Top 39 Beverage Trends (September 2026)

Beverage Industry: 2026's Defining Movements

CAGR = compound annual growth rate

We rebuilt this list on September 13, 2026 from our live trend database, the same feed that powers the table above. Matcha still sits at the top of the entire category, but the risers underneath it have changed: yerba mate, electrolyte drinks, juice cleanse and plain energy drinks have all climbed into the table, and the spritz has swung from Aperol to Hugo. What fell away says as much. Prebiotic soda, sugar-free energy drinks and Swig are all down year over year, Cutwater has lost most of its search base, and Red Bull's summer edition has dropped out of the data entirely. Every search-volume and growth figure below is pulled from that live data.

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1. Matcha, Yerba Mate, and the Global Refresher Wave

Matcha is still the largest single beverage search anywhere. "Matcha near me" commands 1,220,000 monthly searches as of July 2026, up +48% year over year, and the core "matcha" term has grown to 1,000,000 searches, up +22%. The refresher wave now leans on herbal and South American terms as much as Japanese ones: "yerba mate" holds 301,000 searches and is up +50% over the past six months, "coconut water from a coconut" is up +22% at 246,000 searches, and "palo azul tea" is up +124% at 27,100 searches. Not every refresher held its run. "Horchata" has slipped to 301,000 searches, down 18% year over year, and the color-changing "butterfly pea flower" is flat at 49,500 searches.

The pattern is a move toward plant-forward, globally rooted flavors that feel both refreshing and better-for-you, from a matcha latte to a cinnamon-rice horchata.

Why Global Refreshers Are Surging

Matcha and its neighbors are booming because:

• Matcha as a lifestyle: A smoother, slower caffeine curve than coffee makes matcha the default alternative for younger drinkers
• Location-led intent: "Near me" searches show demand has moved from recipe curiosity to buying matcha on the go
• Global flavor discovery: Horchata, coconut water, and aguas frescas are entering mainstream menus far beyond their origins
• Visual appeal: Vivid green matcha and color-shifting butterfly pea are made for short-form video
• Better-for-you framing: Antioxidant and hydration positioning keeps these drinks in the wellness conversation

What's Gaining Momentum

Matcha Near Me (1,220,000 searches, +48% YoY) – One of the highest-volume beverage searches on the internet, and pure buying intent.

Matcha (1,000,000 searches, +22% YoY) – The core ingredient term has crossed a million searches a month and is still climbing.

Yerba Mate (301,000 searches, +50% over six months) – The South American caffeine staple is the fastest fresh mover in the refresher group.

Coconut Water From A Coconut (246,000 searches, +22% YoY) – Whole-fruit hydration searched as the natural alternative to bottled sports drinks.

Palo Azul Tea (27,100 searches, +124% YoY) – A traditional Mexican brew moving from folk remedy into everyday search demand.

Key Players

• Jamba – Smoothie and blended-drink chain leaning into matcha and fruit refreshers
• Scooter's Coffee – Drive-thru chain expanding matcha and specialty menus
• HEYTEA – Modern tea brand pushing matcha and fruit-tea formats internationally

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2. Dirty Soda and the Custom-Soda Boom

Custom soda has settled into a national habit, and the growth has moved from the category term to the variations. "Dirty soda" pulls 165,000 monthly searches, up +50% year over year, though it has cooled 33% over the past three months. The riffs are where the momentum sits: "dirty dr pepper" is up +234% at 90,500 searches, with +123% growth over the past three months, while "dirty soda recipe" holds 40,500 searches, up +82%. Chain drinkware has become its own search, with "jack in the box cup" breaking out to 40,500 searches. The chain that scaled the format is going the other way: "swig" is down 18% year over year at 823,000 searches.

A dirty soda is a regular soft drink customized with cream, flavored syrups, and fruit or coconut, and the endless mix-and-match nature of it is exactly what makes it so searchable.

Why Dirty Soda Is Booming

Custom soda is surging because:

• Infinite personalization: Every base soda plus cream and syrup combination is its own searchable recipe
• Alcohol-free social ritual: Dirty soda offers a fun, shareable order without alcohol
• Chain-driven scale: Drive-thru soda shops turned a regional habit into a national one
• Recipe culture: "Recipe" searches show people recreating the trend at home, not just buying it
• Constant reinvention: New base sodas and seasonal riffs keep the format fresh and re-searched

What's Gaining Momentum

Dirty Soda (165,000 searches, +50% YoY) – The category term that turned customized soft drinks into a mainstream order.

Dirty Dr Pepper (90,500 searches, +234% YoY) – The breakout flavor of the format, and still the fastest riser in the group.

Dirty Soda Recipe (40,500 searches, +82% YoY) – At-home recreation keeps driving a large share of the demand.

Jack In The Box Cup (40,500 searches, breakout) – Chain drinkware has become a search of its own, collected as much as the drink.

Dirty Mountain Dew (22,200 searches, breakout) – A newer riff proving the format keeps spawning fresh variations.

Key Players

• Swig – The drive-thru soda shop that turned dirty soda into a chain category
• Sonic Drive-In – Mass-market customization that primed the market for custom soda
• Olipop – Better-for-you soda brand riding the wider soda-reinvention wave

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3. Spritzes and Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

The spritz has swapped its lead. "Hugo spritz" has caught "aperol spritz" at 368,000 monthly searches and is up +83% over the past three months, while Aperol is down 18% year over year. Canned cocktails are splitting the same way: "buzzballz" holds 550,000 searches and is up +83% over three months, while "cutwater" has lost most of its base, down 70% at 673,000 searches. The clearest riser is the zero-proof shelf, where "non alcoholic spirits" is up +174% over three months at 33,100 searches. Occasion searches are climbing with it: "beachside bar" is up +83% at 74,000 searches, and at-home cocktail culture holds on through "coupe glassware" at 40,500 searches.

This is an adults-only category, and the momentum is squarely about convenience and occasion: lighter, lower-effort drinks that work at a barbecue, a picnic, or a night in, whether poured from a bottle or cracked from a can.

Why Spritzes and RTDs Are Rising

Ready-to-drink and spritz interest is growing because:

• Lighter, lower-ABV occasions: Spritzes fit an adult preference for lower-intensity, all-day drinks
• Convenience of the can: Ready-to-drink formats remove mixing, measuring, and multiple ingredient buys
• At-home cocktail culture: Coupe glassware and recipe searches show people building the bar experience at home
• Aesthetic appeal: The bright orange spritz is one of the most photogenic drinks on social feeds
• Zero-proof options: Non-alcoholic spirits and beers deliver the same ritual without the alcohol

What's Gaining Momentum

Hugo Spritz (368,000 searches, +83% over three months) – The elderflower-and-mint spritz has caught Aperol and is still climbing. The at-home version of the same drink leads the cocktail section of cooking and recipe trends.

Beachside Bar (74,000 searches, +83% YoY) – Occasion searches are rising alongside the drinks themselves.

Coupe Glassware (40,500 searches, +22% YoY) – A steady signal that at-home cocktail culture has stuck.

Non Alcoholic Spirits (33,100 searches, +174% over three months) – The zero-proof shelf is the fastest-growing corner of the category.

Prosecco Wine (33,100 searches, +22% YoY) – The base of the spritz pulls its own steady demand.

Hazy IPA (27,100 searches, +50% over three months) – Beer's softest, fruitiest style keeps taking share of the search.

Key Players

• Cutwater Spirits – Premium canned cocktails made with real spirits
• BuzzBallz – Single-serve ready-to-drink cocktails in a distinctive format
• High Noon – Vodka and tequila soda leader in the ready-to-drink category

Please drink responsibly. Alcoholic beverages are for adults of legal drinking age only.

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4. Functional Drinks Go Everyday

Functional beverages have split between what is still growing and what has already peaked. Hydration leads now: "electrolyte drinks" holds 201,000 monthly searches and is up +49% over the past three months. Fermented "kefir" keeps 301,000 searches, up +22%, and protein has spread across formats, with "oikos protein shake" at 90,500 searches, up +22% over three months, and "protein water" up +49% at 33,100 searches. Reset culture is back through "juice cleanse", up +307% at 165,000 searches. The peak is visible too: "prebiotic soda" has turned over, down 19% year over year at 110,000 searches, and "ryze mushroom coffee" is down 18% at 301,000 searches.

The common thread is a drink that does a job, whether that is gut health, protein, or steady energy, without asking the shopper to visit a supplement shelf.

Why Functional Drinks Are Winning

Everyday functional beverages are surging because:

• Gut health mainstreamed: Prebiotic soda and kefir turned microbiome interest into an easy grab-and-go purchase
• Protein everywhere: Ready-to-drink protein shakes fit fitness, breakfast, and meal-replacement occasions
• Nootropic crossover: Mushroom coffee brings adaptogens and focus claims into the daily coffee routine
• Chains chase the trend: Big coffee brands adding protein and functional options signal the trend has gone mass
• Convenience over pills: Getting fiber, protein, or adaptogens through a drink beats managing supplements

What's Gaining Momentum

Kefir (301,000 searches, +22% YoY) – The fermented dairy staple keeps a large, steady base in the gut-health conversation.

Electrolyte Drinks (201,000 searches, +49% over three months) – Hydration has become the fastest-moving functional job of all.

Juice Cleanse (165,000 searches, +307% YoY) – Reset culture is back, and it is one of the sharpest risers in the table.

Oikos Protein Shake (90,500 searches, +22% over three months) – A branded protein drink growing as ready-to-drink protein goes mass market.

Protein Water (33,100 searches, +49% YoY) – Protein without the dairy texture, aimed at people who will not drink a shake. The training demand behind it is ranked on our fitness trends page.

Premium Bottled Water (27,100 searches, +311% YoY) – Plain water is being traded up like any other functional drink.

Heritage formulas are entering the same shelf from the other direction: see our breakdown of Walovi, the 198-year-old Chinese cooling tea now growing 560% year over year while US prebiotic soda brands decline.

Key Players

• Olipop – Prebiotic soda pioneer bringing gut health to the soda aisle
• Ryze – Mushroom coffee brand blending caffeine with adaptogens
• LMNT – Electrolyte hydration mix that mainstreamed functional drink mixes

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5. Coffee: Drive-Thru Speed Meets Global Flavors

Coffee demand is splitting between speed and discovery. "Drive thru coffee" is up +123% year over year at 165,000 monthly searches, with +509% growth over the past three months as fast-format chains expand. Cold formats carry the rest: "iced coffee near me" is up +50% over three months at 90,500 searches, and "cold brew near me" is up +174% over six months at 18,100 searches. Global flavor holds its base, with "vietnamese coffees" at 165,000 searches, up +22%, and "vietnamese coffee near me" up +50% at 49,500 searches. Two chain-driven breakouts round it out, the collectible "starbucks pink bear cup" at 74,000 searches and the home machine "ninja auto barista pro" at 33,100 searches. Drive-thru leader "7 brew" commands 2,240,000 searches, up +84%, while "luckin coffee" has cooled to 135,000 searches, down 33%.

The winners are the two extremes: ultra-fast drive-thru chains for the daily habit, and globally distinctive brews like Vietnamese coffee for the discovery occasion.

Why Coffee Is Splitting Two Ways

Coffee search is evolving because:

• Speed as the product: Drive-thru chains compete on how fast a customized drink reaches the window
• Global exploration: Vietnamese, Cuban, and other traditions expand the everyday coffee vocabulary
• Location-led buying: "Near me" searches dominate as coffee shifts from curiosity to convenience
• Machines at home: Home espresso and auto-barista machines pull the daily cup back into the kitchen
• Iced by default: Iced and cold coffee lead demand, especially among younger drinkers

What's Gaining Momentum

Drive Thru Coffee (165,000 searches, +509% over three months) – Speed-first coffee is the fastest-rising format search in the category. The store-format side of that shift is covered in retail industry trends.

Vietnamese Coffees (165,000 searches, +22% YoY) – Bold, sweet, condensed-milk coffee still leads the global-flavor wave. Global-origin ordering gets a full breakdown on our coffee trends page.

Iced Coffee Near Me (90,500 searches, +50% over three months) – Cold coffee stays the default order, with fresh momentum behind it.

Starbucks Pink Bear Cup (74,000 searches, breakout) – Chain drinkware drops now generate their own search spikes.

Vietnamese Coffee Near Me (49,500 searches, +50% YoY) – Discovery is turning into local buying intent.

Cold Brew Near Me (18,100 searches, +174% over six months) – Cold brew has moved from a niche order to something people go looking for.

Key Players

• 7 Brew – Drive-thru coffee chain scaling fast on speed and customization
• Scooter's Coffee – Drive-thru specialist expanding across new markets
• Luckin Coffee – International chain driving format and value innovation

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6. Energy Drinks Split Toward Clean and Functional

The energy category is consolidating around the plain term. "Energy drinks" holds 246,000 monthly searches, up +22% year over year, while "sugar free energy drinks" has turned over, down 18% at 135,000 searches. Zero sugar is now the baseline rather than the story. Wellness brands still carry momentum, with "bloom energy drink" up +49% at 201,000 searches, though "alani energy drink" has flattened at 165,000 searches and is down 55% over the past three months. The fresh growth sits at the edges: "7 brew energy drinks" is up +173% at 74,000 searches, "plant based energy drinks" is up +22% at 33,100 searches, and "starbucks energy refreshers" has broken out to 33,100 searches.

The old energy-drink playbook of maximum caffeine and sugar is fading. What is growing is cleaner, lifestyle-branded energy aimed at everyday drinkers rather than extreme users.

Why Energy Is Evolving

The energy category is shifting because:

• Zero-sugar as baseline: Sugar-free formulations are now expected, not a niche variant
• Lifestyle branding: Brands like Alani Nu and Bloom sell wellness and aesthetics, not just stimulation
• Fitness crossover: Energy drinks increasingly double as pre-workout for a broad audience
• Chains join in: Coffee drive-thrus adding energy lines blur the line between coffee and energy
• Plant-based formulas: Botanical and plant-based energy is the fastest-growing edge of the shelf

What's Gaining Momentum

Energy Drinks (246,000 searches, +22% YoY) – The plain category term is growing while the sugar-free qualifier fades.

Bloom Energy Drink (201,000 searches, +49% YoY) – Wellness-positioned energy expanding well beyond the fitness crowd.

7 Brew Energy Drinks (74,000 searches, +173% YoY) – Coffee chains moving into energy, blurring the category lines.

Plant Based Energy Drinks (33,100 searches, +22% YoY) – Botanical caffeine sources picking up steady, unhyped demand.

Starbucks Energy Refreshers (33,100 searches, breakout) – A breakout line showing the biggest coffee chain moving into energy.

Key Players

• Alani Nu – Lifestyle-led energy brand with a broad, wellness-minded audience
• Celsius – Fitness-positioned energy drink anchoring the sugar-free shift
• Bloom – Wellness brand extending from greens into energy drinks

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Summary

The beverage landscape of 2026 is sorting itself into winners and fading bets. Matcha Near Me (1,220,000 searches, +48% YoY) still leads the whole category, Yerba Mate (301,000 searches, +50% over six months) has joined it, Hugo Spritz (368,000 searches, +83% over three months) has overtaken Aperol, Electrolyte Drinks (201,000 searches, +49% over three months) leads the functional shelf, and Drive Thru Coffee (165,000 searches, +509% over three months) is the fastest-rising format search on the page. Meanwhile prebiotic soda, sugar-free energy drinks and Cutwater are all down year over year.

The winning approaches in beverages share these characteristics:

• Personalization and format, from custom dirty sodas to single-serve cans
• Functional benefits built into everyday drinks rather than the supplement aisle
• Global and better-for-you flavors that feel both refreshing and discovery-driven
• Convenience at speed, whether that is a drive-thru window or a ready-to-drink can

For entrepreneurs and investors, the data points to several high-growth opportunities: matcha and herbal refreshers, custom sodas and chain drinkware, zero-proof and spritz formats for adults, hydration and protein drinks, fast-format coffee, and plant-based energy. See how Rising Trends helps you track beverage market shifts as consumer preferences evolve.