The future of coffee – what will coffee look like in 2026?
Lily Hedley | September 5, 2025
Consumers are no longer satisfied with a simple caffeine fix. The coffee fanatic of today wants delicious flavours, tangible wellness benefits, and experiences that match what they see on social media.
So what exactly can we expect to see in the coming years?
What coffee trends are taking off?
People want their coffee to do more for them.
The global functional coffee market reached $4.48 billion in 2025 and continues to grow at 11 percent a year. Popular benefits include improved focus, immune support, and stress relief.
Ingredients like ashwagandha root, and mushrooms like reishi and lion’s mane are becoming mainstream. And offer those popular health benefits now in such high demand.
Ready-to-drink (RTD) formats made up 68.9 percent of the market in 2024, thanks to their convenience and consistent dosing.
What flavours are trending?
Flavour innovation is central to consumer engagement. New trends are emerging every week with the input of social media.
Global trends are now interwoven into the UK coffee scene. We have already seen the meteoric rise of Matcha, a Japanese ceremonial drink. And we expect to see more global influence in the near future.
A 2025 Tea & Coffee Trade Journal feature highlights some clear favourites.
- Dirty chai has gone from niche to mainstream and now appears as a menu item in many large chains.
- Horchata lattes, inspired by the traditional Mexican spiced rice milk, are steadily growing in popularity, particularly at independent cafés.
- Trending global flavours capture attention. One USA chain launched a “Dubai Chocolate Latte” inspired by the viral pistachio chocolate bar.
The takeaway is that consumers respond to flavours that tell a story, and expose them to new ingredients.
How do function and flavour trends overlap?
The strongest innovations combine both. Imagine a cold brew with adaptogens (plant-based ingredients with health benefits) and a global flavour twist like tiramisu or pistachio. This type of drink gives people both the health benefits they want and the novelty they enjoy sharing online. Coffee brands that embrace this overlap can stay ahead of consumer expectations.
What does this mean for offices?
Facilities managers and office leaders are already seeing more questions from staff about coffee quality, variety and wellness. To stay ahead of the curve, we would recommend that you…
- Provide options that reflect functional coffee trends such as RTD cans with added nutrients.
- Expand flavour variety beyond standard espresso drinks. Dirty chai and seasonal syrups are now part of the norm. For example, facilities managers could keep things fresh and interesting for their team by offering one new flavour of syrup every season.
The bottom line
The next big thing in coffee is not one single drink. It is the combination of functional benefits, flavour innovations, and convenient formats. To help consumers keep up with the demands of life, and get the maximum benefit out of their coffee. Offices and cafés that adapt now will be better prepared for the future of coffee.