Pages Menu
Categories Menu

Posted by on Feb 9, 2016 in In The Press | 0 comments

The Local Coffeehouse Guide launches indie coffeeshop app and digital directory

The Local Coffeehouse can help you find your next caffeine fix.

The Local Coffeehouse can help you find your next caffeine fix.

The Local Coffeehouse Guide App & Website

Ever been stuck in a new city or neighborhood and need to find an espresso rapido? That’s where The Local Coffeehouse, the Denver-founded national directory of coffeehouses, comes in. It’s launching a new version of its site and mobile app.

The guide has more than 16,000 coffeeshops, cafes and coffee roasters across the U.S. Users can search for local coffeeshops via The Local Coffeehouse site or they can download it to their smart devices. With the app, users can input a city or town and state into their smart device and quickly find the closest place to get a cup of joe, latte or croissant.

You won’t find Starbucks, Peet’s, Seattle’s Best or other national chains on The Local Coffeehouse: Although it will list businesses with up to 10 locations, it only covers locally owned independent businesses in the U.S. In addition, the shops must offer espresso drinks a primary beverage or they must be a small-batch roaster.

The Local Coffeehouse points to Specialty Coffee Association of America figures that show there are nearly 30,000 independent coffee retailers in the U.S. Many of them are involved in local events, providing a venue for community gatherings and are always conscious of how they can and do give back. Still, it’s hard for small companies to compete with the coffee juggernauts. By focusing on the local companies, the resource gives them a chance to better compete with the chains.

The company gives coffeeshops and cafes free listings on its site and app. With that they get a map marker that geo-locates the shop on the map, a listing displaying information about the address, a brief description or story of their location and a link to their site.

“We highly encourage our retailers to share their personal story in order to really connect with people even before they walk through the door. This feature truly separates us from the rest,” says Lisa McIntyre, the company’s founder.

“In early 2016, we will be offering three levels of paid membership,” McIntyre says. The company will also offer its tools to its a la carte members. Beyond the free features the company offers cafes and coffeehouses it offers push notes to users showing them what kind of foods or other offerings they have.

Contact Confluence Denver Innovation & Jobs News Editor Chris Meehan with tips and leads for future stories at chris@confluence-denver.com.

 

Read More

Posted by on Nov 28, 2015 in In The Press | 0 comments

Nationwide local, independent coffeehouses in the palm of your hand!

Buying Local Just Got a Whole Lot Easier!

The Local Coffeehouse Guide App & Website provides a dynamic, searchable, mapping platform for users to effortlessly locate unique, independently owned coffeehouses and micro-roasters across the United States. This not only provides retailers with local visibility but with national visibility. Additionally, consumers can easily find these independent businesses to easily support the local economies they live in and visit.

Why Coffee and Coffeehouses

The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) reports that there are over 29,300 independent coffeehouse retailers in the US.

Our founder, Lisa McIntyre, has personally visited hundreds of locally-owned and operated coffeehouses and micro-roasters and has had many one-on-one discussions with the owners and managers. She learned that these entrepreneurs tend to be more involved in their own local communities. They participate in community happenings, often provide the venue for community gatherings and are always conscious of how they can and do give back.

She also learned that many are struggling to keep their doors open. These small businesses do not have the deep pockets of many of the national chain coffee shops and competing with large corporations is nearly impossible for them.

Brick and mortar coffeehouses, cafes and roasters bring people together, however the coffee itself is also central to American culture. Coffee is part of every office meeting and social gathering. It also expresses itself (with the help of java-obsessed people) creatively when growing, harvesting, roasting and preparing the perfect cup.

The Impact: The Local Coffeehouse Guide Benefits Local Business

The App and Website level the playing field, Little Shop vs. National Chain, by acting as a marketing department (so to speak) for the independently owned business members in the directory. This is facilitated by providing them with free listings in the directory as well as custom tailored robust marketing tools that will significantly increase their online and mobile visibility in their surrounding areas and nationally.  Their listings alone, combined with the multi-platform national marketing of the app and website will allow these small businesses to compete more effectively as a community of small businesses against corporate chains. This level of visibility and exposure would typically be unattainable for most small businesses to achieve on their own.

A FREE claimed listing provides a retail location with the following on both the mobile app and website:

  • A map marker that automatically geo-locates the user.
  • A listing that displays their information; address with a link to directions from the user’s current location, a link to the retailer’s desired URL, a photo of their location and a place to share their story or a brief description of their location.
  • We highly encourage our retailers to share their personal story in order to really connect with people even before they walk through the door. This feature truly separates us from the rest.

The additional tools we offer our members are push notes to app users in their area, searchable defining characteristics (gluten free, patio, drive-thru, etc), animated map markers to draw extra attention to their location, and much more.

In early 2016 we will be offering three levels of paid membership which include the claimed listing specifications (above) complimented with the additional tools (i.e. push notes, categories, and animated markers). Also in early 2016 we will be offering all of our tools a la carte to members as well. To learn more about our membership programs and the tools for retailers, please visit our membership page.

Criteria for Inclusion in the Directory

In order for a local coffeehouse, cafe or micro-roaster to be represented in our directory they must meet the following criteria:

  • Location must be locally-owned, independent businesses. No corporate chains or franchises are eligible.
  • All locations must serve espresso drinks as a primary product offering or be a small batch roaster.
  • The business has 10 or less locations in the US.
  • Locations must be in the United States.

The Local Coffeehouse Guide Benefits Coffee Drinkers

According to USA Today (4/9/13), 83% of adults in the US drink some kind of coffee daily and the National Coffee Association reports that 34% of adults drink specialty coffees daily.

We currently have over 16,000 coffeehouses, cafes and micro-roasters in the directory and more are added every day. The app is a user-friendly tool for consumers to find the independent specialty shops nearby – anywhere in the US from the palm of their hand. It’s perfect for travelers exploring a new town or for local residents interested in pursuing a new local experience in their own communities.

Website                     Short video about the App

Apple Download App               Short video interview with Lisa McIntyre, Founder

Google Play Download App

Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign – For Next Phase of the App & Website

Read More

Posted by on Nov 21, 2015 in Blog, Cafes & Coffeehouses, Coffee In America, Coffeehouse Scouts, Support Mom-N-Pop Businesses | 0 comments

Family With 8 Children Run The Roasted Bean

Family With 8 Children Run The Roasted Bean

The Roasted Bean, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
By Ginny McKinney, Marshmallow Ranch

image3

In a family of 8 children, there is always someone handy to assist owner TJ Weeden in her darling little coffee shop. Originally from Syracuse, NY, TJ and her husband began roasting their own coffee beans for personal co sumptuous after their daughter sent a gift of fresh roasted beans from Vermont. A passion was soon born and they decided to share all the good things of fresh roasted beans. They new they wanted to be located in a place with a lot of foot traffic and stumbled upon the perfect location in the SOHO Shops of The Market Common in Myrtle Beach.

image5Baked goods come from locally owned and operated Benjamin’s Bakery. A variety of coffee and non-coffee drinks are available as well as a breakfast and lunch menu.

TJ hopes you come away from her shop feeling like family after having a really good cup of coffee.

 

The Roasted Bean
Conveniently Located in the SOHO Shops of The Market Common
2954 E Howard Avenue
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

TJ Weeden, Owner
Open 6:30-5:00, Monday-Saturday

You can follow The Roasted Bean here:
Facebook – The Roasted Bean
Twitter – @bean_the
Instagram – @theroastedbean

Read More

Posted by on Nov 19, 2015 in Blog, Cafes & Coffeehouses, Coffee In America, Coffeehouse Scouts, Main Street USA | 0 comments

Mom & Daughter Duo Take The Plunge

Mom & Daughter Duo Take The Plunge

River Blend Coffee House, Glenwood Springs, Colorado
by Ginny McKinney

image4Lisa Nieslanik and AJ Hasbrouck have always loved quaint little coffeehouses. This mom/daughter duo decided to take the plunge and open their own place when Lisa retired. While AJ always dreamed they would open on a beach somewhere, they both were thrilled when the opportunity for the perfect space presented itself at the perfect time.

Located off the lobby of the Hotel Denver, directly across the street from the Amtrak Station in Historic Downtown Glenwood Springs, CO, you would be hard pressed to find a more suitable place for River Blend Coffeehouse to open. On any given day of the week, this bustling little venue serves up locally roasted Bonfire Coffee and handcrafted pastries from a local baker.

image7

The biggest reward this team has gained are the stories they hear from their customers about the history of this lovely mountain town. Lisa and AJ love sharing their town with the tourist who flock in to visit and grab a leisurely cuppa on the sidewalk cafe outside their door. Come sit awhile and gaze up at the Glenwood Adventure Park with their rides high above the canyon wall or listen for the whistle of the California Zephir as it pulls into the train station. You’ll find yourself coming back again and again.

River Blend Coffee House
402 7th Street, Suite #120
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

970-230-9632
Hours: 6am – 2pm Daily
www.riverblendcoffeehouse.com
info@riverblendcoffeehouse.com

by Ginny McKinneyimage2
FB/marshmallowranch

 

Read More