The coffee sector has been fraught with change in recent years, and it seems 2023 will be no exception. But as the weather gets warmer, which coffee trends can we expect to take centre stage through the spring and summer? Last year, cold coffee and ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee products were particularly prominent. Coffee cocktails also made something of a comeback to mainstream café culture. Consumers also increasingly sought out healthier food and beverage products. Subsequently, it seems that the concept of “functional coffee” is now here to stay. For the months ahead, we expect cold coffee to remain a hot topic – especially through the summer. Rising operating costs will also continue to be a topic of discussion until the end of the year. Let’s take a look at what’s happening at how businesses can capitalise on some of 2023’s most prominent coffee trends.
As plenty of operators are aware, cold coffee continues to enjoy explosive growth in major markets around the world. A Quartz article published in September 2022 asserted that “every season is now iced coffee season”. One of the biggest changes is that the demand for cold coffee is extending well into the colder months, too. In 2021, Starbucks announced that nearly three-quarters of its Q3 sales consisted of cold coffee beverages. In fact, the wide availability and convenience of RTD coffee means that consumers can now enjoy cold coffee year-round. Sales during winter months were up by 18.8% in December 2021, and early figures from 2022 tell a similar story. Through spring and summer 2023, especially in warmer markets, cafés should stay on top of this key coffee trend. This means ensuring a consistent supply of cold brew, RTD products, and iced coffee beverages. Marco has developed several products for this specific reason, including the POUR’D cold and hot beverage dispensing system. Essentially, the POUR’D is a fast and flexible dispenser that works with any syrup or coffee concentrate you have available. It can dispense both hot and cold beverages and can be pre-programmed to pour three beverage sizes. This is especially useful for businesses that sell high volumes of cold brew or cold brew-based drinks. In these situations, consumers often demand quick service and high quality, making POUR’D the perfect solution. Similarly, the Marco ColdBRU simplifies cold brew brewing and produces coffee concentrate in under three hours. Businesses can use the preset recipes or program their own, saving valuable time and effort. Plus, it doesn’t use any paper filters or other consumables and there’s no need to pre-wet the coffee grounds. The ColdBRU delivers coffee concentrate up to 4% total dissolved solids (TDS). In fact, it can extract up to 30% more from ground coffee than the leading competitor. This makes it ideal for use either diluted as cold brew or as a concentrated shot for iced drinks. Simply put, it’s compact, efficient, and tidy. Cold coffee trends continue
“Functional” and healthy coffee beverages continue to be popular as consumers’ focus on wellbeing persists. In particular, cold brew continues to be very popular as part of this. Thanks to its naturally low acidity and inherent sweetness, it can be a perfect choice for consumers who want to cut out dairy and sugar. At the same time, we’ve also seen coffee become more and more popular as a pre-workout. Studies show caffeine has many benefits for active consumers. According to the International Society of Sports Nutrition, it boosts “muscular endurance, movement velocity and muscular strength, sprinting, jumping, and throwing performance, as well as a wide range of aerobic and anaerobic sport-specific actions”. A brand new study even suggests that caffeine may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, some coffee companies have taken “healthy coffee” to a new level. The sheer volume of “healthy” and functional coffee beverages on offer has skyrocketed in the last two to three years. One such trend has been the variations of “adaptogenic” and “beauty boosting” coffees appearing on the market. These can contain additional ingredients like probiotics, collagen, vitamins, CBD, matcha, and even protein supplements. Coffee shops can capitalise on this trend by pre-mixing their own versions of these drinks and dispensing them using the POUR’D system. Another option could be to offer nutritional supplements at the point of sale, giving customers the choice of adding to their own drinks. Healthy coffee continues to trend in 2023
In 2022, a UK Hospitality survey predicted that up to a third of hospitality businesses in the country were at risk because of “soaring” energy costs. While these seem to be stabilising, inflation is still a force to contend with across Europe. Operating a coffee business is now more expensive than ever before. In an interview with iNews, one coffee shop owner claimed that her 2021 energy bill rose by 550% in 2022, slashing profit margins and making it virtually impossible to continue operating in 2023. Despite governments across Europe intervening, it seems clear that operating costs are set to remain high for some time, even as energy prices settle in some markets. This means that some coffee shops may see no choice but to pass these costs on to consumers. However, there is another option, specifically for keeping energy costs down: installing more energy-efficient equipment. For example, the Marco MT4 commercial water boiler is designed to dispense hot water on demand, while still using substantially less energy than traditional boilers. It also takes up very little countertop space. The Marco MIX UC3 undercounter unit takes boiler innovation a step further. Specifically, its vacuum-insulated tank makes it up to 70% more energy efficient than its leading competitor. Adopting energy-efficient technology will not only reduce energy consumption in the long run, but also satisfy consumers who remain mindful of buying from more sustainable brands. Finally, businesses can make the most of the Marco POUR’D system by integrating it with the compatible ColdBRU brewer. Using this, you can maximise your profit, getting more out of your existing coffee without compromising on variety or efficiency. Tackling rising costs
Despite rising costs for consumers and businesses alike, specialty coffee continues to remain popular in key coffee markets. Consumers remain more interested than ever in a range of sensory profiles. An easy way to accommodate this is by expanding your menu. Many coffee shops, for instance, have started offering a range of coffees for both espresso and filter. You might want to offer an exciting new or seasonal blend or more delicate single origin coffees depending on your customer base. Start by partnering with the right coffee roaster to ensure you’re giving customers exactly what they want. This might mean offering a bold, intense coffee for espresso and cold brew, or a floral, citrusy, or fruity single origin on filter. Expanding your menu for a range of flavour profiles
As ever, in 2023, foodservice businesses will need to adapt and keep up with the latest coffee trends, whether that’s cold coffee, functional ingredients, or anything else that may well emerge through the spring and summer. This becomes increasingly important when we consider rising costs and consumers’ changing purchasing habits – making the next few months as important a time to capitalise on coffee trends as ever.