An upgraded version of canned coffee, ready-to-drink coffee is becoming a growing part of specialty café culture.
BY EMILY JOY MENESES
ONLINE EDITOR
Featured photo by Marissa Lewis
Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee—think canned cold brew, bottled lattes, or nitro in sleek aluminum cans—has quietly become one of the fastest growing segments in specialty coffee. While RTD products have traditionally lived on grocery store shelves, more café owners are starting to realize that these beverages can also play a valuable role inside of their shops.
Today, we’ll explore why RTD coffee beverages are gaining traction in the specialty-coffee industry, and how adding a small RTD lineup alongside your typical menu might be more beneficial (and simpler) than you’d think.
Appealing to changing lifestyles
Research shows that today’s consumers—especially those of the Gen Z and Milennial generations—are living increasingly mobile lifestyles, and therefore favor drinks they can easily take on-the-go—cue the rise of RTD drinks. According to Grand View Research, the global RTD coffee market is currently valued at approximately $24.83 billion USD and is forecasted to reach over $42 billion by 2030.
Offering RTD drinks is a strong way to meet consumers where they are. And beyond providing convenience for customers, having a lineup of RTD beverages can also ease the strain on staff working busy cafés.
Unlike traditional drinks that must be prepared individually, canned or bottled coffee can be batched in advance. This allows cafés to serve more customers during busy periods without slowing down the bar. When the morning rush hits, a refrigerator stocked with RTD drinks can move quickly—no grinder adjustments or milk steaming required.
Supplementing, not replacing, café culture
Minor Figures, a London-based company known primarily for its plant-based milk, has long been a leader in the RTD market, previously offering a lineup of canned coffee and, more recently, launching a line of pour-and-serve lattes in a variety of flavors, including mocha, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Melissa Hauser, President of Minor Figures North America, explains why RTD drinks have been a mainstay in the company’s lineup. “As ready-to-drink coffee continues to grow at twice the rate of roasted coffee, and ease of use is a top priority for coffee consumers today, we saw an opportunity to apply our barista expertise to a format that fits modern routines without compromising on flavor or quality,” she shared with Barista Magazine.
Melissa explains that Minor Figures’ ready-made lattes aren’t meant to replace the coffee shop experience but rather, supplement it—by serving as a formidable stand-in when sitting down at a café just isn’t an option.
“RTD offerings can complement café culture by meeting coffee drinkers beyond the counter, whether that’s at home, at work, or on the go, while still maintaining the flavor and quality consumers love in a latte,” Melissa says.
“Ultimately, this RTD format isn’t about replacing made-to-order coffee. It’s about bringing the same barista-level experience into moments when convenience matters,” she adds.
Branching into RTD, with personality
For those wondering if there’s a way to branch into RTD offerings without sacrificing your company’s values, the answer is: Absolutely.
Emil Vanta of Los Angeles, Calif.’s Boondocks Roasters shares how his coffee shop is making plans to offer RTD drinks that still reflect his coffee shop’s story, which is centered around his Filipino identity.
“We’re planning to venture into consumer packaged goods (CPGs), or canned coffee—and it’ll be our salted latik (caramelized coconut milk) latte,” he told Barista Magazine, explaining that the intention behind the move is to spread awareness of his brand and make Boondocks’ drinks more readily accessible.
When thinking of offering RTD drinks at your shop, consider what offerings complement your brand’s identity. In the end, the rise of RTD coffee doesn’t signal the end of the café experience—it reflects how coffee culture is evolving alongside the rhythms of modern life.
As the RTD market continues to grow, cafés that approach it with intention may find that ready-made drinks can open new doors and help them bring their coffee to customers, wherever they are.
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