Strange Love Coffee

Client's Vision

They set out to build more than just a café, they wanted to create a destination that embodied their passion for coffee as ritual, science, and artistry. The space needed to reflect the precision behind their unique water filtration and roasting methods while standing out on an overlooked urban corner.

Design Strategy

With just 275 sqft. and a triangular layout, every design move had to be intentional. We leaned into the site's geometry to maximize functionality and flow, embedding 26’ of counter space within an 8’ storefront. The concept fuses urban retreat with tropical surprise, designed to entice, uplift, and perform.

Key Challenge

The two primary challenges: resolving complex back-of-house functionality within a severely limited footprint, and attracting foot traffic to a tucked-away location. Our job was to seamlessly accommodate five baristas, 1500 coffees per week, and an elevated customer experience; all within a nontraditional layout and tight budget.

Our Solution

We celebrated the client’s signature water filtration system with an illuminated industrial display, turning back-of-house into front-of-house storytelling. The counter, snaking through the site, is on hidden wheels for flexible access. Tropical wallpaper and custom signage command attention, while bespoke brass-and-wood shelving and coffee displays invite guest interaction and discovery.

Defining Moments