Beverages for All-Day Refreshment

What to Drink & When: Beverages for All-Day Refreshment

Think about your daily routines: waking up, preparing for the day, eating meals, unwinding before bed… Chances are, you tend to do similar things around the same time every day. Now, think about what drinks you sip on throughout it.

These days, consumers think of drinks as more than just something that goes alongside a meal or a snack; they can stand on their own. The world of beverages has expanded in recent years. With consistent innovation, drinks have become essential parts of everyday rituals, nourishment for health and wellness, and reasons to enjoy meaningful moments with friends and colleagues.

In the morning, it’s fairly typical to reach for an energizing cup of coffee or tea. So, what should we continue to drink throughout the day? What will keep us energized and refreshed during a hard day’s work? Read this blog to better understand what to drink throughout the workday and when to drink it.

The Current State of Beverages

The beverage market is seeing growth across multiple categories, reaching $490 billion in sales in 2025 with an average compounded growth rate of 3%. As of February 2026, beverages made up six of the top 20 growth categories in the retail sector.

Some of this growth is due in part to trends surrounding health and wellness, recreation, innovation, generational preferences, and even viral online recipes and trends.

Functional Beverages

In the health and wellness space, functional and better-for-you beverages are on the rise. Health-conscious consumers are looking for unique ingredients with additional benefits like prebiotics

, probiotics, electrolytes, and naturally-derived energy. They want drinks that go beyond hydration and refreshment to offer healthy elements that positively affect their wellbeing.

Think of how many gut-healthy sodas you’ve probably seen pop up over the last couple of years. These drinks along with kombucha, reduced sugar sports drinks, and plant-based energy drinks are becoming staples in people’s grocery carts.

The population of functional beverage seekers is growing. Recently, 62% of consumers believed that beverages play an important role in their health and wellness. This is especially true among younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z. 44% of all consumers agreed with the statement, “I like my beverages to do something for me, such as provide energy, nutrients, or other benefits.”

The Snackification of Beverages

When you think of a drink, you might not immediately think of it as a snack, but think again! These days, 64% of consumers say they snack on beverages. These drinks might accompany a quick bite or even replace a meal altogether.

Hartman’s “Modern Beverage Culture Report” found that 65% of consumers said they always have a beverage on hand. Of this 65%, 73% are Millennials, followed by 63% of Gen X and 58% of Boomers.

As attitudes around beverages and their role in our diets change, it’s important to cater to people’s wants and needs. This is something to keep in mind when creating an all-day beverage program guests will love.

The Zero-Proof Revolution

Many consumers, especially those of the Gen Z demographic, are driving development in non-alcoholic drinks. These drinks experienced 10% growth in 2024, outpacing traditional alcoholic categories.

Social drinking occasions are then centered around coffee or tea-based drinks and mocktails. Gen Z is especially interested in customizing their drinks, experimenting with innovative flavors and adding sweeteners, creamers, and syrups.

Viral Drinks

The content consumers see online is another source of inspiration for the drinks they enjoy. Social media platforms are accelerating beverage innovation. Content creators try new formats and flavors in their drinks that quickly go viral on apps like Instagram and TikTok.

One trend that’s emerged from social media is “dirty sodas.” This refers to drinks that combine soda, flavored syrups, and creams like half-and-half and coconut cream.

Another kind of drink gaining traction online is the mocktail. Mocktails are non-alcoholic mixed drinks that blend juices, syrups, herbs, and tonics to create beverages with complex flavors. As Gen Z consumers shift away from alcoholic beverages and take more interest in alcohol-free drinks, mocktails continue to thrive with this demographic.

Drinking in Dayparts

Current beverage trends are shaping what and how we drink throughout the day. The development of functional and non-alcoholic beverages has emphasized the importance of beverages that target specific times of day. Morning drinks might include ingredients like adaptogens and nootropics to enhance alertness. To unwind later in the day, people might reach for evening drinks with ingredients that promote relaxation, like chamomile or lavender.

Creating a robust beverage program in your workplace or business can cater to consumers’ wants and needs, allowing you to offer an enjoyable and memorable refreshment experience.

Morning

Kick Off with Caffeine & Hydration

It’s often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The facts back this up. How you fuel your body in the morning jumpstarts your metabolism and influences how you process the rest of your meals, snacks, and drinks.

So, when it comes to what you drink, you should think about setting yourself up for success. Whether you’re looking for something to kickstart your morning or a filling meal replacement, here are a few drinks you should consider having first thing:

 

• Coffee: This is probably the most obvious choice. For a lot of people, a morning cup of joe is essential to productivity. And for good reason! Starting with a good cup of coffee can provide an energy boost and get your metabolism into gear.
• Green tea: Like coffee, green tea is another caffeinated and energizing drink. It has less caffeine than coffee, so it’s typically considered a gentler energy boost. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine can improve focus and mental clarity.
• Smoothies: Often used as a meal replacement, smoothies can make great breakfast drinks. This is especially true for smoothies with high amounts of protein and nutritious ingredients like leafy greens.
• Protein Drinks: Ready-to-drink protein shakes and protein-infused drinks can also make great meal replacements. Drinks like these help people feel full in the mornings and easily absorb necessary nutrients.
• Fruit-Infused Water: A great way to hydrate in the mornings and gain some extra nutrients is drinking fruit-infused water. For example, lemon water can support digestion, provide vitamin C, and overall be a refreshing way to start the day.

Afternoon

Refresh Throughout the Day

You may have experienced or at least heard of the “midday slump.” Sometimes, our energy dips in the middle of the day. This is especially true when we don’t properly fuel our bodies with the right nutrients.

When consumers seek something to drink in the afternoon, they’re likely looking for drinks that are light and refreshing. They want something to keep them going. In the afternoons, we tend to reach for:

• Water: Staying hydrated throughout the day is an essential part of staying productive throughout the workday. It’s also vital to our well-being. Offering multiple options for water, including sparkling, fruit-infused, and flavored water can help workers or guests increase water intake and feel their best.
• Pre or Probiotic Sodas: Gut-healthy sodas have gained a lot of traction in recent years. Health-conscious consumers are interested in drinks with reduced sugar and less processed ingredients that still offer the crisp, carbonated taste of soda. Several fiber-rich sodas are gaining popularity with inventive flavors.
• Energy Drinks: Plant-based energy drinks and naturally caffeinated energy drinks help fight off midday dips in productivity. Many consumers prioritize consuming caffeine earlier in the day, including early afternoon hours.
• Iced Coffee: The global iced coffee market is expected to grow from $11.1 billion in 2024 to $21.4 billion by 2034. In the afternoon, consumers might still want a cold and energizing drink and often reach for cold coffee whether that be iced coffee or cans of ready-to-drink coffee.
• Tea and Tea-Based Drinks: Those looking for a gentler lift in energy might be more enticed by tea drinks. Iced black tea and matcha contain an amino acid known as L-theanine that provides a gentle lift and promotes a state of “calm alertness.”
• Other Functional Drinks: The afternoon is also a great time to prioritize taking in nutrients that might not have been in the food someone has eaten throughout the day. Drinks like kombucha or a beverage with electrolytes are also popular choices for midday refreshment.

Evening

At the end of the day, consumers tend to want to relax and unwind. They choose drinks with ingredients that promote stress reduction and may aid in sleep.

Workers might grab something to drink before leaving the workplace, and guests may select one of these beverages before retiring to a hotel room for the night. In your selection of evening drinks, consider offering things like:

• Water: Just as during any other time of day, hydration is important in the evening as well. Whether they grab a bottle of water from a cooler or refill a refillable bottle at a water dispenser, workers might need something to sip on for the drive home.
• Adaptogenic Drinks: Drinks with adaptogenic ingredients like ashwagandha or reishi can help people reduce stress and foster a calm attitude at the end of the workday.
• Herbal Teas: Herbal teas containing chamomile, valerian, or lavender can promote relaxation and aid in sleep.
• Mocktails: For those hoping to meet up with friends after a hard day’s work, mocktails are great drinks to enjoy while socializing. Mocktails offer all the fun of a mixed drink without the alcoholic ingredients that might disrupt sleep.

Creating a Beverage Experience

The first part in creating a great beverage program is… well, great beverages. Whether brewing craft coffee and tea or catering to health-conscious employees’ needs for functional beverages, your business can supply it all.

When you provide great amenities, your employees feel cared for and may think more positively about your organization as a whole.

 

Employing a food service partner like Canteen can help you customize an all-day beverage experience that your employees will love. Get started with us today and explore the pos-sip-bilities.