Nomad Coffee
All white with the subtle darkness of the coffee beans peaking through and a bold grotesque typeface allow Nomad Coffee to achieve a unique identity for their packaging. The oversized letters on the front are coded to indicate the type of coffee (E=Espresso, F=Filter, D=Decaf), Country and Region. With this format you can see at a glance the most important details from the collection. They also include other essential information in the small type including the notes, producer, washing process and even the roasting date. The splash of colour adds a nice touch and while we're not 100% sure, we believe it's a reflection of the tasting notes.
We've personally tried Colombia Chambaku and Peru Churupallana for an espresso and found the flavour profiles sumptuous and chocolatey and clear, distinct and sweet respectively.
Established in 2011, Nomad Coffee is an independent Barcelona based roaster that has contributed significantly to the specialty coffee scene throughout Spain and Europe. They are dedicated to highlighting the producer and origin and their packaging in many aspects reflects the transparent and high quality nature of their coffee. If you're looking to add these coffees to your collection you can find it in any of their own cafés and many others including:
- Nomad Frutas Selectas (Poblenou)
- Nomad Coffee Lab & Shop (Ciutat Vella)
- El Noa Noa (Gràcia)
- The Rocks Coffee Kiosk (Gràcia)
Three Marks Coffee
The minimalist of all three designs. Through their striking brand red, clever use of the logo and simplicity of the overall design, Three Marks Coffee is instantly identifiable from other coffee roasters. Three is the magic number and they use the rule of thirds to create balance between all of the main packaging elements. This theme continues with the stacking of the Marks that represents each of the original founders (Marc Aguyé, Marco Paccagnella and Marco De Rebotti). The label at the top includes all the key details for the coffee including the country, notes, process, region and the producer. As a top quality coffee roaster the packaging achieves more with less and we're always excited to see the most important details like notes and region take centre stage.
We've tried the Ethiopia Bombe and found it very sharp in flavour profile. Definitely an option for coffee lovers who enjoy stronger coffee.
As one of the newer Barcelona based coffee roasters set up in 2018, their minimal and fresh approach to packaging sits perfectly with the modern style of their flagship store and location in the former industrial heart of the city. This is a really elegant and clever design and if you're interested in this coffee you can pick it up through their online store or in many places throughout Barcelona including:
Cafés El Magnífico
If you're looking for a coffee with beautiful minimalist packaging, then this is a strong contender from Cafés El Magnífico. They also lean into the shorthand style of representing countries through a handful of letters. The large serif typeface set in gold adds a touch of class and the orange adds warmth to the brand. Cafés El Magnífico has been roasting since 1962. With a heritage dating back over 60 years, the packaging is a homage to their history and culture in the Barcelona coffee scene.
If you're interested in adding this coffee to your collection you can visit their online store or find it throughout Barcelona and in their own stores in Ciutat Vella.
In summary
It's great to see the complete story of these coffees visible through the packaging as they strive to include everything from the producer to the region, washing process and more. In contrast to more classic packaging designs the company logo and branding takes second place to tell the most important details of these coffee beans.
As leading roasters they all have their own unique style to complement the unique flavours of their coffee. We recommend you try them all and experience the quality of the coffee scene that's currently thriving in Barcelona.
Follow us on Instagram