What is a post mix drink
If you’ve ever ordered a soft drink at a pub, café, or restaurant and wondered how bartenders serve that perfect cola or lemonade so quickly and freshly, chances are you’re enjoying the perks of a post mix drink. But what exactly does that mean?
A post mix drink is a refreshing beverage created on demand. Instead of grabbing a ready-to-drink can or bottle, post mix systems blend concentrated syrup with carbonated water (and CO₂) right at the dispense point, resulting in a fresher, more consistent drink. These systems typically comprise:
- Syrup concentrate (often in bag‑in‑box containers)
- Carbonated (or chilled) water
- A dispensing machine (like a soda gun or tower)
- CO₂ supply for carbonation
Why Do Businesses Use Post Mix Solutions?
With the UK soft drinks market growing by over 3% year-on-year and the demand for carbonated beverages expected to rise steadily through 2035, according to the IndexBox UK Soft Drinks Market Overview report, venues are under pressure to serve drinks quickly, consistently, and sustainably.
For many operators, such as pubs, bars, restaurants, cafés, and event venues, the benefits of post mix solutions are why they are so popular. Let’s take a look at this in more detail.
Cost Efficiency and Higher Profit Margins
Buying syrup is far cheaper per serving compared to pre-mixed bottles or cans. You only pay for the concentrate, water, and CO₂—a fraction of the cost of transporting and storing bulky packaged drinks. This translates to noticeably higher profit margins behind the bar.
Space Efficiency and Easier Stock Management
Syrup bags take up far less space than cases of bottles or cans. That space can be freed for more profitable items, like extra seating or additional product lines. Not to mention, there’s less hassle, not having to move heavy cases around.
Streamlined Service
In fast-paced scenarios, speed is critical. Post mix systems deliver drinks that significantly cut wait times and enable staff to serve more customers efficiently.
Consistency and Quality Control
Each dispense delivers the same flavour and carbonation level, so that every drink tastes as good as the next, leading to positive feedback from customers.
Environmental Sustainability
Post mix systems dramatically reduce single-use packaging waste. Each bag-in-box unit can replace dozens of bottles or cans, leading to less plastic and aluminium waste. Transportation impact is also much lower, reducing CO₂ emissions up to seven times compared to carrying full bottles!
Flexibility and Customisation
Operators can easily vary syrup-to-water ratios, offer multiple flavours, or quickly pivot to seasonal or diet options. This adaptability helps cater to shifting customer tastes and reduces waste.
The Best Post Mix Products
When it comes to choosing the best post mix products, several factors matter:
Quality of Syrup Flavours
Brands like Real Soda (distributed by Thirstee) offer premium, well‑balanced flavours—classic cola, lemonade, orangeade, ginger beer, mango, and fruit blends—all in cost‑effective 10L bag‑in‑box formats that yield up to 60L of drink.
Dependable Equipment and Support
The best providers supply reliable dispensing equipment (bar guns, towers, chillers) on loan, and back it up with installation, maintenance, and service agreement support, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum performance.
In short, the best post mix products combine great‑tasting syrups, high‑quality dispense tech, eco‑friendly packaging, smart logistics, and exceptional service.
Post mix solutions aren’t just a trend, they’re a smart, long-term investment for any business that serves beverages. We help businesses gain access to reliable, high-quality equipment, such as dispensers, chillers, and CO₂ systems—often provided on loan as part of a service agreement.
Ready to upgrade your drinks service? Get in touch with us today to explore our range of premium post mix products, expert support, and flexible equipment packages.