Dive Brief:
- Starbucks is adding more highly caffeinated versions of its refreshers to its menu, effective Tuesday, according to a Monday press release.
- The Energy Refreshers are fortified with B vitamins and range from 100 milligrams to 175 milligrams of caffeine content, depending on size, compared to the 25 milligrams to 100 milligrams of caffeine in Starbucks’ traditional refreshers. Caffeine-free versions are also available.
- The increased, but still modest, caffeine content of these drinks helps Starbucks fill the energy gap between lower-strength and higher-strength cold drinks. This could also help the brand capture occasions from consumers looking for a stronger pick-me-up.
Dive Insight:
Restaurant analysts have predicted continued expansion of the cold, caffeinated non-coffee category in 2026, as consumer demand for sweeter and more visually appealing drinks continues to grow. Last year, the incidence of brewed coffee orders fell, while espresso drinks and energy drinks saw demand rise in restaurants, according to data from Toast.
Starbucks’ Energy Refreshers fit squarely into these trends.
The Energy Refreshers are available using all three of Starbucks’ refresher bases of water, lemonade and coconut milk, effectively doubling the total number of refreshers on the brand’s menu.
Starbucks is boosting the caffeine content of its refreshers.
This level of customization could also set Starbucks apart from other competitors expanding into this beverage space. Already in 2026, Sonic has added a caffeinated refreshers category, and c-stores are using refreshers as a new point of beverage competition with QSRs.
Starbucks also added a new year-round refresher flavor, mango strawberry, to round out the menu category. The mango strawberry drink build is available across all of Starbucks’ refresher categories and bases, and uses flavors from the two fruits alongside freeze-dried strawberry pieces.
Starbucks’ mango syrup and mango cold foam will also be available year-round as a drink modification, per the press release.
The increased caffeine content of the Energy Refreshers will likely result in a greater stimulant effect for consumers, relative to regular refreshers. However, the caffeine content of Starbucks’ new Energy Refreshers is still substantially lower than the caffeine content of the brand’s basic brewed coffee. A Tall (12 ounce) Pike Place contains between 235 milligrams and 290 milligrams of caffeine, more than twice the content of the Energy Refresher, per the chain’s website.
