Lattes are among the most popular coffee-based drinks in the world.
According to the National Coffee Data Trends 2022 report, cappuccinos and lattes are tied as America’s most popular coffee beverage, closely followed by plain espresso.
One reason that justifies the latte’s popularity is its versatility, as the drinking experience can be transformed with the addition of syrups and infusions.
For several years, vanilla late was the most loved option. Then came new offerings in nutty or spicy flavours, such as almond, hazelnut, pumpkin pie, and cardamom.
Many trends have shown up in the past, including matcha and even golden lattes, and each has had its moment of glory.
Now, it’s time for a floral approach, as the rose latte is the new hype in coffee shops around the globe.
Read on to find out how to roast coffees to complement the unique floral flavours of a rose latte.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
Sign up!
What is a rose latte?
A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant that often bears gorgeous flowers of various colours.
Both the buds and petals are edible and are available on the market to be used in several recipes. Rose petals can provide a distinct floral hint to dishes, desserts, and more recently, beverages.
Essentially, a rose latte is prepared by adding rose-infused steamed milk to a coffee base, with espresso being the most common.
Roasters and baristas who lack access to edible petals or buds to prepare the infusion can invest in rose-flavoured syrups or rose water. Both can commonly be found in health stores or those that supply Middle Eastern products.
A rose latte is often described as an aromatic, relaxing drink. It may also provide health benefits, as the rose has certain compounds that supposedly work well as digestive and anti-inflammatory aids.
More so, some studies suggest rose water may have positive effects on bloating and indigestion, and may help ease a sore throat.
Some coffee shops choose to give their rose lattes a personal touch by adding other ingredients that help highlight the complexity of the beverage.
These often include spices, such as cardamom, as well as white chocolate or toffee. As part of the visual appeal of a rose latte, the beverage is often topped with small rose petals or even a sprinkling of freeze-dried rose petal powder.
By adding a rose latte to their offerings, both roasters and coffee shops can profit from the surging social media trend.
Many consumers tend to order a rose latte because of its visual impact. As a result, consumers are likely to snap a picture and upload it to their social media pages – helping to boost the coffee shops or roasters’ brand awareness.
How to roast coffee to enhance rose latte flowery notes
When it comes to flavour pairing for rose lattes, there are a few rules that must be followed to achieve the desired results.
It is possible to pair the coffee with the floral notes through similarity or complementarity.
When pairing similar flavour characteristics, roasters should focus on coffee beans that have flowery notes within their taste flavour profile.
For instance, coffees grown within the Central American or Kenyan region may be best. When using these coffees, a medium coffee may allow the floral notes to shine in the cup and bring interesting layers of flavours.
Alternatively, when going for complementary flavours, roasters could benefit from the milk chocolate and fruity notes often found in South American coffee beans.
A light roast will help make those flavours shine bright and bring an overall balance to the cup.
Another benefit to offering rose lattes is that it can be served hot or cold, offering customers different drinking experiences depending on the weather.
This versatility coupled with the “romantic” spirit the flower brings makes the rose latte a good option to have on menus due to its high commercial appeal.
The key to a successful rose latte is the freshness of the roast coffee. Therefore, it is essential roasters invest in coffee bags that are able to maintain the beans’ flavour attributes.
Choosing the right packaging for rose lattes
Roasted coffee must be packaged so that any naturally occurring carbon dioxide can escape without allowing oxygen to enter the bag.
To do this, roasters can fit coffee bags with degassing valves, which help reduce the rate at which roast coffee’s flavours deteriorate naturally.
Another important factor to consider when choosing the ideal packaging is its sustainability.
A 2020 study found 70% of consumers are willing to pay more for a product in sustainable packaging.
As a result, more coffee shops and roasters are turning to renewable packaging material alternatives, such as kraft paper.
Kraft paper is biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable as it is made from wood pulp. The production process for kraft paper also uses fewer chemicals than conventional paper production, making it less harmful to the environment.
Another common packaging option for roasters is rice paper and multilayer coffee bags made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or polylactic acid (PLA).
Rice paper coffee bags are affordable and accessible, as they are made using renewable resources, such as quintan tree bark and bamboo.
LDPE coffee bags offer a good balance for roasters and coffee shops looking to move away from traditional plastics without the need to overhaul their business models. It has similar characteristics to traditional plastics, including long shelf life, while being fully recyclable and easy to reuse.
PLA coffee bags are made from renewable resources such as maize, cornstarch, and sugarcane, and in controlled composting environments, PLA-based products can take as little as 90 days to decompose.
This is In contrast to a 1,000 years for conventional plastics. As a result, PLA packaging has become an attractive option for eco-conscious manufacturers across several sectors.
MTPak Coffee offers roasters and coffee shops a range of 100% recyclable coffee packaging.
To protect coffee beans from moisture, direct sunlight, oxygen, and humidity, our kraft paper coffee bags can be produced with two or more layers.
Our rice paper is manufactured from sustainable materials and can be made with two or more layers to further safeguard your product. All of our coffee bags can be fitted with sustainable degassing valves to preserve the freshness and flavour of your coffee while allowing it to travel longer distances.
Our design team, coupled with the use of cutting-edge digital printing technology allows you to custom-print coffee bags to feature any information you choose, with a quick turnaround time of 40-hours and 24-hour shipping time.
MTPak Coffee also offers low minimum order quantities (MOQs) to micro-roasters who are looking to remain agile while showcasing brand identity and a commitment to the environment.
