As the colder months approach, consumer preferences shift, not just toward warmer beverages, but toward experiences and indulgence.
Understanding these trends allows foodservice operators to stay ahead, attract new guests, and boost loyalty. This is part one of our three part series on what’s shaping the Canadian coffee market this season.
Local Sourcing
Canadians are increasingly seeking alternatives to U.S. products. If five customers walk into your café, four of them are actively looking for Canadian-made options and choosing to support local businesses over international brands.[1] This shift isn’t temporary, many Canadians are intentionally keeping their dollars at home.
For operators, clearly communicating where products come from can be a powerful point of differentiation, helping build trust, strengthen loyalty, and reinforce your connection to the community.
Canterbury offers a range of Canadian-made products to help support this demand, including tea and coffee roasted locally in British Columbia. Reach out to Canterbury’s team to get started.
[1] Ipsos Global Trends September 2025
Trend essentials: Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue, Canterbury’s More than Coffee Catalogue.
Quality Comes First
Specialty coffee continues to lead growth in the foodservice market.[2] The term refers to high-quality coffee that is carefully cultivated, harvested, and processed using defined practices to preserve distinctive flavour characteristics.
Each coffee is formally evaluated and graded according to Specialty Coffee Association standards, which assess flavour profile, aroma, acidity, body, and aftertaste. This structured approach ensures consistency and traceability, values that have long guided the coffee trade and continue to resonate with today’s consumers.
More than half of all coffee consumed in Canada yesterday was specialty. Both hot and cold specialty beverages are gaining share as customers increasingly look for high-quality, ethically sourced options.
This is an opportunity operators can readily showcase on menus. Adding details such as coffee origin, flavour notes, and recommended brewing methods helps educate guests, demonstrates craftsmanship, and can encourage repeat visits.
[2] Coffee Association of Canada June 2025 Report
Trend essentials: Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue
Place of Preparation
Out-of-home coffee consumption remains a defining feature of Canada’s modern coffee culture, with three in four coffee drinkers purchasing a coffee away from home in the past day.[3]
Younger consumers, particularly ages 18–34, are most likely to frequent foodservice establishments, reinforcing their role as a critical growth audience.
Cafés and quick-serve restaurants continue to serve as the primary destinations, while consumption is especially strong among those in the Atlantic region. Motivations for choosing where to buy coffee are grounded in long-standing priorities: brand loyalty, access to preferred beverage types, and price. These behaviours underscore the ongoing importance of trusted brands, menu innovation, and value positioning, traditional drivers that will continue to shape future opportunity.
[3] Coffee Association of Canada June 2025 Report
Trend essentials: Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue, Canterbury’s More than Coffee Catalogue.
Breakfast is Brewing
Three in four Canadian coffee drinkers enjoy coffee at breakfast, making the morning cup a critical touchpoint for capturing sales and building loyalty.[4]
However, one coffee offering does not meet everyone’s preferences. Consumers expect variety, so offering a range of roast types from light and bright to dark and robust, can help customers maintain their preferred coffee rituals while encouraging repeat visits.
Pairing these options with customizable add-ins, such as flavoured syrups, alternative milks, or specialty toppings, allows cafés to deliver exactly what customers want: a personalized, indulgent cup crafted their way. By providing both quality and choice, operators can meet evolving consumer expectations while strengthening brand loyalty and driving revenue.
[4] Coffee Association of Canada June 2025 Report
Trend essentials: Canterbury’s Coffee Catalogue and Canterbury’s More than Coffee Catalogue
Canterbury provides customized beverage programs tailored to your operational needs. From coffee to complementary products, they help operators build profitable, high-impact menus. Connect with Canterbury today and explore part two of our winter trends blog series.
