clone.
I stopped going to coffee shops when they stopped being small communities, places I could go and work, 'pay rent' with periodic orders, and see people I knew--which is a model I don't know how on earth we could get back. There's a couple sorta-like-that where I live, but they are overcrowded, so there's demand but not sufficiently paying demand.
I make my own coffee, and only grab something out (and usually to go) when my day's timing is off. Blank Street is oddly great for how I'd use them now, but the opposite of what I miss deeply; and I am skeptical about them being able to match the truly talented baristas that my overcrowded neighborhood shops still nurture.
At the end, every thing is a circle, we all come back to the basics
Like it or not, it is actually a good strategy. There is not much money to be made in coffee as a shop, the entry barrier is low as much as the margin profits. The only way to compete in the market is to leave consumers with enough reasons to come back: strong customer service, good-enough product, and consumable culture on-site. Automation is offering solutions, void them is more harmful than wise. Baristas are usually Uni students who do not give a crap (rightfully) while making barely $19/hr. Soon or later they quit for a better paying role elsewhere. Every time you change staff, you are changing your business. Consistency and convenience is what truly majority of the people are looking forward, and the increase in coffee consumption corporate based and home based prove it. The strategy sounds fine to me.
The prices are pretty much the same as other small coffee shops lol
That's just not true. Looking at the one closest to me, a plain large latte is $4.15. The coffee shop next door, only have one size (12 oz), is $5.25. The Starbucks on the same street is $4.45 for a tall (12 oz). So it's 7% less than Starbucks and 23% less than the local option.
It's hard to do straight comps without knowing the sizes, but in general they are 10-20% less expensive.
Awesome Stuff!
Always Had Been Curious About Blank Street..
It's funny how people think a manual machine keeps you from interacting with people. Quite the opposite. I'm able to really make someone something and connect in conversation while doing so. You can keep the craft while maintaining the good interactions.
theres a company in the Philippines that copied their exact model and even branding called ''pick up coffee'', they started with one little truck style place in the center of the city then absolutely exploded to like 100 branches in no time across manila. They're also venture backed too.
Thanks I hate it.
Love the vibes of smaller local coffee shops. Try to stay away from starbucks as much as possible, due to being extremely overpriced. Australia/Europe have a different coffee scene with a lot of individual coffee shops that offer a variety of experiences. Would love to see that come to north america more.
great video and interesting company. excited to see if they can manage to keep up the success and continue to grow worldwide
There‘s already a copycat startup in Germany called LAP Coffee…
Love these videos
How much did you get paid to make this ad?
I wonder if this would work in Australia where coffee culture is different. Likewise in Europe etc... The value proposition is in relation to the Starbucks model and their "culture of ritual".
that's why they mainly open in usa..... fake and bad food works very well there
pret and blank street are becoming closer coffee vending machines, while charging high prices
when Blank Street Brazil?
Do they offer reusable cups? Or is this not part of the concept? ;)
What barista makes 50k a year lmaoooooo 😂
😄