What Is the Best Way to Measure the Color of Beverages?

The best way to measure the color of beverages is by using a benchtop spectrophotometer. As beverages can come in various forms, such as translucent, transparent and opaque, a benchtop spectrophotometer is best for color measurement.

Measure Beverages According to Their Liquid Form

When you measure the color of beverages, utilizing a tool like a spectrophotometer that considers haze and transparency is essential. There are two types of beverages that will influence how you measure your drinks during production:

• Translucent and transparent liquids: Some beverages are clearer than others, but if light can penetrate through the beverage, you're testing a transparent or translucent liquid. Spectrophotometers measure transmittance and transparency in these drinks.
• Opaque beverages: These are liquids in which little to no light can pass through, and they can have a cloudy appearance due to pulp or other particles. Spectrophotometers measure reflectance for these beverages.

It's vital to have a beverage color analyzer that measures both translucent and opaque liquids.

Measure Color Throughout the Production Process

As beverages can be volatile, factors like storage, temperature changes, and transportation can influence their color. Ensuring you test for color changes throughout production can help maintain consistent color even after your products reach the end users.

Understand the Difference Between Color Indications and Safety Standards

Color does not always indicate the safety of a beverage, as expired liquids will have primary indicators — like expiration dates — that they are no longer safe to sell. Color is an essential factor, however, in beverage industry standards. Food and beverage regulatory bodies provide robust regulations that emphasize the need for manufacturers to uphold specific product color standards.

These rules are in place to protect the consumer and ensure every batch of beverages you produce has a uniform color according to its product type. These health and safety factors become an even more critical issue for beverages made from natural ingredients, as these ingredients could be volatile or change color and composition.

Measure the Color of Beverages Accurately With HunterLab

Whether you're working with coconut water, fruit juice, bottled water, or craft beer, our color spectrophotometers offer fast and reliable results batch-to-batch. Our spectrophotometers include innovative technology to measure haze and color in beverages so that you can avoid costly mistakes and consistently deliver fully measured liquids. For more information, explore our beverage color measurement solutions or contact us online today.