Archive · 19 Jun 2025
Blank Street Coffee: Matcha Craze Drives $500 Million Valuation
Blank Street Coffee, a rapidly growing coffee chain, has become popular, especially with teenagers.
They started with coffee but found success selling flavored matcha drinks, like strawberry-shortcake and cookies-and-cream.
The company uses specific marketing tactics, creating different 'characters' for each drink.
They have a membership program that's very popular, adding to the brand's appeal.
This approach has led to a $500 million valuation, showing the power of appealing to young customers.
Blank Street Coffee, a chain with a $500 million valuation, is expanding rapidly, fueled by the popularity of its flavored matcha drinks among teens.
The company, founded by Vinay Menda and Issam Freiha, developed its matcha focus after a London team mixologist created a viral blueberry drink.
Matcha now accounts for approximately 50% of the business, with flavors like strawberry-shortcake and cookies-and-cream matcha.
Blank Street utilizes targeted marketing, creating personas and mood boards for each matcha drink to connect with specific customer demographics.
The coffee chain offers an invite-only membership program, contributing to its buzz.
- Who
- Blank Street Coffee, founded by Vinay Menda and Issam Freiha, and its teen customers.
- What
- Blank Street Coffee's success with matcha and its rapid expansion.
- When
- Started in 2020, with the matcha trend starting two years ago and continuing to grow.
- Where
- Primarily in New York City, with plans to expand globally.
- Why
- Blank Street has achieved rapid growth by capitalizing on the popularity of flavored matcha among teens and using strategic marketing techniques.
Traditional Cafe Culture
Modern Consumers
Authenticity vs. Trends
Traditional Cafe Culture
Coffee snobs consider Blank Street inauthentic to cafe culture.
Modern Consumers
Blank Street has adapted to cater to the wants of modern customers.
- Valuation
- $500 million
- Founders
- Vinay Menda, Issam Freiha
- Total Funding
- $135 million
- Estimated Annual Revenue
- $149 million
- Matcha's Contribution
- Approximately 50% of business
- Popular Drinks
- Strawberry-shortcake matcha, blueberry matcha, cookies-and-cream matcha