November 26, 2025 (Published: November 19, 2025)
Looking for a fresh, festive way to drive customer engagement during the holidays—or any time of year? Coffee flights are catching on as a creative way to showcase seasonal drinks, encourage trial, and turn casual visitors into loyal fans.
Much like craft beer flights, coffee flights offer smaller servings of multiple beverages. Coffee flights give people a low-commitment way to try several drinks in one visit. They work especially well for groups or customers who aren’t sure what to order. For coffee shops, flights offer a way to showcase seasonal drinks or new recipes to more people—without a full menu overhaul.
Whether you rotate them with the seasons or use them to test new flavors, coffee flights can be a brilliant addition to your menu and marketing strategy.
One of our Crimson Cup 7 Steps coffee shops has turned this idea into a powerful customer magnet. Here’s how they do it—and how you can, too.
How Kavé’s Approach Stands Out
Kavé Coffee Bar in Barberton, Ohio, introduced coffee flights two years ago as a seasonal promotion, and they quickly became a local favorite. Each flight features four 10-ounce drinks—usually three lattes and one wildcard like a tea or hot chocolate. These drinks are served on custom wooden boards that create a polished, Instagram-ready presentation.
To take the experience even further, Kavé pairs each drink with a house-made cookie that complements the flavor. During the first few days of a new flight release, customers might sip a peppermint mocha alongside a double-chocolate peppermint cookie, or enjoy a butterscotch latte with a chewy butterscotch chip cookie. The cookies and drinks are thoughtfully matched, turning an ordinary tasting into something that feels warm, personal, and indulgent.
What started as a midweek idea has become a local favorite. Kavé rolls out new flights on Wednesdays—usually one of their slower days—but now it’s often the busiest. Some Flight Nights bring in nearly half the day’s sales in just a few hours.
“People mark their calendars for it,” says Manager Ryan Struckel. “They’re not just here for the coffee. They’re here for the experience.”
Behind the Scenes: How Kavé Makes It Happen
Ryan emphasizes that pulling off a successful Flight Night takes more than a clever idea. Preparation is key.
Baristas pre-portion syrups, and the team bakes cookies in-house based on projected demand. Drinks follow consistent recipes—usually halved from Kavé’s standard 20-ounce drinks—so flavors stay balanced and service stays fast. The team also schedules extra staff to keep things running smoothly during peak times.
What feels like a fun surprise to customers is backed by serious planning behind the bar.
To build buzz, Kavé leans on low-cost marketing: in-store posters, engaging social media content, and simple Facebook ads. Local influencers and food bloggers often amplify the effort by sharing their own photos and reviews.
From Barista Trend to Community Favorite
Coffee flights help demystify specialty drinks for customers who don’t know what to order. They let people explore new flavors in a low-risk format—and often lead to return visits when someone falls in love with a specific drink.
“It helps people try something they might never order,” Ryan says. “Then they return for the full version.”
That kind of discovery is precisely what makes flights such a smart seasonal strategy: they’re interactive, educational, and fun.
Thinking About Serving Flights in Your Shop?
If you’re considering adding flights to your menu, Ryan offers this advice:
“You have to love the idea—and plan like crazy. Make sure your recipes are fast and repeatable. Staff accordingly. And don’t underestimate how much people appreciate a thoughtful experience.”
He also credits Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success program for helping Kavé fine-tune both operations and strategy.
“When I started, I didn’t know much about coffee,” he says. “But Crimson Cup made sure I was never alone. From hands-on training to recipe support—they’ve been a huge part of our success.”
Ready to Try Coffee Flights?
Preparing for the holidays or looking for new ways to energize your seasonal menu? Coffee flights might be just the thing to surprise and delight your customers. They’re creative, community-friendly, and operationally achievable with the proper planning.
If you’re already a 7 Steps customer, contact Customer Growth Consultant Heather Syx at hsyx@crimsoncup.com for help planning your own Flight Night. And if you’d like to explore the benefits of the 7 Steps to Success for your shop, reach out to Sales Leader Scott Fullerton at sfullerton@crimsoncup.com.