Exploring the coffee shop experience: The impact of customer experience on revisit intentions in urban specialty coffee shops

Authors

  • Mohammad Farouqi Mohd Hanafi Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi Mara, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Aslinda Mohd Shahril Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi Mara, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Vanessa Gaffar Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jawa Barat 40154, Indonesia.
  • Abdul Rais Abdul Rahman Faculty of Fisheries and Food Sciences, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol10iss2pp417-448

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The specialty coffee industry is rapidly evolving, driven by consumer demand for unique and immersive experiences. This study investigates the influence of experienscape components—sensory, functional, social, natural, and cultural—on customer revisit intentions in urban specialty coffee shops in Malaysia’s Klang Valley. It also examines the mediating role of customer experience in these relationships, addressing gaps in understanding revisit behaviors in Malaysia’s competitive coffee market

Methodology: A quantitative approach was employed, involving data collection from 153 frequent specialty coffee shop customers. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the relationships between experienscape components, customer experience, and revisit intentions.

Findings: The findings reveal that experienscape components do not directly influence revisit intentions. However, sensory, social, and natural components significantly enhance customer experience, which mediates their effect on revisit intentions. Functional and cultural components showed weaker effects on customer experience and revisit intentions. These results highlight the importance of creating engaging environments to foster positive customer experiences and drive loyalty.

Contributions: This study contributes to hospitality literature by providing insights into the role of environmental and experiential factors in shaping customer behavior. Practically, it offers actionable strategies for coffee shop owners to design multi-sensory spaces, enhance social interactions, and incorporate natural elements to improve customer satisfaction and retention.

Keywords: Experienscape, customer experience, revisit intentions, specialty coffee, Malaysia.

Author Biographies

  • Mohammad Farouqi Mohd Hanafi, Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi Mara, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

    Mohammad Farouqi Mohd Hanafi is a master coursework student in Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Puncak Alam campus, Bandar Puncak Alam, Kuala Selangor. He graduated from the university in 2024. His research interest is in consumer behavior and service operation. Currently he is joining the Food and beverage industry as an assistant manager in a casual dining restaurant.

  • Aslinda Mohd Shahril, Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi Mara, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

    Prof Dr Aslinda Mohd Shahril is a Professor at Faculty of Hotel & Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Puncak Alam campus. Her research interest includes Service Marketing, Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Service Operation and Sensory Marketing. Currently, she is supervising a number of PhD students, Master Research and Coursework and Undergraduate students. She is now the Head of Community Network, ICAN, UiTM.

  • Vanessa Gaffar, Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jawa Barat 40154, Indonesia.

    Prof. Dr Vanessa Gaffar is professor in Management Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. She had her bachelor degree in Accounting from Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung Indonesia and hold her MBA degree fromm Wright State University, Dayton Ohio, USA. She completed her doctoral degree form Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung Indonesia. Her research interests are in the field of customer relationship management, social media, tourism marketing, sports tourism, and entrepreneurship. Her works have been published in reputable international journals, national accredited journals, conference proceedings as well as books and book chapters. She is also an active reviewer for reputable international journals and national accredited journals.

  • Abdul Rais Abdul Rahman, Faculty of Fisheries and Food Sciences, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21300 Kuala Nerus, Malaysia.

    Dr. Abdul Rais Abdul Rahman is a senior lecturer specializing in Foodservice at the Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. His research interest include foodservice consumer behavior, utilization of digital technologies in foodservice operation as well as healthy foodservice initiatives. Prior to working in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, he worked as a Catering Officer at Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

References

Adhi, R., & Yunus, U. (2021). The meaning of coffee for barista in specialty coffee shop in Indonesia. Journal of Creative Communications, 17(1), 108-118.

Agnihotri, D., Kulshreshtha, K., Tripathi, V., & Chaturvedi, P. (2023). Does green self-identity influence the revisit intention of dissatisfied customers in green restaurants? Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 34(2), 535-564.

Ajina, A., Japutra, A., Nguyen, B., Alwi, S., & Al-Hajla, A. (2019). The importance of CSR initiatives in building customer support and loyalty. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 31(3), 691-713.

Amin, S., & Tarun, T. (2019). Experiential marketing and customer satisfaction: A study on the restaurant industry of Bangladesh. Asian Business Review, 9(1), 43-48.

Amoako, G. K., Doe, J. K., & Neequaye, E. K. (2023). Online innovation and repurchase intentions in hotels: The mediating effect of customer experience. International Hospitality Review, 37(1), 28-47.

Apaolaza, V., Hartmann, P., Fernández-Robin, C., & Yáñez, D. (2020). Natural plants in hospitality servicescapes: The role of perceived aesthetic value. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 32(2), 665-682.

Aprilia, C., & Suryani, A. I. (2020). Coffee shop atmospheric effect on customer satisfaction and behavioural intention. Bisnis dan Manajemen, 13(1), 1-13.

Barahona, I., Jaimes, E., & Yang, J. (2020). Sensory attributes of coffee beverages and their relation to price and package information: a case study of Colombian customers’ preferences. Food Science and Nutrition, 8(2), 1173-1186.

Bekar, A., Durmaz, Ş., & Yozukmaz, N. (2020). The effect of green practices on emotional attachment and green loyalty of coffee shop consumers (Turkey). Turizam, 24(1), 33-45.

Biswas, D. (2019). Sensory aspects of retailing: Theoretical and practical implications. Journal of Retailing, 95(4), 111-115.

Bitner, M. J. (1992). Servicescapes: The impact of physical surroundings on customers and employees. Journal of Marketing, 56(2), 57-71.

Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2015). Business research methods. Oxford University Press.

Chen, Z., Suntikul, W., & King, B. (2020). Research on tourism experiencescapes: The journey from art to science. Current Issues in Tourism, 23(11), 1407-1414.

Choo, H., & Petrick, J. F. (2014). Social interactions and intentions to revisit for agritourism service encounters. Tourism Management, 40(1), 372-381.

Črešnar, R., & Nedelko, Z. (2023). Exploring the role of customer experience in driving customer satisfaction and loyalty in hospitality. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 54(1), 75-85.

Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications.

Dhillon, J. K., & Widyani, A. I. (2018). Pengaruh elemen interior terhadap kenyamanan pengunjung kaitannya dengan gaya hidup modern di Ardent Cofee Pesanggrahan Jakarta Barat. Mezanin, 1(1), 60-70.

Fauzi, M., Tan, C., Ramayah, T., & Ojo, A. (2019). Evaluating academics’ knowledge sharing intentions in Malaysian public universities. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science, 24(1), 123-143.

Ferreira, J., Ferreira, C., & Bos, E. (2021). Spaces of consumption, connection, and community: Exploring the role of the coffee shop in urban lives. Geoforum, 119(1), 21-29.

Ge, Y., Yuan, Q., Wang, Y., & Park, K. (2021). The structural relationship among perceived service quality, perceived value, and customer satisfaction-focused on Starbucks reserve coffee shops in Shanghai, China. Sustainability, 13(15), 8633.

Haifa, B. M., Suhud, U., & Aditya, S. (2021). Predicting customer satisfaction and intention to revisit at local coffee shop with industrial concept in Jakarta. JELAJAH: Journal of Tourism and Hospitality, 3(2), 50-61.

Hair, J., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L., & Kuppelwieser, V. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). European Business Review, 26(2), 106-121.

Im, S. Y., & Seo, S. (2023). How does restaurant experienscape affect solo diners' emotions and dining satisfaction in Korea? International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 36(3), 769-789.

Ishak, F., Mazlan, N., Lokman, N., Karim, M., & Mohamad, S. (2021). Exploring the issues and challenges in managing themed restaurant in Klang Valley, Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(10), 1121–1135.

Islam, T., Ahmed, I., Ali, G., & Ahmer, Z. (2019). Emerging trend of coffee cafe in Pakistan: factors affecting revisit intention. British Food Journal, 121(9), 2132-2147.

Jang, H. W., & Lee, S. B. (2019). Applying effective sensory marketing to sustainable coffee shop business management. Sustainability, 11(22), 6430.

Jeloudarlou, S., Aali, S., Faryabi, M., & Bafandeh Zendeh, A. (2022). The effect of servicescape on customer engagement: The mediating role of customer experience. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 23(2), 318-344.

Junaidi, J., Ardiya, A., & Anugrah, P. (2022). Coffee shops as space for the cultural production in urban society. Wisdom, 22(2), 50-58.

Khaleel, M., Chelliah, S., Rauf, S., & Jamil, M. (2017). Impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on attitudes and behaviors of pharmacists working in MNCS. Humanomics, 33(4), 453-469.

Kwame, O. E., Tham, A., Morrison, A. M., & Wang, M. J. S. (2023). An exploratory study of the experiencescape dimensions and customer revisit intentions for specialty urban coffee shops. British Food Journal, 125(5), 1613-1630.

Le, A., Tan, K., Yong, S., Soonsap, P., Lipa, C., & Ting, H. (2021). Perceptions towards green image of trendy coffee cafés and intention to re-patronage: The mediating role of customer citizenship behavior. Young Consumers, 23(2), 165-178.

Lee, M. G. W., Rajaratnam, S. D., & Konar, R. (2018). Key attributes of Malaysian specialty coffee shops: An exploratory investigation. Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism, 7(2), 69-83.

Meng, B., & Choi, K. (2018). An investigation on customer revisit intention to theme restaurants. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 30(3), 1646-1662.

Mody, M., Suess, C., & Lehto, X. (2019). Going back to its roots: Can hospitableness provide hotels competitive advantage over the sharing economy. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 76(1), 286-298.

Moreira, A. C., Fortes, N., & Santiago, R. (2017). Influence of sensory stimuli on brand experience, brand equity and purchase intention. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 18(1), 68-83.

Muhammad, S., & Lee, S. (2019). Physical environment of a coffee shop analysis of future customers expectation views. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology, 8(6s), 2249-8958.

Nisa, A., Widhiasti, M., & Dewi, E. (2022). Indoor to outdoor: Transformation of coffee shops in Jakarta. International Journal of Built Environment and Scientific Research, 6(1), 17-30.

Nugroho, A. A., Widodo, W., & Nurcahyo, R. (2023). Exploring the relationship between experiencescape and customer loyalty in specialty coffee shops: The mediating role of customer satisfaction. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 56(1), 98-107.

Ogunnaike, O., Agada, S., Ighomereho, S., & Borishade, T. (2022). Social and cultural experiences with loyalty towards hotel services: The mediating role of customer satisfaction. Sustainability, 14(14), 8789.

Paisri, W., Ruanguttamanun, C., & Sujchaphong, N. (2022). Customer experience and commitment on eWOM and revisit intention: A case of Taladtongchom Thailand. Cogent Business & Management, 9(1), 1-23.

Pizam, A., & Tasci, A. (2019), Experienscape: Expanding the concept of servicescape with a multistakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 76(B), 25-37.

Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2004). SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 36(4), 717–731.

Rabbanee, F., & Vyravene, R. (2021). Effects of employee engagement on customer responses: Examining the mediating role of customer engagement. Australian Journal of Management, 47(3), 539-557.

Radic, A., Lück, M., Al-Ansi, A., Chua, B. L., Seeler, S., & Han, H. (2021). Cruise ship dining experiencescape: The perspective of female cruise travelers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 95(1), 102923.

Rahardjo, S. (2018). Preferable interior elements on Instagram photos at contemporary coffee shops. Mudra Jurnal Seni Budaya, 33(3), 388-394.

Ramanathan, R., & Ali, N. (2021). Coffee consumption and the sustainability of the coffee industry in Malaysia. Trends in Undergraduate Research, 4(2), 1-10.

Rattanaprichavej, N. (2019). An interaction of architectural design and perceived value toward revisit intention in artificially built attractions. Real Estate Management and Valuation, 27(3), 69-80.

Richardson, S., Lefrid, M., Jahani, S., Munyon, M., & Rasoolimanesh, S. (2019). Effect of dining experience on future intention in quick service restaurants. British Food Journal, 121(11), 2620-2636.

Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., & Will, A. (2009). Finite mixture partial least squares analysis: Methodology and numerical examples. In V. E. Vinzi, W. W. Chin, J. Henseler, & H. Wang (Eds.), Handbook of partial least squares: Concepts, methods and applications (pp. 195-218). Springer.

Riza, A. F., & Wijayanti, D. M. (2018). The triangle of sensory marketing model: Does it stimulate brand experience and loyalty. Jurnal Bisnis dan Manajemen, 8(1), 57-66.

Sagha, A. M., Seyyedamiri, N., Foroudi, P., & Akbari, M. (2022). The one thing you need to change is emotions: The effect of multi-sensory marketing on consumer behavior. Sustainability, 14(4), 2334.

Sayed, M. S. (2023). The impact of sensory marketing on managing a sustainable fast-food business in Egypt. International Journal of Tourism, Archaeology and Hospitality, 3(1), 161-174.

Shah, I., Rajper, Z., Ghumro, I., & Mahar, S. (2019). Experiential value mediates relationship between experiential marketing and customer satisfaction. Sukkur Iba Journal of Management and Business, 5(2), 45-61.

Sheko, A., & Braimllari, A. (2018). Information technology inhibitors and information quality in supply chain management: A PLS-Sem analysis. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 7(3), 125-138.

Shin, J., Kim, S., & Yoon, J. (2012). Effect of sustainability management at coffee houses on customers' store image and behavioral intention. Korean Journal of Community Nutrition, 17(4), 494-503.

Shrestha, S. K., & Shrestha, B. (2021). The effect of other customer perception and need for uniqueness on service experience and revisit intention. PYC Nepal Journal of Management, 14(1), 93-112.

Tinsley, H. E. A., & Tinsley, D. J. (1987). Uses of factor analysis in counseling psychology research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 34(4), 414-424.

Yun, S., & Kim, T. (2019). What do coffee shop entrepreneurs need to do to raise pro-environmental customer behavioral intentions? Sustainability, 11(9), 2666.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-31

How to Cite

Exploring the coffee shop experience: The impact of customer experience on revisit intentions in urban specialty coffee shops. (2025). Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS), 10(2), 417-448. https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol10iss2pp417-448