CoffeeGuide – When Coffee Becomes a Reference Point
Author: Kirill Dedeshin
My journey with coffee started early, with my first job in a coffee shop. I was still in school, working as a barista. Later, as a student, I returned behind the counter again. Over time, IT became part of my life – code, projects, development. A few years later, my friends and I opened our own coffee shops and worked in them ourselves, learning from the inside how a good coffee project really lives.
The idea of CoffeeGuide grew gradually. I always wanted to create a platform that would be truly useful for both tourists and locals. Everyone has different needs. Some want coffee to go, some need a place to meet, some look for a quiet corner with a book, and others want a coffee shop where they can work with a laptop.
That’s how coffeeguide.online was born – an online guide to specialty coffee shops. It’s not just a list of places on a map. It’s a carefully curated collection of spots where coffee is taken seriously, with respect and attention to detail.
A Project Built From Scratch with Care
We worked on the design with a friend for almost two years. The idea itself started back in 2016, which now feels like a long time ago. The goal was not just to make something functional, but to create a product that feels aesthetic and alive. After that came the long development phase – backend, layout, search, filters.
The project already includes some AI-powered features. The more coffee shops we add, the smarter and more useful the search, filters, and recommendations become.
CoffeeGuide is more than a catalog:
-news and stories about coffee culture
-job listings for baristas and coffee professionals
-a space for coffee shops to tell their own story
-support for local projects and independent teams
My goal is not just to attract traffic, but to build a community around good coffee.
Finding “your” Coffee Shop
With the filters, you can choose the type of place, the atmosphere, and even the brewing method – for example, Turkish coffee. Yes, those places do exist (lucky Turkey).
Right now, CoffeeGuide is available in one language, but multilingual support is already built in. Translations and a wider audience are coming next. The project is currently focused on London, but new cities are planned, with Brighton coming soon. I also plan to add dedicated pages for roasters, so people can learn more about them in depth.
Personally Verified
The core idea of CoffeeGuide is trust. We only feature places that are personally checked. I visit every coffee shop multiple times, talk to the owners, get permission to take photos, photograph the space, and add details like the menu, opening year, unique features, and atmosphere. All photos and information are edited and uploaded by hand.
The site also links to Instagram and official websites, so it’s easy for users to follow their favorite coffee shops.
Let’s connect
This is a living project, and it’s important to me that it doesn’t grow alone. I’d be happy to connect with coffee shop owners, roasters, baristas, and anyone who shares a love for quality coffee and independent projects. If you like what we’re building, let’s connect, talk, share experiences, and find ways to grow together.
I’m open to conversations, collaborations, new ideas, and warm human connections. CoffeeGuide was created as a platform that brings people together around coffee.
I believe CoffeeGuide will keep growing. That we’ll be able to tell the world about hundreds of great places that might otherwise be lost on the map. And that everyone will find their own coffee shop here, whether it’s in London, Dubai, or a city you’re only planning to visit. Thank you.