How to choose a coffee shop name that will stand out?
Are all the good names already taken?
Of course not, and that’s what this article is all about.
I will show you how to choose the perfect name for your brand-new coffee shop.
By Jozo Salmanić – Croatian barista with 15 years of experience.
Affiliate disclosure
This page may contain affiliate links – we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through these links. This is at no extra cost to you.
How To Choose A Coffee Shop Name That Is Catchy?
A good coffee shop name must be unique, which will save you from legal issues in the future.
It should be catchy and easy to spell.
If possible, the name should also reflect your core values and/or type of the business you run here. Sounds hard? Perhaps.
Here are some things you should consider when it comes to naming your coffee shop.
Pick Your Tea And Coffee Business Names By Your Audience
What is your target audience?
This short article by Sampson Quain can help you determine it.
Choosing a name that’s too specific will attract members of one subculture, but it will reject the others.
For instance, naming your coffee shop “Cthulhu coffee” can get you the IT crowd, fantasy nerds, or regular teenagers.
On the other hand, it will act as a repellent for sports fans, businesspeople, and such.
That’s not written in stone, but people do like familiar names.
Some Of The Most Inspiring Cafe Names Are Personal
If you want to make a warm corner for your guests, you can use your first or last name in the coffee shop’s name.
Customers like to connect coffee shops to real people, as it makes the whole coffee-sipping experience more personal.
It doesn’t even have to be your name, to start. You can name your place after your grandpa or relate it to some meal or drink you serve.
“Hey, let’s grab a cup of coffee at Leo’s place.” – that hits the right spots.
Not feeling comfortable with your name on the board?
Name your coffee shop in honor of your best-selling or signature drink.
Something like “The Latte Temple.”
Acronyms And Funny Cafe Names Are (Almost) Always Good
Why almost? Well, not everyone will get the joke or feel comfortable.
Naming your coffee shop FART (The Food + Art Café) sounds hilarious the first time you hear it.
But it wears out rather sooner than later.
Mild jokes are OK if you want to create that kind of story. “Bean There” is a good example.
However, jokes are always a slippery slope.
Avoid illegal, offensive or sensible subjects. According to Alexandra Watkins’s brand names book, running a name idea through Urban Dictionary is always a good idea to see if that has another meaning.
As for the usual acronyms, they are a great way to name your coffee shop while staying original.
Think of combining the first letters of your family, spouse, or something else.
Here are a few great examples:
- JOY (Java On You)
- CAB (Cappuccino Aroma Bar)
- BBB (Best Brazilian Beans)
- WOW (Wayne, Owen, Will)
If done right, acronyms are funny and catchy.
How To Come Up With A Coffee Shop Name That’s Warm?
“Small-town, local coffee shops and cafés are full of so much character and personality.” – says Rosaria Rielly.
And customers appreciate small, cozy shops with warm names.
Here are some suggestions on what you can use in your coffee shop name:
- Street name
- City name
- Count(r)y name
- Rivers
- Mountains
That’s especially important in smaller cities, where people grow instant connections.
This approach doesn’t work as well with NY, Chicago, and metropolitan areas.
But naming your small-town shop “Little Idaho Cafe” might work.
How To Pick A Coffee Shop Name In 5 Easy Steps
The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.
I have five fool-proof steps, and choosing a coffee shop name was never easier.
Step 1: Brainstorm Different Names For Coffee Shop
We are talking business here, and you don’t need a pat on the back.
You, my friend, need objective criticism.
Call your friends and ask for help.
Then seat them on one table with lots of pens and paper. Start with simple categories:
- Location – Chicago, 5th Avenue, Kentucky…
- Target market – families, teenagers. businesspeople…
- The story/brand you are trying to create – green, retro, modern…
When you have the starting suggestions, it’s easy to combine them.
Something like “Kentucky Coffee Cup” or “Chicago Java Hub”.
When you have several versions, ask for feedback from people from your surroundings.
Anonymous surveys are also a great option.
Don’t worry about anyone stealing your great name. Naming a coffee shop is only a piece of the puzzle.
Step 2: Make Sure People Know Your Place Is A Coffee Shop
You don’t have to include the phrase “coffee shop,” but toss in some terms that people can connect with coffee. Here are some suggestions:
- Caffeine
- Beans
- Java
- Jamoke
- Espresso
- Arabica/Robusta
- Brew
You will get names like “Bob’s Brew,” “West Coast Jamoke,” and “Little Espresso,” which indicate that your premise is a coffee shop, not a hot dog stand.
After you pick your coffee shop name, google it to see if it is already taken.
If somebody else is already using the name, pick another one.
Again, you want to avoid any legal issues due to trademark infringement.
TESS (Trademark Electronic Search system) is a great tool to help you check if your name is already trademarked in USPTO’s database.
It would also be great if your chosen coffee shop name is available on social networks.
That will make your marketing efforts more effective. However, nowadays it’s hard to accomplish that.
Try to find a name that will work for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and such.
Step 4: Choose Your Slogan
A slogan tells a story behind your coffee shop. That is especially important for new coffee shops and new entrepreneurs.
But wait, if the slogan is so important, why doesn’t Starbucks have it?
CHECK. MATE.
Starbucks doesn’t have it because Starbucks is a global giant.
Even the isolated island nations have heard about Starbucks.
Your newly opened “Mark’s coffee place” is new on the market and needs a slogan.
Think something like:
- “Best coffee in Kentucky”
- “Only the freshest African beans”
- “Your eco-friendly coffee shop”
You want people to remember you by your name and your slogan.
Step 5: Pick A Magnificent Sign For Your Coffee Shop
So, now you have a coffee shop name and a slogan.
All you need now is a logo and a great, shiny sign to put on your coffee shop, in front of it, or any other place you choose.
Designing a logo and a sign is a job for a professional, not your DIY project.
The sign must be:
- relatable to your coffee shop
- proper sized – not too big or too small
- easy on the eyes
- easy to read
The sign is the first thing people will notice when they pass by your coffee shop, and the first thing they will see on your social media.
It’s crucial to design an efficient sign. That’s something new coffee shop owners can’t usually do by themselves.
How To Choose A Coffee Shop Name That Will Work – Final Thoughts
If you follow this article, you are on the right path to choosing a name for your coffee shop. If you need additional inspiration, check some online name generators.
Sometimes they can help a lot.
But the best names come from your heart.
Photos by Mak_jp and Igor Starkov
