Coffee is responsible for fueling early mornings, long work days, and late nights, making it a mainstay in the daily lives of everyone from busy students and stressed-out travelers to new parents and productive professionals. But just because coffee continues to have a huge influence on our day-to-day functioning does not mean that it needs to stay the same. Coffee trends have been evolving quickly, as consumers have been seeking out ways to shake up their daily routines with new and unique flavors.
What are consumers looking for these days when it comes to coffee? It’s all about translating the latest trends into exciting takes on familiar favorites. Keep reading for our experts’ takes on the biggest opportunities for innovating with coffee – and insights into how brands in other categories, like snacks and dairy, can capitalize on these trends to introduce creative coffee-inspired flavors.
Indulgent Inspirations
Coffee is not just a daily dietary staple, but it’s also a treat for many consumers. Sprucing up their coffee with indulgent ingredients and ultra-sweet, dessert-inspired flavors is one way in which many consumers are living out the “treat yourself” mentality. According to Mintel, almost half of consumers are looking for indulgent flavors in ready-to-drink coffee products.
Consumers have been gravitating towards indulgence in general for a few reasons. Stress levels are running high, given economic and political uncertainty, and in times of stress, consumers tend to use food and beverages to soothe themselves. Indulgent flavors tend to give consumers a bit of a mood boost, as they feel like they’re doing something special for themselves in a small, but meaningful way. Adding some indulgence to their daily cup of coffee is one way in which they can treat themselves a bit without breaking the bank.
Coffee brands can embrace this trend by drawing flavor inspiration from desserts. Think a tiramisu latte or a black forest cake frozen cappuccino. Another option? Add extra indulgent ingredient options, like caramel, double chocolate drizzle, whipped cream, and shaved chocolate to basic coffee drinks to let consumers customize their coffee in a way that lets them treat themselves.
Social Media Sensations
Social media has been responsible for many of the latest food and beverage trends, making it unsurprising that it has given rise to several buzzworthy coffee beverages. For example, dalgona coffee, a whipped coffee beverage, went viral in 2020 for its creamy flavor and aesthetically pleasing appearance and continues to be popular amongst consumers.
One of the perks of social media is that it makes faraway places feel much closer and more accessible. Consumers have been using social media to get acquainted with foods and flavors from around the world, and coffee has been no exception. Foods and beverages serve as a means of exploration for many consumers, especially when travel is difficult or impossible. Consumers have been resorting to social media to learn about coffee beverages from around the world.
This presents a huge opportunity to coffee brands, as introducing products and menu items inspired by global flavors is a surefire way to grab consumers’ attention. Turkish coffee, for example, has taken off on social media, peaking consumers’ interest with its rich, bold flavor. Brands can get inspired by the classic coffee beverages of trending cuisines.
Translating Coffee Flavors to Other Categories
Given how beloved coffee is, it’s no surprise that consumers have expressed interest in trying it in a variety of formats beyond beverages. Bringing coffee inspired flavors, and especially those that lean into the latest trends, to a variety of categories is an excellent way for brands to innovate with everyone’s favorite morning beverage.
Snack, dairy, and baked good brands can translate trending coffee drinks into new and exciting flavors. Think gingerbread latte popcorn or salted caramel macchiato brownies. Protein and sauce brands can incorporate coffee flavors into traditional flavors to get in on this trend. Think a coffee BBQ sauce for ribs or a coffee mole sauce for chicken.
Ready to innovate with coffee? Our experts have got you covered! Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you make something special.