Your source for the most up-to-date information on emerging beverage trends.
#Trendspotting: Expo West Recap
Imbibe sent a team to Expo West to look for the hottest trends and most innovative products. Here’s what we found!
- Tea & Coffee
- Plant-Based
- CSDs & Sparkling Waters
- Sports Nutrition & Energy
Purple, silver needle tea, and cascara were some of the novel teas on the show floor. Purple and silver needle tea come from Africa and support local farming communities. All three are suggested to be high in antioxidants.
RTD cold brew coffee and tea lattes were popular on the show floor. High Brew Coffee and Bhakti Chai sampled products with cashew milk and HeyDay and Rise introduced a cold brew coffee with oat milk.
Coffee with ingredients for added function is an up-and-coming trend. Forest Coffee and Cadence Coffee showcased CBD enhanced cold brew while Pop & Bottle debuted a line of lattes with antioxidants, collagen, nootropics, and adaptogens.
One of the more novel coffee offerings was Verve Coffee Roasters Flash Brew on tap. Flash Brew is made by pouring hot water over ice in an oxygen-free environment which results in a bright, full-bodied flavor. Flash brew coffee is a trend-to-watch as it may compete with cold brew in the future.
Other novel plant-based milks included Hope & Sesame sesame milk, Milkadamia macadamia milk, and Three Trees pistachio milk.
Brands offered plant-based waters for premium hydration. Almond, aloe, bamboo, watermelon were some of the plant-based waters being showcased.
Brands like Kalena, Sap! and Drink Simple offered flavored, sparkling plant-based waters. Featured flavors included blood orange, cranberry goji berry, and strawberry habeñero.
CSDs & Sparkling Waters
Based on the number of products being showcased at Expo West, caffeinated sparkling water may be the next big thing. Limitless calls their product “lightly caffeinated” with 35mg of caffeine while Ávitāe’s products range from 90-125mg. XRC has 250mg of caffeine per bottle, but claim that the brand’s patented delivery system provides 125mg of caffeine up front and the other 125mg will be slowly released over time.
Demand for sparkling water hasn’t died down and brands like Big Swigare entering the market with bold, bright flavors like key lime.
New brands are entering the craft soda market and offering sophisticated flavor profiles. Cawston Press offered a rhubarb and elderflower lemonade soft drink.
Sports Nutrition & Energy
Keto products were popular across categories but were especially prevalent in sports nutrition products. Collagen and egg white protein, MCT oil, and natural non-nutritive sweeteners were key ingredients in these products.
The clean label movement has strongly influenced the sports nutrition category as many brands are transitioning to natural colors, flavors and sweeteners. Several brands like Elmhurst, BodyLogix, and Happy Planet called out their clean ingredients on product labels.
Another hot trend in sports nutrition was incorporating greens like kale and spinach in protein products.Evolve, Iconic Protein, Amazing Grass, Plant Fusion, and Whole Earth & Sea were a few of the brands offering superfood protein beverages.
Brands are enhancing protein products with other ingredients, too, like collagen, MCT oil, BCAAS, probiotics and medicinal mushrooms.
