CORTADO TASTING ROOM

Branding / UI+UX Design / Packaging 

I had the privilege of collaborating with the owners of Cortado Tasting Room, a café located in Bedford, NS, specializing in the art of handcrafted single-serve coffee brewing methods. Our collaboration encompassed the development of their branding, website, packaging, and various design requirements leading up to their grand opening in September 2016.

DATE

Jan 2016 – Oct 2016

ROLE

Lead Designer

THE CHALLENGE

As a new establishment, Cortado sought a brand identity that would differentiate it from the abundance of independent cafés within the city. Establishing a professional and consistent brand presence early on was crucial to attract their target audience of discerning coffee enthusiasts and to instill confidence in Cortado's coffee expertise.

A moodboard created during the brand discovery process.

RESEARCH

Having conducted initial market and competitor research, the café owners had determined that Cortado's objective was to offer a refined café experience and showcase their coffee expertise, in contrast to the multitude of low-cost or laid-back café options in the area. Taking this into consideration, I engaged in discussions with the owners to understand their vision for the café's aesthetics, in order to align the brand with the market opportunities we had discovered. The chosen mood board emphasized clean lines, formal black and white contrasts complemented by vibrant pops of color, and a focus on authentic materials such as wood, glass, and metal.

BRANDING

The café derived its name from a balanced espresso and milk beverage that requires skillful craftsmanship.   

The logo selection process narrowed down to three choices, emphasizing tradition, skill, and a visual representation of the contrast between espresso and milk. 

The final logo features a serif font and prominently displays the year of the café's establishment, enhancing its authenticity and instilling trust in the baristas' expertise.

The primary brand colors revolve around black and white, creating a high-contrast aesthetic, while accent textures inspired by coffee, wood, and glass imbue a sense of natural authenticity.

WEBSITE + SOCIAL MEDIA

By developing a user journey map, it became evident that the website should adopt a single-page design, with a focus on providing information about the café's location, operating hours, and product offerings. More in-depth content and articles would be shared through their active social media channels. The website's design emphasized the 50/50 split representing the café's namesake, with large photographs showcasing meticulously crafted espresso and coffee beverages.

COFFEE PACKAGING

Given that the café roasted its own beans, unique packaging was essential. Drawing inspiration from coffee experiences in Spain, I created illustrated stained glass abstracts to reflect the café's flagship roast, "Sagrada Familia." The vibrant colors of the packaging enabled their products to stand out on shelves amidst the predominantly black, white, and neutral tones of the café. The labels were designed as stickers to facilitate small-batch production and allow for flexibility in design changes.

OTHER DESIGNS

In preparation for the café's opening, an extensive range of printed and environmental graphics was required. These included menu boards, exterior storefront signs, food tags, coffee sleeves, decals, tea menus, and staff training guides. Additionally, a comprehensive brand book was created for the owners to ensure consistency in branding for future endeavors.

The collaborative journey with Cortado Tasting Room encompassed multiple facets of design, resulting in a visually captivating brand, a user-friendly website, and compelling packaging and graphics. These elements harmoniously came together to elevate the café's identity and create a memorable experience for their patrons.

© Brina Frenette 2024 | brinafrenette@gmail.com | 902.449.1430