Brand Concept
The design concept is inspired by the term 'CALICO', which refers to a plain, heavy fabric, usually made of untreated cotton, thicker than ordinary canvas or denim.
Our brand concept is like this white fabric, pursuing simplicity, purity, and substance.
At the same time, like a blank canvas, it also possesses a rich texture, with the potential to accommodate various possibilities.
Like Kenya hara expressed in his book White: White can be attained by blending all the colors of the spectrum together, or through the subtraction of ink and all other pigments.
In short, it is 'all colors' and 'no color' at the same time.
Brand Story
Founded in London, Calico is a space where coffee, design, and storytelling come together.
What started as a simple idea soon became a project shaped by creativity, craftsmanship, and a passion for meaningful coffee experiences.
Before opening Calico in 2025, founder Junchao placed 3rd at the 2023 UK Brewers Cup — an experience that continues to influence the spirit of the café today.
Created by a founder team with backgrounds in architecture and design, every detail of Calico was carefully imagined and built in-house, creating a space that feels warm, thoughtful, and full of character.
The vision began with a simple line written in an early sketchbook:
“Sip into a world of flavors, where every corner tells a tale through art and coffee.”
Today, that spirit continues to shape Calico — a place where guests can slow down, enjoy coffee, and discover the stories behind every cup.
Beyond the café, the founder team has built close relationships with coffee producers and origin partners, focusing on green bean sourcing and transparent supply chains.
Collaborating with producing regions including Panama, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Yunnan, Calico works with exceptional coffees ranging from carefully selected bulk green beans to unique micro lots and customized processing projects.
Inspired by competition experience, the founder team continues to encourage every member of the café to participate in coffee competitions and challenge themselves creatively. To Calico, competition is never the final destination — it is a process of learning, refining, and growing together. It is through these experiences that ideas are exchanged, skills are sharpened, and hospitality continues to evolve.
Although Calico once existed as only a fleeting thought, it became reality through the dedication of the people behind it. Just like in competition, no one moves forward alone. From origin to cup, every coffee represents the collective effort of producers, sourcing partners, roasters, baristas, designers, and the entire team working behind the scenes.
At Calico, clarity in coffee is not only found in flavor, but also in the people, stories, and connections that bring every cup to life.