Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Niche
Comfort
Indulgent iced coffees are reinvigorated with simple innovations.
2.7
Trend score
Trend
What is the Niche Comfort trend?
Niche Comfort: Constantly pursuing new indulgences that excite, consumers are turning to niche flavor profiles to enhance their cold caffeine fix. With simple twists on traditional tastes and ingredients, coffee brands are not required to stray too far from familiarity to create innovative products that gratify adventurous flavor-seekers, while still enticing less venturesome consumers.
Trend themes
Themes within the Niche Comfort trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Customizable Beverages
The trend of allowing customers to create their own coffee drinks enables unique flavor combinations and increases consumer engagement.
02
Plant-Based Add-Ins
The use of plant-based water, milks, and sweeteners in coffee drinks provides an alternative for lactose-intolerant or vegan consumers.
03
Texture and Flavor Combinations
Creating texture and flavor combinations that are both uncommon and appealing to consumers can enhance brands and draw in new customers.
Industry implications
What the Niche Comfort trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Beverage Industry
The beverage industry can focus on creating new types of flavored coffees and teas using plant-based alternatives and unusual textures.
For
Food Industry
The food industry can incorporate unique coffee flavors into dessert recipes or create standalone coffee-flavored treats.
For
Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry can attract new customers by offering trendy and innovative coffee beverages as part of hotel room service, restaurant menus, or in-room coffee stations.
Workshop question
How can your brand balance the fine line between offering a product/service that is distinct, without it being too unfamiliar?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Niche Comfort
Trend score 2.7 out of 10, from popularity 38%, activity 34%, freshness 8%.
Popularity38%
Activity34%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Niche Comfort trend
6 featured examples from May 23, 2015 to Jan 9, 2017CategoryLifestyle
Coffee Jelly Drinks
The TINI Cafe + Bar Turns a Popular Japanese Dessert into a Beverage
Texture exploration and dessert-inspired beverage trends present opportunities for the food and beverage industry to innovate and create unique products.
CategoryLifestyle
Caffeinated Seed Milks
Rawpothecary's 'Sun Coffee' Blends Coffee with Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds
Beverage companies that experiment with using alternative ingredients as the base for their products have the opportunity to tap into the growing health-conscious and on-the-go ma…
CategoryLifestyle
Indulgent Customized Coffees
Coffee Bean Now Allows You to Customize Its Ice Blended Drink
The hospitality industry can leverage the trend of allowing customers to personalize their food and beverage items to create unique and memorable experiences for their guests.
CategoryLifestyle
Cookie-Inspired Coffee Drinks
This Iced Macchiato Contains Pieces of Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
As consumers seek new and unique drink experiences, coffeehouses and cafes can create innovative beverages that stand out and attract customers.
CategoryLifestyle
Cold Maple Coffees
Happy Tree Fuses Maple Water and Cold-Brewed Coffee
The beverage industry can continue to innovate and create new products through the combination of popular ingredients and developing alternatives to traditional beverages.
CategoryLifestyle
Espresso-Flavored Iced Teas
Starbucks Teavana 'Matcha & Espresso Fusion' is Tasty and Attractive
Incorporating espresso flavors in teas offers a unique value proposition which can disrupt the traditional tea market.
