Every summer the European cold brew coffee market experiences a seasonal surge as consumers look for refreshing additions to their drinks rotation. In this article, the experts at Finlays, a leader in coffee solutions, explore the summer-specific trends shaping the cold brew market in 2024. This guide offers insight into how drinking habits shift with the seasons and what this means for the beverage industry in Europe.
Seasonal Shifts in Consumer Coffee Drinking Habits
While in colder months consumers tend to select hot, comforting beverages like lattes, cappuccinos, and traditional brewed coffee, as temperatures rise, there is a notable shift towards more chilled, refreshing drinks. Take a look at any menu board from late spring, and you’ll see countless promotions featuring iced drinks and new flavour combinations.
Cold brew coffee with its smooth, naturally sweet and refreshing flavours is the perfect choice for a chilled summer drink. Consumer interest in cold brew can also be seen from a social media perspective too. Finlays own social listening data shows that between December 2023 and June 2024 cold brew was mentioned over 470 thousand times in the UK alone, this is 100% up on the previous 12-month period [Brandwatch, June 2024].
Why Cold Brew Coffee is Perfect for the Hot Summer Months
Cold brew coffee has the ability to not only hydrate and cool down the body, but it can also provide a caffeine boost. Cold brew is also increasingly available in ready-to-drink (RTD) options, making it the perfect choice for summer activities such as picnics, beach outings, and festivals.
Popular Summer Beverages and Flavours
Cold brew coffee is also a perfect summer staple due to its flexibility in terms of flavour pairing qualities. Popular variations include:
- Classic Black Cold Brew: Simple, smooth, and invigorating, often enjoyed poured directly over ice.
- Latte Cold Brew: Cold brew coffee partnered with dairy or dairy alternatives, sweeteners or flavours.
- Nitro Cold-Brew: Infused with nitrogen for a silky smooth, velvety texture and creamy foamy head.
And, of course, summer also invites experimentation with bright, fruity, and creamy flavours that complement the season’s vibe. In 2024, we expect to see:
- Citrus infusions: Lemon, orange, and grapefruit add a refreshing zestiness to cold brew
- Tropical Notes: Coconut, mango, and pineapple flavours evoke a tropical getaway
- Creamy Blends: Crème Brûlée, clotted cream and brown sugar offer temptation and indulgence
How Finlays can help customers tap into the cold brew trend
With over 35 years of global expertise in cold brew coffee production, Finlays is ideally positioned to help customers capitalise on these trends and tap into the summer cold-brew market. With Finlays, you can expect:
- High-Quality RTD Products: Our capabilities to create premium RTD cold-brew options ensure convenience without compromising on quality. Our offer includes cans and bottles in a variety of sizes to suit your needs.
- Flavour Innovation: With Finlays you can develop unique, seasonal, limited-edition cold brew coffees using our range of flavour options. We offer a wide range of fruity, zesty and creamy flavours that can be added to our cold brews to meet your brief and can create the perfect seasonal drink for any time of the year.
- Guidance on Range Expansion: Finlays can help customers to expand their chilled drinks ranges with new cold brew coffee products so they are ready to tap into this growing consumer trend.
The summer of 2024, and many to come, promise to be an exciting period for cold brew coffee. Consumers are looking for drinks that not only refresh but also provide new flavours and experiences. Finlays is poised to lead this market, offering products that meet the varying tastes and preferences of coffee lovers across the UK and Europe.
Enjoy the perfect cold brew moment by contacting us about supplying cold brew as an ingredient or a finished RTD solution.
