Concerns about inflation and a possible recession are clouding the outlook of the foodservice industry, but coffee looks to be a bright spot based on recent consumer data. According to the Specialty Coffee Association’s 2022 National Coffee Data Trends Fall Survey, out-of-home coffee consumption is nearly back to levels not seen since the pre-pandemic days of January 2020. And a large portion of those weekly coffee drinkers are repeat customers, making purchases multiple times per week.
In an even more hopeful sign for the future, younger consumers –, who typically lag behind their older cohorts in coffee consumption, show steady increases since January 2021, and now over half of 18-24 year-olds report having coffee in the past day.
What do those younger coffee drinkers want? According to the report, 18-39 year olds continue to drive consumption of espresso-based and non-espresso-based specialty coffee drinks, which means cappuccino, espresso, lattes, frozen blended coffee, cold brew, and nitro coffee. They’re a big reason why as of July 2022, 1 in 5 Americans had cold brew in the past day! To get your share of these sales, try out a proven LTO like the one below, perfect for fall weather and early holiday season vibes.
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Peppermint Mocha Latte
Get into the spirit with this classic drink and make that statement for the much-needed holiday cheer. It’s festive, heartwarming and a proven flavor staple for the season but most of all, it’s fun to use candy canes as a garnish!
Operations Notes:
The dark chocolate sauce adds body and helps bring out the high notes of the espresso. You can use any traditional dairy milk, but almond milk is also a great substitute adding a subtle layer of sweetness and that extra nutty note. Whipped cream on top for the truly festive, or you can go Scrooge and do without it, but why deny that extra cheer?
Recommended espresso:
As with all most our flavored latte recipes, we recommend our Segafredo Extra Strong Espresso blend to get that signature coffee flavor rounding out the drink.
Message us for the full recipe and request a free coffee consultation for drink menu development!