How Specialty Cafes Are Rethinking Drip Coffee

Across specialty cafes, ordering a cup of coffee can mean everything from batch brew to a pour-over. In this story, three cafes break down their approach to drip coffee—and explain the factors that shaped…
by Haley Greene | January 9, 2026

How Coffee Shops Are Thriving by Sharing Space With Other Businesses

Facing high rents and build-out costs, coffee shop owners are finding success by opening inside existing retail spaces.
by Haley Greene | December 17, 2025

These Coffee Shops Are Winning With Mocktails: Here’s How (With Recipes)

Alcohol consumption has declined in America, and coffee shops are embracing the zero-proof movement with mocktails. Three cafes share how they’re shaking things up and attracting new customers.
by Garrett Oden | November 14, 2025

SNAP Benefits are Set To Pause—Here’s How Coffee Shops Are Responding

As the government shutdown threatens federal food aid programs, independent coffee shops are finding ways to help, from free breakfasts in Portland to food drives in Tulsa.
by Haley Greene | October 31, 2025

The Small Menu Advantage

Many cafes offer wide-ranging drink menus. But for some, a pared-down menu with just the classics is the best way to express their values and service style.
by Haley Greene | September 19, 2025

How Much Should a Mocha Cost? We Pulled Data from 100 Cafes to Find Out

Mocha prices are all over the map. What drives menu pricing, and how can cafes compete without undervaluing one of the most iconic coffee drinks? Read on to find out how.
by Garrett Oden | September 11, 2025

Can Profit Sharing Make Cafes More Sustainable? Marco Suarez is Betting On It

Methodical Coffee, a coffee shop and roaster based in Greenville, South Carolina, launched a profit-sharing program early this year. The program covers all 85 of its employees, including those who work across its four…
by Amber Gibson | September 3, 2025

Cannabis Coffee Shops Give New Meaning to Third Places

As recreational cannabis becomes more widely accepted, coffee-serving businesses from Amsterdam to Raleigh are offering a blueprint for how it may change traditional third spaces.
by Chloé Skye Weiser | July 9, 2025

Convenience Stores Are Upgrading Their Coffee Programs (And Winning New Customers)

Bean-to-cup technology is revolutionizing coffee experiences at convenience stores across the country—and proving that “gas station coffee” doesn’t need to be scalded or stale.
by Anne Mercer | May 14, 2025

Small Cafe? Here’s How To Design a Winning Food Program

More and more customers expect prepared food when they go to coffee shops, which poses a challenge for cafes with small kitchens. Here’s how they can still deliver a great food program, despite space…
by Haley Greene | March 19, 2025