Cold brew is leading coffee’s category growth, according to Flavorchem trends

Photo © Shutterstock.com/ Dmitrij Skorobogatov

Flavorchem (Downers Grove, IL) released its top trends that are driving premium coffee innovation, including an increase in everyday drinking occurrences, elevated at-home coffee experiences, and an increased interest in ready-to-drink cold brew and functional coffee. Interestingly, many of the trends happening in the premium coffee sector are crossing over from trends in food such as plant-based, sustainable, and mental wellness. These trends include:

• Cold Brew Heats Up: Statista projects cold brew coffee sales reach $1 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24%. Cold brew’s fun flavors, health benefits, and range of formats positions it as the category growth leader.
• Everyday Wellness: Functional coffee is gaining popularity with consumers due to its health-boosting ingredients. Mintel says 30% of coffee drinkers are interested in purchasing coffee with added functional benefits such as immune and cognitive support, as well as added ingredients such as protein and probiotics.
• Sustainable Claims: 49% of all 2021 global coffee launches carried an environmental or ethical claim. Sustainability is an expectation from customers. They want to know brands are investing in sustainable business practices: fair trade, humanitarian rights, upcycling, and eco-efficient packaging such as compostable cups and filters.
• Plant-Based Innovation: While the plant-based space has been evolving for a while now, the ever-evolving marketplace, landscape, and changing needs of consumers has set coffee brands up for opportunities in product innovation with macadamia, oat, and plant-protein milk and creamers.
• Traveling through Taste: Coffee brands are showcasing coffee beans from Indonesia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Costa Rica along with global flavors matcha, horchata, and chai.