KANSAS CITY — The pandemic has produced an “in-home barista” movement, according to Mintel, as consumers cooped up at home sought ways to reproduce their favorite coffee shop beverages in their own kitchens.
“The COVID-19 pandemic created a fascinating year for coffee, especially as it saw the reversal of a long-term trend,” said Jonny Forsyth, associate director of food and drink at Mintel. “For years, coffee shops have taken share from retail coffee, but the pandemic forced drinkers to make more coffee in-home and replicate the quality of fresh on-premise brews.”
COVID-19 fueled an 8% rise in total global packaged coffee launches during 2020 compared to 2019, Mintel said. Fresh varieties, including pods, ground and beans now account for nearly two thirds of global coffee innovation collectively.
The coffee creamer market also benefited from the in-home barista trend. The segment is forecast to grow by $2.51 billion during 2021 to 2025, progressing at a CAGR of over 4%, according to Technavio.
“For many, the key to coffee making has moved beyond the desire for it to simply be ‘good coffee’; it’s now about brewing creative coffee, adding the same style and aspiration you would see in a coffee shop,” Mr. Forsyth said. “We predict that in as little as two years’ time, this trend will be further developed as coffee-making technology improves and machine prices reduce. Moving forward, retail brands need to behave more like coffee shops in order to engage with consumers. This means using social media and new product innovation to offer customers choice, community, and storytelling.”
