2024 Coffee Trends

Dairy-free milk alternatives have been growing in popularity in the coffee market, and the trend is showing no signs of slowing. In fact, the UK’s milk substitute market is the second largest in Europe and the fifth largest in the world. Recent research found that 1 in 3 Brits have switched to non-dairy milks, such as oat, almond or soy. We think this figure will continue to rise!

For many of us, coffee plays a big role in our daily lives - it’s a brief break away from our desk, it gives us a much-needed caffeine boost, and allows us to catch up with colleagues - and we don’t think it should be any different if you don’t consume dairy, which is why we launched the TopBrewer dual milk fridge several years ago. With this option, customers are able to offer two types of milk, including dairy-free alternatives, and it is becoming one of the most popular features.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that their actions are having on the planet, and we think that sustainability will continue to play a big role in purchasing decisions. When it comes to the coffee we drink, consumers want to know more about the journey of their coffee from bean to cup. They want to know that not only is it grown in a sustainable way, but that it is also sourced ethically, as well as ensuring that the businesses they get their coffee from are making changes to increase environmentally-friendly practices.

At Scanomat, we are proud of the relationships we have built with our partners around the world to facilitate sustainable, ethical and respectful trade. We pioneered our Impact Trade initiative to take Direct Trade one step further. As well as building relationships with partner growers, Impact Trade looks to impact and make a real difference to the community at source. To date, we have funded a range of projects, from school programmes sports groups, to water taps and solar power projects. We have also made changes to our roastery and packing to make the process more efficient and sustainable.

Another big trend we don’t think will go anywhere is health consciousness. Consumers have an increased awareness of their health, and a recent study has indicated that participants that regularly consumed caffeinated coffee were less likely to be frail in old age. As well as this, coffee can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by nearly 30% and reduces the risk of developing heart disease by up to 20%.

Despite this, 1 in 5 coffee drinkers now regularly opt for decaf. Consumers should be able to enjoy their perfect drink whether it’s caffeinated or not, so giving your employees, guests or customers the option to choose a decaf (or low caffeine) coffee is important. Coffee isn’t (and shouldn’t be) a one-size-fits-all approach. Which brings us on to our last prediction for the biggest trends of 2024…

As consumers become ever more knowledgeable about the coffee drink, they have a much better idea of exactly what they want, and customisation is becoming more popular. Everyone has different tastes, and our taste can change from one day to the next, so the ability to make their beverage their own and have a personalised and unique beverage experience is essential.

TopBrewer users can be their own barista and customise their drink to meet their exact taste. The intuitive app gives the ability to adjust everything from the grams of coffee to the amount of milk. When the machine is a Pro Series, the user can choose between two different types of coffee, and when the dual milk fridge is added, they can choose between two types of milk, including dairy-free options.