While quality espresso and its derivatives are all the rage in countries with a filter coffee tradition, specialty coffees are the trend in Italy. But the real boom this year is iced coffees. The new thing? Nitro Coffee, where the drink is cooled with nitrogen.

With such vibrancy, it is not surprising that the market is huge: in 2023, the global value of roasted coffee is estimated at about $120 billion, while consumption in volume is 170.8 million 60-kg bags, equivalent to 3.1 billion cups of coffee drunk every day worldwide (source: Area Studi Mediobanca report).

In this scenario, the no-miss date is at Host 2025, at fieramilano from 17 to 21October 2025, with SIC –  Salone Internazionale del Caffè, a historic reference for coffee lovers, as well as all the big players in the Bar, Coffee Machines and Vending industries.

Coffee quality of starts with the processing of the raw material, as Fabrizio Brambati, President of the processing plant manufacturer of the same name, explained: “As they are integrated into the production lines, advanced technologies such as robotics and AI make it possible to expand and diversify the coffee offering because they automatically and consistently replicate the taster’s choices.”

At the bar counter, such a variety is then enhanced by coffee machines: “From blends to single-origins, consumers often want to try different coffees in the same place,” commented Giada Biondi, Communication Manager, La Marzocco. “For gourmet coffee shops that focus on the tasting experience, the choice is a machine with independent groups, to deliver different extractions in a modulated and replicable way, with temperatures, pressure profiles and recipes that enhance their peculiarities.”

This new wave doesn’t stop at coffee though, as they know well at Orsa Drinks: “We are witnessing a health trend toward 'LOW ABV' drinks, low in calories and with natural ingredients. That's why we invest a lot in innovation and research: examples are non-alcoholic bitters and 100% fruit purees,” stated Giacomo Barucco, APAC Sales Manager.

At Host 2025, coffee also stars in events, with the return of the World Barista Championship to Milan in the foreground.