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Commentary

Targeted health benefits valued by consumers, report shows

Westrock Coffee’s report highlights functional ingredients in demand for coffee, tea

By Jessica Jacobsen
the last of us coffee

Image courtesy of Four Sigmatic

April 17, 2025

After a winter of struggling to come up with alternative forms of entertainment for my kids, I am eager that the warmer days will make it easier to find ways to spend time together. However, this warm weather also will mean a lot of more energy spent trying to keep up with them, which means I’ll need to lean more heavily of products to give me that boost of energy.

Targeted product attributes aren’t a new phenomenon for consumer packaged goods manufacturers; however, research shows that it increasingly is becoming more in demand.

Westrock Coffee Co. recently published a report that found nearly one-third of U.S. coffee drinkers expressed interest in beverages that deliver targeted health benefits, such as functional ingredients like adaptogens for cognitive enhancement or probiotics for improved gut health. Cold brew coffee drinkers showed an interest in beverages that improve cognitive enhancement, while tea drinkers prioritize relaxation and boosting immunity, the report shows.

“Consumer interest in healthier coffee and tea has never been greater ― but health and wellness goals are increasingly diverse and evolving,” said Melissa Mackay, senior vice president of marketing and insight at Westrock Coffee, in a statement. “Meeting this demand has become the driving force in new product innovation for many brands.”

As an example, Throne Sport Coffee continues to build on its better-for-you, ready-to-drink coffee brand when it added Mint Mocha to its lineup. Featuring a proprietary Coffee PLUS+ formula, Throne Sport Coffee provides 150 mg of natural caffeine, natural flavors and sweeteners, 100% daily B vitamins, electrolytes and BCAAs.

“Throne SPORT COFFEE is designed for performance-driven individuals seeking a clean, functional boost,” said Michael Fedele, founder of Throne SPORT COFFEE, in a statement. “Our new Mint Mocha flavor is the ultimate game-changer. It’s a delicious upgrade to your coffee routine.”

Four Sigmatic also has made a name for itself in the functional coffee space. In collaboration with Song Pictures Consumer Products, Four Sigmatic announced the release of The Last of Us High Caffeine Organic Ground Coffee.

Four Sigmatic’s The Last of Us coffee is crafted with organic Arabica coffee, cordyceps, lion’s mane mushrooms, vitamin B12, and coffee bean extract to deliver focus and energy without the jitters, the company says.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Sony Pictures Consumer Products on our new The Last of Us High Caf Coffee” said Four Sigmatic’s Founder and CEO, Tero Isokauppila, in a statement. “With mushrooms being a central part of The Last of Us plot, we couldn’t be more excited to pair the appeal of the show with our expertise in mushroom coffee. As fans of the series, we wanted to create a product that delivers on the energizing benefits, delicious taste, and quality The Last of Us fans are looking for.”

Given consumers demand for functional ingredients in their tea and coffee, it suggests there’s more opportunity for beverage-makers to create these new solutions.

KEYWORDS: coffee sales cognitive health functional beverages

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Jess 200

Jessica Jacobsen, editor of Beverage Industry, visits a range of beverage companies for cover stories and facility tours, represents the magazine at trade shows and industry events, and works with the Beverage Industry team to determine the content and direction of the magazine and its online components. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Marquette University.

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