Raising Spirits with Nonalcoholic Drinks

Bubbles, bobas and cold brews—we are in the midst of a beverage boom unlike any other. This explosion of innovative specialty beverages was set off (at least in part) by a growing number of Gen Z consumers reducing or eliminating alcohol intake. While alcohol sales have been a key incremental income-maker across commercial foodservice, the unexpected boom of specialty drinks has had positive reverberations everywhere from restaurants to college cafés to office breakrooms.  

This is especially good news for anyone looking to drive traffic through historically slower afternoon hours.  Not only do these trending specialty drinks typically have high margins, they’re also increasingly a deciding factor for diners—with quality and variety among their highest priorities.1

So, what kinds of drinks are we talking about? Here are five trending beverage formats and flavor profiles—each with a delicious drink idea to capitalize on the trend. 

Cold formats dominate out-of-home coffee orders, with cold coffee growing 9.6% in four years and cold brew growing 37.7%.3 

Nutty Flavors 

While hazelnut remains a staple, new indulgent nut flavors like pistachio, pecan and almond are on the rise.4 

PB Oat Milk Iced Latte  

Espresso  

Peanut butter sauce 

Oat milk 

Creamy, customizable sodas are moving from a Utah-based phenomenon to a national “trend to watch.”5  

Dessert-Inspired Flavors 

While fruity flavors sparked the trend, operators are now leaning into drinkable sweet treats inspired by cobblers, cakes, pies and more. 

Raspberry Cookie Dirty Soda 

Cream soda 

Vanilla & almond syrups 

Raspberry preserves 

Half & half  

Crushed sugar cookie rim 

Cold, light-bodied beverages flavored with fruit, fruit juices, and lemonades offer a more health-conscious alternative to sweeter standbys. 

Herbs & Florals 

Botanical flavors add depth and sophistication to the lighter-bodied beverages. Lavender and mint are leading flavors6 while basil, thyme, rosemary, elderflower, and hibiscus are growing.7 

Lavender Hibiscus Lemon Refresher 

Hibiscus tea 

Fresh lemon juice 

Lavender syrup (sweetener + hot water + lavender) 

Sparkling water 

Garnish with mint and edible flowers 

Energy drinks are among the fastest-growing beverages, doubling share away from home over the last 5 years.8 

Tropical Flavors 

The customizable, mood-boosting turn in foodservice has also led the category toward vibrant, tropical flavors—guava, dragon fruit, passionfruit—perfect for Gen Z’s bold palate.7 

Dragon Fruit Energy Elixir 

Unflavored energy base or white tea 

Dragon fruit purée 

Mango syrup 

Lime juice 

Served over pebble ice with freeze-dried fruit garnish 

Bubble tea is not only the biggest global beverage, it’s expanding across the U.S. with matcha lattes and milk teas driving growth. 9 

Global Flavors 

It’s not just the global tea format that’s growing. Consumers are experiment with more global flavors like taro, ube, and pandan.7 

Ube Coconut Milk Tea with Boba 

Black tea base 

Ube syrup or purée 

Coconut milk 

Tapioca pearls 

Topped with toasted coconut flakes