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The Magic Bean Coffee Shop Logo

The Magic Bean Coffee Shop

A magic-themed coffee shop designed for Salem, Massachusetts. Includes a retail space and an outdoor patio.

Overall Concept

For this project I designed a coffee shop in Salem, Massachusetts, called “The Magic Bean.” The design of the coffee shop serves to channel the folklore of the town into a place where people can comfortably gather, work, and drink while feeling immersed in rich colors, textures, and detailed storytelling. The overall vibe is one of history and mystique, combining Eclectic, Victorian, and Colonial styles to transport customers into another time and place.


When customers walk into The Magic Bean, they will hear the hustle and bustle of baristas working to serve the best coffee in town. Customers will smell coffee as well as the scent of pumpkins and apple cider. Walking in from outside, the first impressions that customers will receive of the shop are those of whimsy and coziness, as the colors and textures are rich, the lighting is low in most areas while more focused in others, and the decor throughout the coffee shop implies the use of magic by experienced witches.
 

As a former barista, some of the research I did for this project included looking at data and recommended layouts for Starbucks locations, as well as drawing upon my own knowledge of the needed fixtures and appliances to create a space that, above all, would function smoothly.
 

I also used Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator to design the logo and branding for the coffee shop (shown at the top of this page) in such a way that channels the aesthetic of a magic shop combined with a coffee shop.

Program

Shown below is the program I created as the first step of designing the layout for this project. The program below shows a list of the room names and sizes within the coffee shop.

Room Names
Room Sizes
Products
Patio
15' - 0" x 25' - 4"
Tables, Chairs, Umbrellas, Gas Lamps, Mural
Cafe
25' - 0" x 34' - 8"
Tables, Chairs, Ottoman, Lounge Chairs, Fireplace, Trash Cans
Restroom
8' - 0" x 10' - 0"
Toilet, Sink, Mirror, Paper Towels, Soap Dispenser, Trash Can, ADA Accessible
Restroom
8' - 0" x 10' - 0"
Toilet, Sink, Mirror, Paper Towels, Soap Dispenser, Trash Can, ADA Accessible
Sales/Retail
15' - 0" x 20' - 0"
Shelving, Banquette Settee, Vines
Bar
30' - 0" x 10' - 0"
3 Blenders, 3 Ice Bins, 2 POS, Food Case, 2 Ovens, 3 Espresso Machines, Grinder, Double Brewer
Storage
12' - 0" x 20' - 4"
Shelves, Desk, Mop Storage
Kitchen
21' - 8" x 10' - 0"
Dishwashing Station, Fridge, Freezer, Handwashing Station, Ice Machine, Shelving
Office
6' - 4" x 10' - 0"
Desk, Table, Chairs, Computer, Filing Cabinet

Bubble Diagram

Shown here is the bubble diagram that I created as the next step in my process of creating the layout for the coffee shop.

 

The arrows between spaces represent the flow of traffic from one space to the next.

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This assisted me in arranging the spaces in a way that flowed so that I could better create an efficient floor plan for the coffee shop, which is shown below.

Floor Plan

Patio Overview

Shown below are some of the inspiration images that I chose as the aesthetic guide for the Patio design.

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Here I wanted to design an exterior setting that meshed with the surrounding buildings in Salem, conveying a rich history steeped in mystery.

Patio Inspiration Photos

Patio Floor Plan & Render

Shown here are the floor plan and render depicting the design for the Patio outside of The Magic Bean.

 

Potted plants surround the fenced-in Patio which is shaded with fringed black umbrellas during the day, and illuminated at night with a combination of gas lamp posts and sconces, as well as some goose-neck barn lights to illuminate the custom painted mural outside the front door, which doubles as both signage for the business as well as a photo opportunity for visiting guests.
 

The Patio is furnished with round teak tables and caned bistro chairs.

 

Vines are trained to climb the exterior of the building to add to the visual age of the building and to soften the look of the hard brick facade.

Cafe Overview

Shown below are some of the inspiration images that I curated to guide the aesthetic direction of the coffee shop's interior cafe.

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I wanted the colors and materials to feel deep and lush while remaining true to the style of early American colonialism mixed with the comforts of the Victorian era. Here you can see how velvet upholstery and patterned rugs help to give the space character.

Cafe Inspiration Photos

Cafe Floor Plan & Render

Shown here are the floor plan and two renders depicting the Cafe of The Magic Bean, which is what guests will experience immediately upon entering.

 

Dark colors add to the air of mystery and magic while a dramatic coffered ceiling and architectural details such as wall paneling and a roaring fireplace help to transport guests back to a time when Salem witches may have founded this coffee shop as a safe haven.

 

Black and gold wallpaper contains details such as snakes, eyes, and constellations, while paintings depict historical representations of witches.

 

A seating area near the fireplace features velvet upholstered chairs perfect for lounging.

Bar Overview

Shown below are some of the inspiration photos that I curated to guide the aesthetic direction of the Bar, which is where baristas make the magic happen.

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I was greatly inspired by the look of glossy black tile as the backdrop for this part of the coffee shop, as well as accents of both gold and teal.

Bar Inspiration Photos

Bar Floor Plan & Render

Shown here are the floor plan and render for the Bar, which would be the heart of The Magic Bean, where the baristas would produce the magically-caffeinated concoctions for customers. The cabinets are finished in a teal melamine for easy cleaning while the front counter is faced with dark paneling to flow with the rest of the Cafe. The counter tops are black marble, and the walls are tiled with a glossy black subway tile with a handmade irregular appearance to simulate the look of shiny black brick.

Sales/Retail Overview

Lastly, we will take a closer look at the Sales/Retail area of The Magic Bean, which acts as an additional source of revenue for the business in the form of selling merchandise such as coffee beans and kitchen accessories.

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The main inspiration for this portion of the coffee shop was the magic bean itself - or rather, the magic beanstalk that grew from the magic bean. Here, the vines have taken over and have secured themselves as part of the building.

Sales/Retail Inspiration Photos

Sales/Retail Floor Plan & Render

Shown here are the floor plan and render for the Sales/Retail area of The Magic Bean, which is where guests would have the ability to purchase coffee and tea products such as mugs, kettles, coffee beans, tea leaves, teacups, and more.

 

A velvet banquette settee is centrally placed to allow guests a place to sit and wait for their order to be prepared, with vines growing up out of the center and climbing across the ceiling, referencing the magical beanstalk that resulted from planting some magic beans.

 

Green light bulbs placed inside of the pendants incorporated into the overgrowth add to the magical quality of the vines.

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