From waffles and ice cream to bagels and burgers, multi-coloured grub has become a culinary phenomenon, responsible for hours-long queues at stores and a deluge of social media posts. But what exactly is the appeal of rainbow food? And could participating in this fad be bad for brands?

More than 200 million Pumpkin Spice Lattes have been sold since 2003, attracting a cult-like following in the process. Its arrival is considered the ‘start of fall’, welcomed online with excitement worthy of a homecoming queen. How did a hot drink become the icon of all things autumnal?

Social media has enabled people to share content with a click, but why do certain videos and news stories spread across the web? Canvas8 spoke with Jonah Berger, author ofContagious: Why Things Catch On,to understand online virality and the ways our digital spaces affect the content we consume.

A ‘cup of Joe’ has become a staple in the American diet. At one end of the market Starbucks has made a name for itself selling flavoured coffees, and at the other end ‘gourmet’ coffee has become a daily choice for 34% of Americans. But can rare brews and a theatrical experience convince customers that Starbucks is now a contender in the ‘premium’ coffee market?