Today’s Dessert and Cafe Trends — 2026-07-12
Domestic coffee chains are in a state of hyper-competition, launching over 10 new menu items every month. Starbucks is leading the summer season with its Orange Cream series, while Compose Coffee is targeting health-conscious customers with low-sugar peach and Hallabong smoothies. Meanwhile, global hits like Dubai chocolate and pistachio cream are starting to gain traction in Korea.
Today’s Dessert and Cafe Trends — 2026-07-12
Today’s New Menu Highlights
Starbucks — Orange Cream Menu Lineup
- Category: Beverages
- Launch Date: Scheduled for July 28
- Key Features: A series of five Orange Cream drinks, including Iced Cold Brew, Latte, Matcha, Chai, and Frappuccino. It’s a modern reimagining of nostalgic childhood ice cream flavors.
- Why it matters: It’s a great example of bringing global seasonal trends to the Korean market, further enhanced by a limited-edition collaboration with Dandy (tumblers and accessories) to boost the overall brand experience.
Compose Coffee — Low-Sugar Peach & Jeju Hallabong
- Category: Beverages
- Launch Date: Available since July 9
- Key Features: Fresh seasonal fruit drinks like Low-Sugar Peach Smoothie and Jeju Hallabong Smoothie. They are specifically positioned as low-sugar options for health-conscious consumers.
- Why it matters: Amidst the intense competition to churn out new menus, they are using a clear differentiation strategy by combining regional specialties (Jeju Hallabong) with health trends (low-sugar).
Franchise Trends
-
Starbucks: Launching the Orange Cream lineup along with Dandy collaboration merchandise on July 28. They are currently leading the summer beverage race.
-
Compose Coffee: Targeting health-conscious customers with fruit-based smoothies like Jeju Hallabong and low-sugar peach.
-
Industry Overview: The trend of coffee chains launching more than 10 new menu items per month is creating significant operational fatigue for store owners and part-time staff.
Convenience Store & Bakery News
There are no official updates on new convenience store private-brand (PB) desserts or new bakery franchise products within the last 24 hours.
Today’s Trend Keywords
-
Orange Cream — With the introduction of Starbucks’ 5-item Orange Cream series (Cold Brew, Latte, Matcha, Chai, Frappuccino) in Korea, the adoption of overseas seasonal menu trends is accelerating.
-
Low-Sugar & Health Positioning — As seen with Compose Coffee’s new peach smoothie, brands are increasingly focusing on health-conscious consumers alongside premiumization.
-
Excessive Menu Competition — Launching over 10 new items a month is causing major burnout for staff and owners, leading to calls for more flexible menu adoption policies at the franchise level.
Global Comparison
In the global cafe market, "Dubai chocolate" (a mix of pistachio cream, kataifi/phyllo pastry, and milk chocolate) dominated Starbucks’ winter menu starting early 2026. The Korean market is currently focused on summer flavors like orange cream and fruit smoothies, but we expect to see global trend flavors like Dubai chocolate surface as the seasons change.
Events to Watch Next Week
- Starbucks Orange Cream Launch: The 5-drink Orange Cream lineup and limited-edition Dandy collaboration merch will officially launch on July 28.
Action Items for Readers
-
For Menu Planners: By reinterpreting global seasonal trends (Orange Cream, Matcha, Pistachio) with a unique local twist early on, you can carve out a niche against the major chains.
-
For Cafe Operators: Given the increasing pressure to introduce 10+ new items, consider discussing "menu selection" options with your headquarters to ensure the new offerings fit your specific store's needs.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
