What are the coffee trends for Gen Z?
Instant espresso, cold brew, functional add-ins, whipped coffee and other speciality coffee trends all tend to resonate for Gen Z coffee drinkers looking to enjoy a more mindful, lifestyle-aligned coffee experience in 2025. Japanese-style iced coffee is simply coffee that is brewed hot directly onto ice, which chills it rapidly. Exactly how you do this is up to you.How do you make a good iced coffee? The key is to brew a strong coffee concentrate: I let mine steep overnight, then I strain it, and chill it. I don’t add ice until I’m ready to drink my iced coffee; I don’t want the ice cubes to melt and dilute it!Iced coffee plays into this culture because easier to consume on the go. It’s easy to drink with a straw or an iced coffee lid and it’s not going to burn your hand on the morning commute whether you prefer it hot or cold. Coffee is a quintessential and even ritualistic part of the American culture.A Ritual, A Status Symbol, A Personality Trait Gen Z has taken iced coffee and turned it into a ritual. The act of ordering, making, or even just holding an iced coffee has become a moment of self-expression.
Why does Gen Z love iced coffee?
As well as being more photogenic and shareable, Lang says chilled drinks have more potential to personalise. Another driving force for Gen Z appears to be how refreshing and adaptable iced coffee is. The Popularity of Iced Coffee Today Today, iced coffee has found a special place in the hearts of millennials. This generation is more likely to choose cold and frozen coffee drinks over hot ones, as they believe that the coldness enhances the overall drinking experience and brings out more nuanced flavors.On the downside, forget about that deliciously seductive hot-coffee aroma. It’s not happening. And cold brew takes a lot more beans to make than hot-brewed. Time, too, and that combination is why cold brew costs more than other coffees.Iced coffee devotees, regardless of the season, are adaptable, spontaneous, and drawn to innovation. Cold-brew enthusiasts, in particular, value efficiency, favoring smooth, high-caffeine options that fuel their busy schedules.
Why is cold coffee so popular?
Olsen said that iced coffee and cold brew are accessible entry points for young consumers. Cold coffee drinks are highly customizable, with syrups, toppings and cold foam incorporated into many of the popular offerings at major coffeehouse chains. These add-ins can largely alter the natural, bitter taste of coffee. Cold Brew. A cold coffee drink made by steeping ground coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours. The coffee is then filtered, and coffee grounds are removed, resulting in coffee that is less bitter and acidic than hot coffee. Learn how to make a cold brew coffee.