6 Coffee Trends To Look For At The Inspired Home Show 2024
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Today's home coffee brew is leagues ahead of the simple cup of java households used to sip. It's no surprise, then, that our home setups continue to evolve to fit our needs. At The Inspired Home Show 2024 in Chicago, a gathering of the latest in houseware tools and technologies, the offerings are a clear reflection of the interests and tastes of modern drinkers.
From on-the-go espresso to rapid cold brew makers, the latest tools suggest a shift in the drinks we'll prepare and sip at home. And with improved frothers and ice trays, manufacturers are making it easier than ever to replicate coffee shop quality drinks and flavors. Though there are plenty of ways to upgrade a cup of instant coffee, you no longer need to settle for the powdered stuff out of convenience; today's equipment suggests café quality beverages are within reach for home brewers without much hassle. As we countdown to the big day, here is a look ahead at seven trends that represent the future of the caffeinated beverage.
1. High pressure, faster cold brews
If there's one trend to watch, it's demand for faster brewing. Consumers are used to convenience and speed without sacrificing quality or control, and that expectation extends to cold brew. Manufacturers are embracing vacuum extraction to speed up the process.
Electric machines like the VacOne Air Brewer and the Shine Kitchen Co. Rapid Cold Brew use pressure and air to rapidly expel flavor from the beans into water. The technique has a particularly dramatic effect on the overnight cold brew process, which shrinks down to mere minutes. The tools tap into a method similar to siphon-style brewing, which normally requires a complicated series of manual steps to heat and cool coffee to trigger a vacuum effect. In contrast, electric pressurized brewers bring an automated approach to convenient caffeine.
2. Stovetop espresso gets sleeker
There are signs that a wave of affordable at-home espresso is on the horizon. One indicator is the influx of modern moka pots, a style of stovetop brewing popular in Italy.
The London Sip Stovetop Espresso Maker, for example, is all sleek curved lines and ergonomic design. The Fino's Single-Serving Stovetop Espresso Coffee Maker, a new product to debut at the show, is designed to work with gas, electric, and induction burners. The pivot from pour-over coffee to espresso may appeal to hands-on makers who have held out against pods.
3. Espresso shots on the go
Speaking of the dark roast, another technology making its way to the forefront is portable espresso makers. Multiple brands offer lightweight, high-powered brewers that rival traditional drip machines.
The IMUSA Electric Espresso Maker requires an outlet and ground coffee, while the Nano Portable Espresso Machine and Nowpresso Portable Espresso Machine are battery-powered and pod-friendly. As espresso martinis continue to charm drinkers, it's possible the tools will fuel even more home cocktail-making, as well as a surge in homemade noisettes, the foamy French coffee style you can't miss out on.
4. Ground coffee gets an update
Technology and innovation have really transformed the brewing process in recent years, but it's about time the grounds received the same treatment. Although it's possible to grind coffee beans without a grinder on hand, more and more aficionados are committing to quality machines.
Manufacturers are catching on to the demand, and we anticipate a flood of advanced mechanisms that could revolutionize home setups. Even the seemingly simple Pietro manual coffee grinder features curved grinding burrs to reduce fine particles, a 360-degree adjustment dial for precise changes, and a hermetically sealed chamber to maintain your coffee's aroma. In fact, the grinder is much more advanced than its simple, sleek design would suggest. From handheld electric and vertical devices to grinders with built-in digital scales, the specialized blades indicate drinkers will have even more control over their beans.
5. Froth and foam at home
Another appliance getting an upgrade is milk frothers. Suffice it to say, it's safe to retire the handheld wand. Milk frothers are quietly advancing into sophisticated machinery. Home drinkers can turn dairy and non-dairy creamers into hot froth and cold foams to rival the coffee shop experience with the touch of a button.
These days steamers automatically stir, allow for multiple temperature settings, and some even allow users to control the density of the foam. Solac's Pro Foam milk frother, for example, features four settings — firm warm milk foam (or heat and stir milk), extra hot milk foam, warm milk with less foam, and cold foam — so users can create everything from cold lattes to hot chocolates and cappuccinos with the same machine. When paired with the proliferation of quick, concentrated brewers, the steamers further suggest that at-home espresso beverages and more complicated sweet drinks are only going to grow.
6. More choice for luxury setups and home baristas
Nothing illustrates the growing influence of specialized drinks better than the latest coffee machines. Although these machines are pricey, they come with all the bells and whistles for the ultimate coffee customization.
Take the JURA J8 twin Diamond Black, for example. This advanced machine allows users to add two different coffee beans to the chambers and grind them to order, allowing for truly custom blends. The Wi-Fi-enabled device also spits out sweet foams for a maximalist cup of joe. At nearly $2,500, the machine is unlikely to decorate the counters of the average kitchen, but the luxury tool could be an indicator of future tastes and home equipment among home drinkers.