Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Dunkin’ Bank on Bolder Beverages
3 Min Read By Catherine Sedgewick
Younger demographics are experimenting with diverse drink flavors and categories to satisfy both their functional requirements and emotional well-being, according to the Keurig Dr Pepper State of Beverages 2026 Trend Report. In response to these shifts, brands such as Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Dunkin’ are introducing spring and summer beverages that feature these cultural trends to attract the Gen A/Z market share.
"Younger consumers don't think in terms of a single 'go to' drink anymore," said Katie Webb, Senior Vice President of Marketing Transformation, Innovation & Insights at Keurig Dr Pepper. "Younger generations are exploring more unique flavors, switching between beverages throughout the day and seeking options that can balance both function and feel-good."
Key highlights from the report:
Identity in a cup. Nearly six in ten Gen A/Z consumers say their drink reflects who they are — and they're twice as likely to choose brands that say something about them, gravitating toward unexpected flavors (58 percent), globally inspired options (57 percent) and limited-edition drops (56 percent).
Social proof drives decisions. For Gen A/Z, the feed is the shelf. Sixty-three percent of Gen A/Z say what they see friends, creators, and social media influences their choices (vs. 48 percent of Millennials+). They also show a stronger pull to buy from brands that personalize recommendations (51 percent vs. 29 percent Millennials+), signaling rising expectations for curated, algorithm-driven discovery.
Mood and occasion matter most. 58 percent of Gen A/Z are more likely to choose drinks based on mood or occasion. Gen A/Z outpaces Millennials+ to couple beverages with food (65 percent vs. 57 percent), with others (59 percent vs. 50 percent), and away from home (42 percent vs. 30 percent) signaling their consumption is more social and on-the-go.
Wellness, redefined. Gen A/Z, clearly favor what a drink can deliver — 71 percent seek function-forward beverages and care less about restriction. Millennials and older consumers, by contrast, are 48 percent more focused on reducing sugar and 51percent more focused on managing intake.
"Summer is when customers get more playful with what they drink – they may want to try something new, mix things up, maybe even surprise themselves,” noted Anthony Epter, VP of Menu Innovation.
Starbucks: Betting on Beauty and Bold Flavors
The coffee giant’s summer menu arrives with a new Refresher featuring tropical flavors including passionfruit and guava alongside returning horchata-inspired espresso beverages. The flagship item, the Tropical Butterfly Refresher, leans on butterfly pea flower for a vivid natural purple hue.
On the espresso side, the returning Iced Horchata Shaken Espresso fuses Blonde Espresso and horchata syrup into warm cinnamon, sweet vanilla, and subtle toasted rice notes, with ice and topped with Oat milk. A new Horchata Frappuccino joins it for the season. “The midday and afternoon dayparts generate $11 billion in sales after 11:00 a.m., and we believe there is room to create a true second peak,” said Erin Silvoy, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Channel Development.
McDonald's: McCafé Rebranded for a Generation That Drinks Differently
Launched May 6 with six new drinks, McCafé's ground-up brand revamp is a direct response to how Gen Z has reshaped drinking habits.
"We redesigned the new McCafé to help our customers feel the joy they are seeking from these new beverages around the world,” VP of Global Brand Marketing Paloma Azulay shared.
The redesign features a modernized wordmark drawn from the same pen as the Golden Arches, new primary colors of refined gold and 'coffee cherry' inspired by the fruit that coffee beans come from. New subcategories — Refreshers, Crafted Sodas, Energizers — expand McCafé beyond coffee, with U.S. launches planned including a Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, and a Dirty Dr Pepper.
Dunkin' Donuts: Experimenting with Dirty Soda
Available nationwide April 29, the menu is headlined by new Black Cherry and Limeade Refreshers, Dunkin's take on Dirty Soda, Oreo-branded drinks, reimagined Coffee Chillers, and fruit punch bakery items.
The Dirty Soda is coffee milk combined with Pepsi and Sweet Cold Foam that nods to the Dunkalatte while adding a fizzy twist.
"Summer is when customers get more playful with what they drink – they may want to try something new, mix things up, maybe even surprise themselves,” noted Anthony Epter, VP of Menu Innovation. “That's the thinking behind this menu, from our take on Dunkin' Dirty Soda to new flavors like Black Cherry that can be customized however they want it. We wanted to give guests more reasons to discover something new every time they come to Dunkin'."