Coffee Menu Inspirations: From breakfast to entree

Making the Most of National Coffee Day at Your Operation

 

National Coffee day is Saturday September 29 and operators nationwide are celebrating. Many independent restaurants are expanding their beverage menu to include special brews. Bigger chains like Krispy Kreme are offering free drinks and a LTO coffee glaze on their signature donut. So what ways can you bring the celebrations to your operation no matter what cuisine you serve?

Breakfast Beverages

Operators who serve breakfast will most likely already have coffee on their menu, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little extra flair to your normal servings. Smuckers Away From Home, parent company of Folgers, reports that 65% of consumers choose hot coffee as their breakfast beverage after other traditional drinks like orange juice and before milk, water, and apple juice. Expanding your coffee menu to include additional hot coffee beverages or expanding into special frozen coffee or iced treats can help up the appeal of your operation.

 

Stay Trendy

As of spring 2016 a U.S. Census report states, “Millennials are expected to overtake Boomers in population in 2019 as their numbers swell to 73 million and Boomers decline to 72 million.” With this changing tide and the increase trends of non-dairy milks and Instagram centric menus, operators have a chance to showcase their coffee beverages in new ways. Millennials are often searching for more ethically-sourced options in their dining so if you’re serving free trade or ethically sourced blends try sharing that information on your menus. Additionally, dip into other coffee trends. Try adding a nitro cold brew to your tap or brewing a Thai Iced Coffee with this recipe.

 

LTO Sweet Treats

If your operation doesn’t traditionally serve breakfast and has a more specialized menu you may be wondering how it’s possible to add coffee into your menu or whether it’s worth it. According to National Restaurant News in 2017, “According to Datassential MenuTrends, desserts with coffee and tea as ingredients are showing growth on menus. Coffee/espresso desserts appear on nearly one quarter of dessert menus, a 2-percent increase over a year ago.” Along those lines, restaurant owners have been crafting innovative ways to incorporate coffee flavors into their desserts. With its smoothness and slightly sweeter taste, Cold Brew coffee is a good start for chefs looking to add coffee into their dessert menus.

 

Brines and Spice Rubs

Another way to get coffee into your non-breakfast menus? Entrees or appetizers. Chefs have long been using coffee as a spice rub or marinade for fattier meats like pork or higher quality cuts of steak.  Check out the below recipe inspirations from S&D coffee to add to your menus!


BELLY FULL OF COFFEE

 

 

MEXICAN COFFEE WINGS

 

 

 

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