Coffee Monster is a tech startup that aims to support local coffee shops across the country with its innovative platform. Whether you are in a morning rush, afternoon slump or simply need to get your coffee fix on-the-go, Coffee Monster makes experiencing your favourite beverage easy and convenient. The easy-to-use app makes ordering a cup of joe from your favourite spot a breeze.
Ashleigh Nestadt, co-founder of Coffee Monster in a recent interview provided insight into what led to the creation of the coffee-focused tech startup.
“I studied in Cape Town and struggled to grab a coffee on my way to campus owing to limited parking around my favourite coffee shops. When coming to Joburg, I picked up on a new trend whereby some specialty coffee shops were allowing customers to WhatsApp them for delivery to their car. This solution sparked an idea to advance this service and make it accessible country-wide.”
Coffee Monster
Founded in 2019 by Ashleigh Nestadt and Gail Cross, Coffee Monster connects users to nearby listed coffee shops to conveniently order grab-and-go coffee or other food items offered by a range of cafes. Cross has since exited the self-funded tech startup and the app can be used across South Africa.
Nestadt explains that the overall aim of the platform is to provide consumers with easy access to their local coffee spots and to assist businesses in gaining new customers and increasing overall revenue.
“Coffee Monster™ aims to connect coffee lovers with coffee shops by creating a convenient and efficient service in which coffee and other grab-to-go goodies can be purchased and loyalty points can be earned at any store on our platform.”
The technology
As a purely app-driven platform, Coffee Monster is available for download on both iOs and Android devices. The app has been built to provide ease of access for consumers to coffee spots through the intelligent curbside pickup option as this feature estimates how long it will take a customer to reach a coffee spot. This is based on the app tapping into the geo-location of the user, with both driving and walking options supported.
Once a customer has selected a coffee spot nearby and placed an order, the store’s barista is alerted when the customer will be nearby, ensuring that users are provided a steamy hot brew. In addition, other features enable a customer to select a scheduled pick-up time when ordering via the app. A delivery option is available if it is within walking distance from the coffee shop.
With Covid-19 in mind, the app supports contactless payment solutions as users are able to pay for their order via the app and redeem loyalty points to use at their favourite spot.
Nestadt points out that the platform works hand-in-hand to benefit users and listed businesses.
“We provide a mobile-ordering platform for coffee shops that helps drive sales and increase exposure. This is particularly beneficial to smaller independent stores that don’t have the resources to develop and market their own solution. The app is free for both coffee shops and users to join (we maintain the app by charging a small transaction fee to the coffee shop).”
Social impact
The global pandemic has had a devastating impact on multiple industries and with this in mind during the hard lockdown, Coffee Monster launched an initiative called “Back your barista”.
Coffee merchants are able to increase brand exposure and overall revenue by listing on the app. Interested coffee merchants can sign up to be listed on the innovative app online.
