New report suggests ready-to-drink coffee market on the rise

Coffee drinkers seek convenience

By Emily Caldwell Published November 29, 2024

A canned coffee drink poured into a glass. — Dannie Sorum / Unsplash

Recent comprehensive market reports released via Prophecy Market Insights indicate the ready-to-drink coffee market is on the rise. The ready-to-drink tea and coffee market was valued at $118 billion in 2024 but is projected to grow 6.6% to reach $211.2 billion by 2034. The ready-to-drink coffee market encompasses any packaged coffee or tea drink that does not require heating and is pre-prepared. Some examples include pre-made cold brews, lattes, iced coffees, and iced chai tea lattes.

Experts believe the rising demand for ready-to-drink coffee and teas results from key factors. First and foremost, today’s fast-paced lifestyle and desire for convenience demand easy-to-carry beverages. Between jobs, family, and social obligations, today’s consumers have more commitments than ever, leaving less time for traditional coffee shops or brewing.

Recommended Videos

Ready-to-drink coffee beverages such as RISE Brewing’s Nitro Cold Brew negate the need for preparation without sacrificing taste. These drinks are available in single-serve containers and are ideal for those who travel or are frequently on the go for work. The concept of the single-serve container also preserves freshness and cuts down on waste, as these cans can be recycled.

In addition to the clear convenience component that ready-to-drink coffee offers, canned beverages provide various flavor types with enhanced taste experiences. Coffee and tea brands continue to innovate, offering new and seasonal flavors that suit different palates and cultural influences. Brands are also trending towards more excellent quality, making ready-to-drink coffee and tea drinks a reliable high-end refreshment option. Overall, the rising ready-to-drink tea and coffee market has no shortage of flavor and variety.

Contributor

Emily is a freelance journalist with a focus on food, travel, health, and fitness content. She loves to travel to new…

Topics

Coffee & Tea

Food & Drink

The rise of evening coffee: What’s behind the after-hours caffeine trend?

Coffee from morning pick-me-ups to evening wind-down

coffee

Although coffee was once considered a drink for only the mornings, experts are now seeing coffee migrate into the evening. As coffee becomes a 24-hour flavor, moving from morning pick-me-up to evening wind-down, coffee drinkers are looking for coffee as a comfort ritual throughout both day and night. But what's driving the evening coffee trend, and how are brands responding to the change in coffee drinking habits?

I chatted with Tom Baker, founder of Mr. Black coffee liqueur, to learn more about the shifts in when and how people are consuming coffee and what's driving the evening coffee trend.

Food & Drink

Dunkin’s new Cereal N’ Milk latte is breakfast and coffee in one sip

Dunkin's new fall menu has a new latte that evokes nostalgia

cereal latte

The end of August marks announcements of fall flavors everywhere, including the autumn classic, pumpkin spice. But this year, Dunkin's "falling into fall" with a little something different. Launching nationwide today at Dunkin' locations is the all-new Cereal N' Milk latte. Crafted to transform the memory of eating cereal and milk as a kid, this latte transforms that memory into a sweet, nostalgic sip, blended with cereal milk and espresso.

Building on the success of the Dunkalatte, the new Cereal N' Milk Latte is creamy, rich, and innovative, delivering that same taste you get at the bottom of your bowl of cereal. The new latte is available in hot or iced form. “This latte is all about nostalgia! The idea came from the best part of eating cereal, that last bit of milk. We all remember finishing a bowl just to enjoy those final, sweet sips, which inspired our new Cereal N’ Milk Latte,” said Anthony Epter, Vice President of menu innovation at Dunkin’.

Food & Drink

Coffee grind sizes explained: The key to better-tasting home brews

Choosing the right grind size, from pour over to espresso

Coffee grounds

If you've only ever used a regular drip coffee maker to brew coffee, chances are you may have thought all ground coffee is the same. Regular bags of pre-ground coffee typically have a medium grind size, making them ideal for use in regular coffee makers. Once you start experimenting with different brewing methods, such as pour-over or espresso, you'll find that each requires a distinct grind size for optimal extraction (I learned this the hard way). For example, brewing coffee with a French Press requires a coarsely ground coffee, whereas an espresso machine requires a finely ground coffee.

If you're accustomed to using pod-style coffee, such as K-Cups or Nespresso capsules, you may not have given much thought to the various grind sizes of coffee. After all, the coffee is hidden behind a capsule, so you have no idea of its texture. However, matching the type of grind to your brewing method is a must to yield a delicious cup of coffee at home. Below, explore our coffee grind size guide to help you select the best type of coffee for every brewing method.