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The Weekly Sip is Food Dive’s column focused on the latest news in the rapidly changing and growing beverage sector. From inaugural product lines to big investments and controversial topics, this column aims to quench the thirst for developments in the category.
Illy debuts bestselling frozen coffee in U.S. cafes
Italian coffee giant Illy is bringing one of its most popular European offerings across the pond.
The company will debut its “Crema” frozen blended Italian coffee at five stateside cafes before a wider launch later this year. The drink combines Illy’s espresso with a sweet soft serve ice cream.
The coffee will be available at One World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York; Merchants\’ Square in Williamsburg, Virginia; Atlantic Station in Atlanta; Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Florida; and The Palazzo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Each cafe is equipped with a cold coffee cream dispenser, the SP1 Machine Grantorini, which will help the drinks achieve their specific texture.
“illy Crema has been a great success in Europe, and we’ve had many requests to launch it in the U.S. We expect this unique product and offering to be a significant element of differentiation for illy in the U.S. market,” said Jack Edwards, president of Illy North America, in a statement.
Once viewed as a niche item or summertime trend, iced and blended coffee products continue to grow in popularity with teens and young adults throughout the year. According to a 2023 Starbucks earnings report, 75% of the drinks the company sells are cold.
Torani brings a trendy Southern flavor into drinks
Syrup and flavoring maker Torani is famous for its eclectic portfolio of more than 150 flavors, designed for beverages from coffee to soda.
The nearly century-old company released its latest flavor, Salted Honey Butter Syrup, designed for pairing with hot or cold fall beverages.
Honey ranked in the top five fall drink flavors in the company’s market research, ahead of maple, it said in the press release. Torani recommends adding the flavor to cold brew, hot chocolate, iced coffee, lattes, mochas and milkshakes.
“Salted Honey Butter is one of the most complex flavors we’ve ever created at Torani. With notes of sweet butter, clover honey, and a slight hint of chamomile, it gives drinks a distinct craveability,” said Andrea Ramirez, consumer market insight manager at Torani, in a statement. “During the testing phase, our team had fun flavoring cold brew or mixing it with iced coffee, before topping it off with Salted Honey Butter whipped cream or cold foam.”
Honey butter, traditionally found as a flavor in the southern U.S., has seen its popularity grow in South Korea in recent years, after appearing in chips from snack food brand Haitai.
Torani pointed to the growing presence of honey butter as a flavor in food and beverage items, such as Tillamook cream cheese and Lay’s potato chips. Last year, Blue Diamond debuted almonds containing the flavor.
Torani also pointed to a Datassential survey that found popularity for Korean flavors among Gen Z consumers, with 43% of the generation saying they love the country’s flavors.
Brooklyn cocktail mixer honey and almond flavors
Cheeky Cocktails, which aims to bring bar flavors into homemade drinks, taps into contemporary tastes with its two latest flavored mixers.
The Brooklyn-based brand debuted its two latest cocktail syrups, growing the flavor portfolio of its mixers. Marcona Almond Orgeat, designed to add to a mai tai, contains the nutty and sweet tastes of almond with additional flourishes of sea salt and rose water.
Habanero Hot Honey Syrup — which contains habanero and jalapeño peppers — taps into the growth of “swicy” food and beverage items that combine sweet and spicy flavors, such as Mike’s Hot Honey. The syrup features zesty heat along with some floral notes and is designed for margaritas, according to the brand.
“The Marcona Almond Orgeat offers an elegant twist on a classic ingredient, perfect for adding depth to a wide range of drinks and dishes. Meanwhile, the Hot Honey Syrup brings a thrilling blend of heat and sweetness, making it a standout ingredient for adventurous cooks and mixologists alike,” said Cheeky’s founder April Wachtel said in a statement.
Wachtel, a mixologist and beverage industry veteran, founded Cheeky Cocktails to bring bar-level ingredients into mixers. The brand sells a variety of products, including lemon and lime juices, and Espresso, Honey Ginger and Agave syrups. Cheeky Cocktails are available online and at select retailers.
The cocktail mixers space is growing more prominent, with large brands like Coca-Cola’s Topo Chico and regional players like Manhattan bartender-founded Badger Bevs. Earlier this summer, Q Mixers tapped into the “swicy” trend with its Spicy Mango Margarita mix.