There are close to 78,000 coffee shops in the United States alone. So, it’s no surprise settling on a unique coffee shop name can be challenging.
Picking the right brand name gives potential customers an idea about the services your coffee shop provides, creates a good first impression, and helps you stand out from the competition.
Are all the good names already taken? How do you come up with something fresh? And is the business name available and legal to use?
If you’re not sure how to answer those questions, you’re in the right place. Keep reading to learn my top tips for choosing a great business name, an idea of what names other successful coffee shops are using, and how to make sure your favorite choices are available and legal to use.
Learn more about the coffee shop industry
Tips for Choosing a Creative Coffee Shop or Cafe Name
If you’re struggling to choose a creative name for your coffee shop or cafe, one of the best things to do is start brainstorming. As you go through the tips outlined below, make a list of words, phrases, and terms associated with your business.
From there, you can narrow down the list and cross off ideas you don’t like.
Once you have several top considerations, we’ll walk you through how to make sure you’re allowed to use them. This last step helps you narrow down your list even more so you can make a final decision.
1. Consider your product
There are countless types of common terms to describe coffee, so you may consider using them in your coffee shop. Words around coffee could include “iced”, “latte”, “espresso”, “mocha”, “caffeine”, “bean”, etc.
Add the different types of services you want to offer to your brainstorming list.
Remember to avoid anything limiting your business’s future growth if you decide to go in another direction down the road.
2. Location-Specific Terms
Most coffee shops are specific to a geographic service area. So, if that’s true for your business, you could consider using your location’s name.
You can consider things like:
- City nicknames
- Neighborhoods
- Regions or states
- And descriptive terms like Rooftop Cafe
However, consider what happens if you expand your local coffee shop to another community. Does the name become limiting? If so, it’s best to avoid it if you plan to expand or change directions later.
3. Avoid Business Names That Are Hard to Pronounce, Hear, or Spell
Despite the technological advances in voice search, assistants like Siri and Alexa struggle to understand slang and other confusing words.
This could limit how often your business shows up in voice (and text-based) searches if your name is hard to spell, pronounce, or hear. Because of that, it’s important to avoid complicated words, industry jargon, and using numbers in place of letters. While having a unique cafe name is good, being too unique may not be so good.
Using a simple name makes it easy for your target audience to remember and, more importantly, so they can easily find you.
4. Consider Alliterations and Rhyming Words
Another way to come up with a memorable name is to use alliterations and rhymes. Because of that, they can make creative coffee shop names.
That said, it’s not always easy to come up with them. Start by choosing a few of your favorite words from your master brainstorming list.
Then, you can Google “words that start with C” to come up with a name like Caffeine Café or J for Joyous Java or whatever letter you’re using to create an alliteration. Alternatively, you can search “words that rhyme with _____”.
It can be time-consuming, but it’s an excellent place to start.
And don’t forget to add any exciting finds to your brainstorm list while you’re at it. Try not to overthink the names you come up with in this stage. Just write them all down, as some of the more interesting ones may spark better ideas later.
5. Steer Clear of Initials or Obscure Acronyms
Initials and unusual acronyms are hard to remember, so they typically don’t make a great name for a business. They can also be challenging to pronounce and confusing for voice search as well.
Furthermore, there are 325 different two-letter combination possibilities in the English language. And the odds of your customers remembering the specific letters you chose are pretty small.
6. Imagery Words
Another consideration when brainstorming name ideas is whether there are industry-related words that could also lend themselves to be used in your own unique logo. For instance, a coffee shop could use a coffee mug or coffee bean and focus the name around the image.
Related: How to create a logo for your business.
7. The Owner’s Name
If you’ve made it this far and are still struggling to find an amazing name, you can always consider using the business owner’s name or the name of a family member. Doing so works well if the owner plans to be the face behind the business.
Something to keep in mind is that using the owner’s name as the business name can make it more challenging to sell the business in the future.
8. Existing Coffee Shop Names
Here is a long list of possible names from existing coffee shop businesses across the U.S. While many of these catchy coffee shop name ideas may be available for you to use, be sure to check first to be sure it can be used.
Best Coffee Shop Names
- 1951 Coffee Co
- 4 Paws Coffee Co
- 401 Brew Street
- 602 Coffee House
- A.M. Coffee
- Able Roasting
- Acre Coffee
- Activity Coffee Co
- Algorithm Coffee
- Alibi Coffee Co
- Ambrose Cafe
- Amsterdamn Coffeeshop
- Angelo Coffee
- Anna’s Coffee Shop
- Aroma Coffee
- Aroma Mocha Coffee
- A Sip Coffee Roasters
- Auburn Coffee Co
- Aztec Coffee & Games
- Backstage Coffee
- Bad Coffee
- Bardstown Coffee Co
- Barista Dan
- Barista Society
- Barrel Aged Coffee
- Batavia Coffee Bar
- Beach Club Iced Coffees
- Bean Creek Bistro
- Beanberry
- Best Roast Coffee
- Better Coffee
- Beverly Drive Coffee Co
- Big House Beans
- Bigbee Coffee Roasters
- Bird & Bean
- Bison Coffee
- Black Cabin Coffee
- Black Lab Coffee
- Black Rose Coffee & Tea
- Blackstone Ave Coffee Co
- Blackwood Coffee
- Blendz San Carlos
- Bloom Coffee
- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Blue Skies Coffee
- Blue Streak Coffee
- Bluwater Coffee
- Board House Coffee
- Bold Brew Coffee
- Bolder Coffee
- Bootstrap Joe Coffeeworks
- Boss Coffee
- Boutique Coffee
- Brave Coffee
- Break Caffe Espresso Bar
- Brew Fix
- Brew Yaya
- Brewja Coffee
- Brewton’s Barista
- Bright Bean Coffee
- Bright Eye Coffee Co
- Bunch Coffee
- Burlap Coffee
- Busy Bean
- Caffeinated Coffee Co
- Caffeine Canteen
- California Bean
- California Coffee Authority
- Cameron Park Coffee & Deli
- Canoe Creek Coffee
- Canyon Coffee Co
- Captain Kirk’s Coffee
- Carmen’s Coffee Co
- Cas D’Amore (house of love)
- Catfish Coffeehouse
- Cats & Caffeine
- Cento Coffee
- Chico Coffee Co
- City Coffee
- City Heights Coffee House
- Clementine Coffee Roasters
- Cloud 9 Coffee Co
- Clovernote Coffee Co
- Club Coffee
- Clutch Coffee
- Coastal Coffee Connection
- Code 3 Coffee
- Coffee Assistance
- Coffee Attic
- Coffee Bean Collective
- Coffee Blocks
- Coffee Can
- Coffee Commissary Glendale
- Coffee Concept
- Coffee Corner Co
- Coffee Cultures Soma
- Coffee Cup
- Coffee Del Mundo
- Coffee Dose
- Coffee Drive Up
- Coffee Expresso
- Coffee For Sasquatch
- Coffee Hub
- Coffee Love
- Coffee Method
- Coffee Milano
- Coffee Mill
- Coffee Mission
- Coffee Movement
- Coffee Muse
- Coffee N Kream
- Coffee N Talk
- Coffee Of Champions
- Coffee Road Plaza
- Coffee Shop Newport Beach
- Coffee Studio
- Coffee Time
- Coffee With A Cop
- Coffeenow
- Coffeeology
- Coffeeteria
- Collaborative Coffee
- Collage Coffee
- Common Good Coffee Roasters
- Common Grounds
- Constellation Coffee
- Contraband Coffee
- Coolbrouwen Coffee
- Coop’s Coffee House
- Cornerstone Coffee
- Coro Coffee Room
- Craftsman Coffee
- Cream & Coffee
- Crostini & Java
- Cup Of Coffee
- Cuppa Cuppa
- Curbside Coffee
- D H Espresso
- Daily Brew
- Daily Grind
- Dale Bros Coffee
- Dan’s Roadhouse Coffee
- Dead Eye Coffee Bar
- Deja Brew
- Devil Mountain Coffee Co
- Double Time Coffee
- Downing Coffee
- Dragon Brew Coffee
- Dream Coffee
- Dripp Coffee
- Driven Coffee Co
- Duet Coffee
- Duff Coffee Productions
- Dukes Hawaiian Coffee
- Dutch Bros Coffee
- East Bay Coffee Co
- Eco Delight Coffee
- Eco Trek Coffee Co
- Elements Coffee
- Elixir Specialty Coffee
- Epic Coffee Lounge
- Equilateral Coffee
- Espresso Cuts
- Espresso Express
- Espresso Tek
- Estate Coffee
- Farm Cup Coffee
- Farmhouse Coffee
- Feral Coffee Co
- Fig Tree Coffee
- Firehouse Coffee Shop
- Foam Coffee
- Forum Coffee House
- Fourth Wave Coffee
- Fox Coffee House
- Foxwood Coffee
- Freedom Eagle Coffee Co
- Freshpresso Coffee
- Fressino Roar Cafe
- Friendly Bean
- Friendly Joe
- Full Nerd Coffee
- Fulton Street Coffee Roasters
- Garden Coffee
- Gi Gi Coffee
- Giving Coffee Co
- Global Coffee Trading
- Goat Coffee
- Golden Goat Coffee
- Golden State Coffee Roasters
- Grand Parade Coffee
- Granolas Coffee House
- Grind Coffee
- Grind Time Coffee
- Grindhouse
- Ground Floor Coffee
- Ground Up Café
- Happy Grounds Coffee Co
- Harbor Coffee
- Hashtags & Coffee
- Hasta Muerte Coffee
- Hawthorne Coffee
- Hermosa Coffee Roasters
- Hidden House Coffee Roasters
- Highlight Coffee
- High-Top Coffee
- Hitched Coffee Co
- Hive Coffee Bar
- Holy Grounds Coffee House
- Honeycomb Coffee
- Honor Coffee
- Hot Shots Coffee Co
- House Of Black Coffee Co
- House Roots Coffee
- Humbug Joe Coffee Depot
- Industrial Grind Coffee
- Jake’s Coffee Bar
- Java 23
- Java Break
- Java Doc
- Java Dream
- Java Gold Coffee Roasters
- Java Guyz
- Java Joe’s
- Java Junction
- Java Junkie
- Java Resource Co
- Java Stardust Productions
- Java Tech
- Jazzy Grounds Coffee Bar/Cafe
- Joe’s Coffee & Deli
- Joybrewed Espresso
- Joyful Cup
- Joyhouse
- Kafae Coffee
- Kaleidoscope Coffee
- Kamson Coffee
- Kin Coffee & Tea
- Kindness & Mischief Coffee
- King Coffee
- Kingdom Koffee
- Kingston Coffee Roasters
- Kipsy Coffee
- Kit Coffee
- Kraken Coffee Co
- Kuju Coffee
- Kuppa Joy
- LA Colonia Coffee Co
- Lafayette Coffee Shop
- Land & Water Coffee
- Lava Java
- Lavish Coffee Bar
- Lazy Eye Coffee
- Le Petit Coffee Shop
- Level Grounds Xpresso
- Light Bulb Coffee
- Little Owl Coffee
- Local Cup
- Longevity Coffee
- Los Olivos Coffee
- Lotta Java
- Love Coffee Bar
- Lucky Coffee
- Madison & Park Coffee
- Make Good Coffee Co
- Malibu Brew Coffee
- Manhattan Mocha
- Mantra Coffee
- Matador Coffee
- Moonshot Coffee
- Mostra Coffee
- Mugs Coffee Express
- Mystic Coffee Roaster
- Native Ground Coffee Stop
- Novo Coffee
- Old Town Espresso
- Perfect Blend
- Provision Coffee Bar
- Relax Coffee Shop
- Ritual Coffee
- River Perk
- Roasted Bean
- Rosshouse Coffee
- Royal Coffee Bar
- Scooter’s Coffeehouse
- Second Cup
- Sip Café
- Spring Café
- Steam Room
- Steamy Beans Café
- The Coffee Joint
- Think Coffee
- Tiny Coffee House
- Top Fuel Espresso
- Tradesman Coffee Shop
- Union Coffee
- Unravel Coffee
- Wings Coffee Co
Catchy Coffee Shop Names
- 11th Hour Coffee
- Alexa Coffee Please
- Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
- Brew Ha Ha
- Fast Cat Café
- Jumpin’ Beans Café
- Mad Mike’s Coffee
- Please Add Coffee
- The Grind
- The Java Zone
Funny Coffee Shop Names
- Ask Me Coffee
- Bad Ass Coffee
- Big Pot of Coffee
- Coffee Gram
- Coffee Run
- Excess Shot
- Grind Light
- Grind Rush
- Jacked Up Coffee
- Singing Beans
Cute Coffee Shop Name Ideas
- Balboa Perk
- Bark Roast Coffee
- Coffee Saloon
- Grinders Coffee
- High Mocha
- Human Bean
- Java Coffee House
- Java Jive
- Jitters Coffee House
- The Family Bean
Christian Coffee Shop Names
- A Taste Of Heaven Coffee Shop
- Awakenings
- Ark Coffee Co
- Eternity Coffee Roasters
- Good People Coffee Co
- Higher Ground Coffee
- Higher Grounds
- Java Heaven
- Java Jiva
- Sacred Grounds
Is Your Coffee Shop Name Available?
At this point, you should have several top considerations to choose from. And the best way to narrow it down further is to check each one for availability.
This step is helpful because using a name that someone else is using could be very costly, time-consuming to rebrand your business, and possibly embarrassing. There are several places to look to check whether a name is available to use, so let’s walk through each one.
Can the business name be registered in your state?
If you plan to use a specific business name, you may be required by the state to verify it’s available to use.
Related: How to check business name availability in your state
Is your name already trademarked?
When searching for a name for your new business, you should check that your new name isn’t trademarked by someone else. If it is, you may not be allowed to use it legally.
Thankfully, the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) makes trademark searching a breeze through their Trademark Database.
A name isn’t necessarily available if it doesn’t appear in this search. Every business has some limited protection through a common law trademark. This means another business can’t open up down the street with the same name, as this creates confusion for customers. Also, check local competitors by doing a Google search and looking through the Yellow Pages.
If your name is available and you want to protect it from being used by anyone else, you can register it with the USPTO.
Related: How to check for a trademark
Hopefully, you now have a shortlist of good coffee shop names. Once you have this list narrowed down to just a few and researched that they are all available, start asking friends, family, and potential customers their thoughts to get feedback, and then pick your perfect coffee shop name!
