They say there are times when what’s old is new again. That certainly applies to two of the beverage platform’s oldest categories: coffee and tea. Ready-to-drink processors are actively and creatively extending both sectors with new forms and flavors.
For a deeper review, Prepared Foods Chief Editor Bob Garrison interviewed Ana Rodriguez, marketing director at Imbibe, a flavor supplier and beverage product development company outside Chicago.
Coffee: What’s Hot—is Cold!
Rodriguez addressed several broader coffee trends including RTD premiumization and products that “fit seamlessly” into Millennial and Gen-Z on-the-go lifestyles. Not surprisingly, Rodriguez pointed to cold brew offerings—and cold coffee drinks overall—among category trends during the past five years.
Today’s Trends: Asked about more close-in RTD coffee trends, Rodriguez spoke of next wave coffee products that go beyond basic energy and caffeine and deliver functional nutrients and/or benefits. One example is a new chilled Starbucks Protein with Coffee that delivers 20g protein. Moreover, the RTD line even comes with such on-trend flavors as Caramel Hazelnut, Café Latte and Chocolate Mocha.
Meanwhile, even more new offerings are boosted with adaptogens, vitamins, minerals and other ingredients to target functional needs. Some new RTD coffee drinks tout such benefits as cognitive health, alertness, focus, stress relief and immune support.
Still more RTD coffee processors borrowing coffee shop add-ins and having fun with flavors. Some new coffee drinks offer the best from bakeries (from cinnamon roll to baklava flavors) while others deliver subtle, soothing floral notes (such as lavender).
2026 Prediction: There’s a surge of consumers using personal tracking devices (watches, rings, etc.) to monitor circadian rhythms. Rodriguez said she expects new RTD coffees to address these more personalized need states. Examples could include a coffee drink with vitamins in the morning or a coffee drink with certain ingredients such as melatonin to wind down at the end of a day.
RTD Coffee, Tea Innovation
Prepared Foods Chief Editor Bob Garrison talks with Imbibe Marketing Director Ana Rodriguez about new tastes and trends in ready-to-drink coffee and tea beverages.
Tea it Up!
More consumers are embracing foods and beverages for self-care wellness options and moving away from sugar and sugary soft drinks. This shift creates even more attractive positioning for new RTD organic and functional teas. RTD processors have been responding with a host of new fermented kombuchas as well as on-trend varietals involving matcha, moringa and others.
Today’s Trends: Rodriguez points to a shift of boba (bubble) tea from ethnic cafes to retail boba tea kit products—seemingly now available everywhere from convenience stores to mainstream grocery. As with coffee, Imbibe flavor and beverage insights experts often scout by monitoring social platforms (including TikTok) as well as small tea and coffee shops and restaurants. These venues often are first to experiment with new flavor combinations and different formats.
2026 Prediction: Rodriguez expects more RTD tea beverages to feature adaptogens, nootropics, collagen and other functional ingredients for wellness and beauty benefits. She predicts the market will grow with more cold brew and sparkling tea varieties, more growth in fermented options and more products featuring functional varieties such as matcha, moringa, etc.
Learn more about Imbibe at https://imbibeinc.com/
