How Do You Classify Beverages?
Walk into any office pantry, gym locker room, or café counter and you’ll see it: drinks everywhere. Coffee to kickstart the day, water to power through the afternoon, juice for a quick pick-me-up, maybe a celebratory soda after a win.
But if you’ve ever planned a team event, stocked a company pantry, or prepared giveaways, you’ve probably asked the same question:
How do you classify beverages—so you can choose the right ones for the right people and moments?
Let’s break it down in a way that actually helps you decide what to serve (and what kind of Team Drinkware fits best, too).
1) Classify Beverages by Alcohol Content
This is the most straightforward category, and it matters for events, venues, and audience.
Non-alcoholic beverages
These include water, coffee, tea, juices, shakes, sodas, and functional drinks. This is typically the go-to for offices, schools, sports teams, and family-friendly events.
Alcoholic beverages
Beer, wine, spirits, cocktails, and mixed drinks fall here. If you’re planning an adults-only celebration or a formal event, this category tends to show up—just be mindful of venue rules and your guests’ preferences.
2) Classify Beverages by Temperature
Simple, but surprisingly useful when you’re matching drinks to weather and setting.
Hot beverages
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and warm infusions. These shine in early-morning meetings, rainy season events, and chilly air-conditioned offices.
Cold beverages
Iced coffee, iced tea, water, juice, soft drinks—perfect for outdoor activities, summer events, and sports days.
Pro tip: If your drink plan includes both hot and cold options, your drinkware choices matter even more. Hot drinks need insulation; cold drinks need lids that won’t leak when people are moving around.
3) Classify Beverages by Carbonation
This affects taste, mood, and even how “festive” a drink feels.
Non-carbonated
Water, juice, milk-based drinks, coffee, tea, sports drinks—easy to drink anytime, anywhere.
Carbonated
Soda, sparkling water, energy drinks. These feel fun and refreshing, but not everyone wants bubbles (or sugar), so it’s best offered as an option—not the only choice.
4) Classify Beverages by Function or Purpose
This is where it gets practical—especially for teams.
Hydration beverages
Water and electrolyte drinks. For sports teams and active workplaces, hydration is the baseline. People perform better when they’re not running on empty.
Energy beverages
Coffee, tea, and energy drinks. Great for early starts, long shifts, and events with packed schedules—just offer balance.
Nutrition beverages
Smoothies, protein shakes, meal replacements. Ideal when your audience is fitness-focused or when meals are spaced far apart.
Comfort beverages
Hot chocolate, warm tea, calm blends. These are the quiet heroes of rainy days, night shifts, and cozy events.
This “purpose-based” approach also makes branding smarter. When your drink matches the moment, your brand presence feels thoughtful—not random.
5) Classify Beverages by Ingredient Base
This category helps when you’re considering dietary preferences.
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Water-based: water, tea, coffee, soda
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Milk-based: lattes, milk tea, shakes
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Fruit/plant-based: juices, infused drinks, plant milks
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Grain-based: certain traditional beverages, malts, and mixes
If your crowd is mixed, it helps to keep options inclusive (and clearly labeled). It’s a small detail that makes a big impression.
So… What’s the Best Classification to Use?
If you’re choosing drinks for an event or a team, here’s the easiest way to think about it:
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Start with purpose (hydration, energy, comfort)
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Check the setting (hot vs cold, indoor vs outdoor)
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Offer variety (carbonated + non-carbonated, light + filling)
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Match the drinkware to the experience
Because let’s be honest: even the best drink choice falls flat if the bottle leaks, the lid feels flimsy, or the mug can’t survive daily use.
Make Every Sip Part of the Team Identity
Whether you’re stocking the office pantry, preparing giveaways, or building event kits, branded drinkware makes your team feel more connected—because it’s useful, visible, and carried everywhere.
If you want drinkware that looks sharp, feels premium, and holds up to everyday routines, explore Team Drinkware from Craft Clothing and customize pieces that your people will actually use—not just store in a drawer.
