Despite a steady rise throughout the early 21st century, the plant-based alternative category has only experienced fantastic growth in the past few years. Globally, the market is expected to be valued at US $21 billion by the end of 2026.[5]
Plant-based alternatives to dairy – from soy to almond, hazelnut, cashew, coconut, rice, oat, pea, flaxseed and even hemp milks – are all on the rise as consumers look for more sustainable, health-driven and tasty pairings for their beverages.
But the transformation of the dairy sector is in many ways only beginning - and coffee will be closely tied to future developments. The next key wave will be blended plant milks aiming to re-creating taste and texture through a number of plant ingredients rather than a single dominant one. The taste of a plant-based alternative needs to complement the coffee, instead of overwhelming it. Baristas around the world expect the plant-based alternatives to deliver on a creamy velvety texture for their latte art.