Blog Post 2: Researching Our Market

In the second week of building The Roasted Bean, our team focused mainly on researching the coffee market and learning more about the people we want to reach. This stage was very important because we cannot build a strong business if we do not understand what customers want or what other coffee companies are already doing. Research gave us a clearer picture of where our business might fit in and what makes our idea special.

The first thing we did was look at the size of the coffee industry. We learned that coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world and that the market keeps growing every year. Many young adults drink coffee daily, and they often search for new flavors or brands that feel fresh and different. This helped us feel more confident that The Roasted Bean could attract customers if we offer something people really want.

Next, we focused on understanding our target audience. Since we are college students, we felt that young adults like us are the group we understand best. We asked ourselves what we look for when buying coffee. We also found information online about what other young adults care about. Many people our age look for convenience, fair pricing, and ethical sourcing. They like when a brand feels honest and real, not too fancy or confusing. They also enjoy trying new flavors and supporting smaller businesses instead of large corporations.

Knowing this helped us think about what kind of products The Roasted Bean should offer.

We also looked closely at competitors. This part took time because there are many coffee brands in the market. We studied companies that sell online, companies that focus on organic or fair trade beans, and companies that market to younger people. We paid attention to what they do well, like packaging and storytelling. We also noticed areas where they fall short, such as having confusing websites or very high prices. These observations helped us identify gaps in the market. For example, some brands have great products but feel too expensive for college students. Others have low prices but do not focus on quality. We want The Roasted Bean to find a good balance between both.

Another part of our research was learning about trends. We found that many people enjoy flavored coffees, seasonal blends, and small batch roasting. We also saw that customers care more and more about sustainability. This means they want products that do not harm the environment and come from farms that treat workers fairly. Knowing this made us think about how The Roasted Bean can support fair sourcing and eco-friendly

packaging. Even small choices can make our brand feel more responsible.

By the end of the week, all of this research helped us understand our direction better. It showed us that The Roasted Bean has a place in the market if we focus on quality, simple design, fair prices, and a friendly tone. Research also made us realize that a strong business does not start with just a good idea. It starts with learning, observing, and listening. This week strengthened our foundation and prepared us for the next steps in building our brand identity.