The coffee industry, like the rich brew it offers, is constantly evolving. Coffee enthusiasts and manufacturers continually devise innovative ways to enjoy and market this beloved beverage. With fresh trends emerging each year, staying informed can help you identify what’s in demand and potentially expand your customer base. Additionally, embracing these trends can enhance your company’s social media presence, demonstrating your alignment with your customers’ preferences. Here, we delve into some of the hottest coffee trends to watch out for in 2023 and beyond.
Table of Contents
- Cold Brew
- Nitro Cold Brews
- Matcha Lattes
- Ready-to-Drink Coffee
- Plant-Based, Non-Dairy Milks
1. Cold Brew
Cold brew coffee has been a rising star for several years, and its popularity shows no signs of waning. While researching 2023 coffee trends, research indicated a whopping $1.37 billion expansion between 2020 and 2025, primarily driven by North American demand.
It’s crucial to differentiate cold brew from iced coffee. While the latter is brewed hot and then chilled with ice, cold brew undergoes a slow steeping process in cold water, typically lasting between 12 to 24 hours. This method imparts a smoother, sweeter flavor and a higher caffeine content to the coffee.
Try High-Brew: Black and Bold Here
For businesses looking to embrace this trend, consider these ideas:
- Pitcher packs: Offer cold brew pitcher packs for convenient at-home or commercial brewing.
- Cold brew concentrate: Provide prepackaged cold brew concentrate, allowing customers to mix it with water or milk as desired.
- Reusable filters: Tap into sustainability trends by offering reusable metal or plastic filters for at-home brewing, giving customers greater control over their coffee.
Why Is Cold Brew Popular?
Cold brew stands apart from iced coffee, which can often taste weak and watery. Cold brew boasts a bold, robust flavor profile and packs more caffeine than its iced counterpart, making it an attractive choice for coffee aficionados. Moreover, its versatility shines through as it can be customized with various flavored syrups, milks, creamers, or even transformed into frozen coffee treats. It also plays a role in the craft cocktail scene, featuring in alcoholic beverages at bars and restaurants.
2. Nitro Cold Brews
Nitro cold brew takes the chilled coffee game to the next level. Although it has been around for a few years, its popularity is expected to soar even higher in the coming years.
Nitro cold brewing infuses nitrogen gas into coffee using a pressurized valve, akin to the process of home-brewing beer. It begins with regular cold brew, to which nitrogen gas is added, creating small bubbles that enhance the coffee’s flavor and texture. These bubbles are much smaller than those in typical soft drinks, ensuring that nitro cold brew doesn’t taste fizzy or carbonated.
Businesses eager to introduce nitro cold brew should begin with high-quality coffee beans and the appropriate equipment. While it might be pricier to produce than traditional coffee, customers are willing to pay a premium for this exquisite beverage.
Why Are Nitro Cold Brews Popular?
Nitro cold brew canned drinks often contain little to no sugar, making them an attractive choice for health-conscious consumers seeking fewer calories than other coffee beverages. Nitro coffee’s appeal lies in its:
- Reduced bitterness
- Smoother texture
- Creamier flavor
These qualities resonate with coffee enthusiasts of all ages, making nitro coffee a hit across diverse customer groups.
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3. Matcha Lattes
Matcha lattes have been gaining traction in coffee shops, offering a vibrant green alternative to traditional coffee lattes. Unlike coffee lattes, which feature espresso, steamed milk, and foam, matcha lattes blend green tea powder, water, and milk. While they offer less caffeine than their coffee counterparts, some appreciate matcha lattes for delivering a cleaner caffeine boost.
Matcha, derived from ground leaves of specific green tea plants, has been around for centuries, but matcha lattes gained popularity more recently. The process starts with matcha powder, which is mixed with water to create a paste. Steamed milk is then added, and baristas often craft latte art atop the beverage.
Matcha powder can come sweetened or unsweetened, with baristas adjusting sweetness, milk type, and quantity according to customer preferences.
Try our Keto Collagen Matcha Latte!
Why Are Matcha Lattes Popular?
Matcha lattes have secured their place among 2023 coffee trends, despite not containing coffee. Their popularity is rooted in potential health benefits that resonate with health-conscious consumers. With antioxidants, fiber, and a rich source of vitamins, matcha lattes offer several health advantages, including cholesterol reduction, liver protection, improved brain function, and more.
4. Ready-to-Drink Coffee
Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee encompasses various coffee industry trends by providing pre-prepared coffee beverages in bottles or cans. These beverages are brewed, flavored, and sweetened, delivering convenience to customers who can simply grab their preferred variety and enjoy.
One example is coffee-infused energy drinks, combining the sweet coffee taste with the caffeine punch found in energy drinks like Monster or Red Bull. RTD coffee drinks are readily available, from grocery store checkouts to convenience stores and coffee shop fridges. Customers can choose their favorite brand and flavor with ease.
Both emerging coffee brands and established manufacturers are entering the RTD market. In May 2022, RTD coffee sales in the U.S. reached $925.4 million, a 31.5% year-over-year increase. Jumping on the RTD
Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee embodies several 2023 coffee trends by offering pre-prepared beverages in bottles or cans. These beverages are brewed, flavored, and sweetened, providing customers with a convenient coffee experience without the need for preparation.
An example of this trend is coffee-infused energy drinks, which blend the bold, sweet taste of coffee with the high caffeine kick found in energy drinks like Monster or Red Bull. RTD coffee products are readily available, from grocery store checkouts to convenience stores and coffee shop refrigerators, offering customers a wide array of options to choose from.
Both emerging coffee brands and well-established manufacturers are venturing into the RTD market. As of May 2022, RTD coffee sales in the U.S. reached a staggering $925.4 million, marking a remarkable 31.5% year-over-year increase. Embracing the RTD trend presents a lucrative opportunity for generating revenue in the years ahead.
Check out our selection of RTD coffee Here!
Why Is Ready-to-Drink Coffee Popular?
The popularity of RTD coffee can be attributed to its grab-and-go convenience. Customers appreciate the ease of access, as they no longer need to brew their own coffee or wait in line at coffee shops for a barista to prepare their drink. Instead, they can simply choose their preferred brand and flavor, making RTD coffees a favored choice for those on the move.
Furthermore, RTD coffees, often refrigerated, align with the growing trend of cold coffee drinks, adding to their appeal. This combination of convenience and temperature preference makes RTD coffee a sought-after option for consumers.
5. Plant-Based, Non-Dairy Milks
Our next entry to our list of 2023 coffee trends is Plant-based, non-dairy milk.
Recent visits to coffee shops may have revealed an expanded array of milk options beyond traditional skim or whole milk. Plant-based, non-dairy milks have emerged as popular alternatives, catering to those who prefer non-dairy options in their coffee.
In 2020, the market size value for non-dairy milks reached $18.81 billion in the United States. This figure is projected to increase to $41.06 billion by 2025, underscoring the enduring nature of the non-dairy milk trend. This trend within the non-dairy milk market is translating seamlessly into the coffee industry, with both large and local coffee shops incorporating various plant-based milk options into their offerings. Some of the non-dairy milks gaining prominence in coffee shops include:
- Almond
- Soy
- Oat
- Coconut
- Hemp
- Macadamia nut
The minimalist baker offers a great article about making hemp milk here!
Why Are Non-Dairy Milks Popular?
The popularity of non-dairy milks can be attributed to multiple factors. A heightened focus on lactose intolerance and veganism, fueled in part by social media exposure, has amplified the demand for non-dairy alternatives. These alternatives cater to individuals with dietary restrictions, such as those with lactose intolerance, allergies, or a preference for a diet free of animal byproducts, allowing them to infuse more flavor into their coffee.
Additionally, some non-dairy milks offer more flavor variety compared to regular milk or cream. They can be found in sweetened and flavored variations, providing new avenues for coffee creamers and syrups. Coffee shops looking to capitalize on this trend should consider expanding their menu offerings to include a variety of dairy alternatives, recognizing the growing consumer preference for non-dairy options.