Key takeaways

• Matcha is transferring from different choice to core menu staple.
• Gen Z’s choice for experimentation and customisation are reshaping drink growth.
• International flavours are influencing Western café menus in 2026.
• Know-how is crucial for managing advanced, steadily altering café menus.

Specialty espresso is consistently evolving. From the shift in the direction of lighter roast profiles within the 2000s to the newer surge in experimental processing, cafés regularly replace their menus to satisfy shoppers’ wants. Regardless of these adjustments, the give attention to espresso high quality has remained regular.

Whereas this nonetheless applies to many specialty espresso outlets, projected trade traits for 2026 differ considerably from earlier years. They’re extra private, sensible, and fewer centred solely on espresso.

Matcha has pushed document gross sales for UK chains equivalent to Caffè Nero and Black Sheep, at occasions 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 traits, café homeowners want to remain forward of adjusting client 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 might also like our article on how cafés can handle rising espresso costs.

Which flavour traits will we see in espresso outlets in 2026?

Following its success final yr, the matcha pattern reveals no signal of slowing down in 2026.

Costa Espresso just 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, significantly these with the identical putting 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 International Advertising & Model Technique Lead at SumUp, a world monetary expertise firm. “The success of the ube latte, as an example, has proven that prospects take pleasure in novelty and stay up for these short-lived menu additions.

“This yr, many cafés are planning to introduce extra limited-time creations, rotating specials, and components that change all year long.”

Flavour traits are additionally changing into more and more world, with Asian nations having essentially the most affect. Extra espresso outlets are experimenting with widespread components from throughout the area, together with pandan, ube, miso, and yuzu, of their signature drinks.

These components provide 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 be set to proceed this yr. In response to Keurig Dr Pepper’s inaugural State of Drinks report, 72% of Gen Z shoppers within the US strive 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 prospects 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 function in espresso outlets all through 2026.

“Social media, new consumption behaviours, and altering buyer expectations imply manufacturers should repeatedly adapt to stay related,” says Bruno, the founder and CEO of the café and açaí chain Jungle Berry. “I foresee the primary traits in expertise revolving round self-service and automation to assist enhance pace and accuracy, in addition to operational effectivity, pushed by expertise quite than additional labour.”

Comfort will proceed to form client behaviour. In its fall 2025 Nationwide Espresso Information Developments report, the Nationwide Espresso Affiliation discovered {that a} document 59% of US shoppers bought their espresso at a drive-thru. Moreover, 38% of individuals ordered via an app.

“Know-how that simplifies the shopper journey will form a lot of the trade 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 amassing a drink ordered on their cellphone.

“The cafés that spend money on frictionless experiences are already seeing larger repeat visits as a result of prospects more and more anticipate pace with out shedding the human contact.”

Human interplay, group engagement, and intentional hospitality are irreplaceable in specialty espresso outlets. Which means that 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 prospects to position their orders straight on the pill,” Bruno explains. “This considerably reduces queues, minimises ordering errors, and frees up workers to give attention to preparation and buyer interplay.

“Know-how like SumUp’s self-service options permits espresso outlets to scale effectively, management prices, and ship a smoother buyer expertise, whereas nonetheless sustaining the human component that makes hospitality particular.”

How espresso outlets can adapt to approaching traits

Altogether, rising espresso traits 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 distinguished roles. 

In response, extra cafés are increasing their menu choices, whether or not via beverage add-ons or promoting RTD chilly brews and lattes with useful advantages. Whereas these additions can generate curiosity and drive gross sales, in addition they pose operational challenges.

Managing inventory for seasonal components, 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 digicam function, as an example, permits baristas to {photograph} handwritten or printed menus and immediately convert them into digital product lists. For espresso outlets that steadily replace choices or run seasonal specials, this could eradicate hours of guide information entry.

“The built-in AI digicam additionally helps us higher perceive buyer movement, peak occasions, and behavior patterns,” Bruno says. “This information helps smarter staffing selections, improved format planning, and extra knowledgeable operational changes, permitting us to optimise efficiency with out including complexity.

“We additionally use further SumUp cost and reporting instruments to handle a number of cost strategies, real-time gross sales monitoring, and efficiency evaluation,” he provides. “This provides us flexibility to check new merchandise, adapt menus shortly, and preserve operational resilience throughout totally different places.”

As we enter 2026, key traits from the earlier yr will proceed to outline specialty espresso outlets. Shopper expectations are larger, tastes are broader, and balancing comfort with hospitality has by no means been extra necessary.

For café operators, the message is obvious. Success now not relies upon solely on espresso high quality or value effectivity, but additionally on responding to shifts in what shoppers worth and the way these values change over time.

Though it might by no means exchange the human component of service, expertise is changing into one of the vital efficient methods to adapt to those adjustments.

Loved this? Then learn our article on how espresso outlets can faucet into meals traits.

Good Every day Grind

Please word: SumUp is a sponsor of Good Every day Grind.

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