Blank Street
Blank Street operates a venture-backed chain of over 100 small-footprint specialty coffee and matcha cafés across the US and UK, serving urban Gen Z and millennial consumers via mobile-first ordering, automated espresso systems and a culturally led brand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Blank Street does
Blank Street is a US-headquartered specialty coffee and matcha café chain founded in August 2020 in Brooklyn by Vinay Menda and Issam Freiha. Starting from a 5x10 coffee cart at the Wythe diner, the company has scaled to over 100 directly-operated small-footprint cafés across New York, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Cambridge and Bristol, with an Irish entity established in 2026 to support further international expansion. The chain targets urban Gen Z consumers, millennials and university communities with affordable specialty espresso, cold brew, matcha and baked goods, supported by a mobile-first ordering platform, QR scan-to-pay wallet, and the Blank Street Rewards loyalty program.
The underlying technology stack centers on a mobile-first commerce platform: a native iOS/Android app for order-ahead pickup, location discovery, loyalty accrual and QR-based in-store wallet payments (processed via Square), complemented by an e-commerce storefront selling whole-bean coffee blends ($18), ceremonial-grade matcha powder ($32), digital gift cards and limited-edition branded merchandise such as The Sleeve iced-drink holder ($18/£14). In-store, fully automated Eversys espresso machines drive high-throughput, consistent beverage production with minimal barista intervention, enabling the micro-retail unit economics that differentiate the chain from both traditional coffee chains and premium third-wave cafés.
Blank Street's revenue model is primarily transactional retail, generated through high-volume in-store beverage and food sales across its owned café network, supplemented by e-commerce merchandise and gift cards, limited-edition product drops, and surplus inventory sold through Too Good To Go in the UK. The company is venture-backed, with disclosed funding totaling approximately $135M across multiple rounds from 2020-2025 (including a $25M Series A co-led by General Catalyst and Tiger Global in October 2021), and is reported to be raising an additional ~$100M in 2026 at a ~$1B valuation.
Blank Street firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blank Street
- Legal name
- Blank Street Inc.
- Website
- https://blankstreet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Blank Street operates a venture-backed chain of over 100 small-footprint specialty coffee and matcha cafés across the US and UK, serving urban Gen Z and millennial consumers via mobile-first ordering, automated espresso systems and a culturally led brand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blank Street industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Coffee Retail
- NAICS
- Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515), Convenience Retailers and Vending Machine Operators (44513)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Espresso Bars & Coffee Bars (THAFADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes (THAFADAB), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI)
Keywords
Where Blank Street is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Blank Street business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- In-store beverage and food sales: Primary revenue stream generated through sales of espresso, cold brew, iced coffees, matcha, teas, baked goods, and grab-and-go items at retail cafe locations across the US and UK. High-volume, transaction-based pricing.
- E-commerce and retail merchandise sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales of branded merchandise, gift cards ($5/$20/$50/$100), coffee blends (Lighter Roast, Darker Roast, Decaf at $18), and Ceremonial Matcha Powder ($32).
- Too Good To Go surplus inventory sales: Revenue from selling surplus inventory at discounted prices (£3.50 bags) through the Too Good To Go platform to reduce waste and capture incremental demand.
- Limited-edition branded product drops: Revenue from limited-edition branded lifestyle accessories such as 'The Sleeve' puffer-inspired cup holder ($18), often launched in collaboration with fashion partners and celebrities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Digital Gift Card |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Ceremonial Matcha Powder |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Lighter Roast Coffee Blend |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Darker Roast Coffee Blend |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Decaf Coffee Blend |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | The Sleeve (Limited-Edition Accessory) |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Blank Street Rewards Loyalty Program |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Blank Street product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blank Street operates a small-footprint specialty coffee and matcha café chain, serving espresso-based drinks, cold brew, matcha beverages, teas, baked goods, and grab-and-go items through company-owned urban locations across the US and UK. The chain uses fully automated Eversys espresso systems and a mobile-first ordering platform with integrated loyalty rewards and order-ahead pickup. It also sells branded merchandise, coffee blends, ceremonial matcha powder, and limited-edition lifestyle accessories through its e-commerce storefront.
Product overview
Blank Street operates a single core specialty coffee and matcha café brand ('Blank Street Coffee'), supported by a connected digital platform consisting of the Blank Street App (mobile ordering) and the Blank Street Rewards loyalty module, with in-store QR-code wallet payments processed via Square. On top of this core café and digital ecosystem, Blank Street sells a growing retail/e-commerce line including Digital Gift Cards, Ceremonial Matcha Powder sourced from Japan, three whole-bean coffee blends (Lighter Roast, Darker Roast, Decaf), and limited-edition fashion-forward merchandise such as The Sleeve iced-drink holder. Together, these products extend the in-store café experience into online ordering, at-home brewing, gifting, and branded lifestyle accessories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Blank Street Coffee (café chain) Specialty coffee and matcha café chain serving espresso-based drinks, cold brew, matcha beverages, teas, baked goods, and grab-and-go items at small-footprint, mobile-ordering-focused locations across the US and UK.
- Blank Street Mobile App Native mobile application enabling customers to order ahead for pickup, access rewards, scan QR codes to pay in stores, earn loyalty points, and discover store locations. Payment processing is integrated via Square.
- Blank Street Rewards Free loyalty program where members earn 1 point per $1 spent on every drink and redeem points for a discount at checkout once 25 points are accumulated; integrated with QR scan-to-pay in-store wallet.
- Blank Street Blend - Lighter Roast Slightly lighter roast coffee blend with notes of milk chocolate, cashew, and raspberry; recommended for hot brew. Sold for $18 per bag via the Blank Street online shop.
- Blank Street Blend - Darker Roast Slightly darker roast coffee blend with notes of dark chocolate, pecan, and cherry compote; recommended for espresso-based drinks. Sold for $18 per bag via the Blank Street online shop.
- Blank Street Blend - Decaf Single-origin Colombian medium roast, naturally decaffeinated coffee blend with notes of toffee, graham cracker, and apple blossom. Sold for $18 per bag via the Blank Street online shop.
- Ceremonial Matcha Powder Ceremonial-grade matcha powder sourced from small multi-generational farms in Japan, sold directly through the Blank Street online shop at $32 per unit.
- Blank Street Digital Gift Card Digital gift card delivered by email and redeemable at checkout, available in fixed denominations of $5, $20, $50, and $100; currently available only in the US.
- The Sleeve (iced drink holder) Limited-edition quilted puffer-jacket-inspired cup holder/koozie designed to keep hands warm when holding iced drinks, in a green colorway; priced at £14 in the UK and $18 in the US. Blank Street's first formal move into fashion accessories.
- Mel's Maple Matcha Limited-edition maple-flavored matcha beverage co-created with celebrity stylist Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe, sold exclusively at Blank Street stores as a seasonal Autumn offering.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500%+ sales growth in the UK
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Blank Street
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Blank Street technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Blank Street partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and core.
- British Fashion CouncilstrategicBlank Street is an official partner of the British Fashion Council for February's London Fashion Week, where a pop-up bar featured in the NewGen space alongside the launch of 'The Sleeve' limited-edition accessory.
- Melissa Holdbrook-AkposoeminorCelebrity stylist collaboration launching 'Mel's Maple Matcha' available at Blank Street stores from September 20, 2024. Announced via Business Wire press release as a new Autumn product collaboration.
- Block, Inc. (Square Capital, LLC, and Square Financial Services, Inc.)corePayment processing services provider for Blank Street purchases through the Platform, governed by the Square Services Agreement. Processes U.S. dollar payments for user purchases.
- Battersea Power StationminorListed Blank Street retail location hosted within the Battersea Power Station development, a major London mixed-use destination that drives foot traffic to the cafe.
- Too Good To GominorBlank Street sells £3.50 surprise bags of surplus food/drinks through the Too Good To Go platform across UK locations, providing waste reduction and incremental customer acquisition.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Blank Street competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Blue Bottle Coffee: Specialty coffee chain with a similar mobile-ordering, small-footprint urban retail model and strong cultural brand. Directly comparable on product (specialty espresso and matcha), target customer (urban millennials and Gen Z), and technology stack (own app, order-ahead).
- Joe & The Juice: Global specialty coffee and juice chain with a youthful, design-led brand and urban small-footprint stores. Overlaps with Blank Street on Gen Z customer base, matcha/coffee menu, and aggressive multi-city real estate strategy.
- % Arabica: Design-forward specialty coffee chain with globally viral brand and Instagram-led marketing. Highly comparable to Blank Street's social-media-first growth, premium positioning, and small-format urban cafés.
- Stumptown Coffee: Specialty coffee roaster and café operator with a strong wholesale and direct-retail model. Comparable on specialty coffee positioning, urban café footprint, and e-commerce (whole-bean) sales channel.
- La Colombe Coffee Roasters: Specialty coffee roaster and draft latte pioneer with a growing café footprint across US cities. Comparable product portfolio (specialty espresso, draft beverages, retail beans) and overlap in urban millennial customer base.
- Philz Coffee: Specialty coffee chain known for customized, made-to-order beverages and a tech-forward loyalty/app model. Direct overlap with Blank Street on personalized drinks, mobile ordering, and Bay Area/US urban footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Caffè Nero: Established UK and international coffee chain with a high-street café model. Competes directly with Blank Street in UK cities and overlaps on espresso-led menus and urban commuter trade.
- Pret A Manger: Large UK/US food and coffee chain with extensive high-street and urban café footprint. Comparable on daily-ritual coffee/light food use case and on mobile app and loyalty engagement with urban professionals.
Regional players
- Gregorys Coffee: NYC-founded specialty coffee chain with a strong local New York presence and tech-forward loyalty program. Highly comparable to Blank Street in NYC core market, urban millennial target, and small-format stores.
Emerging players
- Sweetgreen: Tech-enabled fast-casual chain with mobile-first ordering, strong digital loyalty, and a culturally engaged millennial/Gen Z customer base. Comparable digital GTM and brand-led growth model rather than direct product overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blank Street social profiles
Digital presenceBlank Street financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blank Street leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Blank Street subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Blank Street funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors18 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blank Street M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blank Street
What does Blank Street do?
Blank Street operates a small-footprint specialty coffee and matcha café chain, serving espresso-based drinks, cold brew, matcha beverages, teas, baked goods, and grab-and-go items through company-owned urban locations across the US and UK. The chain uses fully automated Eversys espresso systems and a mobile-first ordering platform with integrated loyalty rewards and order-ahead pickup. It also sells branded merchandise, coffee blends, ceremonial matcha powder, and limited-edition lifestyle accessories through its e-commerce storefront.
Is Blank Street a public or private company?
Blank Street is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Blank Street founded?
Blank Street was founded in 2020. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Blank Street based?
Blank Street is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blank Street make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. In-store beverage and food sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce and retail merchandise sales, too Good To Go surplus inventory sales and limited-edition branded product drops.
Who are Blank Street's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Blue Bottle Coffee, Joe & The Juice, % Arabica, Stumptown Coffee, La Colombe Coffee Roasters and Philz Coffee. Broad incumbents are Caffè Nero and Pret A Manger. Gregorys Coffee is listed as a regional player. Sweetgreen is listed as an emerging player.
Does Blank Street have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blank Street.
What industry is Blank Street in?
Blank Street's product category is Specialty Coffee Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFADAD, Espresso Bars & Coffee Bars, with a secondary code of THAFADAB, Coffee Chains & Franchise Cafes. Its NAICS code is 722515 and its SIC code is 5810.