Chamberlain Coffee Launches Ready-To-Drink Lattes At Walmart—And Cinnamon Bun Is An Instant Classic

Chamberlain Coffee, the Gen-Z coffee brand founded by YouTuber and podcast host Emma Chamberlain, has officially entered the ready-to-drink (RTD) space with the launch of their canned cold brew lattes. The coffee drinks are now available exclusively through Walmart nationwide, both on shelves and online.

At launch, there are four flavors: classic cold brew, vanilla, mocha and cinnamon bun. They’re dairy-free (with almond milk and coconut cream lending a smooth taste and creamy texture) and have just 1 gram of sugar per serving (thanks to the addition of date syrup). True to form, the packaging is on point, with fun colors and cute animal illustrations.

The new canned lattes and partnership with Walmart is a significant step in getting Chamberlain Coffee to a wider audience, as nationwide sales were mostly limited to direct-to-consumer (DTC) until this point. “Making Chamberlain Coffee accessible to customers whenever, wherever they are is always the goal and this new product is helping us do just that,” Chamberlain Coffee CEO Christopher Gallant said in a press release. “We’re thrilled to have Walmart as our exclusive retail partner for launch and look forward to this new, delicious product being available to customers conveniently nationwide.”

I had the opportunity to connect with Chamberlain to learn more about the new RTD line and the inspiration behind it. I’ll let her take it away from here.

Abigail Abesamis Demarest: Why did you decide to add an RTD product to the Chamberlain Coffee lineup, and how did you choose Walmart as your retailer?

Emma Chamberlain: I have wanted to do an RTD since day 1. I love anything that’s easy, that you can just grab and go. I also like things that I can easily integrate into my routine. I’ve been looking for my perfect RTD coffee for years and never really found it, and that really inspired me to make it myself. But it wasn’t easy, and it took a lot of time. I wanted something that tasted premium and elevated but also was fun, and I think we really did that.

I chose Walmart because I love how widespread it is. Chamberlain Coffee has mainly been sold DTC and in retailers located primarily on the coasts so far, and it’s really exciting for me to have a product that I’m proud of available to anyone who lives near a Walmart.

Demarest: Talk to me about the inspiration behind the different flavors you decided to launch with.

Chamberlain: Cold Brew Latte, Caffé Mocha Latte and Vanilla Latte were no-brainers because they’re classic latte flavors that I’ve enjoyed over the years and many people have as well. But we also wanted to throw something fun in there—you have to!—and that’s where Cinnamon Bun Latte comes in. I’ve always loved cinnamon with coffee, and it’s the perfect combination. That’s why coffee cake is basically cinnamon cake. I think that flavor might be my favorite right now.

Demarest: What makes these canned lattes different from others already on the market?

Chamberlain: There’s a few things. First, the branding is very unique. It has this sort of fun, playful feeling and the cans can also be an accessory. As a fashion lover, I love when products that I use in my life match my overall vibe. And I think having fun packaging brings a smile to people’s faces in a way that is special and meaningful.

Our ingredients are also very unique and this was something that was super important for me. We prioritized having a low sugar content and using dairy-free ingredients so that these drinks could be enjoyed by as many people as possible. It’s been a very dairy-heavy market thus far and we wanted to provide a really tasty, creamy, yummy experience without the dairy and without all of the sugar. I think RTD can be fun and easy and still high-quality; you don’t have to sacrifice these things just because something’s in a can.

Demarest: The packaging is adorable! Can you talk a little bit about the role branding plays in your company?

Chamberlain: Our branding really does feel warm and inviting, and I think that coffee has always had this almost exclusive feeling to it. I’ve felt intimidated by coffee brands in the past because they feel so snobby. And listen, I’m a coffee snob in my own way and I’m picky about my coffee, but there was room for a brand to come in and provide a high-quality product without that intimidating feeling.

We want to make products for coffee drinkers who are experienced and inexperienced. We’re excited about that journey for people who are just getting into coffee or people that are already super into it. And I think that warm, fuzzy, inviting feeling our branding evokes will make people want to become a part of the community.

We like to give the characters special personalities, and I think that’s fun for people to connect with. If they’re not sure what flavor they want to choose, they can choose which character they feel they relate to the most.