La Colombe Coffee Roasters
La Colombe Coffee Roasters is a Philadelphia-based specialty coffee roaster and café operator known for third-wave coffee, Draft Latte beverages, and single-origin roasted coffee. La Colombe is a Philadelphia-founded coffee roaster and café brand that has pursued perfect coffee since 1994.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
La Colombe Coffee Roasters is an American specialty coffee company that combines coffee roasting, cafés, packaged beverages, and retail coffee products. Founded in 1994 by Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, the company was originally known as La Colombe Torrefaction. It developed within the third-wave coffee movement, emphasizing the quality and provenance of beans, carefully developed roasting profiles, café preparation, and a more craft-oriented relationship between consumers and coffee. The company began as a Philadelphia roaster and café business before expanding into other major American cities. Its early retail footprint included the original Rittenhouse Square site, followed by cafés in New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. New York locations opened in Tribeca in 2007 and SoHo in 2009, while the first Chicago café opened in 2011. La Colombe also operated a second Philadelphia site at Dilworth Park and, for a period, locations in Seoul, South Korea. In 2015, its headquarters moved to a new facility in Philadelphia's Fishtown neighborhood, which also became associated with product experimentation and small-scale production. La Colombe expanded beyond brewed coffee and espresso drinks into packaged products. Its portfolio has included single-origin and blended roasted coffees, cold brew in larger bottles, Nitro cold brew, and the Draft Latte. Draft Latte began as a draft-served espresso and frothed-milk drink in La Colombe cafés and was later adapted into cans. The canned product uses nitrous oxide to create a creamy texture and was introduced in several flavors. The brand has also produced Different Drum, a coffee-infused rum made at a micro-distillery connected with its Fishtown operations, and explored instant coffee using self-heating packaging technology. Ownership and financing changed materially during the company's growth. In 2015, Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya acquired a stake after buying out private-equity investor Goode Partners and helped La Colombe raise $28.5 million for expansion. Keurig Dr Pepper invested $300 million in July 2023 for a 33 percent interest. In December 2023, Chobani acquired La Colombe in a transaction valued at $900 million. Keurig Dr Pepper's equity was converted into a minority interest in Chobani as part of the transaction. La Colombe therefore became part of Chobani while retaining its identity as a coffee brand. The brand has also pursued community and industry collaborations. In 2013, it worked with the Clinton Foundation to establish the Haiti Coffee Academy, intended to support Haitian coffee farmers through training, demonstration farming, nursery development, and supply-chain improvements. It collaborated with Philadelphia-area brewer Yards Brewing Company and Icelandic brewer Einstök on coffee-related beers, and worked with Whole Foods Market on café openings in New York City and Austin. By 2025, La Colombe reported approximately 30 United States locations across Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Diego, although its footprint has changed over time and both Boston locations closed during 2025.
History
La Colombe Coffee Roasters was established in 1994 by Todd Carmichael and JP Iberti in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. Initially operating under the name La Colombe Torrefaction, it built its identity around small-scale specialty roasting and café service. The company emerged as part of the third-wave coffee movement, which placed greater emphasis on bean origin, roasting technique, preparation quality, and direct relationships within the coffee supply chain than conventional mass-market coffee businesses. Philadelphia remained the company's home base, but La Colombe gradually created a broader urban café network. It opened New York locations in Tribeca in 2007 and SoHo in 2009, followed by its first Chicago café in 2011. The company also opened a second Philadelphia site at Dilworth Park near City Hall and operated locations in Washington, D.C. During the 2010s, it had three locations in Seoul, South Korea, although the brand's later operating footprint centered primarily on the United States. In 2015, La Colombe moved its headquarters to a newly constructed building in Fishtown, Philadelphia. The company announced ambitious expansion plans that year and began expanding into Boston. Product development became increasingly important alongside the café business. La Colombe sold roasted single-origin coffees and blends through its stores and website, while also developing cold-brew and ready-to-drink formats. Around the middle of the 2010s, the company worked on Nitro cold brew and introduced its Draft Latte in cans in 2016. Draft Latte had originated as a draft-served drink combining cold-pressed espresso and frothed milk. The canned format used a valve and nitrous oxide system to reproduce a creamy texture after packaging. It was initially offered in multiple flavors, and manufacturing later moved from Pennsylvania to a facility in Norton Shores, Michigan. La Colombe also produced larger-format bottled cold brew and developed Different Drum, a coffee-infused rum associated with its Fishtown micro-distillery. In 2020, it announced an instant coffee product using self-heating technology. La Colombe's development included social-impact and beverage collaborations. In 2013, it partnered with the Clinton Foundation to establish the Haiti Coffee Academy. The program was designed to improve the position of Haitian smallholder farmers through education, a demonstration farm and nursery, and measures intended to strengthen supply chains serving both local and export markets. In 2016, La Colombe worked with Yards Brewing Company on a coffee stout distributed through Philadelphia-area Shake Shack restaurants, and collaborated with Yards and Icelandic brewer Einstök on Snorri's Awakening, a coffee pale ale. In 2021, it worked with Whole Foods Market on new store locations in New York City and Austin; the Austin site represented La Colombe's first Texas location. Capital investment and ownership reshaped the company. In 2015, Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder of Chobani, purchased a stake in La Colombe after buying out Goode Partners. He also helped the company raise $28.5 million for expansion. Keurig Dr Pepper invested $300 million in July 2023 in exchange for 33 percent of La Colombe. In December of the same year, Chobani completed a full acquisition for $900 million. Under the transaction structure, Keurig Dr Pepper's La Colombe equity became a minority interest in Chobani, while Chobani took on a $550 million loan to help fund the purchase. La Colombe continued operating under its own brand after joining Chobani. Its cafés have been associated with Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Austin, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The company received a BevNet Rising Star award in 2017, reflecting recognition within the beverage industry. By 2025, its website advertised approximately 30 United States locations. The company also experienced selective contraction: both Boston cafés closed in 2025, with financial performance and other factors cited in explanations of the closures. Its current identity combines a specialty-roaster heritage with packaged coffee and ready-to-drink innovation within the Chobani portfolio.
- 2025
Boston cafés close
[1]La Colombe closes its two Boston locations while maintaining a broader multi-city United States presence.
- 2023
Keurig Dr Pepper investment
[1]Keurig Dr Pepper invests $300 million for a 33 percent stake in La Colombe.
- 2023
Chobani completes acquisition
[1]Chobani acquires La Colombe for $900 million, with Keurig Dr Pepper receiving a minority interest in Chobani.
- 2021
Whole Foods Market collaboration expands to Austin
[1]La Colombe works with Whole Foods Market on store openings in New York City and Austin, including its first Texas location.
- 2020
Self-heating instant coffee announced
[1]La Colombe announces a canned instant coffee concept using self-heating technology.
- 2017
BevNet Rising Star recognition
[1]La Colombe receives BevNet's Rising Star recognition.
- 2016
Canned Draft Latte launches
[1]The company introduces a canned version of its Draft Latte, using a nitrous oxide system to create a creamy texture, and begins building a canning plant in Michigan.
- 2015
New headquarters and major investment
[1]La Colombe moves its headquarters to Fishtown in Philadelphia, invents and introduces its iconic Draft Latte on tap at its cafés, while Hamdi Ulukaya acquires a stake and supports a $28.5 million fundraising round.
- 2013
Haiti Coffee Academy is established
[1]La Colombe and the Clinton Foundation establish an initiative focused on training Haitian coffee farmers and strengthening the country's coffee supply chain.
- 2011
Chicago and Dilworth Park expansion
[1]La Colombe opens its first Chicago café and a second Philadelphia location at Dilworth Park.
Products and positioning
Specialty and third-wave coffee with a craft-roasting heritage, combining café hospitality with packaged ready-to-drink innovation; coffee without compromise, culinary-grade coffee roasted in Philadelphia and inspired by the world.
Specialty coffee · 1994
Roasted coffee
La Colombe's core product line includes single-origin coffees and blended roasted coffees sold through its cafés, retail channels, and website. The range reflects the company's specialty-roaster positioning, with products intended for brewed coffee and espresso preparation at home or in commercial settings.
Ready-to-drink coffee · 2016
Draft Latte®
Draft Latte is an espresso-and-milk beverage first served on tap in La Colombe cafés and later adapted for packaged retail sale. The canned version uses a nitrous oxide system to create a smooth, frothed texture. It became one of the brand's most distinctive ready-to-drink offerings and was initially sold in several flavors. La Colombe's frothy, creamy, impeccably textured invention, introduced on tap at its cafés in 2015 and later launched in cans.
Cold coffee
Nitro cold brew
Nitro cold brew is a nitrogenated cold-coffee format associated with La Colombe's expansion into chilled and ready-to-drink beverages. The product builds on the company's café expertise while targeting consumers seeking a smooth, cold coffee drink outside traditional espresso service. Described as bold, cold, and completely crushable, 9 oz with 180mg caffeine.
Ready-to-drink coffee
Bottled cold brew
La Colombe has offered cold brew in larger 42-ounce bottles, extending its café cold-coffee proposition into take-home retail packaging. The format is intended for household consumption and complements the company's canned and draft beverage products.
Spirits
Different Drum
Different Drum is a coffee-infused rum produced in connection with La Colombe's micro-distillery operation in its Fishtown café facility. It represents an extension of the brand's coffee expertise into alcoholic beverages and hospitality-oriented product experimentation.
Instant coffee · 2020
Instant coffee with self-heating technology
In 2020, La Colombe announced an instant coffee product incorporating self-heating packaging technology. The announcement reflected the company's interest in convenience formats and alternative ways of delivering prepared coffee outside cafés.
Medium roast coffee
Nizza
The iconic medium roast behind every espresso made at La Colombe cafés, named for Nice, a French city famous for its honey, with sweet, nutty notes.
Coffee blend
Corsica
Described as rich, bold, and beloved at La Colombe cafés for decades.
Coffee blend
Monaco
Described as the perfect medium of fruity and chocolatey.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Whole Foods Market store collaboration
New York City · Austin
La Colombe partnered with Whole Foods Market on café locations, including a site in Austin that represented the brand's first Texas location.
Outcome. Supported expansion into a grocery-linked retail environment and a new state market.
- 2016Yards Brewing coffee stout collaboration
Philadelphia region
La Colombe collaborated with Philadelphia brewer Yards Brewing Company on a coffee stout served at local Shake Shack restaurants.
Outcome. Extended La Colombe's coffee identity into a limited collaborative beer offering.
- 2016Snorri's Awakening
United States
La Colombe worked with Einstök and Yards Brewing Company on Snorri's Awakening, a coffee pale ale.
Outcome. Created a cross-border craft-beverage collaboration linking coffee roasting with specialty brewing.
- 2013Haiti Coffee Academy
Haiti · United States
La Colombe partnered with the Clinton Foundation to create the Haiti Coffee Academy, focusing on farmer training, a demonstration farm and nursery, and improvements to coffee supply chains serving domestic and export markets.
Outcome. Established a long-term coffee-development and farmer-support initiative.
Brand decisions
2023
Keurig Dr Pepper takes a strategic stakeM&ABackground
La Colombe pursued additional capital and strategic support as its café and packaged-beverage business developed.
Action taken
Keurig Dr Pepper invested $300 million for a 33 percent interest in La Colombe.
Aftermath
The investment preceded Chobani's acquisition of the company later in 2023.
Investment. $300 million (July 2023)
2023
Chobani acquires La ColombeM&ABackground
Chobani sought to expand beyond yogurt and add a specialty coffee platform with cafés and packaged beverages.
Action taken
Chobani acquired La Colombe for $900 million. Keurig Dr Pepper's La Colombe equity was converted into a minority position in Chobani.
Aftermath
La Colombe became part of Chobani while continuing to operate under its own brand. Chobani used a $550 million loan to help finance the acquisition.
Acquisition value. $900 million (December 2023)
2016
Launch canned Draft LatteProduct launchBackground
The company wanted to extend its draft-served espresso and frothed-milk beverage into a portable retail format.
Action taken
La Colombe introduced canned Draft Latte products using a valve and nitrous oxide system to create a creamy texture.
Aftermath
Draft Latte became a prominent packaged beverage associated with La Colombe's retail growth.
2015
Fund expansion through outside investmentStrategyBackground
La Colombe sought capital to accelerate café and product expansion while remaining a specialty coffee company.
Action taken
Hamdi Ulukaya acquired a stake after buying out Goode Partners and helped the company raise $28.5 million.
Aftermath
The investment supported a more ambitious expansion program and linked La Colombe to the Chobani founder before the later acquisition.
Capital raised. $28.5 million (2015)
Recent events
- 2025
La Colombe closes both Boston cafés[1]
Other
La Colombe closed its Boston locations in the Leather District and Seaport District. The owners cited financial performance and other considerations.
- 2023
Keurig Dr Pepper invests $300 million in La Colombe[1]
M&A
Keurig Dr Pepper invested $300 million for a 33 percent interest in La Colombe.
- 2023
Chobani acquires La Colombe[1]
M&A
Chobani acquired La Colombe for $900 million. Keurig Dr Pepper's stake was converted into a minority position in Chobani, and Chobani used a $550 million loan to help finance the transaction.
- 2016
La Colombe expands its café and packaged-coffee operations[1]
Product launch · Campaign
The company continued geographic expansion while introducing canned Draft Latte products and developing additional cold-brew offerings.
- 2015
La Colombe receives investment from Hamdi Ulukaya[1]
M&A · Other
Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya acquired a stake in La Colombe after buying out Goode Partners and helped the roaster raise $28.5 million to support expansion.
Sources6 sources
- 1La Colombe Coffee Roastersen.wikipedia.org
- 2La Colombe Coffee Workshop - Buy Coffee Onlinelacolombe.com
- 3Aboutlacolombe.com
- 4About Uslacolombe.com
- 5Nizza Medium Roast Coffee - La Colombe Coffee Roasterslacolombe.com
- 6La Colombe Coffee Roasters Launches Summer Advertising Campaign: 'Taste Your Cold Brew Dreams'bevnet.com
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