The drink – which “sips like a Coke and finishes like a coffee” – is available nationwide in three flavors: Dark Blend, Vanilla and Caramel. A zero-sugar counterpart comes in Dark Blend and Vanilla. They will be available in the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee aisle.
All varieties are shelf-stable and contain 69 mg of caffeine per 12-oz. can. This compares to 80-100mg in an average 8oz cup of coffeee (a cup of coffee could be expected to contain 120mg-150mg if scaled to an equivalent 12 oz size - making Coca-Cola With Coffee around half the strength of a regular coffee if comparing like-to-like serving sizes).
More than 50% of Coca-Cola drinkers and coffee loyalists enjoy both beverages on a regular basis, according to the company. It says its research shows consumers are more open to trying new category-crossing drinks like Coca-Cola with Coffee, which 'push Coca-Cola into uncharted territory while staying true to its core values'. In preliminary consumer testing, more than 80% of consumers who tried Coca-Cola with Coffee said they would buy it.
“Many people are often torn between reaching for a soft drink or a coffee at 3pm at work, at school or on the go,” said Brandan Strickland, brand director. Coca-Cola Trademark. “Now, you don’t need to leave Coca-Cola to get your coffee fix.
“Coca-Cola with Coffee is a true hybrid innovation that provides the perfect solution for that mid-afternoon pick-me-up we all want, especially in today’s work-from-home environment."
Coca-Cola debuted its Coffee Cola blend in Australia in 2017 under the name Coca-Cola Plus Coffee; before launching Coca-Cola with Coffee in Japan in 2018. The US is the 50th market to launch the beverage. Each country tailors the recipe and packaging to meet local tastes.
Coca-Cola with Coffee is the latest creative extension of the Coca-Cola Trademark in the US, following the rollouts of Coke Energy/Coke Energy Cherry, Cherry Vanilla Coke, Orange Vanilla Coke (and their zero-sugar counterparts).
Coca-Cola also says it is an example of its “lift and shift” strategy: scaling successful beverage innovations from market to market via an experimental, test-and-learn approach.