Guestblog by Moniek Smit

Most of us enjoy a nice cup of coffee and virtually everyone has an opinion about it. Coffee is a hot topic that gets more and more attention. The way we make and drink coffee today is very different from 15 years ago, whether at home or elsewhere. Developments are following one another in rapid succession, with remarkable hypes and trends that are here to stay. In this article, I discuss 10 coffee trends that one can't help but notice.

1. Convenience is key

After the introduction of the coffee pad, the market for single-serve coffee making exploded. Pads, pods and capsules are available in various formats. Their popularity is a testament to our willingness to pay for convenience. We're happy to pay three times as much for an easy cup of coffee than we do for ground coffee or coffee beans.

2. Variety - at home as well

Gone are the days when you had to go out for a cappuccino or a latte. We are consuming ever more milky coffees at home (and less and less coffee creamer). The various recipes are hardly ever served in a traditional cup and saucer. These days we drink our coffee from pretty mugs and glassware. There are no set rules for how you serve your coffee, just follow your own taste and preferences.

3. Coffee to go

A trend that started slowly, but that has become part of modern life; coffee on the go. In the train, in the car, on foot and even on the bicycle, people are enjoying their coffee everywhere. What is increasingly noticeable, is that many use their own thermal cups instead of throw-away paper cups, which fits in with the next trend.

4. Sustainable coffee consumption

A growing number of people find the waste caused by coffee capsules and paper cups unacceptable. Additionally, there is more attention for the origin of the product and a fair remuneration for coffee farmers. This awareness will increase in the near future, as coffee production is under pressure and coffee companies focus more on sustainability.

5. Plant based milk

The advance of soy, coconut, almond, oat and rice milk combined with coffee continues. The target audience for these products has grown beyond those who cannot consume dairy products. Users consciously choose plant-based variants. Often for health and sustainability reasons and because they prefer the excellent flavour of these alternatives.

6. Coffee like wine

We can buy coffee from Brazil, Kenya and Indonesia at the local supermarket. The demand is growing for coffees from specific regions with transparent information about the processing and roasting methods. I can't wait for the moment that we can select a beautiful washed Yellow Bourbon from a coffee list, like we do now with wine.

7. Barista’s and coffee art

The hero of every coffee shop; the barista. A popular student job. Besides the ability to make a gorgeous coffee with impressive milk art, their coffee expertise is equally important. Amateur baristas at home are on the rise; a new pastime for those who want to change their kitchen into a fancy coffee bar with a nice shiny machine.

8. Cold brew coffee

Another slow but irreversible trend; cold coffee. Iced coffee, frozen cappuccino and even nitro coffee, which is coffee on tap. A very popular product with the new generation of coffee drinkers. Also readily available in cans and bottles, in a variety of flavours. Coffee has also become a soda.

9. Coffee as an ingredient

Chefs and bartenders have rediscovered coffee. With its various origins, coffee is a product with a broad palette of flavours, from refreshingly sour to full and sweet. A great flavouring for pastries, desserts and cocktails, but also for hot sauces and marinades.

10. Back to filter coffee

A steadily growing trend; the return of filter coffee. Not like it used to be, but geared to today's desires. A well-prepared filter coffee that reveals the various coffee tastes. More and more people can make coffee in various ways in their home, using specific rituals when time allows. The more effort you put in preparing a good cup, the more you will enjoy your coffee.

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