SugarBean Candy was awarded Best Coffee-flavoured Food Product 2025 at the esteemed World Coffee Innovation Awards. Founder Nicky Trainor discusses their creation of combining freshly ground Arabica coffee beans with 'Brûléed' sugar to bring you a not-too-sweet confection of complex flavours and textures.

Can you tell us a little about your winning entry — what makes it unique or innovative?

Our Coffee Bean Brûlée is a simple idea that surprisingly didn’t exist before – at least not in the US. It brings together just two things people already love: sugar and real coffee.

It brings true coffee flavour to coffee candy, however it’s not just a candy – it’s also very versatile. It has a variety of uses like eating as is, or using as a topping or garnish for ice cream, yogurt, granola, cupcakes, coffee drinks, cocktails and even cheese.

How has winning a FoodBev Award impacted your brand, team or project since the announcement?

Winning a FoodBev Award has brought credibility to our brand. And because of this, it has helped bring new opportunities. 

What does it feel like to have your work recognised on this global stage?

It’s fantastic to receive recognition on a global level. When we started not so long ago, our focus was just on building success in the US, so being acknowledged internationally wasn’t anticipated. It has been an unexpected bonus.

Looking ahead, what’s next for you and how do you see your innovation evolving in the future?

We plan to continue developing new innovative flavours and exploring additional uses for our versatile product. We’re also interested in more collaborations.

We’ve already worked with ice cream producers and cocktail-focused creators, and we’d like to expand on that with partners who can use Coffee Bean Brûlée in interesting ways.

World Coffee Innovation Awards 2026, in association with Café Business Expo

The World Coffee Innovation Awards have returned, showcasing groundbreaking developments across the sector. 2026 marks the 4th year of these awards, celebrating international innovation from the coffee industry.

Submissions close: 14 August – Don't miss your chance for global recognition and industry exposure!

The World Coffee Innovation Awards 2026 ceremony will be held at Café Business Expo, presented by FoodBev Media. Café Business Expo is the UK’s leading trade event connecting café owners and operators with the suppliers, technology and ideas shaping the future of the industry.

Discover the latest products and connect with innovative brands in the sector. Source new products, compare suppliers, and negotiate deals all in one place in London from 29 to 30 September 2026!

For more information about our selection of awards programmes, please visit foodbevawards.com or email awards@foodbev.com.