We’re four months into 2018. Already in the second quarter! Time DOES fly, doesn’t it? Even in coffee industry and the world of fair trade and specialty coffee, things move quickly.
Here’s what you can expect to hear about when it comes to coffee this year and beyond.
The “Third Wave” Definitely Is Here – and Growing Broader
The third wave of coffee is, according to Wikipedia, a “movement” to produce high-quality coffee. That’s rather a “no kidding!,” right? But the third wave is going further: it wants coffee to be considered an “artisanal” foodstuff (like wine), rather than a “commodity.” Third wave coffee also can be seen as part of the specialty coffee “movement” (of which Ubean Coffee definitely is a part).
So what can we expect in regards to the third wave of coffee?
We can expect a growth in direct trade. This is a bit different than fair trade in that it focuses on roasters buying directly from a coffee producer. Direct trade puts a larger emphasis on sustainability, experimenting in regards to coffee brewing methods and attention to quality. Naturally, this type of laser focus means direct trade coffee will be sold at a premium price. And it will be worth it!
Coffee Marketers are Aiming their Laser Beams on Generation Z
That’s right: members of Generation Z (those born between the mid-1990s and the early 2000s) are starting to love their own cups of Joe. Millennials are ahead of them when it comes to coffee love (this generational cohort consumes about 44 percent of coffee in the United States). But between the two of them, they are the fastest-growing group of coffee lovers today.
What can we expect to see? More flavored and creamier coffee drinks. And let’s not forget the latest coffee trend: mushroom coffee. Millennials and their younger siblings are all about healthier eating and the trendiest of the trendy cafés are starting to offer this coffee option in a BIG way.
Cold Brew Is Here to Stay (At Least for the Foreseeable Future). Carbonated Coffee is Right On Its Heels.
Iced coffee is so 2015! Rather than brewing coffee and then pouring ice over the hot drink, cold brew is made by actually brewing coffee in cold water. Doing so cuts back on coffee’s acidity. It’s also easier and quicker to brew larger batches.
Why drink a cola when you drink a bubbly coffee drink? That’s the idea behind the latest coffee craze: coffee-flavored carbonated water (it’s actually tonic water with espresso). The of-the-moment trendiest of the trendy coffee shops in such hip spots as NYC and San Francisco are at the forefront of this trend.
Specialty, Premium Will NEVER Go Out of Favor
No matter in what direction the coffee industry and coffee trends go, one thing will remain: the awesomeness that is specialty, premium, organic coffee such as Ubean Coffee. Find one of our independent distributors near you and taste us for yourself!