New Coffee Formats for Exciting Drinking Experiences
From the forests of ancient Ethiopia to the first coffee houses in 15th-century Yemen, coffee has a long history intertwined with human culture. The 600-year-old industry has changed dramatically since then. However, the drink itself has largely gone unchanged—until now.
The Western formula for a good cup of Joe has always been water, coffee beans, and time. Today, however, many coffee brands are challenging the age-old recipe with exciting new ways to enjoy the beloved bean.
Innovation Spurred by Convenience
It’s no secret that lifestyles are becoming faster. Modern human minds must keep up with the ever-advancing technology we create, escalating the demand for convenience foods and drinks. From cultivation to brewing, fresh coffee can take weeks to prepare – far too long for today’s busy people.
Instead, modern coffee lovers demand caffeinated drinks they can enjoy on the go. Coffee should be quick and easy yet retain the full flavors and aromas of a fresh brew. The high taste standards for convenience coffee have sparked significant innovation in ready-to-drink products.
The Rise of Ready-to-Drink Coffee
The latest National Coffee Data Trends report notes that ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee is now the third most popular preparation method among regular coffee drinkers. Its popularity has nearly doubled in the last year, with consumption up by 83% since 2023.
Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Peet’s, and La Colombe are some well-known US coffee brands to move into the RTD space. The market is also home to countless artisanal brands and small-batch brewers such as Rise Brewing Co, Good Citizen, and Slingshot Coffee. Many RTD coffee brands emphasize ingredient transparency and quality that echo the healthy living movement.
Cold Coffee Formats
Most ready-to-drink coffees are served cold, inverting the tradition of enjoying a steaming hot drink. They are not, however, chilled versions of regular brews. Instead, canned coffee relies on cold brewing, a technique that involves soaking coffee grounds in cool water for up to 24 hours to extract flavor.
Another exciting new product in the sector is nitro coffee – a cold brew infused with nitrogen gas to create tiny bubbles in the drink. Nitro brews are foamy with a creamier, more blended texture than traditional cold brews.
Sachets, Pods, and K-Cups: The New Instant Coffee
Once a pantry staple, traditional instant coffee has since become a rarity in most US homes. The drink largely died out during the 1980s to early 2000s with the rise of the specialty coffee market and the growing appreciation for high-quality coffee. Today, instant coffee is making a comeback, albeit slightly different.
Coffee sachets, coffee bags (similar to teabags), pods, and K-cups are single-cup brewing options that solve the taste and freshness dilemmas instant coffee once faced. These products encapsulate freshly ground coffee beans in small containers to preserve flavor and aroma, allowing consumers to enjoy barista-quality coffee at home.
Flavored Coffees and Infused Brews
The flavored coffee industry is booming despite the disdain of coffee purists everywhere. One company making waves in the sector is Bones Coffee, which offers outlandish flavors like blueberry pancakes, key lime pie, fruity cereal, and jelly donuts.
Artisan coffee makers like Bones may use natural or artificial flavors to craft unique coffee products. These ingredients may come from plants or food-safe chemicals that mimic natural tastes.
Advanced Biotech supplies premium flavoring ingredients for food and beverage producers in the US and beyond. To try our high-quality ingredients in your formulation, feel free to request a sample or contact us for more information.