The coffee shop industry has its perks. Learn what to watch in 2023 and the latest industry trends.
Coffee shops play a vital role in the lives of most Americans. A visit to a coffee shop provides a comforting routine, community in a divided world, and the amazing coffee drinks we’ve come to enjoy daily. Become part of the coffee shop industry, a recession-resistant business, building space for your customers to experience more than just great coffee. Here are some 2023 industry trends to watch.
Coffee is a multi-billion dollar global industry, ever-evolving to cater to customers’ expanding tastes and interests. The U.S. market alone is $14 billion, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% (2020-2025). Americans consume 400 billion cups of coffee a day. But today’s coffee shops offer way more than coffee.
Tea is fast becoming a coffee shop staple, expected to grow to $81.6 billion globally by 2026. While black teas like English Breakfast are the most popular, interest in green teas has been piqued by claims of health benefits. Tea lattes like the deliciously spicy chai latte, turmeric, ginger, and matcha lattes, as well as sparkling bottled iced teas are also in high demand.
Scooter’s Coffee® franchise owners happily offer their customers iced and hot coffee and tea drinks along with smoothies, blended beverages and pastries and breakfast options available all day.
Specialty beverages represent 50% of coffee consumption in the U.S. Lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, and cold coffees garner higher prices for business owners. Customers are satisfied when they can tailor their beverage with specialty syrups, toppings, or milk types.
Speaking of milk types, alternatives to dairy are abundant, perfect for the dairy-free, lactose intolerant, or vegan customers. Plant-based milk alternatives include soy, almond, cashew, oat, and coconut milk, providing tons of creamy flavor.
Customers seeking convenience are clamoring for ready-to-drink coffee beverages. Bottled or canned cold brews offer a healthier and more sophisticated alternative to sugar-laden sodas.
Drive-thru windows also create convenience and safety while we live with the ongoing effects of the pandemic. Customers are seeking low-contact ways to indulge their coffee shop habit from the safety of their cars. A whopping 50% of U.S. coffee drinkers report purchasing their coffee at a drive-thru window.
COVID safety measures continue to be top of mind for both consumers and business owners in 2023. Businesses will continue to display signs reminding customers to mask and social distance. Hand sanitizer and safety barriers at registers and check-outs will also remain fixtures in the coffee shop industry. There is growing demand for stores to have apps where customers can order ahead for quick and easy contactless pick up.
The ethical consumption of coffee is also important to a growing segment of coffee drinkers. According to a report by the U.S. National Coffee Association, 53% of coffee drinkers want their coffee coming from sources farming in an environmentally sustainable way, with fair compensation for farmers and farm workers. Knowing where your coffee comes from, how it is produced, and how labor is treated is increasingly significant for business owners.
As a coffee shop owner, you want your store to remain fresh and up to date, reflecting changes in customer demand and world conditions. The pandemic spurred many creative approaches to keeping business thriving, and some of these changes are here to stay.
Additions like drive-thrus, pick-up windows, and order-ahead apps appeal to customers’ need for convenience and safety. E-commerce sites that kept many businesses afloat during lockdowns are now routine sources of income that allow a business to pivot in case of a shut-down.
Improved cleaning routines keep workers and customers confident their coffee shop is safe. Renewed confidence brings customers back inside the shop, so refreshing your in-store experience with new displays, seating, lighting, Wi-Fi, friendly service and eye contact help create feelings of community sorely missed since the pandemic began.
Become a part of the fast-expanding coffee shop segment by requesting franchise information. Join the Scooter’s Coffee family, industry leaders since 1998. More than a coffee pitstop, your coffee shop will evolve with the latest industry trends and become a vital part of your community.
