Gen Z and coffee. The younger generation has different expectations and buying habits when it comes to traditional products. Let’s see how this affects packaging.

Gen Z and coffee. Gen Z, which includes those born between 1997 and today, is changing the game in terms of what products they love and how they buy. So much so that younger consumers are showing renewed interest in items they traditionally did not ‘get’ back a few years ago.

Coffee is undoubtedly one of the most popular products across the board. However, Gen Z’s approach has some differences compared to the previous generations, such as millennials and Gen X.

Gen Z and coffee: Custom orders

One keyword that will win over Gen Z is customization. When it comes to coffee, this means special blends, tailor-made flavors, or bouquets. Additionally, it includes reduced packaging and single-serve quantities.

Specialty drinks and artisan coffee are on the rise

By doubling down on customization, specific products are becoming more popular such as specialty drinks and artisan coffee.

Suffice it to think of all the flavors introduced back in the day by coffee pod makers. Unless you are an expert, it will be difficult for you to distinguish between specific blends. Still, marketing has done a great job of selling multiple product lines to diverse audiences.

Sustainable coffee for informed Gen Z consumers

One other area that Gen Z is very attentive to is the environment, hence sustainability. Reducing the environmental footprint is at the heart of Gen Z’s approach. That’s why you should make this information prominent in the packaging, by reassuring buyers about your environmentally friendly and sustainable approach.

Also the origin of the raw material and responsably harvested food are paramount for crtical consumers like Gen Z. Packaging should reflect that visually and verbally with the right approach. Patterns and decisive color codes will definitely help in this space.

A tad of humor

Brands’ register and communication style also determine whether they will succeed or not with Generation Z. Humor and irony play a crucial role in making a product and its packaging catchy and appealing to the younger generation. That’s how you’ll get interesting, bright coloring and funny illustrations. 

Conclusions

If you produce or sell coffee products, you might want to refresh your packaging design to fit the needs of the younger generation. Get on Packly, and test our tool. As soon as you have your prototype ready, you can share it in 3D or even ask us to print it and ship worldwide.