The cold coffee trend in the food and beverage industry is gaining momentum, driven by consumers who are becoming more adventurous in their coffee choices. Nestlé’s proprietary research shows that cold coffee is one of the fastest-growing segments in the coffee industry, with a 15% increase in consumption over the past four years. The company predicts that by 2023, 32% of out-of-home coffee consumption will be cold, equivalent to one in every three cups.
To capitalize on this trend, Nestlé is expanding its coffee range by introducing an espresso concentrate, with plans for a European launch. Under its Nescafé brand, Nestlé is offering bottles of ‘premium liquid coffee concentrate’ in two flavors – Sweet Vanilla and Espresso Black. These bottles need to be refrigerated once opened, and the recommended serving is 50ml per 250ml of liquid. The Espresso Black concentrate is made from water, coffee, and an acidity regulator, while the Sweet Vanilla flavor includes water, sugar, coffee, natural flavoring, and an acidity regulator.
Nestlé’s Nescafé Espresso Concentrate is customizable, allowing consumers to add it to milk for an iced latte, to water for an Americano, or mix it with other beverages. One spokesperson mentioned that juice is a popular mixer, with options like lemonade, tonic, or orange juice being suggested. The cold coffee trend is driven by the younger generation, who are attracted to specialty coffee shops offering a variety of cold coffee options.
Initially, Nestlé will launch its coffee concentrate in bottle format in Australia, with plans to expand into single-serve pods in China through e-commerce platforms. The company aims to expand its reach globally, including potential expansion into Europe. In the UK, Nestlé already offers sachets of iced coffees under the Nescafé brand, such as Iced Salted Caramel Latte and Iced Vanilla Cream Latte. For future European launches, Nestlé has not yet disclosed specific markets of interest.
