Case Study – Designing the Ideal Coffee Shop Experience with MaxDiff
Case Study – Designing the Ideal Coffee Shop Experience with MaxDiff
The challenge
A new coffee shop concept is opening near workplaces and residential areas. The founders want to craft an offering that stands out in a competitive market. With a wide range of possible features — from specialty coffee and mobile ordering to coworking amenities and artisanal food — they need to identify which attributes matter most to potential customers and which are merely nice-to-have.
The solution
A MaxDiff study tested 12 attributes among local residents and workers. For each set, respondents chose the most attractive and the least important feature. The results reveal clear priorities to shape the coffee shop's core identity and differentiate from competitors.
Study impact: By focusing on the top-ranked attributes, the coffee shop achieved 35% higher daily foot traffic than comparable openings and a 28% higher average basket within the first quarter.
ℹ️About the real study behind this case
This case study was derived from a real study conducted by MaxDiffPro. It has been anonymized for confidentiality: the tested options and results shown here do not correspond exactly to reality. The actual study had the following characteristics:
🌍
Country
☕
Items tested
22
👥
Respondents
~340
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Timeline
5–7 days
The timeline depends on the complexity of the study and the target audience.
Popularity Ranking of Coffee Shop Attributes
Bubble Chart – Perception Map
ⓘ Understanding this chartThis chart shows how coffee shop attributes relate to each other in customers' minds. Bubble size represents overall preference. Items close together are perceived as similar and may substitute each other. Items further apart tend to be complementary.
Bubbles combine preference strength (size) and strategic positioning (x/y) to identify attributes that are both popular and complementary in the coffee shop concept.
ⓘ How to read this chartThis chart identifies the optimal combination of attributes. The first item is the most preferred individually. Each additional attribute is selected because it adds the highest incremental preference when combined with the previous ones. Bars show the incremental contribution of each attribute, while the line represents the cumulative preference generated by the mix.
Recommended core concept: Specialty coffee, coworking space, fast service and a monthly subscription form the strongest combination covering the widest range of customer expectations.
Business impact
By designing the concept around data-driven priorities, the coffee shop opened with a compelling identity that resonated with its neighbourhood and drove strong early traction.
Daily foot traffic
+35%
Average basket
+28%
Customer retention
88%
Run a Similar Study for Your Product
MaxDiff helps teams identify which messages, features, or ideas truly resonate with customers.
Typical study: 15–25 items tested · 150–300 respondents · Results in 3–5 days
