Most Popular Drinks in the US – And It’s Not Coke

Grabbing a cold drink from the fridge on a hot summer day can be enough to bring a smile to your face, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who disagrees. While you probably have your own set of favorite drinks to choose from, have you ever wondered how beverages in America are ranked based on their popularity? Keep on thinking, because neither Coca-Cola, Pepsi, nor Sprite is the most satisfactory drink in the States!

In this post, we’ll present the top 20 most popular drinks in the US based on the data YouGov, an international research data and analytics technology group, obtained for the fourth quarter of 2023. Not to be mistaken with fame, popularity refers to the percentage of people who have a positive opinion of a certain beverage. Are you ready to find out more?

Dole

Dole 100% Juice cartons, pineapple and pineapple blends.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / ZikG

Enjoyed by 76% of people who tried its products is Dole, an Irish-American agricultural corporation famous for its pineapple, apple, and orange juices that can be found on most store shelves. The company operates packing plants and fruit plantations throughout the world.

Coca-Cola

Glass of Coca-Cola with ice, can and bottle of Coca-Cola on wooden background.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Fotazdymak

Following Dole with 75% satisfaction is Coca-Cola, the world’s most famous drink that is recognized by 99% of Americans. The Coca-Cola Company was founded in 1886 and is now selling its classic red bottles and cans in more than 200 countries worldwide. Every day, nearly 2 billion servings of the famed drink are consumed globally.

Welch’s

Upclose a hand are buying plastic bottle of Welch's brand 100% white grape juice in a supermarket aisle.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Zety Akhzar

More than 700 American farm estates stand behind the success of Welch’s, a Massachusetts-based food company best known for its grape juice and other fruit juices. With a 73% satisfaction, Welch’s can easily be dubbed one of America’s top beverages.

Minute Maid

A view of several cartons of Minute Maid juice, on display at a local grocery store.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / The Image Party

The sweet smell of that orange and mango juice by Minute Maid can hardly be beaten. This American line of beverages has been producing tasty drinks for nearly 80 years and is a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company. 72% of people are satisfied with Minute Maid products.

Lipton Hot Tea

Lipton tea in cup and tea bags and box on light background.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / BigNazik

Sharing the popularity ranking with with Minute Maid at 72% percent is the Lipton hot tea brand which is owned by Lipton Teas and Infusions. Lipton now offers its teas around the globe and is recognized by 95% of Americans thanks to rich and natural flavors.

Tropicana

Citrus juice from Tropicana with glass filled with juice and oranges around.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / tastyfood

Tropics-inspired juices are no strangers to Tropicana, an American fruit beverage giant famous for its orange drinks. With a rating of 72% popularity and 96% fame, Tropicana remains one of Minute Maid’s top competitors.

7UP

Shopper hand holding a can with 7up.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Lysenko Andrii

The 7th place obviously goes to the namesake 7-Up, a sweet sparkling beverage adored by 71% percent of its tasters. The lime-flavored brand remains one of America’s most recognized drinks at 98% and has been around since 1929 when it was awkwardly called Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda.

Ocean Spray

Angled view of Ocean Spray juice products for sale inside a grocery store.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Colleen Michaels

Less famous than most of the other entries on this list is Ocean Spray, an American agricultural cooperative consisting of several hundred growers who make it possible to produce delicious cranberry-based juices adored by 71% of tasters. The company produces far over 200 million bottles of juice and 90 million cans of cranberry sauce per year.

Lipton Ice Tea

Plastic bottles of Lipton Ice Tea.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / monticello

Ice tea is another specialty of Lipton that comes shortly after the hotter alternative on the list of most popular beverages in the States. Lipton ice tea is sold in over one hundred countries around the world and is recognized by 98% of Americans, though only 70% find it delicious enough.

Sprite

A glass of soda with ice and lemon, with sprite cans in the background.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / zkolra

At 70% popularity, Sprite barely makes it to the top 10 popular drinks in the US even though almost everyone has heard of this drink before. The lemon-lime flavored beverage was initially introduced by The Coca-Cola Company and now comes in a variety of flavors and sugar-free alternatives.

Canada Dry

A can of Canada Dry Ginger Ale on ice.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Steve Cukrov

Founded in 1904, Canada Dry is now under Dr Pepper Snapple and is best known for its ginger-flavored carbonated soft drink. Loved by 69% of people who tried it, Canada Dry’s ginger ale is often considered one of the best mixers on the market.

Del Monte

A different cans of Del Monte juices.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sheila Fitzgerald

Del Monte juices are owned by Del Monte Foods, an American food processing giant that reels in around $1.7 billion in annual sales and has locations all around the world. The brand is liked by 69% of tasters and is famous for its wide variety of rich juice flavors.

Gatorade

Two bottles of Gatorade closeup on a beach.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Patcharaporn Puttipon4289

97% of Americans have heard of Gatorade though only 69% are satisfied with their drink. As one of the world’s most established sports-oriented beverage companies, Gatorade was founded in 1965 and is now operated by PepsiCo.

A&W

Two cans of A and W Root Beer on a bed of ice.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Steve Cukrov

68% of people swear by A&W Root Beer, which came with the founding of the A&W Restaurants chain in 1919. The drink itself is well spread across the USA and Canada and is famous for its rich and creamy texture.

Mug Root Beer

A can of Mug Root Beer.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / oasisamuel

Then comes the Mug Root Beer with a slightly lower fame ranking and an approval rate of 67%. This American root beer brand has been a major success since the 1940s and is now operated by PepsiCo. Dense foam and unusual aroma are but some of the reasons why this drink sparks opinions of all kinds.

Simply Orange

Simply Orange orange juice on display at local grocers.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Eric Glenn

At a popularity ranking of 66%, Simply Orange prides itself on offering pure-squeezed pulp-free juice. Though Simply Beverages was only founded in 2001, it now operates under The Coca-Cola Company and is known as one of the top natural juice brands in the country.

Folgers

The Folgers Coffee display at a Sams Club retail store.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Joni Hanebutt

There are few who haven’t heard of Folgers ground and instant coffee produced and sold mainly in the States and parts of Asia, Mexico, and Canada. The brand operates under the J.M. Smucker Company and comes with a 65% satisfaction rating.

Sunkist

Different flavors of Sunkist on a shelf in grocery store.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Billy F Blume Jr

It seems we can’t get enough of orange juice! Sunkist Growers is an American membership cooperative with thousands of members and dozens of offices and production plants. Sunkist juices and soft drinks are well-known but only adored by 65% of tasters.

Pepsi

A can and a glass of Pepsi in a stack of ice.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / monticello

Besides Coca-Cola, Pepsi is the most famous beverage in the States. Unfortunately, however, only 65% of people seem satisfied with the drink. With manufacturing plants around the globe, Pepsi managed to branch out and expand into the territories of sparkling water and fruity sodas while dominating sales.

Crush

 A view of several cases of Orange Crush soda, on display at a local grocery store.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / The Image Party

Owned by Keurig Dr Pepper, Crush is a line of carbonated soft drinks that originally went by the name Orange Crush. The brand ranks #20 on the popularity list. It is a strong competitor of the likes of Coca-Cola’s Fanta and has a strong presence worldwide.

Author: Zan Kokalj

Bio:

Zan Kokalj is a veteran content writer, copywriter, and author inspired by the impact of ink on paper.

Leave a Comment