Key takeaways
- Matcha is transferring from different choice to core menu staple.
- Gen Z’s choice for experimentation and customisation are reshaping drink improvement.
- World flavours are influencing Western café menus in 2026.
- Know-how is crucial for managing complicated, steadily altering café menus.
Specialty espresso is consistently evolving. From the shift in the direction of lighter roast profiles within the 2000s to the more moderen surge in experimental processing, cafés regularly replace their menus to fulfill shoppers’ wants. Regardless of these adjustments, the deal with espresso high quality has remained regular.
Whereas this nonetheless applies to many specialty espresso retailers, projected business developments for 2026 differ considerably from earlier years. They’re extra private, sensible, and fewer centred completely on espresso.
Matcha has pushed file gross sales for UK chains equivalent to Caffè Nero and Black Sheep, at instances surpassing espresso. Purposeful ready-to-drink (RTD) espresso drinks, in the meantime, have moved from area of interest wellness markets into the mainstream. And customisation, as soon as a novelty, is now anticipated by many shoppers.
To efficiently faucet into these developments, café house owners want to remain forward of fixing shopper calls for whereas sustaining consistency, operational effectivity, and an unwavering dedication to espresso high quality.
Corin Camenisch from SumUp and Bruno Damiano Maciel from Jungle Berry share their perception.
You may additionally like our article on how cafés can handle rising espresso costs.
Which flavour developments will we see in espresso retailers in 2026?
Following its success final yr, the matcha pattern reveals no signal of slowing down in 2026.
Costa Espresso lately launched its first-ever full matcha vary, because it makes an attempt to compete with rivals like Clean Avenue, which constructed its US$500m model round flavoured matcha drinks designed to go viral. Matcha’s attraction, pushed by its vivid inexperienced hue and purported well being advantages, continues to resonate most with youthful shoppers.
Equally, curiosity in different non-coffee choices, notably these with the identical hanging aesthetics, will proceed to affect café menus in 2026.
“We’re seeing stronger demand for distinctive one-off gadgets and seasonal drinks,” says Corin, the World Advertising and marketing & Model Technique Lead at SumUp, a worldwide monetary expertise firm. “The success of the ube latte, as an illustration, has proven that clients take pleasure in novelty and look ahead to these short-lived menu additions.
“This yr, many cafés are planning to introduce extra limited-time creations, rotating specials, and elements that change all year long.”
Flavour developments are additionally turning into more and more world, with Asian nations having essentially the most affect. Extra espresso retailers are experimenting with widespread elements from throughout the area, together with pandan, ube, miso, and yuzu, of their signature drinks.
These elements supply a singular twist on basic menu gadgets whereas additionally reflecting a rising curiosity in cultural authenticity. For cafés, the objective is to introduce them respectfully and sustainably, quite than treating them as fads.
Beverage customisation, one other dominant pattern in 2025, can also be set to proceed this yr. In accordance with Keurig Dr Pepper’s inaugural State of Drinks report, 72% of Gen Z shoppers within the US attempt new drinks month-to-month, and 75% of them customise their drinks. This shift in the direction of personalisation has made once-niche add-ons, equivalent to chilly foam, menu staples, permitting clients to tailor drinks to their liking.
How expertise will affect cafés in 2026
As demand for menu diversification and customisation grows, expertise will play an more and more necessary position in espresso retailers all through 2026.
“Social media, new consumption behaviours, and altering buyer expectations imply manufacturers should constantly adapt to stay related,” says Bruno, the founder and CEO of the café and açaí chain Jungle Berry. “I foresee the primary developments in expertise revolving round self-service and automation to assist enhance velocity and accuracy, in addition to operational effectivity, pushed by expertise quite than further labour.”
Comfort will proceed to form shopper behaviour. In its fall 2025 Nationwide Espresso Knowledge Tendencies report, the Nationwide Espresso Affiliation discovered {that a} file 59% of US shoppers bought their espresso at a drive-thru. Moreover, 38% of individuals ordered by an app.
“Know-how that simplifies the shopper journey will form a lot of the business this yr,” says Corin. “Folks need ordering to really feel fast, intuitive, and personalised, whether or not they’re utilizing a self-ordering kiosk, paying on the counter, or gathering a drink ordered on their telephone.
“The cafés that put money into frictionless experiences are already seeing greater repeat visits as a result of clients more and more anticipate velocity with out dropping the human contact.”
Human interplay, neighborhood engagement, and intentional hospitality are irreplaceable in specialty espresso retailers. Which means balancing expertise with significant, analogue customer support is crucial to driving long-term loyalty.
“We use SumUp’s Terminal as a self-service ordering resolution, permitting clients to position their orders immediately on the pill,” Bruno explains. “This considerably reduces queues, minimises ordering errors, and frees up workers to deal with preparation and buyer interplay.
“Know-how like SumUp’s self-service options permits espresso retailers to scale effectively, management prices, and ship a smoother buyer expertise, whereas nonetheless sustaining the human aspect that makes hospitality particular.”
How espresso retailers can adapt to imminent developments
Altogether, rising espresso developments in 2026 level to a broader change in how shoppers have interaction with the café expertise. Excessive-quality espresso and exemplary service stay important, however comfort and personalisation are taking part in extra outstanding roles.
In response, extra cafés are increasing their menu choices, whether or not by beverage add-ons or promoting RTD chilly brews and lattes with practical advantages. Whereas these additions can generate curiosity and drive gross sales, additionally they pose operational challenges.
Managing inventory for seasonal elements, customised orders, and RTD merchandise requires correct, real-time oversight. With out it, cafés danger wastage, inventory shortages, or slower service throughout busy intervals.
Know-how affords help, not options
New applied sciences are serving to overcome these points. SumUp Terminal’s AI digital camera characteristic, as an illustration, permits baristas to {photograph} handwritten or printed menus and immediately convert them into digital product lists. For espresso retailers that steadily replace choices or run seasonal specials, this could get rid of hours of guide information entry.
“The built-in AI digital camera additionally helps us higher perceive buyer circulation, peak instances, and behavior patterns,” Bruno says. “This information helps smarter staffing selections, improved structure planning, and extra knowledgeable operational changes, permitting us to optimise efficiency with out including complexity.
“We additionally use extra SumUp fee and reporting instruments to handle a number of fee strategies, real-time gross sales monitoring, and efficiency evaluation,” he provides. “This offers us flexibility to check new merchandise, adapt menus rapidly, and preserve operational resilience throughout completely different places.”
As we enter 2026, key developments from the earlier yr will proceed to outline specialty espresso retailers. Client expectations are greater, tastes are broader, and balancing comfort with hospitality has by no means been extra necessary.
For café operators, the message is evident. Success now not relies upon solely on espresso high quality or price effectivity, but in addition on responding to shifts in what shoppers worth and the way these values change over time.
Though it may by no means change the human aspect of service, expertise is turning into one of the vital efficient methods to adapt to those adjustments.
Loved this? Then learn our article on how espresso retailers can faucet into meals developments.
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