Coca-Cola Freestyle Is More Than a Soda Machine: APIs, Data, Custom Drinks & AI in the Restaurant Tech Stack

In this episode of Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants, Paul Molinari of Popcorn GTM talks with Coca-Cola’s Angela Diffly and Freestyle’s Anthony Bonitatibus about Coca-Cola Freestyle as a connected restaurant technology platform, not just a touchscreen beverage dispenser. They explain how Freestyle functions as an insights engine that turns every pour into data operators can use, and how it can integrate via API with POS, loyalty, back-of-house systems, digital ordering, and first-party apps (with Wendy’s cited as an example). They discuss how Freestyle drives beverage volume through customization, offers hundreds of recipes and many zero-sugar options, and uses microdosing cartridge tech that saves back-of-house space and reduces crew burden. The conversation covers rapid promotion rollouts, custom flavors, “dirty soda” execution, an AI-driven Share a Coke Freestyle activation, and how partners use geographic and brand performance insights to merchandise and promote effectively.