La Colombe Coffee Roasters

About La Colombe Coffee Roasters

La Colombe Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company founded in 1994 by Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The founders, who met in Seattle, aimed to introduce a higher quality, culinary-grade coffee experience to the American market, focusing on direct-trade sourcing and traditional roasting techniques. Carmichael, an adventure traveler and inventor, and Iberti, with a European sensibility, bootstrapped the company's growth, starting with a single micro-roastery and café. A key milestone was the invention of the canned Draft Latte in 2015, a textured, ready-to-drink (RTD) cold coffee that significantly disrupted the beverage market and propelled the brand's national growth.

The company operates a multi-channel business model that includes a network of over 30 cafes in major U.S. cities, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform, and an extensive wholesale operation. Its wholesale clients range from high-end restaurants and hotels to retailers like Whole Foods and Walmart. La Colombe's revenue is generated through sales in its cafes, which also serve as experiential marketing hubs, direct online sales of coffee beans and merchandise, and the widespread retail distribution of its RTD products. After a 2015 investment from Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani fully acquired La Colombe for $900 million in December 2023, a move intended to accelerate the coffee brand's growth and scale within the competitive RTD coffee category. Prior to the full acquisition, Keurig Dr Pepper had also made a significant minority investment.

La Colombe's product portfolio is centered on high-quality, ethically sourced coffee. This includes a variety of whole bean and ground coffees, such as single-origin beans and signature blends like Corsica and Nizza. Its most prominent product line is the ready-to-drink (RTD) segment, led by the flagship Draft Latte, available in numerous flavors. The company also offers cold brew, coffee pods, and filter packs. A core tenet of its brand is a commitment to direct, long-term trade practices with coffee growers, often exceeding Fair Trade standards, and a focus on sustainability.