4 beverages making a splash on social media

From lemonade tinted black with activated charcoal to milkshakes piled high with cookies, candy and sprinkles, unique and eye-catching beverages get a big boost thanks to social media. Whether it’s Instagram or Facebook, it’s social media that helps catapult these drinks to stardom—and it’s social media that keeps them in the spotlight. For operators looking to cash in on the next big thing, it can be helpful to follow along with what people are posting to get an idea of what to put on the menu. Check out these four inspirational trends that are Instagram-ready.

Lightly sweet and perfect for Instagram “boomerang” toasts, rose wine has been a favorite among women and younger consumers in recent years. Its newest iteration is perfect for summertime. Frozen rose, or frose, transforms this pink wine into a delicious, refreshing slushie. Instances of rose/blush wine have grown 26% on menus year-over-year according to Technomic’s MenuMonitor, driven in part by the summer frose trend. Adding this fun drink to the menu is great for brunch goers, happy hour and more. Not a fan of rose? Try “Pinot Freezio” or “Friesling”, made with pinot grigio or Riesling wines, respectively.

Known for its social media-friendly sips, Starbucks has done it again. This summer’s Pink Drink, made with a strawberry-acai base and coconut milk and topped with a scoop of strawberries, started out as a “secret menu” drink last summer. But the drink was so hyped that the chain decided to bring it onto its list of offerings for good. A light, fruity sip with just a hint of creaminess, this drink is a hit on social networks. Want to recreate it in your restaurant? Blend your favorite juice and coconut milk with various fresh fruits—mango-coconut milk for an “orange drink” or even blackberry-coconut milk for a “purple drink.”

Cold-brew coffee, made by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for long periods of time (12 to 24 hours, typically), has been gaining popularity in the past year. However, nitro coffee, poured from a tap to create a creamy foam topper similar to a pint of stout beer, is the newest caffeinated darling. Operators are finding new ways to incorporate it into other drinks, too—from cocktails to frappes, nitro coffee adds a smooth, dark richness to drinks. Restaurants that want to extend the use of nitro coffee equipment can offer it as an add-on or flavoring to a milkshake for a buzzworthy (no pun intended) drink.

Freak shakes, as they’re often called, are still dominating in popularity on social media when it comes to trendy drinks. With booze or without, these over-the-top creations are ideal for any age group and any diner who wants to indulge.  For younger consumers, the ubiquity of freak shakes on social media could mean big business: 42% of both Gen Zers and millennials a say they often look up which restaurant items are the best or most popular, according to Technomic’s 2018 Generationalreport. Best of all, these creations, popular as they are, are the easiest of the bunch for restaurants to offer on the menu. With f’real blenders, restaurants can whip up individual shakes with virtually no cleanup and top them with everything from marshmallows to candy bars, brownies to whole slices of pie—the sky’s the limit.

All of the awesome. None of the hassle. f’real creates amazing milkshakes, smoothies, frappes, blended cocktails and more at the touch of a button. 

Almost 75% of Americans like or love milkshakes. Add in smoothies, frappes and frozen lemonades and the number is even higher. Frozen beverages allow you to increase your check size and deliver over $15K of incremental profit each year. The f’real B7 behind-the-counter blender is a fast, easy and hassle-free way to deliver milkshakes, smoothies frappes and more to your customers. Find out how easy it is with your free 90-day trial. 

Put a cherry on top of your customer’s experience, and more dough in your pocket with f’real!