Great coffee is no longer just the domain of cafés. Pub guests increasingly expect a quality hot drinks offer, whether they’re stopping in for breakfast, meeting friends for lunch or rounding off a meal with coffee.
Yet in many venues, coffee menus haven’t evolved at the same pace as changing drinking habits. While operators have invested in improved machines, staff training and food offers, there is still an opportunity to modernise the coffee experience itself.
For pubs looking to enhance quality, broaden appeal and modernise their coffee offer without adding operational complexity, one increasingly important ingredient is plant-based milks.
Plant-based is no longer a niche request. Consumers increasingly expect a quality dairy-free option wherever they buy their coffee, and oat drink is leading the way as the number one plant-based milk of choice. Many are also simply choosing it because they prefer the taste and texture with 88% of plant-based milk drinkers saying they do not follow a vegan or vegetarian diet.¹
Oatly Barista Edition helps pubs cater to this growing demand while delivering the creamy mouthfeel guests expect from premium coffee serves.
In fact, 81% of consumers say they are more likely to choose an outlet that stocks Oatly.² As pub operators continue to invest in all-day trading, having a versatile plant-based option that works across multiple serves can help broaden appeal and create additional sales opportunities.
Oat drink is not a replacement
Let’s be clear, we’re not suggesting that oat drink can replace the pint. However, today’s guests use pubs differently than they did 10 or 20 years ago. They’re visiting for occasions beyond just a post-work drink. As a result, demand for quality non-alcoholic options has grown significantly, with coffee increasingly viewed as a standard part of a pub’s offer rather than an optional extra.
For operators, that’s a meaningful opportunity. A stronger coffee offer can help drive spend across the day, attract new customer occasions and encourage guests to stay for longer. The challenge is achieving that without creating complexity behind the bar.
The secret is neutrality
The best beverage ingredients aren’t always the most attention-seeking. In fact, the most valuable ingredient behind the bar is often the one working quietly in the background.
A good oat drink shouldn’t be the thing customers notice first. It should be the thing that makes the coffee taste great. That’s one of the reasons Oatly Barista Edition has become a favourite across hospitality. Its rich, creamy texture and neutral flavour profile make it an ideal accompaniment to coffee, enhancing rather than overpowering the flavour of the beans..
As coffee standards continue to rise, having a versatile, high-performing oat drink behind the bar is less about following trends and more about delivering a consistently great serve.
A solution for every coffee setup
Not every pub serves coffee in the same way. For some, it’s a simple addition to a food and drink offer, while for others it’s an important revenue driver and guest touchpoint.
That’s why Oatly has developed solutions to support different styles of service. Oatly Barista Edition provides operators with a straightforward way to offer a high-quality plant-based option across a range of coffee serves, with formats designed to suit different operational needs.
For venues relying on bean-to-cup and automated coffee systems, Oatly also offers Baristamatic, the first oat drink developed specifically for automated coffee machines. Designed to deliver consistency and ease of use, it helps operators serve quality plant-based coffee at scale.
Whatever role coffee plays within the business, operators can choose a solution that works for their venue, team and customers.
Plant-based is here to stay
The most successful pub operators are often those who recognise changing consumer habits before they become impossible to ignore. Plant-based drinks have already crossed that threshold.
What was once considered a niche request is now a firmly established part of the hospitality landscape, with plant-based options increasingly expected as standard rather than viewed as an alternative. For many guests, choosing oat is no longer a dietary decision; it’s simply a preference.
That presents a clear opportunity for pubs. Investing in a quality plant-based coffee offer isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about ensuring the drinks menu reflects how people choose to drink coffee today.
For operators, oat drink offers a practical way to support a variety of coffee occasions, from a morning catch-up to a post-meal flat white. It helps broaden appeal, improve customer choice and ensure no guest feels overlooked when ordering from the menu. More importantly, it creates an opportunity to enhance the overall beverage experience and cater to a wider range of occasions throughout the day.
As pubs continue to explore new ways to drive value from their drinks offers, plant-based coffee presents a simple and accessible opportunity. Whether it’s a morning catch-up, a lunch meeting or a post-meal coffee, offering a quality oat-based option can help broaden appeal, support customer choice and complement an evolving all-day proposition.
Ultimately, it’s not about following trends. It’s about giving guests more of the drinks they enjoy and creating additional opportunities to engage them throughout their visit.
Want to Know More? Email info.uk@oatly.com
References
1. Attest survey, January 2026, n>500, UK
2. Oatly & Attest, Jan 2026, n=250 OOH coffee consumers / Oat milk drinkers, Working age Nat Rep