Coca-Cola Australia discontinues Barista Bros RTD range

Production of packaged ready-to-drink Barista Bros range ended in May 2023 | Photo credit: Barista Bros

Coca-Cola Australia has discontinued its Barista Bros iced coffee brand to focus on its ‘core portfolio of products’. 
 

Production of the packaged ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage, which came in espresso, double espresso, mocha and iced chocolate flavours, ended in May 2023. 
 

Coca-Cola Australia said it does not have a ‘direct replacement’ for Barista Bros, which was primarily retailed at Australian supermarkets and petrol stations. 

“We continuously review our product portfolio to ensure we’re offering more of what people love. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue Barista Bros in Australia,” Coca-Cola Australia said in a statement.  

“The decision will allow us to continue to focus on our core portfolio of products and provide even more of what consumers enjoy. While there won’t be a direct replacement for Barista Bros at this time, Coca-Cola Australia offers a range of soft drinks, waters, sports drinks, juice, mixers and teas,” the beverage giant added. 

Barista Bros was launched in Queensland in June 2014 before being rolled-out across Australia later that year. Coca-Cola said the RTD range, which initially comprised iced coffee and double strength iced coffee flavours, was ‘inspired by the passion of baristas and Australia’s growing café culture’. 

Coca-Cola began operating in Australia in 1938. The Atlanta-based beverage group retains a presence in the RTD coffee market via the Costa Coffee brand, which it acquired for $5.4bn in 2018. 

The first major product launched following the acquisition was a range of RTD beverages in June 2019. Coca-Cola has since scaled distribution of its Costa Coffee branded RTD products globally.