Dive Brief:
- Caribou Coffee added three lemonade refreshers to its permanent menu Thursday, the chain said in a press release emailed to Restaurant Dive.
- Caribou’s refreshers come in peach, strawberry and mixed berry flavors. The two berry flavors have pieces of strawberry included in the drink, while the peach flavor incorporates peach chunks.
- As consumer trends have shifted toward cold, colorful, photogenic and healthier-seeming options, many coffee chains have added beverage lineups with features like fruit inclusions, boba pearls or sparkling water. Starbucks, for example, added refreshers in 2023.
Dive Insight:
Many QSR brands outside the coffee sector have hopped on the cold drink trend, particularly this year. Taco Bell, Whataburger and Taco Cabana have all added refreshers to their menus in 2025 as restaurants look to create new occasions and capture snacking and beverage visits from coffee and beverage-forward competitors.
This competitive environment could mean that the coffee chains adding refreshers in 2025 are a bit behind the curve. Caribou, however, has had refresher-type drinks — coconut milk Shakers and sparkling energy drinks — on its menu since at least 2024.
The new refreshers from Caribou fill a different menu niche from the brand’s previous offerings in that sphere. The lemonade base differentiates them from shakers and sparkling drinks, and the new drinks are caffeine free.
Cold drinks could help the brand expand its geographical reach as well. Earlier this year Caribou opened its first standalone location in Texas and it is trying to expand beyond its Midwestern heartland into regions of the country, like the Southeast, which stay much warmer year-round.
Caribou is offering Caribou Perks members 50% off Lemonade Refreshers ordered in the afternoon from July 20 to Aug. 16, encouraging trial of the drinks and new signups for the loyalty program.
