Pattern with illustrations of coffee mugs, some with faces, and text that says 'Cranky' and 'Cranky Barista' in a repeating pattern.

Cranky Barista

Passion Project

Cranky Barista is a passion project that challenges standard café culture, embracing the idea that coffee is the best part of mornings while celebrating a delightfully pessimistic attitude. The goal was to create a brand that felt playful, irreverent and intentionally different, giving the concept a clear personality and strong visual presence.

The identity was built from type exploration, selecting a font with organic, unpolished letterforms to set the nonchalant tone. A muted, moody colour palette and hand-drawn illustrations further reinforced the brand personality, creating a cohesive visual language that feels authentic, bold and unmistakably Cranky Barista. The result is a distinctive, memorable brand that communicates character and attitude across every touchpoint.

Minimalist drawing with the words 'Cranky Barista' on the left, a simple sketch of a mug with a face and the words 'Cranky Barista' curved above it in the center, and the word 'Cranky' inside a speech bubble on the right.
Cards with humorous coffee-related messages, including one with the text 'BE LOYAL, OR DON'T. WE DON'T CARE.' and images of coffee cups, and another with the text 'CRANKY BARISTA' with an illustrated coffee mug.
A social media grid with four posts from Cranky Barista. The first shows a cup of latte art coffee and the text "CRANKY BARISTA." The second has a blue background with the text "THE EARLY BIRD GETS ON MY NERVES." The third features a pink background with a simple illustration and the text "BE LOYAL, OR DON'T. WE DON'T CARE." The fourth shows the word "CRANKY" on a dark background.
Hand holding a disposable coffee cup with a black lid against a pink background. The cup has illustrations of coffee cups and the words 'Cranky Barista' and 'Cranky' printed on it.
Animation of a cup with eyes, legs, and a small mouth, with the word 'MORNING' above it.
A blurred person walking past a large poster on a gray concrete wall. The poster features a quote, the address '14 Crabby Lane, Perth WA,' and a simple illustration of a coffee mug with a face, labeled 'Cranky Barista.'
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