1. Offer Milk Alternatives

Oat, soy, coconut and almond milk

There are a variety of reasons customers want alternatives to milk (dairy) including allergies, intolerances, dietary restrictions, and a desire to customize beverages and try new options.

According to a recent article in USA today, the FDA may soon require milk alternatives (i.e. plant based “milks” such as soy and coconut) to change the way they label their products because they do not comply with the definition of milk. The FDA defines milk as coming from “the milking of one or more healthy cows”. Before any enforcement can occur, the FDA will need to develop guidance to notify companies of the change and ask for public feedback which may take a year or more. (Source: USAToday.com, “FDA May force soy and almond ’milk’ companies to change labeling”, July 19, 2018).

When offering alternative options, it is important to note that milk alternatives can curdle due to coffee’s high temperature and acidity. One idea to try: Warm the milk alternative prior to adding to hot coffee.

Here’s a list of the most popular milk alternatives and their key features when adding to hot coffee or steaming for espresso-based beverages:

Oat Milk– A new alternative that is gaining attention in coffee shops in the US. Rich, creamy texture when steamed that doesn’t overpower the coffee
Goat Milk – Fewer people are allergic to goat’s milk and it is easier to digest than diary. Not available on a wide scale yet
Hemp Milk – Steams well, but the foam dissipates quickly. Not available in all areas
Cashew Milk – Produces a loose foam with lots of bubbles
Rice Milk – Foam is thin and watery
Soy Milk– Foams well and adds a nutty flavor to the beverage
Almond Milk – Easy to foam, but it can separate. Environmental concern: One almond requires one gallon of water to grow so some are looking for more environmentally friendly alternatives
Coconut Milk – Strong flavor that may overpower coffee with foam that dissipates quickly

2. Create Visually Stunning Latte Art

Millenials and Gen Z assign more importance to personal experiences than they do materials items. It is more important than ever to make sure that your offerings provide a new, exciting experience to keep them coming back.

Trends to watch: Adding color to lattes and cappuccinos, 3D latte art or glitter to make your signature drinks more memorable.

Rainbow latte

Add Some Color:

By adding drops food coloring to steamed milk, the possibilities are endless to create striking, Instagram worthy lattes and cappuccinos.

Latte with 3D foam

A Whole New Dimension in Latte Art:

Using a spoon, scoop foamed milk on top of a cappuccino or latte to create a 3D character. Shape art with the back of the spoon or a toothpick. Decorate by dipping the end of a toothpick into food coloring or espresso to add color (and personality) to the creation.

Cappuccino with purple edible glitter

Glittery Goodness

Add glitter to an espresso shot in a cup and then add steamed or foamed milk to make a sparkly creation that looks as good as it tastes.

IMPORTANT: Before using glitter on cappuccinos, lattes, read the label to confirm the glitter is edible. According to the FDA web site: “Common ingredients in edible glitter or dust include sugar, acacia (gum arabic), maltodextrin, cornstarch, and color additives specifically approved for food use, including mica-based pearlescent pigments and FD&C colors such as FD&C Blue No. 1. Most edible glitters and dusts also state “edible” on the label. If the label simply says “non-toxic” or “for decorative purposes only” and does not include an ingredients list, the product should not be used directly on foods.”

3. Top Iced Beverages with Cold Foam

Iced cold brew coffee with cold foam

Cold foam is created by blend or whipping cold milk or a milk alternative until it is smooth and creamy. Cold foam is used to top iced or frozen beverages such as an iced latte, iced cappuccino or iced cold brew coffee.

Comments

Plain text