As the coffee landscape evolves, staying updated on the latest coffee trends is essential for enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. From new brewing methods to innovative flavors, 2024 promises exciting developments in the coffee world. In this blog, we’ll explore emerging coffee trends for 2024 and how they are shaping the industry.
Coffee Trends in 2024
To many people, a morning wouldn’t be complete without a cup of their beloved coffee. It is their way to boost productivity and prepare for the day ahead. Because of their love for that unique caffeine rush in the morning, coffee enthusiasts have developed new and exciting ways to upgrade our coffee experience.
Recent coffee trends offer significant twists to our conventional coffee. This also widens our horizon regarding our options and provides a new perspective to spice up our experience. Convenience, flavor, and quality are some of the main driving forces behind creative ideas in the coffee industry. Let’s look at some of the latest coffee industry trends.
Healthy Coffee Trends
In 2024, coffee lovers are embracing a wave of health-conscious trends that cater to wellness and functional benefits. Adaptogen-infused coffee, featuring ingredients like ashwagandha and reishi, aims to reduce stress and enhance mental clarity. Similarly, mushroom coffee, often made with chaga or lion’s mane, provides a lower-caffeine option with immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory benefits. Probiotic coffee is gaining ground among those focused on gut health, while CBD-infused coffee appeals to consumers who want caffeine’s energy without the jitters. Each trend reflects a shift toward cleaner, functional coffee options that meet the demands of today’s health-focused consumer.
Cold Brew
Cold brew coffee continues to gain popularity, with consumers appreciating its smooth, less acidic flavor profile. This brewing method involves steeping coarsely ground coffee in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a rich and refreshing beverage. In coffee trends 2024, expect to see more creative cold brew variations, including flavored options and ready-to-drink (RTD) formats.
Iced Coffee
While iced coffee has been a staple for years, its versatility has made it to the coffee industry trends for 2024. Many cafes are experimenting with different brewing methods and unique flavor combinations, catering to diverse palates. From espresso-based iced drinks to nitro-infused options, the iced coffee scene is expanding rapidly.
Matcha Lattes
Matcha lattes have surged in popularity, appealing to health-conscious consumers. This trend is expected to continue in 2024, with coffee shops offering various matcha-based drinks alongside traditional coffee options. The combination of coffee and matcha is also gaining traction, appealing to those looking for a caffeine boost with added health benefits.
Plant-Based, Non-Dairy Milk
As the plant-based movement grows, non-dairy milk options like oats, almonds, and soy are becoming standard in coffee shops. In 2024, the variety of plant-based milk will expand further, with innovative products designed to enhance flavor and texture in coffee beverages.
Snapchilled Coffee
Snapchilled coffee is an innovative brewing method that rapidly cools hot coffee, preserving flavor and freshness. This technique is gaining traction in current coffee trends, appealing to those who want the depth of hot coffee in a cold format without losing quality.
Dalgona or Whipped Coffee
The viral sensation of Dalgona coffee remains relevant in 2024. This whipped coffee trend combines instant coffee, sugar, and hot water, creating a frothy topping for milk. Many cafes are putting their spin on this classic, introducing unique flavors and variations.
Single-Origin Spotlight
Coffee lovers are becoming increasingly interested in single-origin coffees, appreciating the distinct flavors and stories behind each bean. In 2024, expect to see more emphasis on sourcing and transparency, with cafes highlighting the origins of their coffee to educate consumers.
The Experiential Coffee Shop
The coffee shop experience is evolving beyond just serving beverages. In 2024, expect more cafes to offer immersive experiences, such as coffee tastings, brewing classes, and workshops. This trend caters to consumers looking for more than just a quick caffeine fix.
The Rise of Home Coffee Bars
With the growing popularity of home brewing, many coffee enthusiasts are creating their own coffee bars. In 2024, more consumers will invest in high-quality equipment, specialty beans, and accessories to replicate café-quality drinks in their kitchens.
Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
People usually serve coffee hot, but current coffee trends show traction among folks who enjoy a new twist on their favorite beverage. The past couple of years have seen a steady rise in the appeal of iced coffee. One of the people’s choices for cold brew coffee is the Nitro Cold Brew, but what is it exactly?
Nitro cold brew coffee has been around for years, but it has become a fan favorite with its unique take on cold brewing. Nitro cold brew follows the same concept we usually see in beer homebrewers with the help of nitrogen gas. A pressurized valve infuses the coffee with nitrogen gas, adding mysterious bubbles that significantly improve the blend’s overall texture and taste profile. These bubbles are considerably more delicate than the traditional bubbles we see in carbonated drinks.
Making nitro coffee isn’t as simple as making conventional coffee, and preparing one is also not cheap because of the necessary equipment. However, the taste and quality of the brew carry their value in the coffee industry’s trend for premium, unique experiences.
Flash Brew or Snap Chilled Coffee
Flash brew is another variant of cold brew coffee that has been growing in the past couple of years. Technically, snap chilled coffee is not a cold brew in nature, but it and the overall end product are similar to other cold brew coffee products.
Snap-chilled coffee is made from a process similar to naturally brewed coffee. However, the freshly brewed blend is quickly chilled, just like the name applies. Thus, it provides more flavor than any typical cold brew because it is fresher than its counterparts. Snap-chilled coffee offers more decadent flavors thanks to the absence of ice that dilutes the coffee blend.
In addition, snap-chilled coffee options take less time to prepare than other cold brew blends. They also involve fewer resources, and the taste profile is easier to manipulate thanks to the absence of any diluting products, such as ice. The rich flavor it offers means less coffee to work with, which is good for any coffee shop business.
Because of that, flash brew coffee is slowly taking over cold brew in many coffee shops around the globe as the current coffee trend of choice. It is only a matter of time before it takes a massive leap to the forefront regarding trending drink options within the coffee community.
Ready-To-Drink Coffee Drinks
Bottled and canned coffee options are not a new concept for coffee beverages; they have been around for many years now. There are tons of ready-to-drink coffee products on your local grocery shelves. A famous coffee chain store initiated this movement with bottled frappuccinos, which quickly became a widespread product that became an instant solution for our caffeine needs.
Aside from frappuccinos, ready-to-drink coffee now offers tons of variety. Local coffee shops and coffee manufacturers sell RTD brews in various flavors, such as mocha iced lattes, and even have nitro cold brew options.
Canned and bottled coffees are beginning to gain stable traction, especially for people who are always on the go or simply too busy to prepare a brew. In addition, there is no additional cost of maintaining them rather than using fridges to sort out their shelf life.
High-Quality Instant Coffee
A true coffee lover likes the overall feel of an authentic coffee brew, but making it consumes a lot of effort and time. However, instant coffee nowadays offers the same quality of a premium blend without manually grinding and blending the coffee mix, adding to coffee trends in 2024 with its convenience and quality focus.
Many companies offer quality coffee beans, which are incorporated into making instant coffee. The end product results in high-quality instant coffee with no compromise in taste and flavor, unlike traditional instant coffee mixes, which usually have a stale and bitter taste.
Coffee Tourism
Coffee is the key to unlocking this economic potential for countries and unique places that want to diversify their tourist portfolio or expand culinary tourism. Everyone has their unique take on coffee consumption. With the global pandemic already in a controllable phase, it is only a matter of time before coffee tourism makes a big statement in the industry.
Coffee drinkers will once again look for authentic experiences in remote areas that offer their unique way of preparing coffee. Whether it is their process of harvesting coffee beans or their distinct techniques for growing our favorite blend, there are always people who will look for educational coffee experiences.
There’s enormous potential for such tourism in countries where coffee is grown, produced, and cooked differently than in the rest of the world. Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Costa Rica, and Guatemala are some of these countries worth visiting.
Coffee trends such as Coffee Subscription
Another one on the top of the list for this year’s coffee industry trends is coffee subscriptions. This is one of the products of the recent events that have affected our society globally.
Coffee subscriptions offer flexible options for people who love to enjoy coffee without leaving the safety of their homes. With this, personalized coffee blends will always be within reach.
Coffee Bags
Coffee bags will surely gain traction this year, with convenience as their selling point. Brewing coffee at home involves many meticulous processes, but coffee bags might be the simple solution to this concern.
On top of that, young professionals with a deep understanding of the environmental process might opt for coffee bags made from environmentally friendly materials.
This year, there is much to look for in coffee trends 2024, and the above examples only scratch the surface. True coffee enthusiasts should be glad about the ever-growing trends in consuming their favorite drink.
Recyclable Coffee Pods
Single-serve coffee pods have risen in popularity in the past couple of years. Thanks to their convenience, they provide a reliable option for coffee lovers to include on their list. However, it is only a matter of time before sustainable options become available in the market, which might be this year.
Recyclable coffee pods fit the description when considering sustainable options for coffee mixes. They provide the same convenience as a typical single-serve coffee pod but add an extraordinary amount of value thanks to their reusable nature.
Reusable pods offer a cheaper alternative to single-serve brews in addition to their sustainability value. This method not only fulfills your body’s caffeine craving but also does a massive favor for Mother Earth.
How to Keep Up with Coffee Industry Trends
Staying informed about current coffee trends and coffee industry trends is vital for anyone involved in the coffee business. Here are some strategies to help you keep pace:
Subscribe to Industry Magazines and Blogs
Regularly reading industry publications provides valuable insights into emerging trends and innovations in the coffee sector.
Explore Social Media
Follow coffee influencers and brands on social media platforms to stay updated on the latest trends, recipes, and industry news.
Familiarize Yourself with Industry Reports and Market Research
Research reports offer comprehensive data on market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive analyses, helping you make informed business decisions.
Track Data from Your Shop or Website
Monitor sales data and customer feedback to identify which trends resonate most with your audience, allowing you to adapt accordingly.
Talk to Your Customers
Engaging with customers directly provides valuable insights into their preferences and interests, helping you tailor your offerings.
Check with Your Employees
Your staff can be a great source of information about emerging trends, as they often interact with customers and stay informed about industry shifts.
Factors that Affect the Coffee Industry
Recent events usually affect how people react to trends; that same rule applies to the coffee industry. Here are some factors that directly affect coffee trends in our society.
Social Media
Social media is the most significant avenue for sharing information with the rest of the community. After all, any individual can share appealing news with just one click.
Social media platforms are the biggest driver for growing and spreading a trending product. Eye-pleasing products and positive reviews are factors that affect social media trends. That’s why latte art and coffee with bright colors and stunning designs are the people’s choice for posting on their social media wall.
Sustainability
New-age consumers are savvy and aware of modern issues, including sustainability and environmental concerns. That’s why sustainability is at the top of the list when aiming for a trendy product.
Recyclable straws and reusable cups play significant roles in sourcing ethical and manufacturing practices. However, some instances require more than that. There are cases where a manufacturer should go all out when it comes to sustainability, such as including products that offer more sustainability options than just the packaging and container.
Recent Events
Recent events play a significant role in trendy products and practices. The global pandemic is one of the greatest examples.
With most of the workforce working at home, providing convenience without compromising quality is ideal for a perfect cup of coffee. With that in mind, coffee producers and shops generally offer instant blends or on-the-go products that serve both purposes.
Convenience and Quality
Coffee trends are more than just appearance and style. In most cases, preparing and analyzing the overall taste profile of coffee mixes are the top priorities for cover lovers. The coffee and tea industry invests huge amounts of money and resources to satisfy modern consumers, which usually provides a breakthrough for serving people hot or cold coffee options.
International Flavored Coffee You Must Try
Each country has its take on coffee, and you might be surprised how diverse and rich the coffee industry is in other places. With that said, here are some of the most popular coffee industry blends you must try to raise your coffee experience to another level.
Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is an international flavor that might significantly impact this year’s coffee trend. Turkish coffee comes from the famous Arabic method, which undergoes a thorough bean process without filtering its contents. The finished product provides a strong and flavorful coffee blend that gives off a satisfying caffeine rush with all the potential health benefits of coffee beans.
Turkish coffee was created in the 15th century, and much progress has already been made in the past couple of decades to perfect the procedure. This kind of coffee blend is perfect for social settings and small gatherings of people who want to enjoy a healthy cup of coffee
Vietnamese Coffee
Robusta beans are a popular choice for coffee enthusiasts. Fortunately, people looking for a new way to spice up their coffee experience can utilize robusta beans and make themselves a quality cup of Vietnamese coffee.
Vietnamese coffee uses a distinct type of dripper called phin. This helps steep the coffee before it reaches your cup. This coffee mix usually uses condensed milk and is typically served over ice. This mix results in a strong and flavorful blend.
Vietnamese coffee can also be served with other ingredients to boost its flavor profile naturally. If you want to experience a touch of a flavorful coffee deeply connected to Vietnamese culture, then this is the coffee of choice.
Conclusion
As we look ahead to 2024, the coffee industry is set to witness significant changes and innovations. From the continued rise of cold brew and iced coffee to the growth of health-focused trends, understanding these developments is crucial for enthusiasts and professionals alike. By staying informed and adapting to these trends, you can ensure that you remain at the forefront of the ever-evolving coffee landscape.
FAQs
1. What are the latest coffee trends for 2024?
In 2024, expect to see coffee trends like cold brew, iced coffee, matcha lattes, and a focus on plant-based milk options.
2. How can I keep up with coffee industry trends?
If you want to keep up with coffee industry trends subscribe to industry magazines, explore social media, and familiarize yourself with market research reports to stay informed.
3. What is the significance of single-origin coffee in current coffee trends?
Single-origin coffee highlights unique flavors and stories from different regions, catering to consumers’ growing interest in transparency and quality.
Barry Konkin is the founder of HotShot Coffee Sleeves. With over 30 years experience in commercial offset printing, Barry utilized his diverse printing background and creativity in developing new coffee sleeve designs that were granted Patents in both the USA and Canada. Barry’s goal is to assist businesses with brand promotion through the use of high quality custom printed cup sleeves. With an understanding of your marketing and operational objectives, Barry can recommend the ideal coffee sleeve solution for you.