Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying, “Coffee — the favorite drink of the civilized world.” Today, coffee remains a favorite beverage and flavor in the United States. As such, beverage-makers are using  the flavor within a plethora of categories, including ready-to-drink (RTD) coffees,  spirits and craft beers. As demand for better-for-you products continues, coffee is being used by beverage-makers in even more platforms.

Functional beverages are an area in which experts say coffee will play an integral role this year.  “I believe coffee is going to make a big splash in the protein drink category this year,” says Kevin Goodner, product manager of essences and extracts at Synergy Flavors, Hamilton, Ohio. “It has been building for a while, and I think this year will see significant growth. This is due to several things, like consumers’ continued demand for protein products and also the great flavor combination. Coffee can act as a great ‘masking agent’ for flavor offnotes that sometimes are associated with protein beverages. Also given the popularity of coffee with milk products (cappuccino, lattes, frappes, iced coffees, etc.), pairing coffee with a dairy-protein beverage is a ‘no-brainer.’