Drinking

Implications - The rise of coffee culture has mimicked that of wine or craft beer, and so a natural next step in coffee's ascent to gourmet status is a focus on texture. Experimenting with the texture of iced coffee provides a multisensory experience that speaks to the experience-obsessed modern foodie. [More]

Implications - Brands are emerging with discreet cannabis-infused beverages that emphasize convenient consumption in formats that consumers are already familiar with. This progression highlights the experience of products such as cannabis and coffee in being a blank canvas onto which more of-the-moment fads are projected. [More]

Implications - Highlighting the ubiquitous nature of coffee as a symbol of social interaction and much more, the experience of coffee consumption has become a space for innovation that also provides a unique view into the current cultural collective consciousness at any given moment. This progression demonstrates the new context of coffee as a gourmet food experience rather than a commodity, a transition that can be observed taking place currently in other adjacent categories such as cannabis. [More]

Implications - As both coffee culture and the world of supplements continues to expand rapidly thanks to a competitive environment of innovation, consumers are embracing superfood-infused lattes as a way of offsetting the negative effects of caffeine. This progression demonstrates the all-encompassing nature of the health and wellness movement, and more specifically, the pursuit of balance in terms of food and beverage consumption. [More]

Implications - As more consumers look to lessen their refined sugar intake, brands are exploring all manner of alternative sweeteners in order to account for taste preference, with the sub-tropical melon-derived monk fruit particularly gaining popularity. This progression highlights the potential for unraveling new healthful alternatives to ingredients that previously may have seemed inseparable from various favored dishes. [More]

Implications - Cocktails infused with superfood ingredients such as turmeric or charcoal entice consumers looking to indulge without abandoning their health and wellness goals. Highlighting the potential convergence seemingly oppositional drinking experiences, this shift also demonstrates the desire to enjoy the advantages of two very different things at the same time. [More]

Implications - As even consumers who may consider themselves adjacent to the new culture of wellness and self-care get familiar with the benefits of fermentation, experimental takes on kombucha are emerging in order to both explore new flavor combinations and expand on its healthful aspects. This shift demonstrates the interest in exploring new health-driven products hybridized with more familiar flavors and ingredients. [More]

Implications - Gin brands are hosting creative activations and workshops that serve as both an opportunity for both brand awareness and product education. This progression highlights the importance of brand touchpoints in helping consumers bridge the gap between aspirational marketing and actual product adoption. [More]

Implications - As scent and aroma continue to push the boundaries of cocktail experience, spirits and cocktail-making tools are being created in order to lend themselves to smokey, enthralling experiential beverages. This shift speaks to the new expectation of multi-sensory elements in order to satiate the short-lived attention span of modern consumers. [More]

Implications - An asset for those with limited access to fresh produce, wheatgrass in powder form can now be found in a variety of greens supplements and on-the-go products that make the superfood all the more accessible. This progression speaks to consumers still learning about the health and wellness movement and their predisposition toward products that allow for a slow integration of such superfoods into their regular diet. [More]