Synergy Flavors has launched a range of coffee flavors in Asia in response to the growing demand for authentic coffee-flavored products. According to Pier Yuan, Senior Flavor Creation Team Manager at Synergy Flavors Thailand, the rapid expansion of coffee shops in Asia has had a positive knock-on effect in the retail sector.

The new flavors include Black, Robusta, Brewed, Roasted, Espresso, Coffee Mocha, Latte, Caramel Macchiato, and Cappuccino. The range also includes new black coffee enhancer flavors, which boost the black coffee base profiles – dark roast, fresh and fruity coffee – that are often changed or lost during a high heat process.

A market segment ripe for growth
“Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee and instant coffee manufacturers are consistently developing and innovating new coffee products to meet the growing demand in Asia,” Yuan tells FoodIngredientsFirst. “As coffee shop numbers in this region continue to grow, consumers are exposed to a far greater range of coffee flavors and become accustomed to more sophisticated flavors.”

Coffee is an affordable luxury for many consumers and their love for the distinctive flavor has driven the emergence of a variety of specialty coffee-flavored products in recent years, such as dairy-free cold brew beverages, Yuan highlights. “Synergy’s new coffee flavors add to our extensive range of solutions that help manufacturers stand out from the crowd in a very competitive market. We create the freshest, most aromatic coffee flavors through our state-of-the-art extraction process, which match the full taste of indulgent fresh roast and ground coffee for freshly brewed flavor.”

To meet these ever-changing demands of the Asian market, RTD and instant coffee manufacturers are looking to expand their coffee flavor profiles to recreate the coffee shop experience, by offering more varied and premium beverages, continues Yuan. “We can provide the desirable taste of freshly brewed coffee with our latest range of authentic flavors to meet these customer demands. 

As consumers look toward food and drink products that offer convenience and on-the-go options, RTD and instant coffee manufacturers are at the forefront of innovation. Other F&B manufacturers are also considering the growing interest in coffee, and Synergy’s coffee solutions work well across a variety of applications, Yuan details. 

“The new coffee range can benefit a wide range of applications, such as plant-based beverages, confectionery, dairy, and bakery, in addition to RTD and ‘3-in-1’ coffee products,” he adds. 

The methodology of real coffee flavors
The flavors have been created at Synergy’s Thailand site, based in Samut Prakan, near Bangkok, which has recently commissioned a new gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument that allows it to conduct the high level of analysis required to produce authentic coffee flavors. 

To understand the depth and complexity of real coffee, Synergy starts by obtaining freshly roasted coffee beans and uses GC-MS analysis to identify the volatile compounds responsible for their characteristic aroma. By analyzing beans at different degrees of roast, Synergy’s analysts explore the chemical changes which occur during coffee roasting and uncover insights into each roasting stage’s flavor chemistry. Having this more detailed understanding of the beans themselves allows Synergy’s flavorists to create authentic flavors that deliver a robust, rich profile akin to freshly brewed coffee.

This latest line of coffee flavors add to the extensive range of Synergy Pure coffee essences and extracts, including medium and high roast flavor profiles. When combined with the recently launched Dairy by Nature portfolio, Synergy’s coffee flavors, extract and essences can be used to create a coffee product with improved mouthfeel, indulgence and balanced flavor.