People Are Buzzing About Coca-Cola's New Soda

On a hot day, nothing compares to the refreshing taste of an ice-cold Coca-Cola (or the diet version). For more than 100 years, the soft drink giant has reigned supreme over all other sodas, demolishing upstarts that dared to stand in its way. Most people drink Coke because of the sugary taste, but there are those who swear by its caffeine hit, too — even first thing in the morning. For those who drink Coke in place of their morning coffee, or anybody looking to simply blend the two together, you're in luck because Coca-Cola is introducing a brand-new, coffee-infused variety of its famous blend.

Regardless of whether you typically opt for a coffee first thing in the morning or a Coke mid-afternoon, as your energy begins to flag, this new soda is guaranteed to hit the spot. The only question is just how much caffeine can possibly be contained in one can?

Coca-Cola North America announced that, beginning in January 2021, its brand new Coca-Cola With Coffee (catchy title, that) will be available to purchase in the U.S. The soda, "Fuses the familiar, authentic taste of Coca-Cola with the rich, luxurious flavor of 100% Brazilian coffee," according to the company.

Coca-Cola With Coffee will be available in 12-ounce cans in three different flavors; Dark Blend, Vanilla, and Caramel. For caffeine junkies, in particular, the new soda will be a must as it contains double the caffeine of a regular can of Coke (69 milligrams compared to 34).

"This is a truly unique hybrid innovation that will pioneer a new category we're calling refreshment coffee," Jaideep Kibe, a vice president with Coca-Cola, enthused. "When you take that first sip, you realize there's nothing quite like it. It sips like a Coke and finishes like a coffee."

This isn't the first time Coca-Cola and coffee have mingled together in the same can. As Today notes, back in 2006, Coca-Cola Blak, a coffee-flavored version of Coke, was introduced to the market only to flop spectacularly (Coca-Cola stopped selling it just two years later).

They've learned their lesson, however, as chief marketing officer Javier Meza promised. "We're excited to bring Coca-Cola With Coffee to the United States and apply learnings from so many markets that have gotten us to where we are today," he said, noting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered how the company approaches its business.

Coca-Cola With Coffee contains more coffee than Coca-Cola Blak, which might be the difference that makes it a hit. The new venture may also be their way of making up for ground lost to the likes of Starbucks, whom RBC analyst Nik Modi theorized took a major chunk out of their products when people started opting for coffee instead of soda for their caffeine boost, according to Business Insider.