Finding your niche in a competitive market

Alex Dalton, Founder of Rascal Coffee, shares her insights on the importance of finding your niche as a coffee shop to encourage growth as she joins BRITA’s Grounds of Innovation judging panel, an annual award that celebrates coffee shops as creative hubs within their communities.

Coffee shops have long been cherished as communal hubs, bringing people together over breakfast, lunch, and of course, coffee. With countless coffee shops scattered across the UK, it is more important than ever to carve out your niche to foster growth and build a vibrant community.

BRITA Professional's recent research highlights the vital role coffee shops play in fostering community, revealing that 38% of Brits feel the greatest sense of belonging in these spaces. This finding reinforces the longstanding tradition of coffee shops as welcoming places where customers feel safe and connected.

Historically, coffee shops have always been integral to society. Their importance was particularly evident during the pandemic when these spaces became crucial for people seeking to reconnect after prolonged isolation.

How to distinguish yourself

Given the high level of competition and the constantly evolving market, coffee shops continually seek new ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Establishing a strong community presence is key. A way of doing so is to host events in a cosy, inviting setting. This is corroborated by BRITA’s research, revealing that 45% of Brits are more likely to visit a coffee shop if it hosted interactive events. Interactive events, friendly staff and an intriguing coffee menu all contribute to what sets different establishments apart from the competition.

Coffee shops such as Batch Baby exemplify this approach. They excel at hosting cuppings, where members of the public are invited to taste and learn about various coffee beans. These events often astonish participants as they experience the distinct flavours of each coffee and bean.

Such initiatives are essential for distinguishing independent coffee shops from larger chains. Other notable examples include Rua on Holloway Road, Dream Story in Brockley, Nostos in St James Park, Viv’s Coffee, and Casey’s Clapton.

Finding inspiration

Creating a niche can involve drawing from personal stories and cultural inspirations.

At Rascal Coffee, we have drawn inspiration from Guatemala and central America.

Two years ago, we rebranded with the help of a Guatemalan design studio which enabled us to infuse our identity with elements of Guatemalan legends and Mayan culture.

Upon moving to London, Guatemalan coffee was everywhere, but with the commodity price of coffee going up, Guatemalan coffee has become more expensive making the cost quite high. Despite this, our narrative and story are what makes people want to try and buy coffee from the farm.

Innovative products for growth

Having a distinctive flavour or quality to your coffee is key which is water quality plays a significant role in achieving this.  BRITA Professional’s PURITY C iQ ensures consistent water quality, enhancing the taste of your coffee whilst also protecting equipment against limescale buildup.

Grinders are also becoming increasingly technologically advanced, with many coffee shops now incorporating the use of puck presses that enable a consistent amount of ground coffee for each drink.

With so many amazing coffee shops out there, competing is tough, but as part of the Grounds of Innovation Awards judging panel, we’ve been recognising those doing things a little differently.

Find out more about BRITA’s Grounds of Innovation Awards here