In less than two decades Blue Bottle Coffee, which began in Oakland, California, has quickly spread- winning over customers all over America from the West Coast to the East Coast. In 2015, they broke into the Japanese market, opening their first coffee shop in Tokyo and becoming a hotspot for international travelers. What makes this small independent cafe such a world-class hit?
At the time of Blue Bottle's conception, commercial coffee culture had taken over- which not only seriously frustrated coffee enthusiasts but also distorted the opinions of the general consumer. Blue Bottle Coffee founder James Freeman took his frustration and funneled it into his passion for roasting coffee beans. Blue Bottle Coffee upholds the spirit of coffee workers, providing fair trade, freshly roasted coffee beans- answering coffee lover's call for fresh coffee, and breaking the monopoly on commercial coffee chains.
The founder is focused on every element of the coffee process, bringing his unique insight cultivation of beans, bean selection, and roasting methods. But Blue Bottle's success hinges on more than that- it is also the customer experience that makes Blue Bottle so highly ranked among other coffee brands. I have an artist friend that opened a coffee shop in Brooklyn two years ago- but because their materials and equipment do not meet the requirements, they cannot see Blue Bottle's product.
I think the first thing the Blue Bottle customer notices is the minimalist and stylish design. The open kitchen plan emphasizes the production process so that guests can appreciate the concentration of baristas brewing coffee, and also see how their drinks are made up. Hand-made coffee is like the weather- small variations based on water temperature, barista's style, and preparation- each drink is a little bit different.
Recently Blue Bottle also introduced an instant cold brew coffee. The name is fitting, the instant cold brew is made with ground coffee soaked in cold water, which is then frozen for several hours, and finally filtered for excess oil- the final product can be drunk straight away, no dilution necessary. This new product is seasonal and often sells out, so if you want to try it go early on a good day...good luck!
