This brief looks at some of the key trends in hot drinks in the Middle East and Africa. It specifically looks at trends that have changed significantly since 2025.
Table of contents:
1) Summary
2) Middle East: five hot drinks trends
- Gulf coffee chains scale up and go regional
- International specialty brands crowd into Dubai, Riyadh and Doha
- Coffee moves to drive-thrus, airports, forecourts and machines
- Gulf money invests in African coffee origins
- Iced, functional and matcha drinks broaden the menu
3) Africa: five hot drinks trends
- Coffee chains scale and consolidate, and grocers buy in
- Coffee origins move up the value chain
- Exporters pivot to China, Russia and Asia
- Tea restructures after the price slump
- In-home formats localise: malted drinks, sachets and machines