Summer is vacation season, with solo travelers, couples, and families heading to parts unknown to soak up the sun and enjoy leisure time. This “when in Rome” vacation mentality offers unique opportunities for brands to push novel products, including limited-time offer (LTO) beverages that capture the flavors of the season.
Which icy brews and functional ingredients are trending for summer 2025? Fruity infusions, herbal additions, and innovative coffee bevs all have a place on upcoming menus.
Refreshers
Hot days call for crisp, fruity beverages, and newly unveiled summer menus do not disappoint.
Starbucks typically leads the pack when it comes to attention-grabbing seasonal menus. The brand appears to be doubling down on its Summer-Berry Refreshers released last year, including the Summer-Berry Lemonade Refresher and Summer Skies.
Not to be outdone, Dunkin’s summer menu is set to reprise last year’s Blue Raspberry Coolatta and Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher, along with a new Raspberry Watermelon Refresher.
For additional flavor inspo, consider inclusions like trending citrus (calamansi, mandarin), cucumber-mint, and tropical faves like guava, lychee, and passionfruit.
Herbal and Botanical Additions
While fruit-forward beverages are dominating the summer drink market, Peet’s Coffee has quietly engineered a seasonal drink menu that takes full advantage of sophisticated herbal and botanical infusions. Patrons can sip Sparkling Blush Rose or Sparkling Lavender Lemonade, or they can opt for caffeinated options like an Iced Blushing Rose Matcha Latte or Iced Lavender Vanilla Latte.
Also on tap at Peet’s are new beverages featuring refreshing pressed coconut water, including Coconut Water Cold Brew and Coconut Water Matcha. If you’re looking to have some fun with sugar-free flavor enhancers, consider basil, rosemary, or hibiscus, in addition to rose and lavender.
Related: Snacking Trends for this Summer— Bars, Bites, and Better-for-You Cravings
Coffee Innovations
Summer calls for cold coffee beverages, and major coffee brands are on it. This year, Starbucks unveils an Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso as a counterpoint to the fruitier Iced Strawberry Oat Matcha Latte.
Dunkin’ brings back two popular LTOs: Pistachio Iced Coffee (based on the well-received winter version) and the Dunkalatte (espresso plus coffee milk). Dunkin’ also continues to innovate with grocery store cold foam creamers, most recently in s’mores flavor. For a seasonal twist, consider pairing cold foam with strawberry or lemon-vanilla flavor profiles.
The resurgence of coffee-based alcoholic bevs like the espresso martini can also offer clues for summer samplers, with inspired flavors like a cold brew (piña) colada or espresso mojito tonic with refreshing mint and lime.
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Functional Drinks
Gatorade’s Hydration Boosters, released last fall, are indicative of a push toward drink enhancers that help consumers get their eight glasses of water a day while controlling additives and customizing flavor — an area that brands like Nuun, Liquid I.V., and DripDrop have previously found success in.
Available in flavors like Citrus Berry, Strawberry Watermelon, and Tropical Mango, Gatorade’s powder packets feature a blend of electrolytes like sea salt, sodium citrate, and potassium salt, as well as essential vitamins.
Visual Appeal
The most successful summer seasonal menus focus on the visual appeal of beverages, from the contrast of blue liquid and boba-like red popping pearls in Starbucks refreshers to the delicate peaches and greens of Peet’s tea and lemonade selection.
If you want to go all natural with eye-catching summer sippers, consider the golden appeal of turmeric, the pretty pink of dragon fruit, or the violet hue of blueberries.
The Summer Beverage Market Is Heating Up
With coffee chains and RTD beverage brands revving up for the summer season, now’s the time to add fruity twists, herbal additions, and coffee innovations to your own liquid lineup. The right LTOs can increase brand awareness, bring in new business, reengage patrons, and provide clues to consumer preferences moving forward.
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