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Building a Coffee Shop Experience Customers Will Share Online
A memorable coffee experience now sits at the heart of how UK beauty consumers live, work, and share their stories online (Working From Coffee Shops, 2025) (IBISWorld, 2025). As a result, coffee shops have become social hubs where people talk skincare, test new beauty looks, and create content for TikTok and Instagram (IBISWorld, 2025) (Statista, 2025).
Why experience matters more than ever
In the UK, people no longer visit a coffee shop just for caffeine; instead, they visit for an experience that feels worth sharing (Working From Coffee Shops, 2025) (IBISWorld, 2025).
Consequently, cafés now compete not only on taste but also on atmosphere, design, service, and digital discoverability.
Moreover, coffee shops function as “third spaces” between home and work, especially for hybrid workers and beauty‑obsessed Gen Z consumers (IBISWorld, 2025) (Simply Business, 2025).
Therefore, customers judge the entire journey, from “coffee near me” search to the final photo they post online.
This shift creates a powerful opportunity for UK beauty and coffee brands to collaborate, curate photogenic interiors, and build spaces that look as good on camera as they feel in real life (Jellybean Creative, 2025) (Statista, 2025).
In turn, these experiences can translate directly into stronger customer loyalty and online visibility.
Understanding the UK coffee consumer
The UK remains one of Europe’s most café‑obsessed markets (Working From Coffee Shops, 2025) (IBISWorld, 2025).
As such, operators face both intense competition and significant growth potential.
Around 80% of Brits visit a coffee shop at least once a week, and 16% go daily (Working From Coffee Shops, 2025).
Furthermore, out‑of‑home coffee occasions continue to rise, even with cost‑of‑living pressures (Lumina Intelligence, 2025) (IBISWorld, 2025).
This behaviour blends seamlessly with beauty trends. Consequently, customers scroll skincare routines, watch makeup tutorials, and capture selfies while sipping flat whites (Balance Coffee, 2024) (IBISWorld, 2025).
Connecting coffee and beauty culture
The link between coffee and beauty goes beyond caffeine in skincare products. Instead, it centres on ritual, self‑care, and visual identity.
Customers increasingly treat a coffee break as part of a wider self‑care routine (Balance Coffee, 2024) (IBISWorld, 2025).
Consequently, “aesthetic” cafés with soft lighting, clean lines, and neutral palettes perform strongly on Instagram and Pinterest because they flatter beauty content.
For UK Beauty, this overlap offers rich storytelling potential—think “best coffee shop lighting for makeup photos” or “skin‑friendly coffee habits.” In addition, it opens opportunities for cross‑promotion between coffee operators and beauty brands.
Designing a space people want to share
If you want customers to share your coffee shop online, design must actively support photography. Therefore, layout and styling decisions should consider the camera as much as the eye.
Natural light, uncluttered backgrounds, and coherent colour palettes help guests capture flattering selfies (Jellybean Creative, 2025) (Statista, 2025).
Likewise, consistent branding across menus, cups, and interiors makes every photo recognisable.
Scent, sound, and sensorial beauty
A coffee shop that feels like a beauty retreat uses more than visuals. Instead, it leverages scent, sound, and texture to complete the atmosphere.
Scented candles, subtle diffusers, and coffee aromas build ambiance (HRC, 2025) (World Coffee Portal, 2025).
At the same time, gentle background music enhances focus and creativity.
This sensory approach mirrors spa and salon design principles, encouraging shareable “day in the life” clips. As a result, your venue becomes a natural backdrop for beauty and lifestyle content.
Service and “beauty‑grade” hospitality
Premium coffee brands grow fastest when they elevate service quality (Lumina Intelligence, 2025) (Jellybean Creative, 2025).
In B2B terms, this means investing in training, not just in product.
Warm welcomes, personalised suggestions, and smooth issue handling generate “share‑worthy” experiences. Moreover, baristas trained like beauty consultants create emotional connection—friendly, knowledgeable, and aware of content creators at work.
Menu design with a wellness twist
Beauty‑conscious guests seek wellness‑driven options (Balance Coffee, 2024) (HRC, 2025).
Therefore, menu development should reflect health, functionality, and indulgence in balance.
Include plant‑based milks, low‑sugar syrups, and adaptogens. In addition, label allergens clearly to build trust. Position “skin‑friendly” beverages alongside healthy snacks to attract beauty and wellness audiences.
Creating Instagrammable moments
People share cafés when they experience standout moments. Consequently, operators should design simple but distinctive points of interest.
Signature latte art, beauty‑themed drinks, or floral décor spark organic sharing. Furthermore, branded tableware and custom sleeves reinforce your name each time someone posts photos.
Leveraging user‑generated content
UGC drives modern café awareness. In fact, it often outperforms traditional advertising.
Guests tag locations and post on Instagram and TikTok (Statista, 2025) (Simply Business, 2025). Authentic UGC then boosts visibility in “near me” search rankings.
Encourage tags with photo walls, small giveaways, or digital shout‑outs for most creative posts. Over time, this builds a community of advocates around your coffee shop experience.
Optimising for “near me” and beauty‑adjacent searches
To appear at the top of results, strengthen local SEO (Statista, 2025).
This is essential for discovery.
Maintain accurate Google Business Profile data. In addition, include search terms like “aesthetic café London” or “vegan coffee.” Beauty fans often search “cute café lighting for selfies,” so target such intent with blog pages and guides.
Encouraging reviews that mention experience
Reviews influence discovery, particularly for city cafés (IBISWorld, 2025) (Statista, 2025). Therefore, a proactive review strategy pays off.
Ask visitors to mention ambience, lighting, and décor. As a result, phrases like “perfect light for skincare photos” showcase alignment with beauty culture.
Collabs with beauty brands and creators
Coffee x beauty collaborations bring new audiences. In particular, they can introduce your brand to high‑value, content‑creating customers.
Cofound drinks or host skincare pop‑ups. These events generate organic publicity and cross‑channel followers (Simply Business, 2025).
Events, workshops, and masterclasses
Workshops such as latte‑art sessions or “coffee and skincare” evenings engage hybrid audiences. They also create additional reasons for repeat visits.
They bridge creativity, wellness, and community—hallmarks of the modern UK café scene. Consequently, they support both revenue and brand equity.
Building a journey worth filming
Map every stage: discovery, entry, seating, and sipping. Then check whether each step supports a smooth, welcoming experience.
Ensure cohesive flow, friendly staff, and welcoming décor. Ultimately, a seamless journey inspires authentic sharing.
Digital touchpoints that reinforce beauty
Mirror café branding across apps, loyalty systems, and email updates. Additionally, align typography and colour with your in‑store aesthetic.
Subtle design details strengthen recognition among beauty‑aware customers. This integrated approach reinforces your positioning as a lifestyle‑led coffee brand.
Staff training for an experience‑first culture
Train staff to support content creators respectfully. In practice, this includes awareness of filming and sensitivity to customer privacy.
Like beauty advisors, they should encourage confidence, offer assistance, and understand social behaviour norms. Consequently, staff behaviour becomes a key part of your coffee shop experience.
Measuring success beyond likes
Measure both business and social outcomes: repeat visits, spend, dwell time, and engagement. Then link those metrics back to specific initiatives.
Analyse review patterns and social mentions to refine the experience (Working From Coffee Shops, 2025) (Lumina Intelligence, 2025). This evidence‑based approach helps operators optimise the coffee shop experience customers want to share.
References
Balance Coffee (2024) Coffee consumption statistics UK 2025. Available at: https://balancecoffee.co.uk/blogs/blog/coffee-consumption-statistics-uk (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
HRC (2025) Cakesmiths forecast coffee industry trends in Counterculture Report 2026. Available at: https://www.hrc.co.uk/news/cakesmiths-forecasts-coffee-industry-trends-counterculture-report-2026 (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
IBISWorld (2025) Cafes & coffee shops in the UK – industry analysis 2025. Available at: https://www.ibisworld.com/united-kingdom/industry/cafes-coffee-shops/6242/ (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
Jellybean Creative (2025) UK coffee market 2025 Lumina report – key takeouts. Available at: https://www.jellybeancreative.co.uk/2025/08/15/uk-coffee-market-2025-lumina-report-key-takeouts/ (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
Lumina Intelligence (2025) UK coffee market: size, growth and share statistics 2025. Available at: https://www.lumina-intelligence.com/blog/foodservice/uk-coffee-market-size-growth-share-statistics-2025/ (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
Simply Business (2025) Barista boom? Coffee shop hotspots revealed. Available at: https://www.simplybusiness.co.uk/knowledge/hospitality/uk-independent-coffee-shop-trends-revealed/ (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
Statista (2025) Cafes and coffee shops in the UK – statistics & facts. Available at: https://www.statista.com/topics/3650/cafes-and-coffee-shops-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/ (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
Working From Coffee Shops (2025) Coffee shop consumption statistics UK 2024–2025. Available at: https://www.workingfromcoffeeshops.co.uk/blog/coffee-shop-consumption-statistics-uk (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
World Coffee Portal (2025) The coffee at home report UK 2025. Available at: https://www.worldcoffeeportal.com/industry-report/the-coffee-at-home-report-uk-2025 (Accessed: 27 December 2025).
