Fresh Flavours and Evolving Consumer Preferences

As the seasons shift, so do consumer tastes, bringing new opportunities for cafés to adapt and thrive. 

Spring is a season of renewal, and the beverage trends highlight a shift towards unique, vibrant flavours and creative presentations. From limited time offers to the incorporation of functional ingredients, here’s what you can expect to see trending this spring.

Enhance your menu with refreshing, flavourful beverages that keep customers coming back. The “Watertok” trend has taken social media by storm, with consumers crafting flavourful, water-based drinks to boost hydration.

Operators can elevate their menus with a range of flavours to meet this trend, from tropical options like dragon fruit, mango, and pineapple to botanical infusions such as lavender or blackberry, as well as unique combinations like cucumber-mint or strawberry-basil.

For an alternative option, swap regular syrups with sugar-free alternatives. This way, customers can enjoy all the flavour without the added calories or sugar.

Trend essentials: Dragon Fruit Syrup, Pineapple Syrup, Lavender Syrup, Mango Syrup, Strawberry Syrup or Sugar Free Syrups.

Younger coffee drinkers are reshaping the coffee experience. While previous generations stuck to simple black coffee or added a splash of milk and sugar, today’s consumers are looking for something more.

Over 40% of Gen Z makes restaurant purchases at least once a week,^[1] or equivalent to the entire population of British Columbia, and they’re not settling for the basics.

Now, imagine this: If every person in B.C. represents the share of Gen Z making weekly restaurant purchases, then the entire Lower Mainland would reflect those choosing flavoured syrups in their drinks.^[2]

For these consumers, coffee is more than just a caffeine fix, it’s an experience. They’re visiting cafés more often, opting for iced drinks, alternative milks, and creative flavour combinations, while older generations still view coffee mainly for its functional benefits.

Trend essentials: Torani Syrups, Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue, and drink toppings.

^[1] Coffee Association of Canada 2024 Conference
^[2] Canadian Coffee Drinking Trends 2024 Data Tracking

Consumers, influenced by social media trends, are seeking new and exciting bubbly beverages. Dirty sodas, soft drinks enhanced with mix-ins like cream, coffee creamer, flavoured syrups, and sweeteners, offer a fresh twist on familiar favourites.

These customizable drinks not only elevate the beverage experience but also create a made-to-order appeal that sets them apart from standard offerings. Operators can feature them as limited-time offers, pair them with food combos to boost sales, or offer sugar-free variations using diet sodas, sugar-free syrups, and alternative sweeteners to cater to a wide range of consumer preferences.

Trend essentials: Torani Syrups and Sugar Free Torani Syrups.

Coffee’s New Cool Factor

Once dominated by purist third-wave trends, the coffee industry is now seeing a growing demand for cold coffee. Every day across Canada, 17% of coffee drinkers enjoy a cold coffee, or enough people to fill a sold-out Taylor Swift concert in Vancouver.^[3]

Operators can tap into this trend by offering a variety of cold brew options, iced lattes, and seasonal frozen beverages to attract customers looking for refreshing choices year-round. Creating unique and customizable cold drinks can also help boost sales and keep customers coming back for more.

Trend essentials: Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue, and Iced Coffee Recipes.

^[3] Canadian Coffee Drinking Trends 2024 Data Tracking

No Dairy, No Worries, No Extra Fees

Both major chains and independent roasters are adapting to the growing demand for personalized beverages, and the impact is significant. One key shift is the removal of non-dairy surcharges, driven by the belief that customization shouldn’t come at an extra cost.

But how can operators maintain profitability while eliminating alternative milk charges? One solution is strategic menu pricing, where the cost of customization is built into overall pricing rather than appearing as an extra fee. Another approach is offering premium add-ons such as toppings, or syrups that allow customers to personalize their drinks while increasing the overall ticket value.

There’s also an opportunity to market this change as part of a broader sustainability initiative. For example, serving Earth’s Own Barista, Canterbury’s recommended choice, not only provides a delicious option for customers, but also supports environmentally friendly practices. Oats require seven times less water to grow than what’s needed to produce dairy. If your business serves just 10 oat-milk-based drinks per day for a year, you will save the water equivalent of 6,500 showers, or enough to fill an entire swimming pool.

Trend essentials: Torani Syrups, Earth’s Own Oat Barista, Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue.

Sip Smarter

Functional coffee is becoming a popular trend as consumers seek beverages that offer more than just a caffeine boost. Currently, two in four coffee drinkers believe coffee supports their health and stamina, and three in four agree it improves mental focus. However, a growing movement led by health-conscious consumers is pushing the demand for drinks that go beyond great taste. This shift is fueling interest in add ins like hydration, protein, and superfoods.

Consumers who want options beyond coffee are also embracing this trend, with an increasing demand for drinks like turmeric lattes, matcha, and herbal teas.

Trend essentials: Vroom Powdered Mix, Leafy Greens Powder, Vanilla Whey Protein Powder, Teas.

An Affordable Treat

Coffee is an affordable treat. Compared to dining out, a specialty coffee is an accessible luxury and a reason to socialize. In fact, over the past year, routine visits to foodservice establishments have increased by 10%.^[4]

Think of it this way: if a family visits a café once a week, they are now planning on visiting around five more times per year. When you consider every family in Canada adopting these habits, the potential return is substantial.

For operators, this presents an opportunity to amplify their customer experience and build loyalty. Focus on creating inviting spaces that encourage repeat visits, whether through comfortable seating, events, or offering seasonal promotions. Prioritizing quality, consistency, and excellent service will ensure that these additional visits translate into long-term customer relationships and increased revenue.

Trend essentials: Torani Syrups, Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue, and drink toppings.

^[4] Source: Circana, Canada, CREST®, 12 ME Jul’24