Latent Syrups is a company founded to address the issue of significant waste in the coffee industry, taking a barista-centric approach to provide a lower cost, more sustainable, and more convenient alternative to traditional syrups. Our name, Latent, represents both the hidden impact of traditional syrup systems and also the hidden potential for a better alternative.
Barista First Approach
Often environmental concerns are raised without understanding the current system, leading to criticism without a full understanding of the problem. Latent aims to approach the problem of coffee syrup sustainability from the perspective of baristas and coffee shop owners, understanding the challenges they face and providing a solution that addresses their needs. We believe that a sustainable syrup system should be simple to use, save baristas money, and be easy to maintain. For this reason, we have worked directly with independent coffee shop owners and baristas to revise, refine, and improve our syrup system before release.
The Hidden Costs of Liquid Syrups
The core concept behind Latent is that the syrup industry focuses on providing sleek, visually appealing bottles containing either 30% water (Full-Fat Sugar versions), or 95% water (Sugar-Free versions). In addition to this extra water-weight, some brands use heavy glass bottles, which add significantly to the amount of weight shipped around the globe. This obviously adds to CO2 emissions, but more directly impactful is the extra cost which leads to higher syrup prices and lower margins for coffee shops.
In addition to the "dead weight" issue, almost all liquid syrups are supplied in single-use bottles which are thrown into the recycling bin after they are used. Again, this not only creates a mountain of waste, but also means that the coffee shop is paying for the cost of the bottle each time they refill. Bottles will also quickly fill up your waste bins, with most of the volume being air. This leads to more bin collections and therefore more indirect costs.
Finally, whilst not an environmental concern, coffee syrups are traditionally much better value when purchased in packs of 6, and can vary wildly in price over the year. When a good deal comes along at £6/L of syrup, you would be a fool to not fill your boots with vanilla and caramel. Unfortunately, most hospitality businesses struggle for storage space & cash flow. Shelves and storerooms become congested with syrup that may not be used for many weeks in the future. This logistical nightmare is only caused by the unnecessary bulk created by traditional manufacturers, which is mostly done to provide better shelf appeal for a product that is almost invisible when in use
The Alternative
Latent Syrups offers three things: lower costs, better sustainability, and more convienience. We do this by offering easy-to-use, plant based powders that can be converted into syrups on demand within minutes. This system allows us to offer perpetually lower prices, without compromising on quality.
This perpetually lower pricing offers a saving of between 30-50% compared to traditional liquid syrups. For the average independent coffee shop owner, this could mean saving between £300-£700 per year.
In addition, your stockroom shrinks from 6 bottles taking up an entire shelf in your storeroom, to a single pack of sachets stowed away behind the bar. Need an emergency refill? No problem, our refill boxes fit through most standard letterboxes. No more emergency visits to the wholesaler.
And finally, our powders are plant-based and made from sustainable ingredients. They are vegan-friendly, sugar-free, and most importantly taste identical to premium sugar-free syrups.
We are initially launching with the two most popular flavours: vanilla and caramel. Our roadmap includes a range of other popular syrups, as well as a range of seasonal options such as pumpkin spice, gingerbread, and lavender. If you'd like to know more, reach out to us at oliver@latentsyrups.co.uk