Learn about exciting menu innovations and attracting customers with out of home coffee in our article from FSR Magazine’s May issue, “Creating Differentiation with Coffee.”
CLICK TO READWinning with Coffee Beverages for Immunity
With vaccines in wide distribution and the end in sight for consumers and foodservice operators alike, we are starting to see what trends and habits will stay with us. One we’re watching is functional foods and beverages, especially around immunity.
Fast facts about functional beverages
- 65% say they are ore likely to consider drinking functional beverages post-Covid
- 51% wish immunity-boosting foods and ingredients were available at their favorite restaurants
- more than 2 in 5 consumers are very or extremely intereted in functional beverages and 80% are at least somewhat interested
Source: Datassential, 2021
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Caramel Turmeric Cold Brew
Turmeric is a superstar of functional ingredient world, especially when it comes to giving the immune system a boost. It’s now the top selling herbal ingredient in the natural space! Turmeric has a naturally warm spicy profile with some bitter notes, and is best paired with a little sweetness like the caramel, which brings a creamy sweetness. Caramel is also one of the top flavors in coffee-based beverages, so it’s a winner in any pairing – and especially when introducing a less-familiar flavor like turmeric. The cold brew itself is mild, so it will take on these flavors beautifully. If you wanted to up the antioxidant and immunity profile even more, try adding a touch of ginger or cinnamon to the mix.
For more cold brew drink ideas and recipes, click here.
Cold Brew Linked Post
When it comes to essential beverages, coffee ranks right up there with water in the American consciousness. That means we’re always looking for new ways to enjoy it, and make an everyday experience more personal or special. Maybe it’s no surprise then that cold brew coffee has been exploding across both retail and foodservice channels.
- Up 23.5% in menu penetration in 2020 (+245% since 2016!)
- 37% of consumers love it or like it
- 88% know it
- 52% have tried it1
There are lots of signs that even more growth lies ahead for this “young” trend. First, consumers of millennial age and younger have the highest preference for cold brew*, so more fans are likely to join the ranks even as the current ones age up. (*Source: National Coffee Association) Plus, there’s lots of room to grow – cold brew is only on 9% of foodservice menus today.1
Add it up, and it’s no surprise that analysts predict the global cold brew market will grow by 25% compound annual growth rate through 2025.2
Cold brew to go:
According to Grubhub, cold brew coffee was 206% more popular in 2020 for delivery than the prior year – #5 on the list, just behind ubiquitous items like spicy chicken sandwiches, wings and waffle fries.3
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Lavender Vanilla Cold Brew
When putting together a featured recipe for cold brew, vanilla is a natural go-to and the #1 flavor pairing on menus today. Adding one other flavor element can add significant interest and differentiate your offering. In this example, we’re taking advantage of the “functional foods” trend and consumers’ search for calm and stress relief. Lavender is widely known for these benefits, and it’s easy to add to the drink with a pre-made lavender syrup and even a touch of fresh lavender for garnish. As lavender is also in season in late spring and early summer, guests will be seeing it elsewhere too.
We recommend Segafredo Zanetti® Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew, due to its light roast and unique coffee components.
For more cold brew drink ideas and recipes, click here.
Sources:
1Datassential, 2020
2Grand View Research, 2019
3GrubHub
Top Trending Flavors with Coffee
The rush of consumers back to cafes and restaurants has been a welcome sight this summer. One key to keeping that traffic coming back is with a little bit of innovation. With 35% of consumers looking to try new flavors in their coffee, it pays to stay current with what’s new and trending, mixing in new offerings with tried-and-true favorites.
Citrus and Chocolate lead the way
According to trendwatcher Technomic, these are the top 5 fastest-growing flavors paired with coffee. It might not be a surprise to see perennial favorite chocolate make the list in both mint and dark chocolate varieties. But orange – a flavor we called out last month for its immunity credentials – might be a surprise in the #1 spot.
Flavor In Action
Ginger Orange Cold Brew
This cold brew tonic is a deliciously clever way to combine the trending flavors of orange and ginger (another immunity star) in a refreshing summer tonic. Go all in with the hand-crafted version, or speed-scratch with prepared syrups, it’s a sure-fire winner either way.
For more cold brew drink ideas and recipes, click here.
Capturing Customers with LTOs
Recent studies have shown that consumer brand preferences have changed dramatically since the start of the pandemic. That creates an opportunity to capture new customers, and a need to re-engage with your old customer base. A smart play is to use LTOs to draw them in, and let your quality and hospitality earn a return visit
FAST FACT
75% of consumers changed their brand preferences1
MARKETING TIP
Promote cold brew on your mobile app and in-store signage for maximum visibility.
The Cold Brew Hook
Cold brew’s rapid growth it makes an excellent draw. In fact, cold brew was a top 5 delivery item in 2020 according to GrubHub. Simply showcase a new blend of beans like our Brillante® blend, or add a float of sweet cream to keep it easy to execute.
Beautifully Buzzworthy
Leverage the digital shareability of eye-catching coffee creations like this Ginger-Orange Cold Brew Tonic. Whether you’re crafting by hand or using pre-made syrups, it’s all about that slice of orange for the garnish to have this drink ready for its Instagram moment(s).
MARKETING TIP
Invest the time in propping and styling a good-quality photo of your buzzworthy drink, and reshare fan photos while giving them credit.
FAST FACT
This works! About 20% of consumers say LTOs are the reason for their visits to coffee shops and bakery cafes.2
Sources:
1McKinsey, 2021
2Technomic Bakery and Café Trend Report, 2018
Cold Brew Still Heating Up
When it comes to essential beverages, coffee ranks right up there with water in the American consciousness. But America’s coffee habits have shifted, with more hot coffee being made at home and specialty coffee drinks and cold coffee beverages ticking up in foodservice. Maybe it’s no surprise then that cold brew coffee has been exploding across both retail and foodservice channels.
Fast Facts about Cold Brew
- Up 12.5% in menu penetration in 2021 (+166% since 2017!) 1
- 37% of consumers love it or like it 1
- 88% know it 1
- 52% have tried it 1
- 62% of remote workers say it’s worth paying more for cold brew vs. iced coffee 2
- 22% of millennials reported weekly cold brew consumption (nearly 2x the average!) 3
There are lots of signs that even more growth lies ahead for this “young” trend. First, consumers of millennial age and younger have the highest preference for cold brew*, so more fans are likely to join the ranks even as the current ones age up. (*Source: National Coffee Association) Plus, there’s lots of room to grow – cold brew is only on 10.2% of foodservice menus today. 1
56% of all consumers and 67% of remote workers agree that foodservice quality drinks can’t be replicated at home 3
“The future of coffee and tea is cold.”
Add it up, and it’s no surprise that analysts predict the global cold brew market will grow by 25% compound annual growth rate through 2025. 4
We recommend Segafredo Zanetti® Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew, due to its light roast and unique coffee components. For more on cold brew solutions for foodservice, visit our site here.
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
‘Tis the season! Yes, it starts earlier every year as pumpkin-flavored food and drink hits menus across the nation. But there’s a reason – consumers “fall” for these seasonal specials every year. This Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is a new twist on the popular seasonal flavor, and perfect for now when the weather is still warm in many parts of the country. The same hints of pumpkin pie and caramel sweetness, but in a cool and refreshing format, and very easy for operations.
In the next issue, we’ll share more on fall-season coffee LTOs – beyond pumpkin. 🎃
Operations Notes:
Recommended Blend: Our Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew experience. Brew it yourself with our Handcrafted Cold Brew kit or get it Ready-to-Drink with our new 2-gallon bag-in-box cold brew package designed for foodservice.
For a quick primer on how to incorporate cold brew into your operation, click here.
For more cold brew drink ideas and recipes, click here.
Sources:
1Datassential, 2021
2Specialty Coffee Association, 2021
3Mintel, 2021
4Grand View Research, 2019
Celebrate Fall With a New “Core” Flavor
Apple has been tagged as a top flavor for fall beverage LTOs, and it’s already appearing on some high-profile menus across the country. Paired with a crowd-pleaser like caramel – always a top-selling flavor and likely already in your coffee station – it’s ready to shine. Plus, the nostalgic appeal of caramel apples will be at its peak in October through November, making it the perfect time for a seasonal offering. With no dairy, this is a sweet treat with a lighter profile. Best of all, cold brew beverages are some of the easiest and fastest to assemble, keeping the line moving even when you’re short-staffed.
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Caramel Apple Cold Brew
Apple forward cold brew layered with caramel sweetness.
Operations Notes:
With the inclusion of apple juice, this is a concept that’s built for cold brew. Consider pairing it with a seasonal baked good or food item that echoes the apple theme. After all, 45% of cold brew purchases are accompanied by food or snacks!
Recommended Blend:
Our Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew experience. Brew it yourself or get it RTD with our new 2-gallon bag-in-box.
Segafredo News:
FSR January Featurette
We are excited to announce our article in FSR Magazine’s January issue! It highlights our Care In Your CupTM (CIYC) initiative, supporting community wellness worldwide.
CIYC was started because, as a company, we believe it is our responsibility as a business to contribute to the wellness of our planet and give back to the communities where we work and live.
A portion of our coffee proceeds go towards the Zanetti Foundation, a family-run, non-profit organization founded to aid children in need since 2006.
Learn more about the Zanetti Foundation here.
5 great reasons to celebrate cold brew
1
Stay ahead of the curve.
Cold is the future of coffee! Cold coffee beverages are already a dominant share of Starbucks’ total beverage sales, at 74%. Innovation around cold coffee and cold brew is driving the business for major players in the coffee category, and the key to traffic and sales.
2
Diversify your dayparts.
More remote work means more demand for coffee outside of typical morning hours, and coffee drinks are seen as an “affordable treat” by 72% of remote workers.
3
Build sales volume with a high-value offering.
62% of remote workers say it’s “worth paying more” for cold brew over iced coffee – providing a valuable opportunity to boost your margins with a consistent, low-labor item.
4
Invest in your future customer.
Younger demographics like Gen Z and Millennials are the driving force for cold brew. Winning their business and loyalty now earns you dividends into the future as their buying power increases.
5
Easy innovation to differentiate your concept.
With a mild, smooth flavor profile, cold brew makes a great platform for innovation. Go sweet, bold and indulgent for younger customers, and lean into functional trends like matcha or golden milk for Gen X and Millennials. Plant-based milks are a great match for cold brew too, from oat to almond and coconut.
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Blondie Brownie Cold Brew
Since Cold Brew drinks tend to be purchased as afternoon “treats,” leaning into playful indulgence is always a smart move. This simple build scores captures the comfort-food appeal of a classic blondie, with caramel and butter notes and white chocolate sweetness. Stir it together in front of the guest for a bit of showmanship, or pre-batch it for speed of service.
Operations Notes:
Subbing in oat milk makes an excellent dairy-free version, and coconut cream or coconut milk would be delicious, too.
Recommended Blend: As with all our cold brew recipes, we recommend our Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew experience. Brew it yourself or get it RTD in our 2-gallon bag-in-box.
For a quick primer on how to incorporate cold brew into your operation, click here.
For more cold brew drink ideas and recipes, click here.
Incremental sales without added labor
Fully 2/3 of Americans drink coffee every day, a figure that surpasses even tap water. Something about our post-pandemic lives has only increased coffee’s importance – the number of daily drinkers has jumped 8% in the past year according to the most recent National Coffee Association (NCA) Data Trends report.
The trend lines are moving towards cold coffee too as the NCA cites in their most recent survey, cold brew is currently the third most common coffee preparation method in America. As more people are working from home and preparing their own coffee in the morning, they’re also more likely to seek out a different coffee experience while away-from-home in the later dayparts.
Since cold brew coffee can premiumize a menu as a higher-priced (and higher-margin) item, operators have every reason to grab the incremental sales that this beverage represents –even if cold brew isn’t a main part of their business, or even a current offering. Thanks to larger sized bag-in-box packages like the Segafredo Zanetti® 2-gallon Ready-to-Drink Cold Brew developed specifically for foodservice settings, any operator can now offer cold brew any time of day with minimal labor and no-barista-required. From breakfast and brunch options to “sweet treat” cold brew drinks in the afternoon or evening cocktails, cold brew’s naturally mild, mellow flavor profile can flex to fit any daypart and season.
Are you ready to get your share of the cold coffee sales boom?
We’ve built a turnkey cold brew program around our rich and bold Segafredo Cold Brew complete with various dispensing options and LTO drink recipes, and even a draft solution for Nitro without kegerators! [tell me more]
Hot sales tip for cold brew: Flavored LTO drinks outsell plain black cold brew 3:1! It pays to innovate and differentiate your concept. Read on and check out our specialty drink of the month below.
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Caramel Coconut Cold Brew
Caramel is always a top seller in cold brew LTOs, along with vanilla, cream and chocolate. Pairing one of these favorites with a more unique flavor like coconut is not just delicious, it makes for an easier sale, too! This simple recipe delivers some “island vibes” that are just right for summer, and is easy to build to-order or batch ahead.
Operations Notes:
Subbing in coconut milk makes for a rich and creamy dairy-free version, and can replace the coconut syrup, reducing the sugar levels as well. For a 21-and-over version, add a splash of rum or coffee liqueur and serve on the rocks.
Pro tip: If you’re brewing your own cold brew, try using coconut water in place of regular water. You’ll be infusing coconut flavor and electrolytes while you steep, and then you can skip the coconut syrup.
Recommended Blend: As with all our cold brew recipes, we recommend our Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew experience. Brew it yourself or get it RTD in our 2-gallon bag-in-box.
Email us for the complete recipe or click here for more cold brew drink ideas and recipes
What the best coffee shops can teach us
The coffee business is a crowded field, with options for consumers seemingly on every corner. The “three-headed monster” of labor, supply chain and inflation challenges only make it tougher. Despite these hurdles, there are coffee operators enjoying success today. We look at a few top tips from the experts at the Texas Coffee School, a leader in growing and supporting coffee entrepreneurship.
Values on the menu
“These days, every dollar spent is a vote for something. Is what you offer a fit with my values and the things I care about? The best coffee shops know that they’re not just selling coffee, they’re selling experiences, and a sense of belonging.”
-Tom Vincent, President, Texas Coffee School
Do your patrons care most about sustainability or fair trade when it comes to coffee? Does responsible sourcing tie into the rest of your brand? Looking for certifications and evidence of social responsibility from your suppliers is an important step. Segafredo Zanetti’s “Care in your Cup™” program is one example and can help you communicate your values to the guest.
Road to success
While creating a sense of belonging and in-store experience is key to winning some customers, others crave convenience and speed – possibly even the same guest on a different day. It’s no accident that delivery coffee orders doubled in 2021, according to the annual GrubHub Year in Food report, and cold brew delivery even more so. Having your coffee program available for delivery, pick-up or drive thru can add transactions without disrupting your current business.
Low-labor, fast-service solutions like Segafredo Zanetti’s premium ready-to-drink cold brew coupled with convenient dispensing options eliminate the need for overnight brews, ensure less out-of-stocks, and deliver speed of service, freeing up your employees to provide the personal touch that keeps customers coming back.
The rise of the hybrid
No, we’re not talking about electric vehicles here. More and more, hybrid-model coffee businesses are taking root and finding success. This can mean adding coffee to an existing business, or the opposite; think barber shop + coffee, or coffee + floral, or coffee + prepared meals. The complementary business adds transactions and shares overhead costs like rent and utilities, while giving you a new platform (and possibly, day part) for bringing in customers.
“One piece of advice to coffee entrepreneurs is to build diverse revenue streams for a higher average transaction. You’ll have less exposure to volatility and will be bringing in new audiences as you differentiate your concept.”
-Tom Vincent, President, Texas Coffee School
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Apple Crumble Latte
While the popularity of pumpkin spice is far from over, even the big names are starting to differentiate their fall offerings with alternative flavors, most notably apple. This recipe from Segafredo Zanetti can flex easily to a cold brew version, and it’s a great pairing with fall pastries.
Operations Notes:
If you don’t have apple syrup, apple juice can stand in and will reduce your sugar levels as well. You might also experiment with cider, cutting the acidity with warm spices or by mixing it with apple juice. We love the oat milk pairing here – it’s rich and creamy, and the flavors are a natural match. For a 21-and-over version, add a splash of apple brandy or whisky and serve like an Irish coffee. Don’t forget the whipped cream!
Message us for the full recipe and request a free coffee consultation for drink menu development!