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Top 5 coffee and tea trends for 2023

In the post-pandemic 'new normal,' health, sustainability and convenience are all top of mind for consumers. Coffee and tea preferences are carrying over from 2022, but some new offerings have entered the picture.

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April 24, 2023

In 2020, newscasters adopted the fortune-teller role and predicted a "new normal." The new normal is here, and coffee service and foodservice operators should be riding the regained momentum. While we're matching our pre-pandemic pace, we're marching to a different tune.

After using countless plastic disposables, we now pursue sustainability. Menus must boost immune systems. Convenience is expected and elaborate experiences appreciated. These factors drive universal foodservice trends, but they offer unique opportunities and challenges for the coffee and tea industry. Discover the new normal for coffee culture and see what trends await you in 2023.

Top coffee trends

Coffee is an essential part of daily American life. According to a Statista study, 88% of Americans drank between one and five cups of coffee a day in 2022. The desire for a cup of joe is constant, but the types of coffee drinks consumers prefer evolve from the culture.

In 2023, the public will adopt coffee trends that accommodate hectic schedules. Fast to prepare, travels well and meal replacing is the name of the 2023 coffee trends game.

1. Coffee concentrate

Coffee concentrate, as its name suggests, is concentrated coffee that allows you to prepare high-quality beverages without fancy equipment or lengthy brew times.

Cold brew concentrate is the most popular form, but you can also purchase espresso concentrate. Add water to dilute the coffee concentrate or incorporate it into milk for a richer beverage. Use cold milk to create an iced coffee concentrate or add chilled water to cold brew concentrates for an instant glass of cold brewed coffee.

2. Cold coffee

From classic iced coffee to premium cold brew to trendy snap chilled coffee, cold coffee will reign supreme in 2023. People are making up for the lost time after the pandemic and are living on the go, and many have returned to working in offices at least part-time.

Cold coffee travels better than hot coffee, accommodating fast-paced lifestyles. Starbucks also reported that cold beverages are popular amongst their Gen Z customers, whose buying habits will increasingly shape the marketplace.

Climate change is another contributing factor to the domination of cold coffee. In 2019, a study found that customers now seek cold coffee year-round thanks to rising global temperatures. This trend has continued to take hold, and in 2022 even more customers favored iced beverages, with some retailers citing up to a 30% rise in cold coffee orders.

3. Cold foam

Frothy steamed milk has been the classic topping for cappuccinos and lattes for years. However, with the rise of cold coffee drinks, cold foam is taking center stage. Cold foam is cold, frothed milk created to accompany cold coffee beverages. Hot foam dissipates when added to cold drinks, but cold foam holds a creamy, meringue-like form.

Cold foam is often imbued with flavorings. Upsell your cold coffee drinks by adding seasonal, winter-flavored cold foam specials. There are a rising number of lactose intolerant and vegan customers, making non-dairy milk vital for modern coffee shops. Expect to see plant-based cold foam on cafe menus too. The best plant-based milk for making cold foam is full-fat coconut cream, not coconut milk.

4. Protein coffee

Proffee, aka protein coffee, emerged as a trend on TikTok to convert morning coffee into a satiating way to start your day. Coffee shops will take advantage of this trend and promote protein coffee menu items to customers who don't want to eat a full meal first thing in the morning. You can make proffee by mixing coffee into a pre-made protein shake. This method provides up to 30 grams of protein.

Others choose to blend coffee with plant-based protein powders, which typically offer 20 to 25 grams of protein. Collagen coffee is especially popular because it adds a rich texture to coffee without altering its flavor or aroma.

Two scoops of collagen powder provide approximately 11 grams of protein. Pair collagen coffee with high-protein plant-based creamer options like pea milk to bring it into the protein range of the other proffee offerings.

5. Food topped lattes

Lattes topped with food will become a fun trend in 2023. Usually inspired by nostalgic treats, coffee shops are offering lattes that recreate a beloved dessert topped with complementary foods.
Imagine an oat milk latte topped with oatmeal cream pie crumbles or a strawberry shortcake latte topped with freeze-dried strawberries and shortcake pieces. The possibilities are endless!

This trend facilitates social media marketing with its over-the-top presentations and can help coffee shops attract new customers. While consumers may be busy again, they also have a heightened desire for experiences, and a dessert-inspired latte crowned with sweets delivers.

Tea trends

According to The International Tea Committee in London, tea use has more than doubled in the past 20 years. In 2022, tea consumption rose 113% to 6.7 million metric tons. Expect to see more tea options and the following top five tea trends overtaking cafe menus in 2023.

1. Kombucha

While kombucha isn't new, it will become a staple rather than a niche item in 2023. Kombucha is an effervescent, probiotic tea-based drink enhanced with nourishing herbal additives, fruits and spices.

According to Grand View Research, the global kombucha market size will have a compound annual growth rate of 15.6% through 2030 and will reach $9.7 billion by 2030.

Canned kombucha lends itself perfectly to the rising RTD market as a healthy alternative to soft drinks. Usually made from green tea, kombucha is an energizing drink that promotes gut health, provides antioxidants, kills harmful bacteria and may even reduce the chances of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Kombucha can be enjoyed any time of day. Some choose to give their digestion system a kick-start by drinking kombucha first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Others drink it before or during meals to aid in digestion. It is even brewed into an alcoholic version as a healthier alternative to other alcoholic drinks and enjoyed in nightlife environments.

2. Moringa tea

Moringa tea is an herbal tea made from the leaves of the Moringa oleifera plant. The moringa tree is commonly referred to as "the miracle tree" thanks to its many health benefits.

While it's recently emerged in Western medicine, Southeast Asian cultures have relied on their native moringa tree leaves to treat diseases and heal wounds for centuries.

The USDA reports that raw moringa leaves offer many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C and B6, and nutrients like beta-carotene and amino acids.

People even take moringa powder as a dietary supplement. While they're drawn to moringa tea for its health benefits, consumers will be delighted by its flavor. Moringa tea offers a similar, earthy flavor to green tea without its astringency. Many tea makers blend moringa leaves with mint, cinnamon or lavender to juxtapose its vegetal flavor.

2. Pu-erh tea

Thanks to its high caffeine content, pu-erh tea is emerging as a coffee alternative. One 240 milliliter cup of pu-erh tea contains between 30-100 milligrams of caffeine, and a cup of coffee contains between 95-200 milligrams of caffeine. Since pu-erh tea contains less caffeine than coffee but more caffeine than other tea varieties, it can help people wean off caffeine.

Pu-erh tea is made by parching and fermenting the leaves of Camella Sinensis, which develops its higher caffeine levels and imbues it with probiotics.

Pu-erh tea aids digestion and can cleanse free radicals and toxins. It may even improve heart health by lowering cholesterol. Unlike other teas that lose their quality over time, pu-erh tea tastes better as it ages. It has a rich flavor that ranges from woody with subtle mushroom essences to sweet and floral.

4. Honeybush tea

Fans of South African rooibos are in for a new treat with honeybush tea. An herbal infusion from South Africa, honeybush is a shrub that grows in the Eastern and Western Cape regions and is in Fabaceae, the same plant family as rooibos.

As its name suggests, honeybush tea offers a honied aroma and flavor. It is both naturally sweet and caffeine-free. Sweet doesn't mean unhealthy; honeybush tea is packed with antioxidants and may improve bone health, act as an antidiabetic, fight cancer and promote skin health.

5. Sparkling tea

While consumers are moving away from sugar and dye-filled soft drinks, they still crave carbonation. Enter sparkling tea. At its most basic, sparkling tea is a mixture of tea and carbonated water.

The growing health consciousness has created the nonalcoholic bar drink trend, and sparkling teas can serve as the foundation for "mocktails."

Bartenders add bitters, syrups and fanciful accompaniments like edible flowers to create beautiful nonalcoholic beverages that look and feel like high-end cocktails. Sparkling teas are also a popular canned beverage and will dominate the RTD market.

This article was provided by WebstaurantStore.com.