9 COFFEE TRENDS TO LOOK FORWARD TO

At-home brewing methods, cold drinks, milk alternatives and social responsibility are all on the menu

- Nivedita Jayaram Pawar

For many people, coffee is much more than a drink. It's what gives them that extra boost to get through the day. We spoke to coffee consultants and industry experts for the top coffee trends to look out for this year.

READY-TO-DRINK (RTD)

Canned or bottled cold brew sealed for whenever you are ready to sip will be the biggest trend, believes Abhinav Mathur, CEO of Something's Brewing & Kaapi Machines. According to Mordor Intelligence, a market research and advisory firm, India's RTD coffee market is projected to witness a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 3.3% during the forecast period 2022-27. "One reason for the ever-rising popularity of RTD cold brew is the easy availability at convenience stores, supermarket shelves as well as e-commerce platforms. The explosion of flavours, from vanilla, hazelnut to caramel, is adding fuel to the demand. In RTD coffee, health-conscious Indians are also seeing a better alternative to sugary carbonated beverages as well as a convenient energy boost," says Mathur. A cold brew involves steeping in cold water for 12-24 hours to make a coffee concentrate which is then diluted, bringing down the pH level and lowering the acidity of the brew.

RISE OF THE HOME BARISTA

The pandemic changed habits, with 85% of coffee drinkers now enjoying one-two cups at home on average, says Mathur. "With the increase in speciality cafés, people are now accustomed to great caféstyle coffee and they want the same at home too. We are seeing a surge in home brewing, from simple brew bags to French press and moka pots..... Additionally, home brewing gives more control over the brewing process," says Mathur.

LOWER-CAFFEINE COFFEE