In the F&B industry, every new idea needs to justify its cost. Operators want to serve up creative experiences for their customers but they have to drive real results.
More customers. Higher tabs. A measurable return on investment.
Thousands of brands and businesses worldwide already know that Ripples does exactly that.
The Ripple Maker drink printer isn’t a one-time gimmick or novelty product, it’s a proven revenue-boosting marketing engine that global brands and even single-location coffee shops have used to generate tens of thousands of added annual revenue and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of earned media and exposure. Not to mention a loyal customer base who return faster and spend more money.
Here are the exact ways real businesses boost visibility and sales with printed drinks.
Earned Organic Media: Real Social Media Reach, No Ad Spend
“Do we have an influencer strategy? No, we don’t. We have great guests, sometimes very famous guests, and we create special moments for them. They want to share their moments. They want to tell other people, and they start coming back.”
– Rodrigo Leme, Director of Business Development, Dante
In a review of approx. 5,000 Instagram posts from 10 long-term Ripples customers spanning 8 countries, 62% of all user-generated drink photos featured Ripple prints. That’s not sponsored content, it’s authentic customer engagement. Those posts drove an estimated 8–12 million interactions, equal to $4–6 million in earned media value.
For global brands, Ripples serves as a brand amplifier, turning everyday guests into an army of advocates. For independent restaurants and cafés it’s a marketing shortcut that gets them consistent social shares and tags that boost visibility without a single dollar in ad spend.
Traditional Media Coverage: Ripples Makes the Press Come to You
“We’ve never existed without Ripples. The opportunity cost is a no brainer for me […] you get a massive return on your investment. There’s incredible value in press and branding… Even for those who are novices in PR, I can tell you that if you have the Ripple Maker they will come to you.”
– Kia Illulian, Owner, Carrera Cafe
Drinks topped with Ripples prints create unmistakable visuals that are a magnet for media attention, helping Ripples customers appear in top magazines, news segments, and city guides.
Guinness showcased its Ripples-powered “Stouties” on a New Year’s Eve CNN feature where Anderson Cooper tried his first pint of Guinness live on air. The segment reached more than 10 million viewers and brought global visibility to the innovation seen at their events and at their Storehouses.
Wherein I try (and fail) to pour the perfect pint…. and Anderson Cooper tries Guinness for the first time….#CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/4Trbbpr7eE
— Donie O’Sullivan (@donie) January 1, 2022
Carrera Café was first featured in Vogue and ELLE in 2017 for its viral “Ryan Gosling lattes,” and the cafe has never left the spotlight. A fixture in Los Angeles media, Carrera is regularly highlighted for its creative brand partnerships and signature aesthetic. LA Unscripted showcased Carrera’s printed drinks as one of the city’s must-see coffee experiences. For other independent cafés and bars, recognition often comes through “Best of the City” awards or “Top 10 Cafés” features. These local wins build steady buzz, increase discoverability, and help small businesses strengthen their brands within their communities.
Cold Hard Cash. Prints that Generate Profits
“I’ve tripled my sales. The second I set the drink in front of the customer they’ve got the wow factor.”
– Tara Cook, Owner, Das Brauhaus & Cafe
WIth Ripples drink prints, what starts as a visual experience quickly turns into measurable revenue. Across cafés, bars, and event venues, Ripples helps turn creative drink moments into higher tabs and repeat sales. Limited-time offers and signature printed drinks give customers a reason to upgrade their orders and come back more often.
One café served more than 20,000 printed drinks in a single year, adding a $2 upcharge to each to generate roughly $40,000 in additional revenue. The combination of printed drinks and social sharing created a buzz that included lines down the block and TikTok posts that reached millions.
Caterers and event planners see similar results, using Ripples to create branded drinks for weddings, conferences, and product launches that help them close more deals and command higher booking fees. Most recoup their full investment within two events.
Ripples turns customer excitement into steady, predictable revenue growth.
New Visitors and Returning Regulars: Keeping Customers Coming Back
“We have a return rate of almost 70% of our event clients.”
– Serge Butman, CEO, Express Kafeh
Ripples helps venues attract new customers and turn them into loyal regulars. Eye-catching prints bring first-time visitors through the door; people who’ve seen the designs online want to try it for themselves. Once they do, the experience becomes something they want to repeat, and introduce to a friend.
Kia, owner of Carrera Café, explains, “We’re creating unique Ripples that continuously change, and I think our customers are looking forward to what the new content is, what the new creative is. So you’ll find that those people that wouldn’t normally come back as often, they’ll end up coming sooner because they want to see what we have to offer.”
That same dynamic applies beyond cafés and restaurants. Mobile coffee carts, caterers, and event vendors use Ripples to capture attention at tradeshows, festivals, and brand activations, and keep getting invited back because they create a buzz for their clients. As Serge Butman of Express Kafeh shared, his business now sees nearly 70% of clients return, driven by guests who remember the experience and want it again at their next event.
Whether its neighborhood regulars or a repeat corporate client, your business can use your Ripple Maker drink printer to transform a one-time order into an actual, lasting relationship.
The Bottom Line
Ripples delivers measurable ROI across every kind of operation. Whether it’s $40,000 in direct revenue from premium printed drinks or hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of earned media coverage, operators who use their Ripple Makers well consistently see the payoff. From cafés that go viral to caterers who close more event deals, Ripples proves that creativity and a special, personalized touch can be incredibly profitable for your business.
See What Ripples Can Do for You
Ready to join thousands of businesses that have turned their drinks into a marketing channel and revenue engine?
Buy your Ripple Maker today or connect with a rep to learn more.
