1. What This Document Covers
This document is designed for:
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Beverage developers
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Café operators
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Protein / wellness brands
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Low- and zero-sugar product teams
It explains how to build bold flavor into drinks without forcing sugar, calories, or carbs — and how to control sweetness on-demand instead of baking it into the formula.
2. Core Positioning
Capella flavor concentrates = Flavor first, sweetness optional.
Most Capella concentrates are:
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Highly concentrated
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Water soluble
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Zero sugar
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Zero calories
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Zero carbs
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Unsweetened by default
Capella intentionally separates “flavor” from “sweetness.” You get the exact flavor profile you want (Hazelnut, Juicy Peach, Glazed Doughnut, etc.), and you decide how sweet the final beverage should be — mildly sweet, very sweet, or not sweet at all.
This solves a big problem with syrups: syrups force sugar and sweetness level into every drink, which kills personalization and wrecks macros.
Capella also offers:
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A small Stevia-sweetened line for customers who specifically want natural, plant-based sweetness.
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Super Sweet, an ultra-concentrated sucralose-based sweetener that can be added by the drop to instantly dial in sweetness without adding sugar.
3. Why Sugar-Free Flavoring Matters
3.1 Macros / Label Control
You can build flavored beverages that still read:
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No Sugar Added
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0g Sugar
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0 Calories from flavor additions
That means you can launch “Birthday Cake Protein Shake,” “Hazelnut Cold Brew,” or “Strawberry Peach Hydration Refresher” and still stay in compliance with low-sugar or sugar-free marketing.
3.2 Personalization at the Counter
Example workflow in a café or smoothie bar:
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Flavor: Add a few drops of Capella flavor concentrate.
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Ask the guest: “Do you want it sweet or just flavored?”
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If they want sweet, add 1–2 drops of Super Sweet (or use a Stevia version).
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Hand them a custom drink that matches their preference, not the default bottle pump.
This is nearly impossible with fixed sugar syrups.
3.3 Cost and SKUs
Instead of stocking 20 pre-sweetened syrups, you stock:
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Core flavor concentrates (unsweetened)
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One sweetness dial
You’ve just created an entire menu of flavored drinks with almost no inventory bloat.
4. Flavor Pillars
Think of the Capella system as three “pillars” you can mix and match.
Pillar A. Unsweetened Flavor Concentrates
Examples: Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Caramel, Juicy Peach, Strawberry, Waffle, Vanilla Cupcake, Frosting, Cinnamon, etc.
Use-cases:
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Coffee / Cold Brew / Espresso
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Iced tea
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Sparkling water / Italian soda base
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Smoothies / protein shakes
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Yogurt bowls / overnight oats
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Dessert-style mocktails
Why they work:
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They’re water soluble (no oil slick)
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A few drops go a long way
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They don’t force sweetness
Marketing angle you can use:
“Flavor your coffee, not your sugar intake.”
Pillar B. Stevia-Sweetened Flavors
Select flavors are available with Stevia already blended in.
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Still zero sugar
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Plant-based sweetness
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“No artificial sweeteners” positioning
These are ideal where the customer specifically requests “natural sweetener only.”
Marketing angle you can use:
“Sweetened with Stevia, not syrup.”
Pillar C. Super Sweet (Concentrated Sweetener)
Super Sweet is a concentrated sucralose-based sweetener.
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Zero sugar
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Doses by the drop
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Heat-stable (works in hot lattes AND cold drinks)
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Lets you instantly convert an unsweetened drink into a dessert-style drink on demand
Marketing angle you can use:
“Would you like it dessert-sweet? I can do that in one drop.”
5. Core Beverage Applications
5.1 Flavored Sparkling Water / Italian Soda (No Sugar Added)
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12–16 oz sparkling water
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2–4 drops fruit flavor (e.g., Juicy Peach, Strawberry)
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OPTIONAL: 1 drop Super Sweet if the guest wants “soda sweetness”
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Light stir
Menu name suggestions:
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Peach Sparkler (No Sugar Added)
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Strawberry Fizz Refresher
Tagline for menu / label:
“Bold fruit flavor. You pick the sweetness.”
5.2 Sugar-Free Hazelnut Iced Coffee
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16 oz cold brew
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2–3 drops Hazelnut concentrate
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Ice
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OPTIONAL: 1 drop Super Sweet for “sweet hazelnut latte”
Sell it as:
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Sugar-Free Hazelnut Cold Brew
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Hazelnut Cold Brew (You Choose Sweetness)
Hook:
“Tastes like a coffeehouse syrup latte, but without the syrup.”
5.3 Protein Shake: Glazed Doughnut / Birthday Cake
Base:
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12–16 oz milk or alt milk
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1 scoop vanilla protein
Add:
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A few drops dessert-style flavors (Glazed Doughnut, Frosting, Vanilla Cupcake, etc.)
Blend or shake.
OPTIONAL:
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1 drop Super Sweet if the drink should taste like an actual milkshake
This is how you deliver a “cheat dessert” without blowing macros.
Bullet for marketing:
“Get the bakery flavor. Keep the protein macros.”
5.4 Hydration / Electrolyte Refresher
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20–24 oz water + electrolyte mix
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2–3 drops bright fruit (Peach, Strawberry, etc.)
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Ice
Optional:
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Super Sweet for “sports drink” sweetness
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Citrus squeeze for acidity
On a menu / bottle:
“Strawberry Peach Electrolyte Refresher — flavor boosted, sugar optional.”
5.5 Zero-Proof Cocktail / Mocktail
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Soda water over ice
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2–4 drops fruit
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1–2 drops bakery/cream note (Peach + Waffle = peaches & cream)
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Fresh citrus squeeze
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OPTIONAL: 1 drop Super Sweet
Menu copy:
“Peaches & Cream Zero-Proof Cooler — No alcohol. No sugar forced on you.”
6. Rollout Playbook (How to Sell This)
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Lead with control
“You pick the sweetness. We’ll build it to taste.” -
Show the health angle without preaching
“Flavor your drink, not your sugar intake.” -
Name the experience, not the chemistry
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“Glazed Doughnut Protein Shake”
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“Hazelnut Cold Brew”
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“Peach Sparkler Refresher”
These names sell emotion and indulgence.
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Offer “upgrade to sweet” as an upsell
“Want it dessert-sweet?” (Add Super Sweet.)
This becomes an easy $0.50–$1.00 premium in a café.
7. Summary (Executive Pitch)
Capella lets you:
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Add intense, recognizable flavor to any beverage.
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Keep sugar OFF the label by default.
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Layer in sweetness only if the customer wants it.
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Scale from single cup → full production.
It’s not just “sugar-free.”
It’s sugar-optional flavor architecture.
Final Thoughts
Sugar-free flavorings open up a world of possibilities for anyone interested in making better beverage choices without compromising on taste. Whether you’re reducing sugar, experimenting with low-carb recipes, or just want more variety in your daily hydration, these concentrates are worth exploring.
They offer control, convenience, and creative freedom—all without the sugar.
If you’re curious to see what kinds of sugar-free flavorings are available, it’s worth browsing catalogs from companies that specialize in beverage-safe concentrates. Brands like Capella Flavors offer a wide range of unsweetened, water-soluble options that can inspire your next drink creation.
