Panera Is Coming for Taco Bell With Its Newest Drink Lineup

Over the past two years, Panera has been undergoing a transformation. The bakery-café has stepped into its next “era,” in which it strives to bring customers even more value while also expanding its menu options. During this time, we’ve seen items discontinued to make room for new salads and sandwiches, plus the return of countless revamped fan favorites.

Now, with 2026 on the horizon, the chain is pushing forward in its long-term goal to expand its drink portfolio with a new chef-crafted lineup of fruity, refreshing beverages. But, unfortunately, there’s a catch.

Panera’s New Frescas and Energy Refreshers

Panera is rolling out an exciting new drink lineup, but not all fans will get the chance to try it. In October, the chain began serving four unique beverages, but only at 65 test locations. The offerings include Cherry Lime Fresca and the Pomegranate Hibiscus Fresca, two fruity caffeine-free options. The Cherry Lime Fresca features cherry and lime flavorings and dried tart cherries, whereas the Pomegranate Hibiscus is a blend of herbal tea, pomegranate juice, and real dragon fruit.

In addition, you can sip on a Dragonfruit Sunset Energy Refresher, which is made with pineapple and dragon fruit, or snag a Passionfruit Paradise Energy Refresher made with a combination of passion fruit, guava, and orange flavors infused with pineapple.

We couldn’t help but notice these sound strikingly similar to Taco Bell’s Refresca lineup, which includes three Agua Refrescas and two Rockstar energy drink-infused options. Aside from flavor, one main difference is the amount of caffeine. Panera’s Energy Refreshers have 28 milligrams of caffeine per 20-ounce cup. In comparison, Taco Bell’s Energy Refrescas have 200 milligrams of caffeine in a medium cup, and its Agua Refrescas each have 51 milligrams of caffeine from green tea.

The new caffeinated beverages are Panera’s first foray back into energy drinks since the discontinuation of Charged Lemonades last year, which were hit with lawsuits due to the high caffeine content.

If the testing phase goes well, there’s a chance we may see a wider rollout of Panera’s new beverages. In the meantime, you can quench your thirst with a fruit lemonade or try the all-new Frozen Hot Chocolate before it leaves menus for the season.