How This “Tiny” Coffee Chain Outsmarted Big Coffee

Blank Street Coffee is suddenly everywhere. What looks like a local cafe is actually a venture capital-backed, booming chain. The key to its success?: A business model that flips the industry on its head.
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[@CrossingWolfi]

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.

[@sayampatel1476]

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.

[@WorthyBuzz]

I’ll teach that same lesson for 100 Million. Just saved you 50%

[@ssatva]

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.

[@NT-pj6kl]

The prices are pretty much the same as other small coffee shops lol

[@user-jo5ss2dh4m]

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.

[@Reverse-E]

Awesome Stuff! Always Had Been Curious About Blank Street..

[@bigsteele28]

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.

[@lindseybeavers45]

Love these videos

[@SumeyaHassan]

great video and interesting company. excited to see if they can manage to keep up the success and continue to grow worldwide

[@tilbecker]

There‘s already a copycat startup in Germany called LAP Coffee…

[@Drstrangegloves1]

Thanks I hate it.

[@max_turek]

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.

[@ajourneytogrowth]

pret and blank street are becoming closer coffee vending machines, while charging high prices

[@theAIdilemma]

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".

[@uberbautista6946]

when Blank Street Brazil?

[@thisissostupid61]

engagement. Nice content

[@tilbecker]

Do they offer reusable cups? Or is this not part of the concept? ;)

[@kbowman968]

What barista makes 50k a year lmaoooooo 😂

[@MichelleWiles]

😄