Home Blog Costa Coffee’s Winning Strategy

Costa Coffee’s Winning Strategy

Stephanie MorrisonAugust 12, 2024

As the world’s eyes turned to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games, Costa Coffee used Ripples technology to brew up an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Olympic Village.

The Official Worldwide Coffee Partner for the Olympic Games, Costa Coffee’s presence during the games was perfectly targeted to the Gen Z athletes staying in the Village, a 360 degree engagement opportunity including everything from free coffee to “incredibly competitive” espresso races, and custom cappuccino art created with the Ripple Maker drink printer

Word of the custom cappuccinos at Costa Coffee spread across the village.

And across the Internet – multiple social media posts about the experience garnered more than 1 million views apiece

Costa Coffee used the Ripple Maker to give athletes an opportunity to celebrate moments of achievement, print and drink selfieccinos, and their loved ones back home. And, as the New York Times observed, “many competitors have chosen pets not people.”

The engagement was overwhelming, with thousands of personalized drinks crafted and shared online throughout the three-week event, and countless social media shares. 

The International Olympics Committee has strict guidelines on how athletes and sponsors can share about the competition, but Costa’s innovative brand activation  was so successful it was impossible to tell from the outside – we just saw the fun. Costa’s activation with their branded Ripples selfieccino machine resonated with athletes and won them huge organic brand reach during the games.

Related blog posts

Rebecca Connors • September 14, 2026

Recipe: Frankenstein’s Bloody Brew Cocktail

Built for Halloween parties, bar specials, and themed events, Frankenstein’s Bloody Brew mixes cherry, coffee, spice, and a dramatic red layer for a cocktail that looks as bold as it tastes. A smooth cream foam on top creates the perfect surface for a spooky Frankenstein-inspired design printed with the Ripple Maker cocktail printer. Ingredients Cocktail
Rebecca Connors • September 14, 2026

How Cafés Can Profit From the Home-Espresso Boom

More customers can now make a good espresso without leaving home. That sounds like a challenge for cafés, and for routine coffee purchases, it can be. A customer with an espresso machine, grinder, and favorite beans may no longer need to stop at a café every morning just to get a cappuccino. But home espresso
Rebecca Connors • September 14, 2026

Why Many Cafés Don’t Make It Past the First Five Years & How to Avoid It 

Opening a café is exciting. Keeping one open is much harder. U.S. business survival data shows that only around 59% of accommodation and food-service businesses are still operating after five years. In other words, roughly 4 in 10 close within their first five years. And the problem is not necessarily bad coffee. A café can