Business & Finance
Coca-Cola develops automated dispensers and bases for dirty sodas and refreshers
The beverage giant is testing new equipment and white-label products to help restaurants capitalize on the surge in customizable drink orders.
The short version
- Coca-Cola is testing new dispensing equipment to automate complex beverage trends like dirty sodas and refreshers.
- The effort targets restaurant and food service partners looking to boost profit margins and capture demand from younger consumers.
- New offerings in development include a dairy-dispensing module for Freestyle machines and a customizable white-label energy drink planned for 2027.
- Commercial rollouts remain in testing phases as fast-food partners explore competing drink options.
Key facts
- Coca-Cola has developed a prototype dairy module for its Freestyle dispensers to automate the preparation of dirty sodas with preprogrammed recipes.[CNBC]
- The company is testing Micro Matic mixology dispensers with AMC Theatres to pour customizable refreshers and iced coffees.[CNBC]
- Coca-Cola plans to release a colorless, unflavored base for customizable energy drinks to food service operators in the first half of 2027.[CNBC]
- Sparkling soft drinks made up 69% of Coca-Cola's unit case volume, with its core namesake soda representing 42% of U.S. volume in 2025.[CNBC]
- The compact Freestyle Mini dispenser, unveiled for bars and tight spaces, has launched in Europe but has not yet been sold to U.S. customers.[CNBC]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unknown when or whether the prototype dirty soda dairy module and refresher dispensers will reach wide commercial deployment.[CNBC]