Beverage Trends·5 min read
Pandan Is Quietly Becoming the New Matcha
Bright, grassy, vanilla-coconut pandan is the breakout green flavor of 2026 — landing in lattes, ice cream pints, and CPG cookies as brands look for the next matcha.
May 28, 2026
Section
Beverage Trends
Drinks, NA cocktails, and beverage innovation.
Latest beverage trends signals
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Matcha Latte Boom Hits a Supply Wall as Japan Rations Stone-Ground Tea
Matcha demand has outrun a centuries-old supply chain, and US cafes are quietly reformulating around the shortage.
May 21, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Calabrian Chili Is the Next Sriracha
Calabrian chili — the bright, smoky, slightly sweet southern Italian pepper — is overtaking gochujang and harissa as the breakout heat of 2026, with paste and crushed formats landing in mainstream grocery.
May 21, 2026
Beverage Trends·4 min read
Oat Milk Hits Its Ceiling as Non-Dairy Creamers Fragment
After a five-year run, oat milk's category-defining moment is ending as the non-dairy aisle splinters.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
No-Alc Spirits Take Over the Back Bar
Award-winning cocktail bars in NYC, LA, and Chicago are committing 30-40% of menu real estate to zero-proof cocktails as the sober-curious movement reshapes nightlife economics.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Big Soda's Prebiotic Counter-Strike Is Finally Here
After watching from the sidelines, the cola majors are deploying distribution muscle against the functional-soda upstarts.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
K-Cup Volume Is Finally Declining as Whole-Bean Comes Back
The pod's two-decade run has crested — espresso, drip, and pour-over are quietly winning back the kitchen counter.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Cascara — Coffee's Forgotten Fruit — Becomes a Beverage Category
Cascara, the dried fruit of the coffee cherry, is launching as a standalone caffeinated beverage at Starbucks, Blue Bottle, and grocery RTD shelves.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Non-Alcoholic RTD Cocktails Take Real Shelf in Liquor Stores
Total Wine, BevMo, and major grocery chains are giving NA cocktail brands dedicated coolers — not just a single endcap.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Zero-Proof Cocktail Bars Go Mainstream
The sober-curious movement has its own nightlife footprint, and operators are discovering the unit economics are surprisingly attractive.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Arabica at Record Highs: What Climate-Driven Coffee Pricing Means for Cafes
Arabica futures have stayed above historic ceilings for four straight quarters, and independent cafes are running out of margin to absorb it.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Chinese Tea Chains Storm the US Market
The Chinese new-tea chains are running the US playbook Starbucks wrote — at twice the speed.
May 20, 2026
Beverage Trends·6 min read
Matcha's Global Supply Crunch Is Reshaping Café Menus
Japan's ceremonial-grade matcha is sold out through 2026. US cafés are quietly switching to culinary blends, Chinese sourcing, and shrinking serving sizes.
May 13, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Non-Alc Spirits Break Out of the Mocktail Ghetto
Athletic Brewing showed the model. Now Seedlip, Ritual, and a wave of celebrity NA spirits are getting full back-bar placement, not the 'sober menu' afterthought.
May 13, 2026
Beverage Trends·6 min read
Why Functional Soda Brands Are Reshaping Beverage Aisles
A new generation of sodas built around gut health and mood is taking real share in the carbonated soft drink set.
May 11, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Energy Drinks Are Becoming Gen Z's Coffee
Functional energy drinks grew 24% last year while ground coffee was flat. The morning routine is being unbundled — and Gen Z is leading the shift.
May 8, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
The Electrolyte Water Arms Race
Electrolyte hydration is one of the fastest-built CPG categories of the past five years — and its already consolidating.
Apr 27, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Kava Bars Become the New Third Place
Kava bars are quietly replicating the early coffeehouse arc — community-first, ritual-driven, and growing through word of mouth.
Apr 25, 2026
Beverage Trends·5 min read
Cannabis Beverages Hit Liquor Store Shelves
The hemp-derived THC beverage category exploded through a regulatory loophole, and its now bigger than most expected.
Apr 21, 2026