Smell the coffee.

We like our coffee strong and with personality. A good barista can rustle up the first bit; hot water forced through 7 grams of finely ground beans. Personality is a little harder.

Big companies spend thousands creating brands to attract our attention but many lack the personal touch. But the work of brand design agency Mystery bucks the trend by creating brands with real personality.

Founder, Dan Einzig, responsible for the design of Giraffe and Exeter’s Butternut Kitchen Café explains their approach. “A good brand communicates a distinctive personality that your market connects with. We define the positioning and try to create brands with character traits that people fall in love with”

Being independent Butternut can afford to be more provocative and cheeky and it has bags of personality. Designed to “put a smile on people’s faces” its quirky details are carried through from the menus to cups and wall murals.

Another Exeter gem is Caffe Espresso near the castle, which reminds us of a classic Italian coffee bar. Not so much designed but evolved with a busy bar plastered with postcards, pictures, pastries and the buzz of regulars chatting away.

Good coffee and personality? Now there’s something to fall in love with.