Tim Hortons seems to be upping the ante on the so-called coffee wars.
The Dublin, Ohio-based company is testing espresso beverages in its 68 Central Ohio area restaurants. In total, 20 new specialty coffees are being tested.
Mike Meilleur, the company’s senior vice president of U.S. operations, told the Columbus Dispatch
that the tests are in response to growing consumer demand and, in particular, an untapped market in the Midwest.
The beverages being tested all contain espresso and steamed or 2-percent milk. They include hot and iced lattes, caramel, mocha and vanilla lattes, cappuccinos, espressos and americanos.
If the lineup is received well in the Columbus market, Tim Hortons will plan on a nationwide rollout by the end of the year.
The Specialty Coffee Association of America expects coffee shop sales to increase by 10 percent this year.
From the story:
Tim Hortons is now offering espressos at $1.49 for a single and $1.99 for a double. It's also using espresso as the basis of a new line of drinks:
- Cappuccino: $1.99, $2.79, $3.49
- Latte: $1.99, $2.79, $3.49
- Latte supreme: $2.49, $3.29, $3.99
- Americano: $1.49, $1.79, $2.19
- Mocha latte: $2.49, $3.29, $3.99
- Iced latte: $2.29, $2.79, $3.99
- Iced latte supreme: $2.79, $3.29, $4.49
