NAMA 2026: A Shift Toward Better Coffee

Maybe it was a West Coast thing, but the word I would use to describe NAMA 2026 was refreshing. We have been introducing Laqtia Milk and Laqtia soluble powders into the United States since 2022. This is our 3rd NAMA event and it is apparent that Laqtia is already gaining the reputation as one of the top milk powder and soluble manufacturers for bean2cup coffee machines and coffee vending machines. It's an honor to be part of this brand.

Bean2Cup coffee vending has been around for almost as long as office coffee service itself, however the release of high end bean2cup brewers capable of producing specialty beverages is a newer phenomenon. This year, we saw a big focus on high end vending, countertop bean2cup brewers, and autonomous coffee kiosks. 

While the machines' capabilities are getting better every year,  many of the operators have decided to use vending creamers and cheap soluble powders in their high end equipment to try and save cost. The beverages end up tasting artificial and cause issues in the brewer.

This year at NAMA LA, I have never met as many operators that prioritized quality over finding the lowest priced products. Customers expect more from their operator. They are used to better beverages from cafes and even their homes.  In fact, the SCAA has come out with the statistic that 46% of adults in the US have consumed specialty coffee in the last day. Consumers want good coffee and specialty beverages. They don’t lower that expectation just because they are in an office. The operators are also using more data driven approaches and I imagine that they are finding that the better tasting beverages sell more. 

In a cappuccino or latte, milk makes up around 2/3rds of the drink. If the milk powder is not right, it doesn’t matter how good the coffee is, the drink falls apart. That is where we have seen Laqtia milk powders really stand out. The focus on clean label ingredients, European dairy, and a consistent granule size helps create a better tasting beverage and keeps the machines running smoothly day after day.

One of the most common things we heard at the booth was that operators were tired of service calls tied to powders. Clogging, inconsistent flow, poor dissolvability. These are not small issues. They affect uptime, labor, and ultimately the customer experience. When operators saw how Laqtia powders perform, and tasted them, it clicked pretty quickly.

Overall, NAMA 2026 felt like a shift. Less focus on just getting the cheapest product into the machine, and more focus on delivering a drink that people actually enjoy. If that continues, it’s a good thing for the entire industry.

We are excited to be a part of that change and to continue growing Laqtia in the US market. My company is Good As Gold Coffee. We have been a family coffee roaster and operator for over 56 years. For the past 4 years we have greatly enjoyed introducing Laqtia and working with operators throughout the United States.

As an operator ourselves, we’re able to bring more than just product. We understand how these powders fit into a coffee program, from machine setup to drink creation and programming. We face the same challenges as operators throughout the United States. It feels great to deliver a product that actually makes a difference in their business.  We’ve made the mistakes, handled the service calls, and learned what actually works in the field. That allows us to offer real guidance. Laqtia has been a game changer for our business along with many operators throughout the United States.