Tldr climate apocalypse for the coffee plant might shift the market towards alternative plants. While technically true that coffee plantations will struggle in the coming years, this just means higher prices and worse average quality off the shelf.
A bit of nothing news, imho.
Coffee alternatives like rooibos are already here and the market is very resistant. Cheap coffee drinkers are irrationally attached to the bad taste they feel nostalgic for. Fancy coffee drinkers will absorb the higher costs without looking for alternatives. It’s only the tea-adventurous coffee drinkers that care about these innovations, usually due to caffeine consumption restrictions which is also a disputed market because decaf coffee quality is improving.
This doesn’t change anything else you said, but just so folks know, rooibos doesn’t have caffeine, so isn’t really a coffee alternative. Yerba Mate is going to be a better 1:1. Both are earthy and delicious and do recommend either
My main example is rooibos because at least it can make espresso-like strong brews, and is sold at some coffee shops here and there. But I personally prefer Mate too, though for cold drinks :-) And if I’m just in for some caffeine, black tea is the easiest to source (around here). Matcha latte is also growing in popularity! As well as London Fog.
I love all of these, but I’m one of those tea-adventurous coffee drinkers who care about the taste more than the caffeine.
Tldr climate apocalypse for the coffee plant might shift the market towards alternative plants. While technically true that coffee plantations will struggle in the coming years, this just means higher prices and worse average quality off the shelf.
A bit of nothing news, imho.
Coffee alternatives like rooibos are already here and the market is very resistant. Cheap coffee drinkers are irrationally attached to the bad taste they feel nostalgic for. Fancy coffee drinkers will absorb the higher costs without looking for alternatives. It’s only the tea-adventurous coffee drinkers that care about these innovations, usually due to caffeine consumption restrictions which is also a disputed market because decaf coffee quality is improving.
This doesn’t change anything else you said, but just so folks know, rooibos doesn’t have caffeine, so isn’t really a coffee alternative. Yerba Mate is going to be a better 1:1. Both are earthy and delicious and do recommend either
My main example is rooibos because at least it can make espresso-like strong brews, and is sold at some coffee shops here and there. But I personally prefer Mate too, though for cold drinks :-) And if I’m just in for some caffeine, black tea is the easiest to source (around here). Matcha latte is also growing in popularity! As well as London Fog.
I love all of these, but I’m one of those tea-adventurous coffee drinkers who care about the taste more than the caffeine.
Oh for sure, they are all delicious. Just making sure that someone isn’t confused if they are looking for caffeine.
And at least I’m North America there’s another Maté relative, Yaupon. Both are holly species.