The flavourful cuppa

As flavoured coffee gains popularity, most retail outlets opt for a wider range of products that include syrups and sauces.

One black coffee please." This once familiar sentence is rarely heard today. With the overwhelming popularity of cappuccino, lattes, flavoured coffees and other hot drinks, the traditional cup of coffee is becoming redundant.

"Café culture in Dubai is growing as people become more cosmopolitan and educated in the art of making coffee, with most retail outlets opting for a wider range of coffee menus that includes syrups and sauces," says Sally Francis, Brand Development Manager, BonCafe Middle East, which is a leading manufacturer and supplier of freshly roasted and ground gourmet coffee and other beverage mixes.

"With the increasing popularity of flavoured coffees, BonCafe is able to offer its clients a full range of Torani syrups, along with chocolate and caramel sauces, Bon Frapresso (iced coffee) and Bon Smoothie mixes to make a multitude of flavoured hot and cold beverages."

Syrups range in flavours from basic vanilla or hazelnut to creme brulee and chocolate biscotti with many more for the adventurous barista. The syrups are simple to use and really liven up a coffee menu, creating drinks such as Raspberry Truffle Mocha or a Cool Mint Cappuccino.

When Nescafé was first introduced to the Middle East in the 1950s, people preferred tea as their drink of choice. Coffee, back then, was only offered in the form of cardamom-infused gahwah as a symbol of pride and heritage. Of course all that has changed now as a range of coffee flavours have hit the market.

"In our experience, most of our customers prefer good, old-fashioned coffee, straight up with no flavourings or gimmicks," says Corrine Bowker, Co-owner, The Lime Tree Café. "Our intention is to provide customers with high-quality coffee so that the frills and flavourings become redundant. In our experience, toppings and flavourings have a somewhat commercial edge and are subject to frequent fads and whims. Occasionally we do have a request for vanilla and hazelnut syrups."

Aroma Garden Caffeé offers cinnamon and vanilla cappuccino, hazelnut, tiramisu and butterscotch latte, among others. "An interesting flavour called 'Lets go Nuts' consists of macadamia and hazelnuts while 'Raz ma tazz' is a raspberry-flavoured latte. Among the classic drinks is a Turkish coffee brewed with a special Turkish coffee blend," says Gina Serapon, Operations Manager.

Raj Kewalram, Operations Manager of Gloria Jean's Coffees, says, "The coffee shop was first set up in Chicago in 1979 as a coffee bean retailer. The company then started to flavour the beans and became the first retailer to offer flavoured coffee beans as opposed to our competitors who offer flavouring in the form of a syrup."

"The core of most hot, cold and ice blended beverages at Starbucks is the espresso shot, expertly poured by baristas using the Starbucks espresso roast beans. As coffee culture evolves and continues to be embraced by customers in the Middle East, Starbucks aims to take the enjoyment of coffee to the next level by encouraging people to ask for specially designed, hand-crafted coffee beverages according to their personal tastes," says Maan Kouly, Sr. Operations Manager, Starbucks Middle East.

Reeves Vaz, Operations and Training Manager, Second Cup, BinHendi Enterprises, says, "Currently the European range of coffees, including vanilla bean latte and caramel corretto, is most popular. So are our ice-blended mixes such as frozen hot chocolate, flavoured chillates and fruizzis.

"We will soon be launching our new beverage portfolio where we will serve an exciting line of hot and cold drinks. A selection of creamy fruit smoothies made from real fruit, flavoured lattes, tea, coffee and chocolate chillers will also be available to guests."

Pia Larsson-Norrman, Marketing Manager, Central Perk, says, "A majority of people still love the traditional cup of coffee while fewer people like to explore new flavours."

Radwan Masri, General Manager, United Restaurant Development, says, "At Zaatar W Zeit we don't serve flavoured coffees, just the regular basic ones such as Americano, lattes, cappuccino and espresso. New flavourings at Seattle's Best Coffee are vanilla, mint, hazelnut and more."

Simon Holroyd, Regional Manager, Costa Coffee - UAE and Pakistan, says, "Traditionalists may get uppity about flavoured coffees but that's how you take coffee to those who don't like coffee. We have the basic flavours, such as hazelnut, caramel and chocolate. We also have tiramisu coffee, which is especially popular during Christmas, with natural ingredients to improve the essence of the coffee."

"Considering the compelling facts about coffee and the incredible potential of the market, coffee continues to be one of the world's most preferred beverages," says Vaz. "Our research shows that coffee drinkers expect more from their coffee, including more quality, variety, taste and better access to quality coffee. We also find that most coffee drinkers are willing to pay more for a better quality coffee."