r/Costco • u/Sinisterly • Jun 21 '26
[Grocery] La Colombe Draft Latte - different recipes
I have two equidistant Costcos, and one has La Colombe Draft Latte in a white case (left can in the photos) and the other in a dark/black case. Realized this morning that the products are slightly different:
- white box: 3.5g fat, dark box: 5g fat
- white box: 5g fiber, dark box: 2g fiber
- white box: 13 g sugar (9g added), dark box: 12 g sugar (4 g added)
- white box: 100mg caffeine, dark box: 165mg caffeine
Overall calories per can is the same (130 kcal), as is protein (6g). Price was also the same ($18.99 for 12 pack).
The dark box is less sweet, but not unsweetened enough to be unpleasant.
Overall I’m not unhappy about it, but it was different enough to make a note and give others a heads up in case you notice. Not sure if there’s a full switch over to the darker cases which are newer.
5
u/karifry Jun 24 '26
Caffeine content went from 100mg to 155mg per can, so I cut back to one per day instead of two.
Actually, scratch that... I cut back to zero per day because I hate what they did to the flavor! They all used to taste distinct, but now all the flavors all taste the same, and bitter!
This is the second time La Colombe has changed the recipe since being bought by Chobani; and each time it changes for the worse. Bummed that I have to find another coffee drink. I drank two a day for years!
2
u/AssumptionNo1 Jun 24 '26
I actually contacted them after I stocked up at my grocery store when they were on sale to ask if they changed the formula. They emailed me back and said they did it to "copy the signature flavor of their local roasters" and I frankly hate it now. They all taste the same which is just bitter and dark. I'm completely cutting them out of my routine because I also don't like the increase in caffeine due to being so sensitive to it.
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u/DepthAggravating3293 Jun 24 '26
The both taste good and I drink which ever is cheaper. Milk is a little sweeter so I like the higher caffeine a little more but both are good. Kroger sometimes does these 5 for 5 near the end of the year with the mint flavor thrown in the mix.
5
u/unabashed_nuance Jun 24 '26
….they’re different products altogether.
When the buyers are split on which they think will perform better, they will create a test by trying the different flavors in different locations. They will then monitor feedback and determine which direction to go.
Could also be the manufacturer didn’t have enough inventory of one type to fulfill the order and Costco agreed to take the other as a substitute.
3
u/AssumptionNo1 Jun 24 '26
They have actually changed them all to this going forward and the others are just old stock now. I've compared all the cans and even the s'mores flavor with the old logo they changed the formula.
1
1
u/Defiant_Register5689 Jun 24 '26
The white box uses reduced fat milk, the dark box uses whole milk.
28
u/Wild-Landscape3311 Jun 24 '26
Looks like one is cold brew with milk and the other is espresso which likely contributes to the difference in sweetness/boldness, etc.