Coffee is not only the favorite drink of Germans and Austrians, but also an important sales driver in the catering and HoReCa sector. With an average of three to four cups per day, guests have a great thirst for coffee – and this offers restaurateurs the opportunity to offer innovative, trendy coffee offerings with attractive profit margins. The coffee trends combine enjoyment with sustainability, creativity and a more conscious lifestyle and offer numerous opportunities to redesign the coffee offerings in restaurants, hotels and cafés.
1. Sustainability in every cup: Home compostable capsules and fair trade coffee
The demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable products is on the rise. With the introduction of the new home-compostable paper-based capsules, Nespresso, for example, has joined this trend and created a sustainable alternative for hoteliers who want to offer their guests coffee in hotel rooms or meeting rooms. The “HOME COMPOSTABLE Collection” consists of 82% paper pulp and can be easily disposed of in home compost. At the same time, Nespresso Professional has also added the Fairtrade certified ORIGIN Indonesia variety to its range. The special processing method gives this type of coffee a unique flavor profile and promotes responsible production that benefits the communities in the growing areas.
2. Aromatic variety with fruit syrup, spices and individual coffee recipes
Modern guests love variety: fruity coffee creations and individual spice notes are very trendy. The “Yuzu Peach Coffee” for example, combines exotic yuzu citrus flavor with peach syrup and soda water. Spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg or cardamom also give the coffee exciting aromas. These ingredients can be perfectly integrated into the coffee enjoyment and at the same time offer the guest the freedom to customize the taste according to their personal preferences. Whether as a topping on the milk foam or stirred directly into the coffee - aromatic ingredients make the coffee experience even more personal and give the classic a creative touch.
3. Functional enjoyment: Coffee with health-promoting ingredients
In 2024, coffee will increasingly develop into a functional drink. “Healthy coffee” with collagen, antioxidants and vitamins is growing in popularity because it can provide health benefits such as supporting the immune system or metabolism. “Glow Coffee” with skin-improving collagen and “Mushroom Latte” with medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi and Chaga are just a few examples of the trend towards health-conscious coffee. These options are ideal for the catering industry that targets conscious and health-oriented customers and wants to offer added value through special ingredients.
4. Power coffees and powerful energy kicks
In everyday business life, many consumers like to use caffeine-rich options. With varieties like “Forte Extra”, Nespresso Professional offers a particularly caffeinated variant that provides that extra push for long days. With a caffeine content of up to 140 mg per cup, the need for intensive stimulants is met - a development that is ideal for breakfast buffets or meeting rooms where guests or employees want an energy boost for the tasks ahead.
5. Coffee cocktails: Coffee as a basis for innovative drink recipes
Coffee cocktails will continue to be in demand in 2024. Classics like Irish coffee and espresso martini are experiencing a revival and are perfect drinks for the evening or as a digestif. “Carajillo”, a mixture of espresso and brandy or other spirits such as rum and aniseed liqueur, is particularly popular in Spain. Coffee cocktails offer an elegant and exciting way to integrate coffee into the catering offering and offer an interesting selection, especially for evening guests.
6. Dessert meets coffee: The Tiramisu Latte
The “Tiramisu Latte” is the perfect drink for dessert fans and lovers of Italian classics. This coffee variant combines espresso with foamed milk and is refined with a creamy mixture of mascarpone, sugar and cream. Decorated with ladyfingers and cocoa powder, the result is a liquid interpretation of the popular Italian dessert that delights guests and is a culinary attraction as a special “dessert drink”.
7. Flash Brew: Cold brew coffee, reimagined
Flash Brew, a further development of Cold Brew, promises aromatic coffee enjoyment with a more intense taste, as the coffee is freshly brewed and cooled down in a flash. Ideal for warm days and as a basis for creative recipes such as Coffee Tonic, Flash Brew follows the trend towards refreshing, intense coffee enjoyment and fits perfectly into modern cafés and restaurants that focus on summery coffee creations.
8. Artificial intelligence as coffee tuning: Optimized production and variety of flavors
Artificial intelligence also opens up new possibilities in the coffee industry. Through precise analysis of cultivation and harvest data, yields can be made more efficient and sustainable. In addition, AI-powered adjustment of the roasting temperature and duration allows the flavors in the coffee bean to be perfectly highlighted. For the catering industry, this means even more aromatic and distinctive coffee experiences that focus on quality standards.
Our conclusion for the future:
The coffee trends offer the catering industry a wide range of opportunities to differentiate itself with original, sustainable and creative offers. Whether innovative capsule alternatives, functional coffee drinks, or exciting recipes with fruit syrups and spices – modern coffee culture thrives on diversity and sustainability. It is precisely the innovative strength and creativity presented by brands such as Nespresso Professional that make coffee in the catering industry a special experience for guests and a success factor for the business.
