Thomas Jefferson had the right idea when he said that coffee is the preferred drink of the civilized world. Naim Maadad, chief executive and founder of Gates Hospitality, shares his thoughts on what’s hot on the coffee scene.

Exotic coffee cocktails
Automated coffee machines are becoming more sophisticated by the day. Technological advances and the rise in popularity of drive-thru coffee outlets are forcing baristas all over the world to use their creative coffee presentation skills in a much smarter way.
Increasingly, restaurants and bars are discovering that there is much more to coffee cocktails than espresso martinis. Baristas are creating unique and memorable coffee experiences by using exotic ingredients in their coffee cocktails or coffeetails.

Reusable coffee cups
Disposable coffee cups are being abandoned in favor of reusable cups. With environmental awareness taking center stage, many eco-responsible brands are choosing not to serve their drinks in disposable cups but rather encourage clients to bring their own reusable items instead. It is likely that this trend will continue.

Foam
More creative and unique cold coffee service techniques are generating a rise in the use of cold foams. There are coffee machine manufacturers who have started using the best foam technology to assist baristas in creating a different foams, both hot and cold, with a remarkable degree of consistency.

Locally sourced beans
The local sourcing of coffee has become more significant in recent years, contributing to a reduction in coffee’s carbon footprint. This rise has also had a positive knock-on effect for local communities and economies. Kenya, Zimbabwe and Peru are emerging as new source regions in the world of coffee cultivation and supply chains. This is an encouraging trend, as these countries are able to benefit financially from the export of coffee.

Black coffee
Going back to simple black coffee is another trend gaining steam. This has been driven mainly by veganism and the desire to experience the taste of real coffee without the addition of milk or plant-based alternatives.

Whipped coffee
Dalgona or whipped coffee has been a hot topic recently, especially on social media. The name for this sought-after drink comes from a Korean honeycomb toffee. It is not that the toffee is an ingredient used to prepare the drink, rather the dalgona coffee mimics the light texture of honeycomb toffee. This coffee has become even more desirable thanks to the simple method of preparation. It also puts instant coffee to good use, transforming it to a sweet, trendy whipped beverage.

Snap-chilled coffee
Another trailblazer in coffee brewing circles is snap-chilled coffee – which is a take on cold brew, nitro and iced coffee. This product utilizes freshly brewed hot coffee, “snap-chills” it and cans it. The snap-chilling process preserves freshness and flavor in a way that other bottling and canning methods could not in the past.

Nitro coffee
Nitro coffee is taking cold brew to a whole new level. The technique used to make this beverage is one previously employed by beer home brewers, infusing nitrogen gas into the coffee through a pressurized valve. The nitro coffee process begins with a cold brew, which is coffee that’s been steeped in water that is cold or room temperature, from between 12 and 24 hours. A pressurized valve then infuses the coffee with nitrogen gas, adding small bubbles that improve the flavor and texture of the coffee. These bubbles are smaller than those found in soda, meaning nitro cold brew doesn’t taste fizzy or carbonated. If you want to serve nitro cold brew, start with quality coffee beans and don’t forget all the additional essential equipment.
While nitro coffee isn’t necessarily cheap or simple to prepare, its popularity makes it worthwhile, and many consumers are willing to pay for this beverage despite a higher price tag. Nitro cold brews can cost a dollar or more above a standard iced coffee. Nitro cold brew canned drinks often have no sugar or less sugar than other coffee beverages, giving them health appeal with fewer calories. Nitro coffee is also recognized for its creamier taste, less bitter flavour and smoother texture.

Coffee tourism
Coffee-centric tourism has witnessed considerable growth. Once the pandemic is behind us, coffee drinkers will once again seek authentic experiences in unique coffee- growing and harvesting settings around the world. In addition, people are also looking for educational coffee experiences at their local coffee shop or with their coffee supplier.

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