As South African Coffee consumption becomes more varied, consumers are increasingly looking beyond the traditional hot morning cup towards formats that are convenient, refreshing and suitable for different times of day. Iced lattes, cold brew, Coffee concentrates and ready-to-drink (RTD) products are becoming more visible across cafés, supermarkets, forecourts and delivery platforms, allowing Coffee to compete in occasions that have historically been dominated by soft drinks, flavoured milk and energy beverages. This shift is taking place within a large and active consumer market. Eighty20 reported that approximately 22.7 million South Africans drink some form of Coffee daily, representing nearly half of the adult population. After accounting for changes to the underlying survey weighting, comparable Coffee consumption increased by almost 8% year-on-year. The research also identified cold-brewed Coffee as a recent local trend and highlighted Bootlegger’s canned iced Coffee as an example of how brands are responding to younger consumers seeking portable and convenient products.
The local Coffee market increased by 17.1% between 2024 and 2025 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.6% between 2026 and 2030. Within this expanding market, convenient formats, including RTD Coffee, provide manufacturers and retailers with an opportunity to extend consumption beyond the home, office and conventional café occasion.
Local product activity shows that the trend is developing across several formats rather than through a single type of beverage. Douwe Egberts offers ready-to-drink Ice Cappuccino and Ice Mocha Latte products, while Nescafé Espresso Concentrate allows consumers to prepare hot or iced Coffee at home. Vida e Caffè also offers bottled iced Coffee products, alongside seasonal iced beverages introduced through its café network. Together, these products demonstrate how brands are approaching cold Coffee through packaged retail, at-home preparation and freshly made foodservice offerings.
Coffee Magazine’s review of the local market found that South Africa’s RTD Coffee category remains relatively small but is gaining momentum. Its review examined products and competing chilled beverages across Engen, SPAR, Woolworths and Pick n Pay’s delivery platform, illustrating the different retail environments in which the category must compete. Sweet, dairy-based iced Coffees remain prominent, although cold brew, lower-sugar alternatives and more Coffee-focused premium products are beginning to broaden the range available to consumers.
Cold Coffee also gives brands greater scope to experiment with flavours, seasonal ranges and visually distinctive products. Financial Mail described cold Coffee as a strong new South African trend, noting that the format performs well on social media, supports flavour experimentation and resonates with younger consumers. The publication also reported that Coffee-flavoured milk products and iced lattes from brands such as Vida e Caffè and Mugg & Bean remain strong retail performers, supported by promotions and increased shelf visibility.
The opportunity for Coffee brands is therefore broader than introducing another seasonal beverage. Cold and RTD formats can extend Coffee into afternoon, warm-weather, commuting and social occasions, while creating additional points of contact between café brands, grocery retailers and consumers. However, long-term growth will depend on whether brands can combine credible Coffee quality and relevant flavours with convenient packaging, wider distribution and pricing that encourages repeat purchasing. Cold Coffee is unlikely to replace the traditional hot cup, but it can broaden the category by making Coffee suitable for more consumers and consumption occasions. Brands that balance innovation with accessibility will be better positioned to convert current interest in iced and RTD formats into sustained local demand.
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