La Colombe Expands Product Line with Ready-to-Drink Matcha Lattes

La Colombe, renowned for its coffee drinks, is expanding its ready-to-drink portfolio with the introduction of a Matcha Latte line. This new product line consists of three distinct flavors: Everyday Matcha Latte, Strawberry, and Vanilla. All these beverages feature single-origin matcha sourced from Japan, paired with lactose-free whole milk from Michigan, packaged in 11-ounce cans.

The launch aligns with the increasing popularity of matcha as a daily beverage option. According to La Colombe, they have seen a 188% rise in matcha sales at their cafés since 2023. Each can of the new Matcha Latte provides 65mg of natural caffeine and is marketed as a good source of protein. The Everyday Matcha Latte serves as the main offering, while the Strawberry and Vanilla flavors offer sweeter variants.

This initiative marks a strategic expansion for La Colombe, which traditionally focused its RTD business around coffee. The brand, established in 1994, first entered the RTD coffee market more than a decade ago with its Draft Latte® line. With the Matcha Latte launch, La Colombe is leveraging its expertise in product development to cater to both regular matcha consumers and those new to the beverage.

Neil Sandfort, Chief Innovation Officer at Chobani and La Colombe, noted the company's aim to replicate the handcrafted café experience in a can format, stating: “When La Colombe first put the Draft Latte in a can, the brand helped reshape the RTD coffee category by making a true coffeehouse quality experience accessible to more people. Now, we’re bringing that same craft and innovation to matcha.”

The Matcha Lattes were developed focusing on ingredient quality, featuring an intended creamy texture alongside the characteristic bright, umami-forward taste of matcha. The products are now rolling out across major retailers and are available for purchase online.