Introduction:In recent years, speciality coffee combo sets have become the norm at coffee festivals. It’s common to see visitors carrying trays loaded with multiple drinks, many of which are limited-edition combinations launched by brands. While this sales model offers convenience for both vendors and consumers, it has also sparked discussions about bundled sales. This article takes an in-depth look at the reasons behind the popularity of coffee combo sets under high booth costs, explores the pros and cons for consumer experience, and provides practical selection tips.

A notable trend observed at various coffee festivals in recent years is the rise of speciality coffee as the main attraction. Many attendees can be seen carrying paper trays holding three to four drinks, most of which are speciality coffees launched by brands — including even limited-edition combo sets. Bundling several speciality drinks together not only streamlines operations for vendors but also allows consumers to sample a variety of flavors in one go. However, it has also triggered debate over whether this constitutes a form of bundled sale.

From the vendors’ perspective, the cost of participating in coffee festivals has been rising steadily, especially due to continuously increasing booth rents, which forces them to seek products with higher profit margins. Compared to traditional espresso-based drinks, speciality coffee often uses cold drip or cold brew as a base, requiring relatively simple equipment. Not only are these drinks faster to serve, but they also have more eye-catching presentations that easily attract the attention of festival-goers. As a result, many vendors opt to prioritize offering speciality coffee drinks with their own unique twist.

The especially popular ‘sets’ at this year’s coffee festivals typically combine several differently flavored speciality drinks on a single paper tray. These combo packages may include themed speciality drink sets, options to sample various cold brew beans, or creative pairings using one bean in multiple drinks. Prices generally range from tens to over a hundred yuan. For customers who have trouble deciding, such combos save ordering time and usually offer better overall value than purchasing individual drinks.

However, this combo sales model has also drawn some feedback from consumers. Some customers feel that although the combos seem like a good deal, they essentially bundle multiple drinks into a forced package, stripping away consumers’ freedom of choice. Especially for those attending alone, sampling multiple drinks in one go can feel overwhelming and may negatively affect the overall tasting experience.

When asked “Why are all the coffee festivals now selling combos?”, several seasoned exhibitors explained that the high booth fees compel them to choose products with greater profit potential. Speciality coffee, with its simple equipment needs, fast preparation, and high popularity, has become the top choice. Additionally, selling in combo form not only helps with advance ingredient preparation but also showcases the brand’s characteristics more comprehensively, enhancing consumers’ impression of the brand.

Compared to regular coffee shops, coffee festivals have much denser foot traffic. Booths must balance efficiency, consistency, and cost recovery. In such an environment, speciality coffee stands out as the beverage type best suited to meet these demands. Not only can it be prepared quickly, but it can also attract attention through creative flavor combinations, thereby boosting sales and brand visibility.

For home enthusiasts looking to recreate the flavors of coffee festival speciality drinks, it’s recommended to experiment with creative recipes based on cold brew coffee. For instance, choosing sun-dried Yirgacheffe beans with fruity characteristics or sherry cask-fermented beans with wine-like notes can add unique layers and depth to your speciality brews. These beans are not only well-suited for cold brewing but can also be adjusted according to personal taste preferences to create your own festive specialty drinks.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.