Specialty Coffee Expo - Boston 2022
There's nothing quite like a warm cup of coffee on a cold morning. Grabbing the cup tightly to warm your hands, smelling the aroma as it welcomes you to take a sip, and then delighting in the flavors of the drink of your choosing. To make it even more special be with friends and maybe walk the streets of a welcoming city like Boston. This is what I had the chance to do this past week while at the Specialty Coffee Expo. This expo brought coffee professionals and enthusiasts from around the world together under one roof. Together we sampled some of the finest brews from around the world and got to see products, presentations and what’s to be expected and tasted by coffee lovers this year.
In this article I will be focusing on the trends that seemed to be most prevalent throughout the show as well as innovative and interesting flavors and products. So sit back with your favorite beverage as you consume this brief trends report, consider it your coffee break.
To kick things off right lets focus on the star of the show- COFFEE! There were so many blends from every growing region and there was something for everyone’s taste buds. I will let the coffee connoisseurs judge on which were the top selections. I will say that I was impressed by the ways in which these brands presented wonderful coffees and created an experience with what they showcased-
Beanz created a very fun enviornment, they gained a lot of buzz by creating specialty beverages and allowing convention goers to learn about their “fresh beans from local roasters, delivered to your door”. At the convention, Madcap which you may be familiar with out of Grand Rapids, Michigan featured a tasty coffee. If you want to try out Beanz.com Barista’s Choice service, it selects great coffees based on what your coffee preferences are and ships products directly to your door with weekly, biweekly, or monthly options.
At the time of this article being posted they are offering 25% off your first three months with the code: BETTERBREW
MiiR was also featuring Madcap coffee and was another great booth full of excitement and some good conversations about their products and the planet. Madcap began in 2008 when its founders Trevor and Ryan came together and connected over their shared passion for coffee, the story behind it, the flavor and “the ability to bring people together. It is clear they are succeeding at this vision on many levels.
MiiR introduced the Climate+ Collection which uses no new plastic, 25% less steel and offsetting it’s carbon footprint by 110%. The new MiiR line of tumblers are sleek and sophisticated. MiiR is focused on clean water, a healthy environment and strong communities around the world.
The vibe of this booth was engaging and warm, the MiiR and Madcap teams were even handing out full tumblers of special limited edition cups from the show. Even after the coffees where finished people continued hanging around to engage in good conversations and talk with the team.
Top trends-
Non-coffee cold beverage innovations: are now everywhere!
Leahy's All Friends line of "better for you" beverages made their debut at the coffee expo. All Friends comes in 6 flavors and is made with less sugar and fortified with antioxidants, electrolytes and vitamins. The product has no artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives. The flavors are- Blueberry Chai (a crowd favorite), Strawberry Hibiscus, Mango Chili, Pineapple Ginger, Farmstand Lemonade (a very tasty lemonade) and Black Tea.
Other lines with great products included Smart Fruit. We loved this booth and the passion of the founder not only did they have refreshers but also very tasty natural smoothly mixes that were 100% real fruit we loved the harvest grains detox which was sweet and nutritious.
Floral infused drinks, were a big trend as well. We saw hibiscus and lavender featured prominently. Many florals were used in lemonades. Monin and Torani were both sampled a lemon and lavender drinks. In this head to head flavor battle Torani wins, with their delicious lemonade with just the right amount of lavender.
Monin also was sampling one of the best pistachio flavors we have tried in coffee.
Torani showcased its Salted Egg Yolk flavor that we were crazy about. This flavor came up in conversations with top flavor insiders.
Plant based milks are on the rise. We tried several without anything in them. Some had oil slicks, others were too thin, many had flavors that were quite intense and they weren't all pleasing. In coffee the milk can hide a bit but alone it was clear to see that not all of them are quite there yet. We did not select one from this show because we didn't enjoy the ones we tried.
Stylish serving our favorite serving kettle and line of products was Fellow. These smart designs that look great in any environment were simply beautiful and well made. The booth was fun, we were able to throw some of their magnetic tops and if you landed on the right colored canister you won Fellow products. You can see the line of products and purchase them for yourself or a loved one here: https://fellowproducts.com
Environmentally conscious messaging and branding has been on the rise and it's clear that many companies and individuals, ourselves included, want to make sure farmers are being treated and compensated fairly, the products are sustainable, and that the ingredients are healthy for consumers.
We were also impressed to see more sustainable packaging and even some booths using sustainable furniture, like these cool chairs and tables made by- https://www.chairigami.com
Dessert flavoring and syrups were everywhere! My 2 favorite syrup for sweet flavored latte lovers-
Torani Puremade Zero Sugar Syrups are a guilt free experience. They taste fantastic and are crafted with the pure ingredients and with no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors and are non-GMO. These are a must try, you can get them here - https://shop.torani.com/products
Ghirardelli served an amazing salted caramel and white chocolate smoothie. We are sure they would make a great addition to any latte or iced beverage.
Finally, one of the most interesting and fun booths we came across was the Hawaii Coffee Association booth which featured a different specialty coffee from each island. Trying coffees from different regions is like allowing your tongue to travel the world. It’s an enjoyable escape especially when so many haven’t been able to travel for so long.
My hope is that after reading this article you may be inspired to purchase a coffee grinder and some different coffees, maybe an espresso machine, or even try a coffee monthly membership…
Coffee is an experience that brings so many people from around the world together as we share it and profess our love for it, even in articles like this. When consumed consciously we get the opportunity to experience not just the subtle flavor nuances but a totally immersive experience. If we think of the origin of the coffee we consume, and about the people who tended to the fields and harvested it, then those who packaged it and brought it to us, there is a deep sense of gratitude that can come from each cup. Going deeper, our appreciation and action can lead to a stronger connection to people and the planet. I truly hope that we all become more conscious and select that which good for you, good for others, good for farmers, and good for the world.
Together let’s grow the good.