OP's CoffeeOP's Coffee: Building a Brand That Stands Out in Norwich
How OP's Coffee turned its distinctive Norfolk identity into branded coffee cups that keep promoting the business long after customers leave the shop.
Every time someone walks down the street with an OP's cup, it's another little bit of brand awareness for us, so they're doing a lot more than just holding coffee!
From an idea between two brothers to a Norwich coffee brand
OP's Coffee started with brothers Oliver and Harry and a shared love of good coffee.
They wanted to create something that felt local without becoming a traditional coffee shop. The idea was to take speciality coffee seriously while keeping everything around it relaxed, approachable and full of personality.
Even the name has a story behind it. OP stands for Oliver Peter, with Peter being a nod to their grandfather, Peter Reginald Stevens.
Their grandfather was a proud Norfolk Regiment veteran, a great storyteller and a big influence on the brothers. His love of a strong black Americano also helped spark their interest in coffee.
Making speciality coffee less intimidating
From the beginning, OP's wanted to make speciality coffee feel more accessible.
The coffee can be serious. The brand doesn't have to be.
That thinking runs throughout the business, from the atmosphere in the shops to three bespoke coffee roasts that aren't available anywhere else in the city.
They've also taken that personality into products such as their own Coffee Liqueur, created with Espresso Martinis in mind.
What started as one little shop has grown across coffee shops, wholesale, retail and events, while keeping the independent personality that made OP's distinctive in the first place.
Turning the brand into packaging
As OP's grew, the takeaway cups became another opportunity to make the brand recognisable.
Rather than simply putting a logo onto a generic cup, they wanted the packaging to feel unmistakably OP's.
Their army green, now effectively “OP green”, already runs throughout the shops. The illustrated character on the cup is another nod to their grandfather, who was rarely seen without a hat.
The result is deliberately bold and simple: a matt-finish, double-wall cup that feels like part of the brand rather than an afterthought.
“We wanted the cups to do the talking for us.”
Packaging that leaves the shop
For OP's, the value of the cup doesn't stop when the coffee is handed over.
Customers take them through Norwich, into offices and around the city, turning each takeaway order into another opportunity for somebody to see the brand.
“Every time someone walks down the street with an OP's cup, it's another little bit of brand awareness for us, so they're doing a lot more than just holding coffee!”
That's exactly what good branded packaging should do. It still has a practical job, but it also becomes part of how people recognise the business.
Working with Brandemic
Getting the details right mattered, from the colour and artwork through to the cup itself.
OP's wanted clear pricing and lead times, confidence in how the artwork would look before production and a finished cup that matched the rest of their identity.
“The whole process with Brandemic has been really easy. Guy and Jake are responsive, creative and genuinely cared about getting the cups right, which made the whole thing smooth.”
“We've become great friends with the guys too, and would recommend them to anyone looking for branded products with a bit of personality.”
Create your own branded coffee cups
Want to turn your takeaway cups into part of your brand?
Brandemic's branded double-wall cups are available in 8oz, 12oz and 16oz, with quantities starting from 1,000 cups.