PepsiCo’s new beverage could turn out to be a game changer in the world of flavored water products. The only condition? It can only be enjoyed from the special bottle they’ve designed.
There’s a good reason though. The Drinkfinity water bottle was specifically created to be compatible with Drinkfinity pods, a new concept that allows plain water to be infused with flavoring when a pod is attached and its contents released. This is where the design of the bottle, which is only available online, becomes crucial. The Drinkfinity Vessel (which sells for $20 on the Drinkfinity website) includes a “Piercer” at the top of the bottle where the pod is fitted in. Like a Keurig machine, the pod is punctured by the Piercer, allowing the flavor contents to be distributed throughout the bottle when the bottle is shaken. The 20-ounce Vessel is reusable, recyclable, BPA-free, and fits in standard size cup holders.
One of the most innovative features of the Drinkfinity pods (which sell for between $5 and $6.50 in packs of 4) is that they contain both dry and liquid flavor ingredients, like a cross between flavored powders and tea.
Currently, there are 12 pod flavors available that come in 4 “Modes”: Charge, Chill, Flow, and Renew. Flavors include Mango Chia Flow, with orange juice, mango, and chia seeds, Elderflower Chill, with passionflower and chamomile, and Oatberry Flow, with berry flavoring and real oats.
Having to buy the water bottle upfront may be a hassle, but Drinkfinity does offer bundles that get you the Vessel and sets of pod packs at a discounted rate.
For sustainability sticklers, Drinkfinity’s website also states that its Vessels use 65% less plastic than the average 20-ounce water bottle, and contribute 40% less greenhouse gas. In addition, customers can choose to opt in to receiving prepaid envelopes that allow Drinkfinity pods to be sent to the appropriate recycling facilities since the pods aren’t suitable for household recycling bins.
This isn’t the first time PepsiCo has ventured outside of soft drinks and into the flavored water market in recent memory. At the beginning of the month, the company announced the release of a new line of sparkling water called “bubly”, containing no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or calories.
So will Drinkfinity become the flavored water of the future? It’s too soon to tell, but if the success of Keurig is any indication, there’s a good chance Drinkfinity could take the market by storm.
