Upside, Inside Out
Yes, that was a Ricky Martin reference. No, this article is not about Ricky Martin.
I really try to avoid cliché trends. I find them incredibly redundant and especially annoying. When are they most prevalent? Right. Now. I’m going to throw my phone into the Hudson River if I see one more post about “here’s what I’m leaving in 2025 and bringing into 2026.”
That said, here are the things I want to leave in 2025 and other things I’m bringing into 2026.
Leave in 2025:
Paper cups: we’re drinking coffee in cafes this year. Drinking a cappuccino in a mug is a 1000x better experience than taking it to go. Appreciate the surroundings. Recognize the effort your barista put into the drink. Take a minute to breathe.
Paper cups, again: If I see iced drinks served in paper cups, I’m walking out the door and never returning. Unacceptable.
Pre-made syrups: If I see a Torani bottle behind the counter, I already know this coffee is going to be cloyingly sweet and taste artificial. Have some pride in your product and make your own syrup.
Ice: No, this is not a political bullet-point. I’m talking about the cold cubes of frozen water. Slushy ice is bad. Pebble ice is bad. I want a good cube that will keep its shape and dilute the drink slowly. This stands as a recommendation to all bars too.
The Big Chains: There’s nothing that pisses me off more than seeing a line at one of those places. You’re settling and you can do better.
Coffee Cola: SSSTTTTOOOOPPPP IIITTTTT. They taste terrible and they’re full of sugar. Please stop.
In for 2026:
Big comfy chairs: I want to be comfortable while having my beverage. This is also a recommendation toward every bar. I want to feel like I’m in my living room but not be in my living room.
Cleaning up after yourself: Don’t leave a mess at your table when you leave. Return your mug/plate/trash to where it needs to go. Unclear where it goes? Ask someone.
Coffee experiences: These are fun and informative. Do these. My favorite from last year was Coffee Omakase from Jonathan Fang in NYC (@coffeebyjon on IG). He teaches you about coffee, makes you multiple rounds of the most interesting coffee drinks you can find, and overall gives attendees an amazing experience. There’s plenty of barista trainings out there too – we did one at City Bean Roasters in LA (@CityBeanRoasters on IG). Would recommend to any coffee lover. We also attended a handful of coffee expos this year. These expos usually include a latte art competition. I guarantee there’s an expo close to you in the coming year. And no, I have not yet found a way to gamble on it.
Espresso Tonic: Contrary to the coffee cola, this beverage actually tastes good. If you want a carbonated coffee, this is the way to go.
Treating coffee with respect: This goes along with avoiding The Big Chains. You’re better than a K-cup and you’re way better than Coffee Mate.
Hopefully this over-baked trend wasn’t too painful to read. And if it was too painful, please don’t put that in my Google Reviews. Just write me a scathing DM – I’ll make sure to post meanest ones.
