What Will Be the Next Coffee Trend?

If 2025 proved anything, it's that coffee culture is having a moment.

According to the annual Hospitality Trends Report, 2026 is shaping up to be even bigger. And this year, the trends are actually looking pretty good for specialty coffee.

Quick 2025 Recap

The Trend You Can't Ignore: Cold Foam

Cold drinks now make up 74% of beverages sold at major chains, and cold foam is up 161% year-over-year. It's clear that cold, creamy, and customisable is what consumers want.

2-in-1: Dessert-Topped Drinks

Drinks that double as a sweet treat? Iced drinks really took on the 'imaginative' route last year, with new viral creations popping up every month. From cookie-butter-topped lattes to tiramisu cold brews, coffee became more than just a caffeine fix—it became an experience.

So, What's Next?

Mont Blanc

Appearing on the scene towards the end of 2025, the Mont Blanc is predicted to stay in 2026. Inspired by the French dessert, this drink layers espresso with sweet chestnut cream and is quickly becoming the new must-try.

Functional Drinks  

Drinks that do more than caffeinate you. We're talking protein, adaptogens, and coconut oil. As wellness culture continues to grow, expect to see more coffee drinks that promise to boost your energy, focus, and overall health. 

Banana Latte? 

Searches for "banana latte" are up 1,573% year on year, and "banana bread latte" is up by 6,267%. While it might sound unusual, banana's natural sweetness and creamy texture make it a surprisingly good coffee companion. 

The Fruit Trend 

We've been experimenting with the sweet flavours of strawberries, mango, and blueberries for years, and now apparently, the banana? But what comes after the banana? 

Guava, Apparently 

With its sweet, floral taste and popularity throughout Latin America and Southeast Asia, it's well-suited for the fruit-forward coffee trend that's taking off. It's predicted to start showing up in Americanos and espresso tonics. 

So, What Does This Mean for Specialty Coffee? 

Plot Twist: The Trends Are Actually Good 

Drinks like the Mont Blanc are traditionally built on cold brew, which means the coffee itself needs to deliver. You can't hide mediocre beans under orange-scented cream.  And all that fruit? That's our territory. When people develop a taste for strawberry matcha lattes and banana-topped creations, they're training their palates to expect and enjoy fruity, complex flavours. Which means they're primed to appreciate what great single-origin coffee has offered all along: natural fruit notes that don't come from a bottle.

Our Prediction? 2026 Is the Year of Single Origins

As the coffee world goes fruity, pourover is how you capture those delicate, expressive notes. We're highlighting three exceptional single origins that showcase the natural fruit flavours consumers are learning to love.