What’s the Next Coffee Trend?

Retailers have to watch consumer trends carefully and predict what they will be spending money on in the future.  The ability to do this with accuracy is the best way to ensure that your business prospers.

So what are retailers predicting for coffee consumers?

They are banking on the fact that people have gotten used to gourmet coffees but will stop paying for $4.00 coffee drinks.  The Gourmet Retailer predicts that  consumers will spend money on expensive coffee equipment, coffee beans, specialty tea items and then use these things in the privacy of their homes.

Remember the cocooning trend of the 80s? Well Starbucks and the rising popularity of tea rooms pulled us out of our homes in the 90s.  We left those cocoons we had created to establish ourselves in the market place…talking over a latte, networking over a frappacchino, or relaxing with a cup of Mango Oolong and a scone.

Well, the weakening economy threatens to send us scurrying back into hiding..but not without out our beverages!

Consider that a $4 a day Starbucks habit works out to be about $80 a month. In one year that is  $960.00.  You can get some decent coffee equipment for that.
Thoughts?  Do you have any predictions?
image: morguefile