Starbucks: Friday Mornings are the Busiest Time for Protein Drinks
Plus, Dunkin’, Panera Bread and Peets Coffee all recently launched new drink options.
Mar 27, 2026 | 2 min read
Recent data from Starbucks shows that customers are purchasing the most protein drinks on Fridays at 8 a.m. Starbucks introduced protein to its menu in September 2025, allowing customers to customize beverages with protein-boosted milk or protein cold foam.
At the top of the list of most-ordered protein drinks on Friday mornings is the Vanilla Protein Latte with 27 to 36 grams of protein per grande size, Starbucks said. “When customizing, the top choice customers make on Friday mornings is Vanilla Protein Cold Foam, which adds 15g of protein,” the QSR added.
Meanwhile at Dunkin’, the company recently introduced Dunkin’ Zero, a zero-sugar energy drink infused with B vitamins and available in six varieties—blackberry tangerine, tropical mango, juicy peach, glamberry, sunzest and blushpop. “It is a crisp, lightly carbonated pick-me-up designed to keep you energized through whatever the day brings.”
Dunkin’ also recently rolled out the Berry Acai Refresher which it said “delivers sweet, vibrant notes inspired by an acai smoothie bowl. It is colorful, refreshing and easy to customize.”
Panera Bread is reentering the non-coffee caffeinated beverage space with the national launch of Frescas and Energy Refreshers, made with real fruit.
“Whether guests are finding their flow with a Passionfruit Paradise or Dragonfruit Sunset Energy Refresher or resetting with a Cherry Lime Fresca or the returning Strawberry Basil Lemonade Fresca, these refreshing beverages are perfectly crafted to amplify whatever mood is the moment,” the QSR said.
The energy refresher drinks offer 28 mg caffeine in a 20 fl oz cup, and 42 mg caffeine in 30 fl oz cup. The Frescas are caffeine free.
Over at Peet’s Coffee, the brand’s spring menu is available now through June 2, and features an iced ube matcha latte with a cream top, an iced vanilla latte with cream top, a lavender vanilla latte and a lavender vanilla matcha latte.
Peet’s also said it brought back its coffee-filled popping pearls, which can be added to any iced beverage.
