A full re-brand that packs a playful punch.

What existed: A family run coffee brand with a cult following and major knowledge of all things coffee related.
What was needed: A full brand overhaul that hints at a strong past but playfully ushers in the future.

Portola Coffee was the first third wave coffee brand to hit the scene in Orange County, CA in the early 2000’s. They launched as “Portola Coffee Labs” and a quickly realized success as the go-to coffee brand for a top notch, slow roasted coffee. They opened several shops, set up an experimental coffee bar and rounded out the theme with baristas in lab coats. When press began to die down and the novelty of the lab wore off they made the shift to a new more serious identity becoming “Portola Coffee Roasters”.

As the years passed, they began to feel as if they’d lost their way in an over-crowed coffee space. They came to us to infuse a new energy into the brand and find a way to bring back the original excitement in a more modern way. As we spoke the the founders one thing became very clear. They don’t just brew a cup of coffee. They are coffee enthusiasts who live, breathe, worship and nerd out on great coffee...Obsessing about the source, geeking out over the taste and using the latest techniques to turn a humble cup of Joe into a work of art. It’s this insight that informed the creative and brought this brand back to life in a fun, playful and 100% own-able way!

Work Includes:

Merchandise Exploration
Packaging
In-Store Ideation
Image Art Direction
Copywriting
and More

Creative Direction
Logo Development
Brand Concept
Brand Identity
Social Media Strategy
Website Ideation