Costa Coffee Professional is bridging the coffee quality gap in bars and restaurants

Costa Coffee Professional is bridging the coffee quality gap in bars and restaurants

When it comes to sipping coffee at bars and restaurants, there’s a gap between customers’ expectations and experiences. Yet putting things right is easy, and profitable. Having premium coffee on your menu not only delights customers, but it’s also a golden opportunity for forward-thinking bars and restaurants to take advantage of a booming coffee market.

Coffee connoisseurs today

In the UK, Coffee is now the nation's favourite hot drink, knocking tea off a long-held top spot. A 2023 Statista survey found that 63% of Britons regularly drink hot coffee, compared to 59% who regularly drink hot tea.[1] A British Coffee Association report highlights the growth in consumer demand for coffee, stating that around 98 million cups of coffee are drunk daily today compared with just 70 million in 2015.[2] This has helped the UK to become Europe’s fifth-largest coffee market.[3]

This rise in demand has also seen a greater desire for quality. An IBIS World report provides insight into market demand for coffee, noting health-conscious consumers opting for hot drinks over alcohol and a surge in demand for high-quality coffee.[4] A 2022 report by the CBI pointed out that younger generations in particular are ‘increasingly interested in higher-quality coffees.’[5] They’re also prepared to pay more for their daily coffee. A study found older people spend £3 a day on coffee out of home, whilst Gen Z and Millennials pay £5.[6]

There’s a low bar for hospitality coffee

“There’s an immediate win from coffee if you are doing it half right,” says Jeffrey Young, Managing Director at Allegra Strategies.[7] His statement is telling of the quality experiences within the pub and restaurant sector. A report found fewer than 50% of respondents expect a great cup of coffee when they eat out, yet 77% of diners say good coffee is the difference between a mediocre and exceptional dining experience.[8] A survey by HospitalityGEM also ‘found that 2/3 of customers expect good quality coffee in pubs’.[9]

A tasty opportunity

This combination of poor coffee experiences and increasing demand for high quality coffee create an opportunity for pubs and restaurants to attract and retain customers. A market research report from IBIS World recognises some of the challenges the industry faces, such as the fall of alcohol consumption and the rampant inflationary pressures yet also potential growth strategies. These strategies include high quality experiences and a greater choice of non-alcoholic beverages.[10] Offering better quality coffee is a simple way to serve both these market needs and appeal to younger consumers. When it comes to those aged 18-24, 30% claim to be drinking less alcohol than they did a year ago and 13% never drink it at all.[11]

Better coffee, every time

The really good news is that improving your coffee offering is remarkably straightforward. Costa Coffee Professional has developed a range of coffee machines that integrate with your business and enable you to give your customers what they desire from their cup of coffee - top quality, premium taste and convenience. Our easy-to-use machines serve consistently barista quality drinks with the signature Mocha Italia taste that your customers are already familiar with. They also operate swiftly, which works to free up your table space quicker and to meet the needs of customers who, research shows, don’t like to wait.[12]

A coffee machine to better meet your needs

Of course, a coffee machine must meet the needs of your customers, but it also has to work seamlessly for you and your daily business operations. Costa Coffee Professional has put our 5 decades of hospitality experience into designing a better coffee machine. Issues around staffing and staff turnover continue to be a challenge for hospitality[13]. Our machines are straightforward to use with little or no training required, meaning everyone in the team can quickly get up to speed with it. The cost per square foot of a restaurant can range from £5-£10 in countryside locations to £47in London[14], so space is of premium importance. All machines in our range are designed to take up minimal space and have an aesthetically pleasing design to fit seamlessly with your bar and restaurant surroundings.

Catering for your needs

The Costa Coffee Professional PodioX3 is a simple coffee solution to offer greater choice to today’s demanding coffee customers. It features a patented pod design that fits up to twice as much coffee as other alternatives. Our pre-infusion technology ensures customer satisfaction with a clearer taste and richer aroma in every sip.

You can easily serve an incredible range of drink options, including espresso and americanos, lattes and hot chocolates. It can also put plant-based milk alternatives on your menu, which are increasingly popular with customers. A 2021 Mintel survey showed a significant rise in plant-based milk usage among UK consumers, from 25% in 2020 to 32% in 2021. This figure increases to 44% of Brits aged 25-44.[15] Oat milk is the most popular choice in coffee, with 54% of non-dairy coffee lovers opting for oat as their plant milk choice.[16]

Simple is better

Adding so much choice to your menu may sound complicated, but with one efficient Costa machine it’s surprisingly simple. Set up is straightforward. Simply plug it in and it’s ready to serve you. Your team won’t need training to follow the PodioX3’s intuitive touchscreen display and simple user interface either.

Premium coffee that serves you too

It’s no secret that the last few years have been tumultuous times for bars and restaurants, yet the current outlook is far more positive. In pubs and bars there’s an expected growth rate of 1.6% in 2024 with more substantial recovery predicted through 2025 and 2026.[17] A 2024 hospitality report also found that almost half of respondents expect to increase revenue this year, predicting a rise in turnover of 22%.[18]

Of course, successful businesses continue to grow and adapt to their customers’ needs. Offering better coffee is a simple yet impactful way to better serve your customers. For restaurants in particular, coffee is often that all important final taste experience for customers. For bars, premium coffee can offer an alternative income stream and meet changing tastes in the market. Customers in the UK have higher expectations for quality coffee. So, it’s good to know that, with the right support, it’s easy to raise the bar when it comes to your coffee offering.