Young people are changing the coffee industry. Instead of drinking traditional hot coffee, many Gen Z customers are choosing cold drinks that they can customize with different flavors, foams, and toppings.
At major chains like Starbucks, three out of four drinks sold are now cold. These drinks include iced fruity beverages, protein shakes, and iced sodas with sweet syrups. Experts say younger customers view custom cold drinks as a form of self-expression, similar to wearing stylish clothes.
Social media apps like TikTok also drive this trend. Brightly colored drinks often become very popular online. When Starbucks released a special colorful drink for three days, store visits jumped by 44 percent. Other popular fast-food chains are now creating their own fruity cold drinks to attract younger buyers.
Data shows that this shift is happening in both the United States and the United Kingdom. More than 60 percent of drink purchases by people under 25 are cold drinks. For coffee companies, these customized cold drinks are very profitable and help their businesses grow.