Co-founders launch espresso soda startup

NEW YORK — A new beverage startup has hit the market called Esspo — a line of espresso sodas.

Co-founders Justin Stefano, Philippe von Borries and Katharine Leitch describe Esspo as a beverage that sips like a soda, caffeinates like cold brew, and hits the sweet spot of flavor, fizz and feel-good energy.

The beverage, which features 45 calories and 6 grams of sugar, is formulated with carbonated water, organic blue agave nectar, cold brew coffee extract, citric acid, sodium citrate, l-theanine, monk fruit extract, ascorbic acid, natural flavors and caffeine.

“It’s light, refreshing, flavor-forward and designed for the afternoon, the social moment, the creative window, the reset between meetings,” Stefano said. “Coffee is a ritual. Energy drinks are a utility. But little exists in between.

“So, we wanted to create a product that filled that gap. The next wave in beverages won’t come from bigger versions of the same ideas, but from rethinking where coffee lives, how energy shows up, and what people reach for as the day unfolds. Esspo is carbonated, milkless, made with great ingredients and delicious flavors and is low calorie and better-for-you than other soda options.”

Esspo is offered in three varieties: classic vanilla, cherry vanilla and sweet lemon.

Consumers can find the espresso soda beverages direct-to-consumer as well as TikTok Shop.

A large national launch is expected in April, Stefano said.