Drinks Explained

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Recent Articles

July 9, 2026

No more “large” flat whites: Is it time to standardise milk drinks?

March 26, 2026

Why pandan could be the next coffee flavour trend

March 19, 2026

Should coffee shops batch matcha?

February 17, 2026

Could hojicha be the next matcha?

November 19, 2025

Is ube a lasting flavour trend in coffee shops?

August 25, 2026

Can cold foam help raise café margins?

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Key takeaways Cold foam now shapes flavour, presentation, and pricing strategy. It works as an upsell, raising café margins without extra SKUs. Consistency, not cost, is cold foam's real operational challenge. Signature builds, like the Mont Blanc, outperform generic foam toppings. Cold foam has moved from a niche addition to iced drinks to a category in its own right, changing how cafés approach flavour, presentation,… read more

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Key takeaways Cold foam now shapes flavour, presentation, and pricing strategy. It works as an upsell, raising café margins without extra SKUs. Consistency, not cost, is cold foam's real operational challenge. Signature builds, like the… read more

August 25, 2026

Can cold foam help raise café margins?

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Key takeaways Cold foam now shapes flavour, presentation, and pricing strategy. It works as an upsell, raising café margins without...

July 9, 2026

No more “large” flat whites: Is it time to standardise milk drinks?

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes Key takeaways The size of milk-based coffee drinks, like the flat white, varies significantly across countries, chains, and independent cafés....

March 26, 2026

Why pandan could be the next coffee flavour trend

Key takeaways Pandan’s sweet, earthy, vanilla-like flavour profile complements coffee. Growing Southeast Asian diaspora and Gen Z demand drive the mainstream rise of pandan. Fresh...

March 19, 2026

Should coffee shops batch matcha?

Key takeaways Busy coffee shops should batch matcha to improve efficiency. Batching matcha can also help improve beverage consistency. Proper training ensures baristas prepare batched...

February 17, 2026

Could hojicha be the next matcha?

Key takeaways Surging global demand for matcha has strained traditional Japanese supply chains. Hojicha offers a nutty-flavoured, low caffeine alternative. Modern matcha focuses on aesthetics...

November 19, 2025

Is ube a lasting flavour trend in coffee shops?

Ube, a purple yam native to the Philippines, is known for its eye-catching colour and sweet, nutty, vanilla-like flavour. Its versatility and aesthetic appeal are...

April 2, 2025

Should roasters offer mushroom coffee?

Health and wellness trends have been reshaping the coffee market for some time now. As younger consumers increasingly prioritise wellbeing, sustainability, and fitness, roasters are...

September 25, 2024

Dirty Coffee: A new way to experience espresso?

Specialty coffee is always on the lookout for the next big thing. Whether it’s the newest barista gadget, the latest advanced processing method, or another...

January 22, 2024

Microfoam: How much should each milk-based coffee drink have?

In many coffee shops around the world, milk-based beverages are incredibly popular. The combination of the smooth, silky texture of perfectly steamed milk with a...

August 21, 2023

Does olive oil coffee have a place in specialty coffee?

Beverage innovation is plentiful in the specialty coffee sector. Whether it’s using new brewing methods or adding unique ingredients, more and more coffee shops are...

February 13, 2023

Was canned coffee invented in Japan?

Canned and ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee products, including cold brew and milk-based beverages, have been popular in many countries for some time now.  However, it’s been...

February 7, 2023

What is mazagran coffee & how do you make it?

Mazagran is a sweetened cold coffee beverage which is popular in countries such as Algeria (where the drink was invented), Portugal, Spain, and Austria. It’s...

October 17, 2022

How does snapchilling coffee work?

There’s no denying that cold brew is fast becoming one of the most popular coffee shop beverages around the world – especially with younger consumers....

August 24, 2022

What is a babyccino & why do coffee shops serve them?

Although children are by no means the biggest consumer demographic for coffee shops, the child food and beverage sector is undergoing a period of significant...

July 11, 2022

What is qahwa coffee & how do you prepare it?

Qahwa (also known as kahwa or Arabic coffee) is a traditional method of preparing coffee in the Middle East – with each country generally having...

June 28, 2022

What is a latte & why is it so popular?

In coffee shops around the world, the latte is arguably the most popular milk-based coffee beverage. According to 2020 data from Project Café USA, the...