Housewares Gift Ideas for Beverage Lovers

Looking for last minute gift ideas for friends and family who enjoy beverages? I have some gift ideas for everyone from coffee drinkers to fans of cocktails and wines as well as those seeking to avoid using disposable straws from the International Home + Housewares Show (being renamed as The Inspired Home Show for 2020) held by the International Housewares Association (IHA) which took place in March at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Beverages are so important to the housewares buyers that the IHA hosted A Marketplace for Specialty Beverage on March 2 prior to the opening of the show.

For coffee aficionados

ESPRO’s TC1 Coffee Tasting Cups caught my eye at the Housewares Show. Similar to how Riedel offers grape varietal specific wine glasses to accentuate the flavor of different varietals, ESPRO’s new Coffee Tasting Cups are designed to bring out a coffee’s individual characteristics. The company states that a cup’s shape can intensify the flavors and aromas in coffee. The set of four cups include Cocoa, Floral Jasmine, Fruity Berry, and Spicy Cinnamon.

The traditional pour-over coffee brewing method has become popular in recent years. I even wrote a blog article on the rise of pour-over coffee. Melitta is the brand that originated the pour-over brew method. In 1908, Melitta Bentz, a German housewife, got frustrated with drinking bitter coffee so she punched holes in the bottom of a brass pot and used blotting paper from her son's book as a filter for the coffee grounds. The company's Heritage Series Porcelain Pour-Over Coffeemakers offer a time-tested way to make coffee and are an attractive addition to the kitchen in pastel shades (Blue, Yellow, Pink), and White. The Coffeemaker includes a porcelain Pour-Over cone, a matching 20 oz. porcelain serving carafe, and a porcelain lid for the carafe. 

AeroPress fans can now get a travel version to brew American, espresso, and cold brew style coffee. The original AeroPress is already small and lightweight as it is made with plastic. The new AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press packs all the features of the original AeroPress and includes a mug that allows the AeroPress and all of its accessories (scoop, filter holder, stirrer) to fit inside. The Go version features a slightly shorter design with 8 oz (237ml) brewing capacity instead of the original’s 10 oz (296ml) capacity. and a carry case to hold 20 of its proprietary filters.

Counter Culture Coffee is one of the leaders in specialty coffee and known for their quality, sustainability, and education. The company offers year-round coffees, single-origin coffees, and limited-release coffees as a coffee subscription. You can also find their coffees on Amazon.com and at Target. I have had the pleasure of attending one of their Friday morning coffee cupping sessions at their Chicago training center. They host free cupping sessions and paid coffee brewing workshops for the public at training centers throughout the US. 

Nespresso coffee machine owners can enjoy the company’s new Nespresso Master Origin coffee range. To showcase its “Mastered by Craftsmen, Inspired By The Land” message, Nespresso featured a multi-sensorial display involving sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste at their booth. The coffees were from Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Nicaragua. My favorite among the new Nespresso coffee capsules was the one from India as it offered complexity – I detected very different taste notes as I sipped the coffee at multiple temperatures from hot to warm. The coffee beans from India go through a monsooning process where the beans are exposed to warm and wet monsoon winds. The official flavor notes are woody, spicy, complex, and intense.

Keurig coffee maker users now have the option to make lattes and cappuccinos with the K-Café Special Edition Single Serve Coffee, Latte & Cappuccino Maker. In addition to brewing single-serve coffees with K-Cup pods, it has a SHOT button to brew a concentrated shot of coffee from a K-Cup pod to make hot or iced lattes and cappuccinos. The attached dishwasher safe frother can froth fresh milk, including skim, soy, and almond. It even has a COLD setting for cold frother milk. This model is also the most attractive Keurig brewer to date with metal details and a nickel colored finish.

For the at-home mixologist

The neighbors who love to throw a party but don’t want to act as a bartender will like the Bartesian appliance that makes premium cocktails at the touch of a button. The machine works like a Keurig coffee brewer by using cocktail capsules filled with real ingredients and mixing with a liquid (in this case, your choice of whiskey, tequila, vodka, rum, or water). The Bartesian reads the bar code on the capsule to identify the cocktail selection, chooses which spirit to draw from one of four reservoirs, and allows the user to choose the strength from mocktail to double.

Dexas says that its ice-ology Clear Ice Cube Trays removes impurities and bubbles during the freezing process as the two silicone molds separate in the freezing process to separate the clear ice from the impurities below. The 2 Large Cubes option makes two oversized clear ice cubes that is slower melting and causes less dilution.

Chef’n introduced the SLICESTER Watermelon Tool. The tool cubes and slices melons safely and quickly to make beautiful watermelon garnishes for cocktails.

For the wine connoisseur

For your wine drinking friends (with a large collection of expensive wines) who like to have a glass at a time, Coravin introduced their latest model - Coravin Model Eleven. The Coravin Model Eleven is the first Bluetooth connected and fully automatic Wine Preservation System. Coravin allows one drinkers to have a glass of wine from a bottle of without opening it and uses argon gas in its Coravin capsule to keep the wine preserved. You insert the Needle through the cork, tip the bottle, and automatically pour the wine. 

For the craft beer drinker

The active craft beer drinker may enjoy Stanley’s Classic Easy-Pour Growler. The 64 oz Classic Vacuum Growler has a rugged handle for easy carrying and one-handed pouring. The wide mouth allows for fast filling and easy cleaning. The growler can keep the beer cold for 24 hours with is 18/8 stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation, and steel-lined insulated lid.

For the person who doesn’t want to use disposable straws

Critics of disposable plastic straws cite the statistic that Americans use 500 million drinking straws a day. Restaurant chains are beginning to switch to paper straws or eliminate them altogether as plastics in oceans can harm the environment and kill aquatic sea life. Reusable straws can make a nice stocking stuffer. Multiple companies at the show featured reusable straws. 


ASOBU’s Re-Usable Straws are made of recyclable stainless steel and silicone. It has a bendable silicone middle section. The accompanying silicone carry holder has a holder strap. The company will donate 10% of the profits to the World Wildlife Fund. 

GoSip Multi-Use Straws come in glass and stainless steel options and have a soft sip tip. The straws have a silicone connector and can be adjusted from 4.5” to 6”, all the way to 10.5”. 

The HotSips Eco-Friendly Reusable Straws are pre-washed 7.5” reusable straws and designed to be safely used in hot or cold beverages. The dishwasher safe, made in USA straws are patent-pending, recyclable, non-leaching, food-grade, and BPA-free and come in a petite travel tube. In Small, Medium, and Large varieties.

Top Non-Alcoholic Drinks Trends Seen at 2017 NACS Show

The National Association of Convenience Stores hosted its NACS Show from October 17 - 20, 2017 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. In this article, I will highlight noteworthy trends in non-alcoholic drinks that I saw at the show – RTD coffee, cleaner energy drinks, zero-calorie sparkling waters, and unsweetened & lower-sugar RTD teas. I will be writing a separate article on food trends from the show.

1. RTD Coffee Outperforms Other Non-Alcoholic Drinks in C-Stores

Non-alcoholic drinks as a whole have not been doing well in convenience stores in 2017 according to figures from IRI cited by CSP DailyNews.com. Dollar sales of carbonated beverages, the largest category, declined by 3.3% in the 24-week period ended June 11, 2017. However, three categories did show growth – RTD coffee, RTD tea, and bottled water – in c-stores. Sales of RTD (ready-to-drink) coffee/tea and bottled water grew by 4.6% and 1.3%, respectively, in c-stores in the same time period. Given the strong performance of RTD coffee, it is not a surprise that many exhibitors offered RTD coffee products at the NACS Show. In fact, two of the top 10 rated products (based on scans by retailer attendees) in the show’s Cool New Products Preview Room were cold brew coffees. The number one product out of about 320 items was JAVA HOUSE Authentic Cold Brew Coffee from Heartland Food Products Group (available in both concentrate and RTD bottle formats) while the number three product was STOK Cold Brew Coffee Bulk (in 1.5 gallon RTD bags to be used in a proprietary dispenser) from DanoneWave Away From Home. RTD coffee, especially the cold brew variants, have shown strong growth as they meet consumers’ desires for healthy, flavorful, and convenient energy with a list of simple, easy to pronounce ingredients.

Cold brew coffee has been one of the fastest growing subsegments within coffee in both retail and foodservice outlets because the process of steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 10+ hours creates a coffee with a smoother, less bitter taste. At the show, Chameleon Cold-Brew Coffee introduced a new refreshing twist to cold brew coffee with its Sparkling Cold-Brew Coffee line in Ginger, Citrus, Spiced Vanilla, and Black varieties in 12oz cans to its USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Certified Organic cold brew coffee line. New Age Beverages introduced its Marley Cold Brew Coffee in 11oz cans as a more premium offering to its existing Marley One Drop line. The sell sheet for Marley Cold Brew states that the coffee “is steeped for 16 hours in stainless steel wine tanks, then pressed and filtered for clarity”.

Seeing the trend in cold brew coffee-based cocktails, Café Agave introduced Café Agave Spiked Cold Brew in 187ml (6.3oz) cans. The Spiked Cold Brews are made with Arabica coffee, contain 10% alcohol by volume, and are “Wine License Approved” according to the sell sheet.

Innovation in RTD coffee is not limited to small companies. The largest player in U.S. RTD coffee is the North American Coffee Partnership (NACP) created in 1994 between PepsiCo and Starbucks that sells the number one Starbucks Frappuccino brand.  At the NACS Show, NACP launched the Starbucks Frappuccino Chilled Coffee Drink with Almondmilk in vanilla and mocha varieties to reach younger consumers who are increasingly looking for plant-based options. NACP added two new flavors – Vanilla & Fig and Unsweetened Black – to its Starbucks Cold Brew line and will be launching Starbucks Doubleshot Coffee Smoothies using bananas and almond milk in Dark Chocolate Banana and Vanilla Honey Banana varieties.

The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) was a later entrant to the U.S. RTD coffee market with the creation of its global joint venture with Italy’s illycaffè SpA in 2008 but now aims to become a bigger player in RTD coffee with a multi-brand RTD coffee strategy. In early 2017, TCCC launched the Dunkin’ Donuts bottled Iced Coffee beverages in partnership with the donut & coffee shop chain and added Cold Brewed Coffee varieties to its Gold Peak RTD tea line. At the show, TCCC introduced McCafé Frappés  – RTD coffees (in 13.7oz PET bottles) created in partnership with the McDonald’s restaurant chain in Caramel, Mocha and Vanilla flavors. Additionally, TCCC owns 16.7 percent of Monster Beverage Corp. who makes Java Monster RTD coffees that combine coffee, dairy, and Monster’s energy drink ingredients. Monster launched two new RTD coffee lines at the show that are more premium than Java Monster. Espresso Monster is billed as “3 shots of espresso with a shot of cream” and contains taurine and B vitamins in an 8.4oz can. Caffé Monster Energy Coffee comes in 13.7oz glass bottles.

2. Cleaner Energy Drinks and Caffeinated Waters

Energy drinks are seeing some of their consumers move toward alternatives such as RTD coffee and caffeinated water as consumers show a preference for products with “clean labels” – a short list of pronounceable ingredients. Sales of energy drinks declined by 0.9% in c-stores in the 24-week period ended June 11, 2017. Energy shots such as5-Hour Energy are struggling, with dollar sales down 2.3% for 52 weeks ended December 25, 2016 per IRI data for U.S. convenience stores. Forto Coffee aims to be a bridge between RTD coffee and energy shots with its USDA Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, cold brew formula that contains a short list of ingredients including water, coffee extract, milk, cane sugar, natural flavors, caffeine, and baking soda. The company introduced two new flavors - Hershey's Chocolate in partnership with the confectionary company and Pure Black Espresso. Forto Coffee is billed as a “Ready-to-Drink Energy Shot” in a 2oz shelf-stable format.

Makers of “clean” energy drinks aim to take share from Red Bull and Monster Energy by offering a shorter ingredient list, using organic or natural ingredients, and not using preservatives. Organic energy drinks pioneers – Hiball Energy (acquired by Anheuser-Busch in July 2017), GURU Energy Drink, and Steaz (purchased by Novamex in August 2016) sampled their products at the show.

Organic energy drinks are becoming more mainstream as evidenced by PepsiCo introducing AMP Organic Energy Drinks at the show. PepsiCo also introduced Yachak Organic Yerba Mate that contains 160mg of caffeine per 16oz can and is USDA Certified Organic and fair for life fair trade certified. New Age Beverages introduced Marley Yerba Mate that is also USDA Organic. These sweetened yerba mate products could be considered organic energy drinks or RTD teas.

Other energy drinks companies are positioning their products as natural and using unique packaging to stand out on shelves. +Red Elixir comes from a fashion background as the founder of Rock & Republic and knows how to make a splash. The company hosted a musical performance by CeeLo Green at its booth to promote its line of beverages - Power Elixir, Power 20 Elixir, Rescue Elixir - that are “made with 100% natural flavors, no artificial sweeteners or colors” and the addition of red marine algae. +Red Elixir’s proprietary 12oz cans with a cap do not look like other energy drinks.

UPTIME Energy markets its energy drink as “premium energy with a balanced boost” with a “clean ingredient panel…featuring one fifth the ingredients of other leading energy drinks”. Part of the premium positioning for UPTIME Energy is reflected in the use of tall, slim 12oz resealable aluminum bottles.  

In addition to their Avitae original and flavored caffeine + water and sparkling caffeine + water, Avitae offered their AvitaeXR Extended Release Caffeine product that contains 250mg of caffeine. After the initial dose of 125mg of caffeine, the ZUMXR proprietary energy blend in a caffeine bead format slowly releases 125mg of caffeine over three to four hours. The clear 12oz PET cans allow the consumer to see the caffeine beads after the can is shaken.

In addition to coffee shots and clean energy drinks, companies are also using caffeinated waters to reach out to consumers who want a boost of energy with minimal ingredients. At the NACS Show, Avitae, Hiball Energy, Hint Water, and Klarbrunn offered their caffeinated waters that provide consumers an alternative to colas and energy drinks for the afternoon slump. Klarbrunn introduced BUBBL’R Antioxidant Sparkling Water to appeal to multiple groups - Generation Z (born 1995-2010), millennials (born 1980-1995), and Generation X (born 1965-1980) mothers for the family. A 12oz can of BUBBL’R contains 70mg of caffeine (about one cup of coffee) from white tea extract and green coffee bean extracts, A and B vitamins, and 5 calories. The company says that BUBBL’R is USDA compliant for high schools.

3. Zero-Calorie Sparkling Waters 

In addition to caffeinated waters, zero-calorie sparkling waters are driving growth in bottled waters as health conscious consumers seek out alternatives to carbonated soda. National Beverage Corp.’s La Croix is the most popular flavored, unsweetened sparkling water in the U.S. and continues to show strong growth. Industry players believe that sparkling water has a lot more room to grow. The Coca-Cola Company announced its acquisition of Mexico’s Topo Chico sparkling mineral water brand on October 2. Topo Chico offered Topo Chico Twist of Lime and Topo Chico Twist of Grapefruit in 12oz glass bottles at the show. Nestlé Waters offered its regional (including Ice Mountain Sparkling, Poland Spring, and Zephyrhills) sparkling waters in 12oz cans as well as PET bottles. Previously, the company offered these sparkling waters in PET bottles. Nestlé’s sell sheet citing Nielsen Homescan data stated that new entrants comprise 64% of sparkling waters category growth and that most of these shoppers want flavor options. Talking Rain Beverage Company introduced a new flavor – Ginger Lime – to its popular sweetened zero-calorie Sparkling Ice line at the show. VOSS Water of Norway introduced a new Lime Mint flavor to its sparkling water line. Another premium flavored sparkling water at the show was Hiball Energy's zero-calorie Alta Palla Sparkling Waters that are USDA Organic.

4. Unsweetened and Lower-Sugar RTD Teas

Consumers looking for alternatives to carbonated soda are turning to unsweetened or lower-sugar RTD teas. While few companies offered unsweetened RTD tea options five years ago, consumers now have several options to choose from. At the NACS Show, The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) introduced Gold Peak in Unsweetened Raspberry and Unsweetened Lemon as well as a Slightly Sweet Lemon Tea in 18.5oz PET bottles. Honest Tea, maker of USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified RTD teas, introduced Unsweet Mint Green Tea and offered Moroccan Mint Tea with 8 grams of sugar and 35 calories per 16 oz glass bottle. According to TCCC, unsweetened tea is the fastest growing segment in RTD tea and mint flavored teas are growing at 20 percent annually. Sugar content is the first point of decision-making in RTD tea purchases according to  Scott Tillman, Director, Retail Channel Strategy & Commercialization for TCCC. Fuze will also be relaunching as Fuze Antioxidant & Vitamin Infused in January 2018, with two of the four new flavors at 10 calories per 16.9oz bottle.

Bai Brands LLC introduced new packaging for its 5-calorie (and 1 gram of sugar) Bai Antioxidant SUPERTEA at the show. Bai, acquired by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group in January 2017, is best known for its 5-calorie enhanced flavored waters. With the packaging redesign that emphasizes SUPERTEA, the company wants retailers to display its SUPERTEA next to other RTD teas instead of with Bai’s functional waters. 

Argo Tea, owner of a tea cafe chain, offered several RTD teas at its booth including Unsweetened Tea, Signature Drink Originals, and Teappuccinos made with almond milk. The company's newest offering is Cold Brew RTD teas that contain 20 calories (and use fair trade cane sugar) per 13.5oz glass bottle. The Cold Brew RTD teas are produced using a cold brew process and are being rolled out to Whole Foods Market stores this month. The three varieties are Armenian Mint, First Flush Darjeeling, and First Flush Gyokuro. 

After test marketing its Teavana Craft Iced Tea in select markets beginning in February 2017, Starbucks and its manufacturing and distribution partner Anheuser-Busch launched the super premium RTD tea line at the NACS Show. Two of the six varieties are unsweetened – Meyer Lemon Black Tea and Strawberry Apple Green Tea.

Top Non-Alcoholic Drinks Trends Seen at the 2017 National Restaurant Association Show

The National Restaurant Association Show hosted its 98^th annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel  Show and Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants (BAR) at NRA Show from May 20–23, 2017 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. In this article, I will highlight noteworthy trends in non-alcoholic drinks that I saw at the show. I previously wrote about alcoholic drinks trends and food trends seen at the NRA Show.

1. Cold Brew Coffee Is Hot

Cold brew coffee is one of the fastest growing segments in U.S. beverages in retail and foodservice channels. Retail sales of ready-to-drink (RTD) cold brew coffee grew by 580% from 2011-2016 while cold brew menu penetration grew by +300% from 2014-2016 according to data from Datassential presented by John Buckner of S&D Coffee & Tea. In his “Cold Brew Coffee: Why Is Hot?” presentation, Buckner told the NRA Show audience that cold brew coffee offers an opportunity for foodservice operators to grow beverage sales, reach millennials, and charge more on a per cup basis than traditional iced coffee by offering a premium, smooth tasting product.S&D Coffee & Tea offered multiple cold brew coffee variants including black, flavored, nitro, and soft serve ice cream at its booth. 

There was no shortage of cold brew coffee at the show as numerous exhibitors offered up bean bags, liquid concentrate, kegged, and RTD versions. Tradecraft Outfitters  hosted a mobile pop-up that featured Metropolis, Stumptown, and Stumptown nitro cold brew coffees on tap as well as a stand offering  RTD cold brew coffees from La Colombe, Limitless, Metropolis, Passion House Coffee Roasters, Stumptown, and Zingerman’s.  Califia Farms and High Brew Coffee showed their RTD cold brew coffees while BUNN showcased their Nitron Cold Draft Dispenser that uses one gallon concentrate BIBs (beverage-in-boxes) or caddy packs instead of kegs. Royal Cup Coffee and Tea offered personalized coffee by allowing visitors to create “Nitro Art” with the Ripple Maker that prints image or text onto coffee foam. The company offered two nitro cold brew options: Royal Cup French Roast Cold Brew Coffee and HC Valentine Aztec Organic Cold Brew.

2. Rising Interest in Gourmet and Specialty Coffees

Not only are millennials driving growth in cold brew coffee, they are also driving growth in gourmet and specialty coffees. Millennial coffee drinkers are highly interested in handcrafted beverages, unusual flavor combinations, and learning the stories behind the coffee growers and roasters. I had a chance to speak to Lavazza North America’s CEO and EVP, Davide Riboni at the show. Riboni discussed how American consumers are looking for a higher quality product and increasing their consumption of espresso-based beverages (EBBs) such as cappuccinos, lattes, and macchiatos, especially away from home. He said that EBBs have about 20% market penetration in the US and thinks it can get to 50% penetration. In addition to competition from espresso, drip filter coffee is decreasing in popularity in the U.S. because of the convenience offered by single-serve pods from Keurig and Nespresso.

To appeal to consumers looking for gourmet coffees and help its hotel and restaurant customers grow their coffee business, Lavazza is providing more single-origin coffees that offer storytelling potential. At the show, the company showcased its new Lavazza KAFA Forest Coffee from Ethiopia as well as relaunching the Tierra Single Origins line of Rainforest Alliance, sustainably produced coffees from Brazil and Tanzania. KAFA offers uniqueness due to its limited production and geographic origin as arabica coffee is thought to have originated in this region. Unesco has acknowledged Kafa as a “biosphere reserve”. To emphasize the luxury aspect of Lavazza KAFA, the company offered workshops that served KAFA in three different ways including a pour over with cinnamon and ginger (and served with a side dish of popcorn as done in Ethiopian coffee ceremonies) and as a coffee mocktail with cold brew coffee and Monin cherry syrup to bring out the cherry notes in the coffee.

Lavazza was not the only coffee company at the show emphasizing the origin of its coffees. Coffee Planet’s booth signage stated that the company “was born in Arabia where Arabica coffee was first roasted over 500 years ago”. After starting up in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2005, Coffee Planet signed partnerships to serve its coffee in highway convenience stores, expanded into hotels and supermarkets, and developed a franchised café concept in the UAE before expanding into international markets. Coffee Planet now wants to expand into the US foodservice market. 

3. Healthier Sodas and Soda Alternatives

Volume sales of carbonated soft drinks have been declining in recent years as health conscious consumers seek to reduce consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners. To retain consumers, soft drinks companies are turning to new product launches and acquisitions to offer “healthier” sodas and soda alternatives that provide flavor and bubbles minus the high fructose corn syrup. The Coca-Cola Company introduced the Barrilitos Aguas Frescas line of fountain drinks that contains 50-60 calories per 8oz serving. Modeled after Mexican aguas frescas, the Barrilitos Aguas Frescas in Horchata and Tamarind varieties are flavored with fruit juices, purees and/or spices. PepsiCo sampled its line of Stubborn Soda that was launched in select foodservice channels in a fountain format in 2015. Stubborn Soda contains 90-100 calories per 12oz serving and is made with Fair Trade certified cane sugar and stevia.

After completing its purchase of Bai Brands LLC in January 2017, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. showcased Bai's 5-calorie drinks (per 11.5oz serving) including Bai Bubbles that are sweetened with erythritol and stevia leaf extract). Tractor Soda Co offered Tractor Organic Crafted Soda that is USDA-certified organic and made with organic raw cane sugar, organic fruits, herbs, and spices. Another organic soda offering at the show was Brooklyn Organics Craft Ginger Ale that contains 5-10 calories per 8.4oz serving that is sweetened with organic stevia leaf extract. 

4. Iced Teas Aim to Attract Health Conscious

Tea companies are aiming to pull away consumers from soft drinks by emphasizing its refreshing and healthy properties. Tiesta Tea has been selling loose leaf tea blends in retail channels.  At the show, Tiesta Tea noted how “tea attracts millennials” and that its loose-leaf tea blends offer functionality such as slenderizing (Lean Green Machine Light Citrus Green Tea) and age defying (Blueberry Wild Child Blueberry Hibiscus Fruit Tea). Rishi Tea launched its Craft Brew Sparkling Tea & Botanicals line of sparkling tea and botanicals in one-way recyclable PET kegs. Rishi Craft Brew was created to offer the energy boost of cold brew coffee and the health benefits of kombucha in a product that contains no added sugar or preservatives. The Runner’s High Sparkling Tea contains yerba mate and green tea for the uplift and organic schizandra berries, an adaptogenic herb to restore the body.

Alcoholic Drinks Trends Seen at the 2017 National Restaurant Association Show

The National Restaurant Association Show hosted its 98^th annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants (BAR) at NRA Show from May 20–23, 2017 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. In this article, I will highlight noteworthy trends in alcoholic drinks that I saw at the show. A separate article on non-alcoholic drinks trends will be published at a later time.

1. Alcoholic Drinks Get Technology Infusion

Bars and restaurants experience many “pain points” according to many beverage technology exhibitors at the NRA Show and the BAR Pavilion. A major pain point is speed of service – consumers want their cocktails and jello shots immediately. One possible solution to wait times is having consumers serve their own cocktails. DraftServ Technologies in partnership with Micro Matic and RIPE Bar Juice created a Cold Pressed Craft Margaritas Self-Serve Machine where a patron uses a DraftServ card (after age verification) to pour a cocktail. The Micro Matic machine holds a bag-in-box of cold-pressed HPP (high pressure processing) mixer and the spirit such as tequila and combines it for the patron. DraftServ also offers advanced consumer analytics by allowing owners and managers to review what pours best, at what time, and by demographic segments.

For high-volume bars serving jello shots, they have had to wait several hours for the gelatin shots to “set” in the refrigerator as well as messes created by mixing gelatin mix with liquor. The makers of Jevo The Automated Gelatin Shot Maker claim that bartenders can make up to 300 gelatin shots an hour by using the Ready-To-Eat mode that takes 15 minutes or the Quick Prep mode that takes 2.5 minutes before finishing in the refrigerator. Billed as the Keurig of gelatin shots, the Jevo is a machine that uses proprietary flavor pods and any liquor. The flavor pods are produced by Jel Sert, makers of Royal gelatin dessert mixes and Fla-Vor-Ice Freezer Pops. Jevo has partnered with alcoholic drinks producer Beam Suntory, makers of Pinnacle vodka, Cruzan rum, and Jim Beam Kentucky Fire. Jevo tracks usage of the flavor pods and can automatically place a replenishment order through Wi-Fi.

Another pain point for bars is watered down drinks as ice melts. It was previously thought that liquor could not be frozen. To maintain the taste of “on the rocks” drinks from first sip to last sip, Beyond Zero was developed to be able to freeze liquor into ice cubes. Patrons no longer have to worry about the dilution factor as frozen liquor melts into liquid liquor.

2. Kombucha and Tea as Cocktail Mixers

Kombucha and tea have traditionally been viewed as healthy beverages with antioxidants and less sugar than soda. But kombucha and tea have not been seen as cocktail mixers. Bartenders and drinkers are turning to a wider range of mixers as they go beyond tonic water to include bolder flavors such as ginger beer. In turn, makers of kombucha and tea see an opening in the cocktail space.

Health-Ade Kombucha, Pure Steeps (Wonder Drink), and Owl’s Brew exhibited at the BAR Pavilion to market themselves as cocktail mixers to bar and restaurant operators. At the NRA Show, Health-Ade Kombucha served kombucha on tap and from glass bottles. Health-Ade offered four cocktails recipes including for PCH Mojito and Beet Sangria. Stephen Lee, CEO of Pure Steeps sampled his Kombucha Wonder Drinks. He explained how kombucha makes a good mixer in cocktails. He offers several kombucha cocktail recipes including one for the Blood Orange Kombucharita in his book, Kombucha Revolution: 75 Recipes for Homemade Brews, Fixers, Elixirs, and Mixers.

Owl’s Brew offered its “Tea Crafted for Cocktails”. The company’s liquid tea concentrates are loose leaf teas and spices that have been fresh-brewed and sweetened before bottling. The Owl’s Brew products designed to be two parts Owl’s Brew and one part liquor were designed to provide a fresh, lightly sweetened alternative to existing mixers.

The Good Food Festival & Conference Spotlights “Good Food Is Good Medicine”

FamilyFarmed has been promoting good food that is locally produced in a sustainable, humane, and fair manner by hosting the Good Food Festival & Conference for 13 years. At its Chicago event that took place from March 16 to 18, the non-profit organization spotlighted the connection between good food and good health. The festival held two standing-room only workshops - Good Food Is Good Medicine and Mood & Food – where attendees learned about the healing power of food and how certain foods can improve their health and mood. To appeal to increased health consciousness among consumers, many of the food and beverage producers exhibiting at the festival & conference emphasized “clean labels”, healthy fats, and lower sugar content. In this article, I will talk about the Mood & Food panel discussion and highlight products featuring coconut oil, currently considered to be one of the healthiest fats.

Mood & Food: What we eat affects our brain, gut, and mood

At the Mood & Food panel discussion, five health professionals talked about how food can impact behavior, mood, and learning. Dr. Ian Smith, creator of the SHRED Diet, said that while Americans need guidance on nutrition and weight loss, doctors are not currently equipped to do so because of lack of training. He said that he received only three hours of nutrition training during four years of medical school. Dr. Smith talked about the brain’s reward system and how the brain has a way of reinforcing things that make us feel good – why we crave fat, sugar, salty things. He said chocolate makes you feel good, with the brain lighting up when you eat certain food.

While eating vegetables may not light up the brain, changing what we eat can change the microflora in our gut. Drinking more water and consuming more vegetables was recommended by Judy Fulop, ND, MS, FABNO, who practices naturopathic medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. To create an emotional connection to vegetables, Fulop suggested visiting a supermarket and asking the produce manager to recommend a new vegetable and a recipe. Jane Hawley Stevens, Owner, Grower and Creator Four Elements Organic Herbals, talked about the mood-lifting powers of herbs such as chamomile, lemon balm, and lavender tea. Stevens recommended lemon balm tea for joy, adding that lemon balm is good for digestion and anti-viral. She said that adaptogens such as Siberian ginseng and holy basil are plants that help to bring you into balance. Stevens likes holy basil, also known as tulsi, because it helps with mental clarity, helps people feel grounded, and is also delicious.

Coconut Oil is the new superfood “healthy fat”

Numerous companies exhibiting at the Good Food Festival & Conference offered products containing coconut oil. After decades of being shunned because of its high saturated fat content, coconut oil has recently become known as a superfood “healthy fat” and received a boost from Dave Asprey’s creation of Bulletproof Coffee. The original recipe for Bulletproof Coffee called for coconut oil due to its high MCT (medium chain triglycerides) content, coffee, and unsalted grass-fed butter. A number of studies have linked MCT consumption with weight loss by increasing the amount of calories burned compared to other fats. Some coconut oil producers are marketing it as a superfood that it is anti-viral and anti-bacterial, curbs appetite, helps memory, raises “healthy” (HDL) cholesterol levels, help regulate hormones for thyroid and blood sugar control, and aid those with Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy.

Cocoghee combines raw organic coconut oil with organic grass-fed ghee

Among the exhibitors at the festival, Grass Fed Gourmet offered a unique twist on coconut oil by combining it with organic grass-fed ghee. Ghee, a clarified butter used in traditional Indian cooking, has become better known to Americans due to the rise of the Paleo diet which permits ghee. Ghee offers several advantages over butter in that it is lactose-free, casein-free, and shelf-stable. Compared to butter and ghee made from grain-fed cows, grass-fed butter and ghee contain higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and CLAs (conjugated linoleic acid) that may reduce high cholesterol levels and prevent cancer. The cocoghee spread is a versatile product that can appeal to multiple consumer segments. The plain variety can be used to sauté meats and vegetables while the rosemary garlic and garlic + salt varieties can be used on bread or crackers. The indulgent flavors of mocha hazelnut, vanilla cardamom, and cinnamon honey cocoghee can be used to make butter coffee or as a coffee “creamer” substitute.

Sacred Serve Organic Vegan Gelato contains coconut oil, meat, and sugar

Another product combining health and indulgence at the festival was Sacred Serve’s organic vegan gelato. The small batch, handmade frozen desserts are vegan and free of gluten, dairy, soy, lactose, and egg. The “clean labels” product contains organic coconut oil, organic coconut meat, organic coconut sugar, Himalayan pink salt, and either organic matcha green tea or 70% raw dark chocolate. Using coconut sugar instead of cane sugar allows the company to market the product as naturally low glycemic with trace amounts of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and iron.  

Tea Squares Tea Infused Energy Snacks uses coconut oil and matcha green tea

Skyline Kitchen Inc was another exhibitor using coconut oil in its products. The energy snacks are infused with either organic matcha green tea or black tea and contain organic coconut oil, organic puffed millet, raw almonds, organic pumpkin seeds, organic brown syrup, organic honey, sugar, and Himalayan salt among its ingredients. The Tea Squares are similar to a Rice Krispies Treats but with the power of caffeine from tea and a lower sugar content. The Citrus Green Tea Matcha variety contains about 8mg of caffeine and 7g of sugar per 20g serving.

The Paleo Cookie Company uses coconut oil and shredded coconut

The Paleo Cookie Company offered its line of cookies that are free of gluten, grains, dairy, preservatives, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and Paleo friendly. The original chocolate chip variety contains organic unrefined coconut oil, unsweetened shredded coconut, kosher almond flour, organic eggs, organic pure maple syrup, and 70% cacao chocolate chips. The Paleo Cookies allow Paleo diet followers to indulge their sweet tooth while eliminating dairy, gluten, grain, soy, refined sugars, legumes, and reducing carbohydrates.

Tiny But Mighty Popcorn switches from canola to coconut oil

Tiny But Mighty Foods Inc showcased new packaging, flavors, and product formulations at the Good Food Festival & Conference. Among the changes was the company’s decision to change the oil for its Sea Salt popped popcorn variety from canola oil to coconut oil. The revamped packaging highlights the company’s heirloom popcorn in big capital letters and its use of “100% Virgin Coconut Oil”.