Sonic Drive-In is testing a new lineup of premium cold coffee drinks in six markets: Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado; Joplin, Missouri; Las Vegas; New York City; and Monroe, Louisiana. The test beverages are priced starting at $2.49, significantly below the median $5.49 cost of a typical cold brew, making them an affordable option for coffee lovers seeking a premium experience. This move comes as demand for cold coffee continues to grow, with consumers increasingly open to purchasing specialty coffee from fast food chains. Competitors such as McDonald’s and Wendy’s are also expanding their caffeinated beverage offerings to capture shifts in the beverage market.
Sonic’s current menu includes hot coffee and cold coffee options, including two variations of cold brew, but the new drinks explore different niches. Among the test items is the Cold Foam Iced Coffee, featuring sweet foam atop iced coffee to match current consumer trends. The Coffee Chiller adapts Sonic’s soft-serve platform into a coffee-forward milkshake, while other options include a customizable Iced Coffee Latte and classic Iced Coffee poured over Sonic Ice. Flavor add-ons like caramel, vanilla, or Oreo pieces allow for extensive personalization. Sonic said the beverages are designed to appeal across multiple dayparts, whether as a morning boost, mid-day pick-me-up, or sweet afternoon treat. The test reflects broader industry trends, including the rise of customizable cold coffee, the blurring of traditional meal times, and increased competition from convenience stores and drink-focused concepts from other major chains.