2019 Coffee Data Trends Signal Future Success for Gourmet Coffee Franchises
By: PJ's CoffeeYour regular cup of Joe just isn’t cutting it anymore.
The National Coffee Association’s National Coffee Data Trends market research found 63 percent of Americans drink coffee every day, and 61 percent of all cups of coffee consumed were gourmet.
However, that’s just the tip of the steam wand with respect to the signals recent research is sending to coffee franchise owners. Here are a few other factors demonstrating strong growth in the gourmet coffee segment:
Lattes Lead the Way
Research from payments systems provider Square and the Specialty Coffee Association of America highlights a growing trend among some the largest economies in the world – drip coffee has become runner-up to the latte in the competition for coffee-drinkers’ hearts.
In fact, the 2018 report found the frothy combination of milk and espresso to be the most popular drink in Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. And with the average price in the U.S. at $4.16, gourmet coffee franchises are in a strong position to capitalize on consumers’ growing demand for specialty coffee beverages.
Answering the Call for Customized Beverages
On top of the fact that an increasing number of coffee drinkers are ordering beverages with a higher price tag, consumers are also enthusiastic about modifying their orders.
In fact, of the more than 67 million lattes ordered between June 2017 and June 2018, the average American ordered two add-ons to customize their drink. That could be anything from syrups to additional espresso shots to dairy alternatives.
With an additional cost for each of these add-ons, customers’ latte orders can easily rise above $5.00, which helps coffee franchise owners increase their average ticket.
Cold Brew Gaining Ground
Since 2016, there’s been a marked shift in cold coffee drinking habits. At that point, nearly 20 percent more Americans drank iced coffee compared to cold brew.
As more coffee shops began offering cold brew and consumer awareness grew, the popularity of cold brew swung upward. By 2017, cold brew outsold iced coffee by 28 percent, a figure which grew to 42 percent in 2018.
According to data from the National Coffee Association, nearly 20 percent of consumers drink cold brew regularly or occasionally. Much of the most recent adoption is driven by younger generations of coffee drinkers. For gourmet coffee franchises, there’s a significant opportunity to capitalize on this trend, especially when the average cost for cold brew is more expensive than a standard cup of drip coffee.
Staying Caffeinated During All Dayparts
While the majority of coffee sales in the U.S. take place during the morning hours, gourmet coffee shop owners are finding success throughout the day by offering a wide range of products that suit consumers’ various wants and needs.
- During the work rush hour of 8 a.m., the most popular coffee beverage ordered tends to be drip coffee and lattes.
- Around 9 a.m., there’s a shift to cold brew and other specialty drinks like chai lattes and cortados, which tend to have a more equal distribution of milk and espresso than your standard latte giving the beverage a more potent coffee flavor.
- At midday, tea is most frequently ordered until around 2 p.m. when customers more often order ice blended beverages.
Accordingly, specialty coffee shops that can satisfy customers’ changing needs throughout the day are in the best position to succeed.
How to Get Started Opening a Gourmet Coffee Shop
Coffee is a competitive industry for established and emerging brands. It’s critical for new business owners to start out putting their best foot forward. Franchising has proven to be a successful model for entrepreneurs across the country and around the globe time and time again.