Case Study

Forge Coffee Roasters

On Newhall Road where the Forge Inn Public House once stood, the Forge Coffee Roasters are motivated by all that is special about Sheffield’s industrial heritage. Surrounded by Sheffield forging memorabilia, they have created a workplace to inspire the highest quality craftsmanship and creativity.

  • Project Outline

    Tonik was tasked with delivering a premium identity for an exceptional, highly-esteemed coffee Roastery based in Sheffield’s former steel manufacturing district. Surrounded by local forging memorabilia and remnants of a by-gone era, Forge Coffee Roasters endeavour to continue upholding the city’s reputation as a renowned producer of quality.

    With a steady influx of independent businesses opening their doors across the city, Sheffield’s food scene has well and truly evolved over the past couple of years. Inevitably, Sheffield was in need of an artisan coffee roaster, that was just as quality-driven, and passionate about their craft as local producers. The aim of the rebrand provided a unique opportunity to embrace Sheffield’s steel manufacturing heritage and truly capture the spirit of the era. We also wanted to pay homage to the craftsmanship of coffee making, the importance of ethical sourcing and the desire to continue handcrafting products of the finest quality.

    Just as it’s often a combination of the small nuances coming together, we interpreted the brand with a strong focus on the small, emblematic details to reflect Sheffield’s Steel Manufacturing Industry at its zenith.

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  • Details

    Year

    • 2017

    Origin

    • Sheffield, England

    Sector

    • Food & Drink

    Team

    • Conal Birtles

      Web Development

    • Philippa Vernals

      Designer

02. Brand Direction

“Hand crafted in Sheffield, England’s “City of Steel”, which men of foresight, diligence and enterprise have made famous. Our aim is to worthily uphold the reputation so justly earned by craftsmen of Sheffield throughout the centuries.”

To allow the heritage behind the brand to unfold, the branding treatment involved looking through a register of old Sheffield trademarks, ration books, antique ephemera, and ornate typography sets. Our aim was to make each product feel special to reflect the time and the quality behind each product.

“At The Forge, we are motivated by all that is special about Sheffield’s industrial heritage, creating our own unique brand of coffee to stand at the pinnacle of our industry.”

03. Print Design

“We hand roast the finest coffee beans to the highest standards for our most discerning customers.”

Everything from Forge’s business stationery, through to the Invoices and Delivery Notes have all continued to be envisioned as relics from another era to make the brand feel complete. With vintage vans selling Forge Coffee Roasters’ finest wares at events up and down the country, it was important to design each item in a way that was versatile and elevated the next.

04. Product Design

To continue making each product distinctive and truly a one-of-a-kind, each label has been custom serrated to precise measurements using an antique stamp cutter, rather than opting for mass-production methods, Forge embraces traditional practices to show an appreciation for craftsmanship and as a means of further consolidating a remarkably, authentic brand. It was about striking the perfect balance between drawing upon tradition and designing for longevity.

05. Web Development

After blood, sweat and tears while breathing life into our brand, we handed the task to professionalise it over to Tonik. They have taken it to a level way beyond our expectations. We’re not for the first time just happy with a design company, we’re ecstatic

Michael Wright

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