There is nothing as exciting as having a cup of coffee in the morning. Whether you love to grind your own fresh coffee beans with a pour-over brewer or you love to use coffee pods with a Nespresso machine, the point is that there are endless ways to prepare coffee. 

If you’ve been drinking coffee for long enough, you’ll know one thing for sure: this industry never sits still. Every year, new brewing styles, café fads, flavour obsessions and wellness twists sweep through the coffee world and 2026 has been no different.

Whether you’re pulling shots at home, grinding fresh beans every morning, or relying on the convenience of pods, the way we enjoy coffee keeps evolving. And this year, the changes have been bigger, bolder, and a lot more interesting than anything we saw back in 2025.

Below is a fresh look at the biggest coffee trends shaping 2026 the ones everyday drinkers are actually adopting, not just what’s trending on TikTok.

Keto Coffee Is Back (But Not the Way You Remember It)

Surprisingly Keto coffee is not out of trend at the moment, and it is even more popular now especially for people who rarely take breakfast. All you have to do is to add a tablespoon of butter to your freshly brewed coffee, and it will enhance the profile.

This wonderful mixture is said to provide the drinks with long-lasting energy throughout the day without adding so much sugar to their blood. 

Let's break this down: The butter contains fat, and it will slow down your metabolism. This means that your body will absorb the caffeine from the coffee slowly, so you’d be getting a long-lasting energy kick. Keto coffee is very popular for most celebrities and even athletes because of all the energy boost it gives. We guess that's why the coffee trend is still on and a lot of people are following it.

Instead of simply adding butter into a mug of hot coffee, today’s version is more refined:

• Grass-fed butter or ghee

• MCT oil (measured properly, not guessed)

• A smoother blending process that avoids the greasy “oil slick” layer

People aren’t drinking it to follow a fad diet anymore. They’re using it for:

• Sustained morning energy

• Stable caffeine absorption

• Skipping sugary breakfast drinks

The science hasn’t changed: adding fat slows caffeine absorption, which means the energy hit lasts longer. But the audience has changed - everyday people, office workers, and athletes are using it for productivity rather than weight loss.

Specialty Coffee Is Now the Default, Not the Trend

Specialty coffee drinks have continued to be a growing trend even as the year is ending.  The specialty coffee industry has been expanding its offerings as a variety of specialty drinks are being made. Some of them include cappuccinos, lattes, and mocha. Some flavored coffee beverages have caught the attention of coffee enthusiasts. 

When you want to buy coffee beans, there are so many options to choose from, single-origin beans, coffee blends, and decaf coffee. Now If you visit a coffee shop, you can request a variety of drinks, iced brews, coffee milkshakes, and other excellent choices. Do you know one interesting thing? You can make all these coffee drinks at home. Yes, we said it ALL. Keep following our page to learn more.

The rise of:

• single-origin beans

• micro-lot releases

• café-style brewing at home

• home espresso machines

• batch grinders

• beginner-friendly pour-over gear

…has shifted coffee culture permanently.

This year, we’re seeing a surge in:

• signature house blends from boutique roasters

• lighter roasts designed to highlight fruity or floral notes

• transparent sourcing (farm name, altitude, specific varietals)

The more people learn about coffee, the more curious they become - and the more they're willing to explore.

Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Coffee Is Booming

These are coffees that are canned or bottled. You can order them online or find them in supermarkets. Starbucks prompted this trend a few years ago and over time it has grown. Both online coffee sellers and coffee shops are now selling ready-to-drink coffee. 

Currently, they make different kinds of coffees, you can find RTD iced coffees, nitro brews, and cold brews in most grocery stores. Buying these convenient products means you don't always have to use your coffee machine when you are in a hurry or exhausted. 

2026 shelves are packed with:

• Nitro cold brews

• Flash-brewed iced coffees

• Protein-infused coffees

• Plant-based latte cans

• Functional coffee drinks (focus blends, immunity blends)

The biggest reason this category is growing?
Convenience without the compromise.

People want cold coffee fast, and these days, RTD options genuinely taste good.

The Rise of the “Health-Driven Coffee Drinker”

People who like healthy alternatives are trending in the coffee industry as well. These people have been able to combine the health industry with the coffee industry. There are a lot of healthy coffee options you can pick from and if you are a café owner, be rest assured that it will catch the attention of your customers. 

There are different healthy coffee additives, they include vegan milk like almond milk, coconut milk, and collagen creamers for your coffee. This plant-based milk will likely keep trending till the next decade because people are choosing healthier lifestyles. Many people say that this plant-based milk is flavorful and lends so well with the coffee.

One interesting thing we noticed is that you can whip this plant-based milk for drinks like cappuccino and latte. Note that the foam and bubbles may not last long, so the drink should be enjoyed immediately after brewing. 

There are other healthy coffee alternatives like turmeric and matcha latte or even the popular mushroom coffee. These coffee drinks contain nutrients that will help to improve your immune system, improve metabolism and improve your gut health.

Consumers aren’t just looking for a caffeine hit. They’re asking:

• Is this better for my gut?

• Does this support my energy?

• Is there a cleaner alternative to dairy?

This year’s biggest winners:

• almond milk

• oat milk

• coconut milk

• macadamia milk

• collagen creamers

• adaptogen-enhanced blends

Mushroom coffee, turmeric lattes and matcha-based hybrids haven’t slowed down either. People want coffee that supports their health not works against it.

Flash Brew (Snap-Chilled Coffee) Has Become a Summer Staple

Iced coffee recipes and cold brew have become popular over the years, and it is a natural solution for the warming planet. But some coffee drinkers have come up with a trending option and that is the flash brew, it is freshly brewed coffee that is chilled for some time.

Some people say that it is as flavorful as cold brew coffee because hot water extracts all the flavors, and you won't need to dilute it with ice cubes. It has become a faster option for some coffee chops because they don't need more coffee for it and a lot faster than cold brew coffee.

Flash brew is simple:

1. Brew hot coffee

2. Immediately chill it over ice or rapid-cooling equipment

The result:

• Bright acidity

• Strong aromatics

• No dilution

• Faster prep than cold brew

Cafés love it because it cuts production time. Drinkers love it because it tastes cleaner and more expressive.

Sustainability Isn’t Optional Anymore - It’s Expected

Millennial coffee drinkers now have much knowledge about the coffee industry- they know the coffee they drink, how it is grown and whether it affects the planet. They care about the planet and people. So that is why they are interested in reading about fair trade coffee, direct trade coffee, and more.

The customers are interested in the backstory more than what they see on the coffee package. Because of this, most coffee companies have started developing relationships between the farmers which have environmental and economic benefits which encourage the farmers to grow better coffee.

Consumers in 2026 know more than ever about:

• farming practices

• fair pricing

• environmental impact

• packaging waste

More coffee drinkers are choosing brands that:

• highlight direct trade

• support sustainable farming communities

• use recyclable or compostable packaging

• publish transparent sourcing information

People no longer buy coffee based only on flavour.
They buy stories, values, and authenticity.

Dalgona Coffee Didn’t Die - It Evolved

Everyone remembers the Dalgona craze during the 2020 lockdowns. It was fun, fluffy, and surprisingly easy to make.

Dagolna coffee is still trending in 2026 and more recipes have been emerging, and different variations are being made. You can order or make these Dalgona coffee variations like Peppermint or pumpkin spice coffee, Dalgona dirty chai, and even Dalgona affogato, or anything you might want to whip up with coffee. 

Instead of plain whipped instant coffee, we’re seeing:

• peppermint Dalgona

• Dalgona with real espresso

• pumpkin spice Dalgona

• dirty chai Dalgona

• Dalgona affogato

The drink has become a creative base for experimentation, and cafés still release seasonal versions that sell out constantly.

Third-Wave Coffee Is Now Mainstream

Third-wave coffee has been trending for years and its popularity has not waned till now. People now go out of their way to find high-quality coffee from reputable roasters. They are always searching for the best coffee they can get. They are focused on looking for single-origin coffees that are ethically sourced and also have a distinctive taste. 

More people are:

• seeking small-batch roasters

• craving high-grade single origins

• asking for specific brew methods

• buying traceable, ethically sourced beans

It’s no longer about any good coffee.
It’s about the right coffee.

Coffee Subscriptions Keep Surging

During the early COVID years, subscriptions took off because cafés were closed and people were stuck at home.

As a result of this, customers are now searching for a variety of coffees, they want to expand their palate. They also want to know that they are different choices available to them so that they can select their favorites. Convenience is one of the biggest benefits of a coffee subscription, your coffee beans will be delivered to you at your doorstep, and you can set up payments for them every month. 

Coffee subscriptions are among the perfect gifs that can be given to family and friends who love coffee, you should try it. 

People prefer them because they offer:

• freshness

• convenience

• variety

• predictable monthly cost

If anything, subscriptions are now a lifestyle choice. And they make an incredible gift for coffee lovers.

Coffee Tourism Has Returned (Bigger Than Ever)

After years of travel restrictions, coffee lovers are back on planes - and this time, they’re travelling for coffee, not just drinking it along the way.

They might want to enjoy the coffee prepared by baristas in those countries. People want to seek educational coffee experiences instead of centering their knowledge on what they see in coffee shops or reading online about coffee. 

Travellers in 2026 want to:

• see coffee farms

• learn about harvesting

• meet growers

• experience traditional brewing ceremonies

• try coffees they can’t find at home

Countries like Ethiopia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Vietnam, and Guatemala are leading destinations for coffee-focused travel.

Some trends come and go (hello, pumpkin spice Dalgona), while others become part of everyday coffee culture. But 2026 has shown us something clear:
people care more deeply about what they drink, where it comes from, and how it makes them feel.

If you haven’t tried some of these trends yet, explore them. Experiment. Create your own version. One of your recipes might just become the next big thing.

Explore Our: Freshly Roasted Specialty Coffee Beans Delivered Australia Wide

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which international coffee drinks are most popular in 2026?

Vietnamese iced coffee, Spanish café bombón, and Turkish coffee are still favourites. We’re also seeing a big rise in Japanese flash-brew and Scandinavian light-roast filter styles.

Which generation drinks the most coffee today?

Millennials still lead, but Gen Z is catching up, especially with RTD coffees and plant-based lattes.

Is coffee becoming more popular in 2026?

Absolutely. The specialty segment, the RTD category, and at-home brewing all continue to grow faster than traditional café coffee.