What are 2023’s coffee trends?

Attention coffee lovers everywhere! Find out what the hottest and most exciting coffee trends for 2023 are and which ones you should consider incorporating into office life. So whether you’re an in-house barista looking to up your game or an office or facilities manager considering upgrading your coffee experience, we’ve got something for everyone.

Here’s a rundown of the top five coffee trends to look out for in the coming year, and what they might mean for your office coffee set-up.

We love coffee here in the UK. In fact, we drink a staggering 98 million cups per day and office workers are increasingly expecting more from their coffee. They want a premium coffee experience with a choice of beans, blends and different coffee drinks. People now demand high-quality barista-style coffee similar to what they can access on the high street. In fact, according to a study by the National Coffee Association, 80% of UK office workers say that the quality of coffee in the office is important. So don’t get left behind. Here’s what’s hot right now.

1. Plant-based milk

As you’d expect, the plant-based milk trend is not going away. As more people turn to vegan diets or are ditching dairy for ethical, sustainable or health reasons, plant-based milks continue to be on the rise.

It’s important that you provide plant-based milk in the office to give people another option to choose from dairy milk. The most popular plant-based milk types are oat, almond and soy, and these tend to work best in coffee drinks. There are lots of others to choose from though including coconut, pea, potato, quinoa, banana, rice, hemp and many more.

2. Dual milk coffee machines

The latest development in bean-to-cup coffee machines offers dual milk functionality. For a long time, there’s been the option to have dual or multiple coffee bean hoppers to give you a choice of beans and blends, but most machines typically only offer one type of milk.

With the increasing demand for milk variety, these innovative machines now enable you to offer your team choices. Now you can give your team the flexibility to opt for dairy milk OR a plant-based option so you’re catering to more people in the office.

Plus the great thing about dual milk machines is that the two milk options are kept separate meaning there’s no chance of cross-contamination. This is hugely important for those with dairy allergies and those who are committed to a vegan lifestyle.

3. Sustainability and ethically sourced coffee

Today more people are concerned about the impact of their consumption on the environment and the lives of those who produce our food and drink. With this in mind, sustainable and ethical sourcing is becoming an increasingly important consideration for coffee drinkers.

A good way to ensure you’re enjoying your cup of coffee with a clear conscience, look out for the green frog logo on your coffee packaging. This means that it’s Rainforest Alliance certified. The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organisation that focuses on business, agriculture, and forests.

Buying coffee with the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal means you’re supporting the conservation of biodiversity. You’re also helping to create more sustainable livelihoods by transforming farming and business practices. You can also look out for coffee marked as Fair Trade or UTZ Certified.

4. Speciality coffee

Speciality coffee is a term for the highest grade of coffee available, typically relating to the entire supply chain, using single-origin or single-estate coffee. Put simply, it’s all about quality over quantity. This means that the beans used to make the coffee are of a higher grade and grown in a specific region. The beans are also roasted in a particular way to bring out their unique flavours.

It’s typically more expensive than commercially produced coffee, due to the care and attention that goes into its production. The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is the organisation that gives a grading to coffee beans that meet certain standards of quality. Beans that score above 80 points and over on a 100-point scale are considered speciality coffee beans.

The trend is on the rise as more people become more interested and educated about the difference between premium and lower-quality coffee.

5. Social media coffee trends

Who can forget the Dalgona or whipped coffee trend that went viral in 2020? You couldn’t open Facebook, Instagram or TikTok without an influencer showing us how to make one! There are tonnes of new coffee drinks buying tried all the time and new trends seem to be emerging every day. In 2023, look out for more speciality latte recipes including lavender latte, matcha latte, and turmeric latte. Also, cold brew methods are increasingly popular along with more bizarre coffee trends like coffee and orange juice which we actually tried ourselves.

Contact us today

Whatever coffee trends you’re interested in, we’re here to help if you’re looking to upgrade your office coffee experience. We’re all Speciality Coffee Association trained, so we’ll happily help you define your coffee machine requirements. Please call us on 020 7553 7900 or contact us online for more information.