The Cold Foam Coffee Trend That’s Here to Stay

Cold coffee sales are booming. 75% of Starbucks’ U.S. beverage sales in 2023 were cold drinks, and this isn’t just an American trend – the global cold coffee market is projected to grow by 22% every year, reaching $1.4 billion by 2027.  And like most (good) trends, cold coffee drink sales are being driven by youthful demand. Gen Z is more likely to buy cold coffee drinks than hot. Market research shows that 28% of 18-34-year-olds regularly buy cold brew, 11% more than those 35 and older.  How can your restaurant or cafe meet this demand and stand out from the crowd?

Master the Cold Foam Trend

Cold foam is an easy addition to your menu, is simple to make, and can be batched in advance. Milk is aerated until it expands without heat, and can be customized with different sweeteners and flavor extracts. Cold foam pours onto the surface of any drink in a thick, smooth layer that is reminiscent of melted ice cream. It instantly gives any cold drink a dessert-vibe and is the perfect thickness to hold additional garnishes. The result is a striking, visually appealing drink that demands to be savored and can be hyper-customized by you or your customers. Cold foam-topped coffee drinks have moved past being a fad or a trend and are quickly becoming a permanent, in-demand menu staple.

Personalized, Experiential, Instagram-Worthy Cold Foam Drinks

Younger consumers, especially Gen Z, seek out coffee that feels like an experience. Whether that’s through seasonal flavors, viral trends, or interactive menu items, customization is key. Some of the most successful cafés are driving sales through:

• Flavored Cold Foams – Think matcha, salted caramel, or lavender-infused foam
• Limited-time offers – Special seasonal drinks keep customers coming back again and again
• Interactive Experiences – Custom drink prints, unique toppings, and viral menu items get people in the door, make each drink a moment, and encourage social media shares.

That’s where Ripples comes in.

Cold Foam Drink Prints – Boost Social Shares and Your Bottom Line

Allowing your customers to fully personalize their cold foam drinks with their own pictures, or messages gives them a drink experience they can’t create at home.  The Ripple Maker coffee printer is the easiest way to add selfies, text, or pictures to any cold foam drink. Cold foam is the perfect “canvas” for drink prints, and with ten second prints and an intuitive interface adding Ripples drink prints to your cold foam drinks won’t slow down service. Adding a Ripple Maker to your operation can also mean an easy, impactful new revenue stream. Some cafes are charging up to $2 per print, and serving upwards of 20,000 prints each year. Even at a smaller scale, custom drink prints can drive significant returns—not just in sales, but in organic social media buzz and word-of-mouth marketing that brings new customers in the door. With Ripples, cold foam drink prints become a built-in marketing tool, encouraging social media shares and boosting in-store sales.

Ready to Take your Cold Foam Drinks to the Next Level?

Cold coffee is here to stay, and the businesses that innovate and personalize their menus will come out on top. Cold foam drink prints are the easiest way to turn every order into a social media moment and revenue-driver experience. See how the Ripples coffee printer can work for you.