History of the TLD

.coffee is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) introduced through ICANN’s New gTLD Program. The TLD was delegated to the DNS Root Zone in late 2013 with a registry agreement signed in October 2013 and general public availability in early 2014. The domain was created to provide a dedicated namespace for coffee-related businesses, communities, blogs, roasters, cafes, and other coffee industry interests. The sponsoring organisation is Binky Moon, LLC operating under Identity Digital Inc. as the registry entity.

Main Use and Industry Position

The .coffee TLD is positioned as a niche extension targeting the coffee sector. It serves coffee shops, roasters, retailers, manufacturers, bloggers, community platforms, and related ecommerce ventures. It provides semantic relevance and branding clarity for entities with coffee-centric content or services. Its use helps websites immediately signal focus to users and search engines.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared with legacy TLDs such as .com or .net, .coffee offers industry specificity and a memorability advantage for coffee-oriented brands. Unlike generic TLDs without thematic focus, .coffee directly conveys subject matter to visitors. .coffee also differs from broader food and beverage niche TLDs like .cafe or .beer by focusing explicitly on coffee culture and commerce.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Clear industry relevance enhancing branding and recall

• Available without specialized eligibility restrictions

• Helps differentiate coffee-related entities online

Cons

• Niche appeal limits general purpose use

• May cost more than generic TLDs at some registrars

• SEO impact varies and depends on content quality

Registration Criteria

Registrations for .coffee are open to individuals and organisations globally without restrictive eligibility requirements. Domain names can be registered through accredited registrars.

Summary

.coffee is an active generic top-level domain introduced under ICANN’s New gTLD Program and delegated in 2013. It serves entities connected to the coffee industry by offering a semantically relevant namespace. The TLD is unrestricted in terms of registration eligibility and widely available through registrars. It is positioned primarily for branding in coffee-related markets, providing a distinctive alternative to general-purpose domains.