Packaged Coffee & Tea Trends

Coffee and tea have had a strong presence on retailers’ shelves for years, but in 2016, expect brands to shake these traditional drinks up by incorporating some of these new trends:

New Flavors

Consumers are becoming bored with the traditional coffee flavors such as vanilla, hazelnut and caramel, so new flavors are slowly being introduced into the market. While some flavors, such as chocolate or red velvet, are sure to please the masses, there are others that are aiming for a more specialized, sophisticated customer. It is predicted that flavors such as lavender or bergamot will soon be added to packaged coffees and sold at a higher price than other coffees.

Specialty Teas

It wouldn’t be surprising to see new, interesting flavors make their way into the tea world, either, especially with the introduction of chocolate tea, which has already made headlines. Flavors are becoming more unique and distancing themselves further and further away from traditional citrus or fruit flavored teas. Expect to see a rise in exotic flavors such as anise or jasmine that will appeal to adventurous consumers.

Matcha

Matcha, a fine powdered form of green tea leaves, will continue to grow in popularity within the packaged tea market. Consumers prefer matcha teas because they have better nutritional content than regular green tea and provide a slight boost of caffeine rather than an uncomfortable jolt that coffee can sometimes cause. Because the taste of matcha tea on its own can be quite strong, retailers and food distributors should expect to see it paired with other flavors such as mint or vanilla that can tone down the taste.

Cold-Brewed Coffees

Although they may seem similar, cold-brewed coffees are actually quite different from iced coffees. Cold-brewed coffees brew for hours before being served, leaving the beverage with a deep, less bitter taste that consumers have quickly grown attached to in coffee bars across the country. Now that this coffee option has become so popular, food distributors and retailers should expect it to pop up in packaged form to reach a whole new group of consumers.

Kids’ Drinks

Because today’s generation of kids is so exposed to the coffee and tea culture, they will be introduced to these flavors at a much younger age than previous generations. Food distributors should expect to see beverages designed for kids incorporating classic, light coffee or tea flavorings, but without the caffeine.

Ready to launch a new coffee or tea product? Contact Mr. Checkout Distributors to talk to a team of experienced and knowledgeable distributors that service over 35,000 grocery and convenience stores.