Well, the New Year is upon us and anyone who loves coffee likely started 2006 with a cup or a full pot of hot coffee. There are some new trends forecasted for 2006. Some of these trends blend in from 2005, but there are a few new ones and some quite shocking revelations. So what do Sumatra, Coca-Cola and Christianity all have in common? The answers are in this years Top 10 Coffee Trends for 2006.

And the roasting drum roll please…

1. Upscale and expensive coffee drinks will take a backseat to the actual taste and nuances of the actual coffee bean. More people will be ordering just regular coffee and espresso without the syrups, whipped cream and mocha flavorings. The trend is due to dietary concerns, like the low carb diet, and also the tendency to get away from what are deemed hoity toity drinks. That said, as far as I'm concerned a bit of variety is always good. Start the day with something strong and finish your evening with what I call dessert coffees…add all the carbalicious goodness you can muster especially in the winter months and sit in front of the fire.

2. Since the flavor of the coffee bean is coming back, many people are turning to home roasting. There is the basic popcorn popper method and the full-out, designated, automatic home roaster machines. Be wary though, roasting your own coffee is not as easy as it looks.

3. Sumatran coffee is really big this year due to people wanting to help out the local farmers since the tsunami. Sumatran coffee is known for its delightful mild acidity and full body. Move over Kona coffee here comes the next hot trend.

4. Coca-Cola Blak is the perfect summer drink for caffeine addicts. It combines Coke with coffee extracts and should be on the shelves by summer in the US. If you travel make sure you try one of these bevies in every country where it is distributed because, like potato chips, every Coca-Cola Blak beverage will have a local taste. If you are worried about your waistline it is a mid-calorie drink.

5. Coffee pod machines that take you to the outer space of taste and convenience. Many people have already purchased these machines because you get a quick, hot, great tasting cup of coffee in minutes. For lazy people like me the clean-up is minimal and because of the pod's success there are many brands of coffee to choose from including Fair Trade. For the environmentally conscious these pods create more landfill issues.

6. Fair Trade Coffees. The coffee bean farmer gets a regular paycheck and must follow proper guidelines for growth and processing, which equals a better bean for the consumer. It also stops chemicals from ruining the locales where coffee is grown. Tastes good and you are doing your part to help farmers and their employees in developing countries.

7. Collecting espresso cups was a huge trend for 2005 and it continues into 2006. Any coffee cupper has a large selection of espresso cups in their collection, including ones which are made by Illy. With so many choices for these short, sexy demitasse cups the trend is to match the cups with your home décor, with your garden and also some contrasting ones. Personally, I own an innumerable amount of these little gems and I try to get one specifically for a guest's personality. Think golfer, dullard and the hyperactive friend and then match the cup to suit.

8. Coffee and your health. Many researchers have negated coffee as a cardinal sin in health and others have touted its benefits. That said, that is usually the norm with any of the goodies in the supermarket. There will be more health advice in 2006 for coffee, which should probably be taken with a grind of salt.

9. Home coffee in 2006 will have an increased usage of beans, as opposed to the pre-ground which you grind yourself. In 2005, many people bought grinders because blending your own beans makes a huge difference to freshness and ultimately taste. Keep those large pre-ground coffee cans though because they can be used for the remnants left in the grinder. That way, you have an eclectic emergency supply of coffee in those dire straits.

10. Coffeehouses and Roasteries. More coffeehouses are on the streets now that have couches, wireless internet and Fair Trade coffees. The trend for 2006 is to have business meetings in these places because it is quicker, more comfortable then the restaurant-style meetings. The forecast for 2006 is Christian coffee houses will make an omnipotent appearance in every big city. Going to Church will have a whole new caffeinated nuance.


Kate Simpson is heavily addicted to chocolate covered coffee beans. When she is able to sit still for more than a few minutes, she writes for the coffeebeanqueen.com – a wonderful online magazine with delightful tidbits of information regarding the history of coffee, Espresso machines, Kopi Luwak and more.