# Crafted Fast Food Beverages McDonald’s Expands into Refreshers, Dirty Sodas and Energy Drinks By Mursal Rahman | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-04-17 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Crafted-Fast-Food-Beverages References: [qsrmagazine](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/story/mcdonalds-to-launch-crafted-beverage-lineup-nationwide-next-month/) & [cbsnews](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcdonalds-refreshers-crafted-soda-beverage-menu/)  Crafted fast food beverages are gaining momentum as [McDonald’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-cosmc-drinks) expands its menu to include refreshers, dirty sodas and energy drinks designed to compete with specialty beverage chains. By introducing items like flavored sodas and fruit-based drinks, the brand is transforming its traditional beverage offering into a more dynamic and trend-driven category. This approach taps into growing consumer interest in customizable, flavor-forward drinks that go beyond standard soft drink options. This shift positions beverages as a key revenue driver, supported by strong margins and the ability to increase average order value. It also allows McDonald’s to compete more directly with brands like [Starbucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cafe-energy-hybrids) and [Dutch Bros](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sense-of-nostalgia) while attracting younger consumers seeking novelty and variety. As more quick-service restaurants invest in drink-focused menus, the category may become a central battleground for differentiation, encouraging continued expansion and experimentation across the industry. Image Credit: Eli Unger / Shutterstock.com ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 71% | Freshness: 72% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Menu Beverage Diversification:** The expansion of flavored refreshers, dirty sodas and energy drinks demonstrates potential to replace limited soda menus with full beverage lines that capture higher-margin purchases. - **Customization-first Drinks:** Personalizable flavor add-ins and mix-and-match bases are creating demand for modular beverage platforms that cater to individual taste preferences and social-media-friendly novelty. - **Beverage-led Brand Differentiation:** Positioning drinks as signature offerings shows potential to shift competitive dynamics by making beverage innovation a primary means of attracting younger, loyalty-driven customers. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Quick-service Restaurants:** Fast-food operators can leverage streamlined pour-and-mix systems and flavor libraries to transform beverage counters into high-margin, experiential touchpoints. - **Specialty Coffee Chains:** Coffee brands face pressure to integrate fruit-forward and soda-style options that expand occasion coverage beyond hot beverages and capture daytime and non-coffee consumers. - **Beverage Manufacturing:** Suppliers of syrups, concentrates and functional additives stand to benefit from demand for ready-to-dispense flavor systems tailored to QSR workflows and shelf-stable co-pack opportunities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Layered Drink Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drips-by-pepsi-lineup.md) - [Gen Z-Influenced Drink Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-cosmc-drinks.md) - [Canned Dessert-Flavored Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7-brew-readytodrink-coffees.md) - [Beverage-Focused Meal Collabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coca-cola-starlight-munchie-meal.md) - [Festive Convenient Store Offerings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-beverages.md) - [Nostalgic Beverage Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sense-of-nostalgia.md) - [Expansive UK-Based QSR Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-uk-2.md) - [Foodservice Product Showcases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mclane-company.md) - [Movie Night Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/regal-theatres.md)