No one has an attention span anymore. And even when you come up with a brilliant promotion, social media feeds move faster than ever and it seems like even the most viral story is gone in a day. How can any brand stand out with all that digital noise?
Whether it’s through event activations, unique in-house experiences, or large-scale sponsorships, leading global brands like Bacardi and Louis Vuitton are using interactive drink prints to connect with their customers, find new fans, and extend their reach. It’s more than a logo printed on a cocktail, drink marketing is an interactive way to share a message while still making a memorable impact on customers both in person and online.
See how Bacardi, Lavazza, and Louis Vuitton use the Ripples drink printer to extend their brand reach, and how you can use the same techniques at your venue.
Bacardi & Patrón: “The Censored Truth” Campaign Turns Industry Red Tape into a Brilliant Brand Moment
When Patrón launched its 100% Additive-Free campaign, it sparked a regulatory backlash. Mexico’s tequila council (CRT) temporarily revoked the brand’s export certificate for simply sharing that Patrón uses only three natural ingredients in their tequila: agave, water, and yeast.
Rather than back down, Patrón doubled down with The Censored Truth. This clever, redacted campaign turned the censorship itself into the message while highlighting their brand differentiator while still challenging the regulations.
At Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans and the Speakuneasy pop-up in New York, Patrón invited guests to experience that message firsthand. Ripples helped bring the concept to life with custom drink frames that printed a bold black “censored” bar across each guest’s mouth in their personalized cocktail selfie prints, literally making them part of the story.
Thank you so much to the teams at Bacardi and at Patrón Tequila for inviting us to be a small part of such an exciting and creative activation!
Make this tactic work for your coffee shop or bar: Coffee for a Cause
You don’t need to be managing a global messaging campaign to serve drinks that make a statement. Just like Patrón used personalized drinks to bring attention to their ingredients, Green Kettle Coffee in Connecticut used printed cold foam coffee to rally its community around a local cause.
For every cup of its “Wallingford Web” coffee sold, Green Kettle donates $1 to Chrysalis, a neighborhood nonprofit that provides domestic violence services. The design, a simple heart-shaped spider web, lets customers show support with their order and share it online, spreading awareness with every post.
It’s proof that the same interactive storytelling used by Patrón to challenge an industry can help small businesses build community and do real good, one cup at a time.
Louis Vuitton: Turning Luxury Into an Accessible Experience
At Louis Vuitton’s New York City Café, luxury meets accessibility in the most Instagrammable way possible. The space draws everyone from “ladies who lunch” to content creators making TikToks, all experiencing the brand in a personal, shareable context.
The market for luxury goods in the United States is wider than you might think. 27% of regular buyers have a household income of $50,000 or less, so having offerings accessible at all price points, like a glamorous latte in a high-end restaurant, is an incredibly smart way for Louis Vuitton to reach their entire potential customer base, and get incredible User Generated Content in the meantime.
Every detail is designed for storytelling, and printed drinks play a key role. When your cappuccino carries the LV monogram or a limited-edition design tied to a collection drop, you’re not just drinking coffee, you’re aligning yourself with a prestigious brand. A flood of organic social media impressions and a fresh connection between high fashion and an entire generation that looks to it aspirationally.
Make this tactic work for your bar or coffee shop: Picture Perfect Branding
You’ll find Café Georgetown on every “best cafés in Washington, D.C.” list, and for good reason. Its elegant blue interior doubles as an Instagram backdrop for their rotating lineup of specialty lattes, each topped with a signature Ripples print.
The team mixes their own custom art, like an illustration of their iconic storefront, with carefully selected seasonal designs from the Ripples Library. These carefully curated designs are selected to match their LTO menus, like the cherry blossom lattes served each spring while the city is in bloom.
Between the tiled blue walls, cold foam creations, and unmistakable prints, a Café Georgetown drink is instantly recognizable. And the results speak for themselves. Marketing Manager Sena Cundioglu told us their drinks “became viral online, mostly on Instagram. Everyone wanted to have that experience.”
Just like Louis Vuitton’s café makes luxury feel within reach, Café Georgetown turns everyday coffee into an aspirational experience. Ripples helps them translate that beauty into social moments that drive both buzz and foot traffic.
Lavazza at the US Open: A Decade of Branded Impact
Celebrating its 10th year as the official coffee sponsor of the US Open, Lavazza continues to set the bar for experiential brand engagement. Their interactive fan experience extended well beyond the courts, offering guests printed cocktails and coffees featuring the Lavazza logo, player portraits, and personalized selfies.
By combining a global sports platform with personalized, shareable experiences, Lavazza amplified its brand presence from courtside to social media, reinforcing its connection to passion, performance, and community.
Make this tactic work for your bar or coffee shop: Interactive Experiences
Black Line Social is a hybrid space in LA designed by and for artists. It’s a home for artists searching for inspiration and a community looking to support and get involved with the scene.
The interactive, art-first experience of course extends to the coffee they serve. Talented artists sketch designs in real-time on a tablet, which is then printed on a latte in seconds, and shared with the community. It’s an incredible way for the community to have a multi-sensory connection with the local art scene and as these quick sketches are designed, shared, and drunk up it spreads the work of the artists across the community.
Conclusion: Small Moments, Big Impact
From global activations to local cafés, one principle stands out: interaction drives connection. Printed drinks capture attention, spark conversation, and create the kind of authentic engagement that keeps customers coming back.
Ripples makes it easy to bring this same magic to your menu, whether you’re a global brand or a mobile coffee bar., Every drink you serve becomes a touchpoint, boosting visibility, driving social shares, and growing your bottom line.
