How cafes and sugar alternatives are shaping our lifestyle

Gone are the days when coffee shops were simply places to grab a caffeine fix.

Today, they have transformed into vital social hubs that host everything from casual meetings to study sessions or simply offer a welcoming space to unwind.

For some, coffee shops are essential extensions of their workplace. Md Badrul Alam, 55, owner of a trading business with a small office in Gulshan 2, conducts all his business meetings at North End in Gulshan 2 (Lotus Kamal Tower). 

"My office is quite small, barely 1,500 square feet, without a meeting room," he explains. "For a meeting under an hour, coffee shops are the perfect venue, and North End is just a five-minute walk from my office."

Students are also taking advantage of these versatile spaces. Samiha Hossain, an A-level student at Academia, often heads to Tabaq in Dhanmondi with friends after her tuition classes at Vertical Horizon. 

"The coaching place can get chaotic, so we prefer the calm of a coffee shop. It's cheaper than many cosy restaurants, and with just a cup of coffee, we can stay for over an hour," she says.

Indeed, coffee shops now cater to a wide range of customers and occasions, and coffee consumption is on the rise. According to Statista, Bangladesh's coffee market is projected to grow at a 13.52% annual rate from 2024 to 2029, reaching an estimated market value of $48.97 million by 2029.

With this rise in coffee consumption, however, health considerations are sometimes overlooked. Those who enjoy sweetened coffee may be increasing their sugar intake, which can carry health risks. 

Popular coffee chains like North End Coffee Roasters, Crimson Cup Bangladesh, Arabica, and Tabaq offer three sweetening options—white sugar, brown sugar, and Zero Cal by Square—to help customers manage their intake.

Zero Cal, a popular sugar alternative made of sucralose, lactose, and crospovidone, is available in tablet and powder forms. While the tablet form is typical at home, especially among diabetic patients, cafes generally provide the powder sachets.

Md Badrul Alam sees this option as essential to his consumer rights. "When I'm paying Tk350 to Tk500 for a latte, I expect to have the option of a Zero Cal sachet," he says. Not all restaurants offer this choice though, especially the lower-end establishments.

Banker Shahriar Anam often orders his coffee through Foodpanda, as his office is far from most cafes. "If ordered from food delivery platforms, they usually don't include Zero Cal unless I specifically request it in the notes," he says, adding, "both restaurants and delivery services should be more attentive to these details."

As coffee culture grows in Bangladesh, so does the expectation for a personalised, inclusive experience at every cup.

Additionally, coffee shops often offer a selection of pastries, such as cookies and brownies. Introducing more sugar-free alternatives would be a welcome option for health-conscious customers.

Prottasha Ghosh, a former barista at North End, notes a rising demand for sugar-free treats. "The Date Bars at North End, for example, contain no added sugar and have become quite popular," she shares. 

Prottasha believes that offering more of these naturally sweetened or sugar-free items—alongside traditional treats adapted with sugar alternatives—would enhance the appeal of coffee shops for a broader range of customers.