For today’s coffee companies, a diverse product portfolio is vital for keeping existing customers and converting new ones. Those who consistently innovate to keep up with consumer trends, especially those popular with younger generations, will be well-positioned for success as the industry grows. 

Oat latte cans are a relatively new product in the coffee industry. They tick multiple boxes for modern consumers, including health and wellness, convenience, and customisation. 

We spoke to Paulo Abiog, chief operating officer at Arabika, to learn more about how stocking oat latte cans can help coffee businesses thrive.

What are oat latte cans, and why are they important?

Oat milk is one of the most popular plant milks in major coffee-consuming markets and also one of the newest. It wasn’t until 2017 that Swedish manufacturer Oatly began offering free samples to high street retailers. Seven years on, it’s now the UK’s favourite alternative milk. 

“Back in the early years of my career, there was already almond or soy milk on grocery shelves, but there was no specific label on how and when to use them,” says Paulo. “Oat milk was heavily marketed as ‘barista grade’, specifically for the coffee industry, so mindsets were automatically curved towards oat milk as the new, go-to alternative.”

Baristas were immediately impressed by its natural flavour, creamy texture, and high-quality microfoam, which is ideal for milk-based beverages like lattes or flat whites. 

“Nowadays, there are a handful of dairy substitutes that can be used and are widely available on an international scale, but when it comes to the coffee industry, people are sticking to oat milk,” Paulo says.

Oat latte RTD beverages follow the same philosophy: for coffee businesses looking to produce plant-based canned drinks, oat milk is already one of the most popular dairy substitutes for both out-of-home and at-home consumption. 

Rise Brewing Co., a New York-based RTD nitro coffee business, claims that after experimenting with multiple different alt-milks for its products, oat milk was the clear winner, especially for performance with nitrogen infusion. 

The use of oat milk in RTD is now widespread. Starbucks sells two oat-milk frappuccino RTDs, and Oatly has a line of coffee oat milk cans in various flavours. US specialty coffee pioneer Intelligentsia launched three unique oat latte RTD drinks in early 2024.  

Oat latte cans are highly customisable and build out your offering

As mentioned, businesses like Starbucks, Oatly, and Intelligentsia offer different flavours and formats as part of their oat latte line-up. Thanks to its neutral flavour and creamy mouthfeel, oat milk doesn’t overpower the coffee or other flavours that manufacturers are trying to highlight. This also means it’s perfect for customisation with syrups or flavourings.

At Hardtank, for example, we offer a vegan caramel oat latte, a vegan oat flat white, and a light vegan oat latte. This allows clients to stratify their offerings and meet a wider range of customer demands. 

Plant-based diets were traditionally embraced by those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, an increasing number of younger consumers are choosing plant-based alternatives for different reasons, including health and wellness, ethical considerations, and environmental impact. 

In the United States, for example, just 4% of the general population identifies as vegan or vegetarian. Still, younger consumers, including Gen Z and Millennials, are far more likely to adopt a “flexitarian” diet. 

Popular flavourings for oat milk RTD products include caramel, chocolate, hazelnut, and vanilla. When paired with oat milk, these complement the flavour of the drink without overpowering it. 

Nitro coffee is another way to expand your product portfolio. As mentioned earlier, Rise found that oat milk was the best-performing alternative to dairy for nitro infusion, where the tiny nitrogen bubbles enhance oat milk’s inherently creamy mouthfeel. 

Oat latte cans are also convenient. In a retail setting, some RTD products – such as those we offer at Hardtank – are shelf-stable. This means they can be stored ambiently at room temperature or refrigerated. This minimises waste while also appealing to younger consumers who want healthy, high-quality drinks in a convenient format.

Source your line of oat latte cans

Before you start offering oat latte cans, there are several things to consider. Smaller companies and start-ups are more likely to have to contend with a lack of experience, stricter finances, or a less prominent brand.

Manufacturing quality RTD beverages requires expensive equipment and facilities, modern technology, and plenty of expertise. Therefore, partnering with a private label RTD manufacturer is a wise decision. 

At the same time, your partner delivers the product you want, ensuring it’s created in a safe, regulatory-compliant environment. Hardtank, for example, has a BRC-certified RTD manufacturing facility that meets the highest global food safety standards. 

A sample from every cold brew batch we produce is sent to an independent laboratory for further safety testing. We also retain the samples for the duration of their shelf life to check if anything goes wrong later. 

Similarly, MOQs and production costs can often price some aspiring brands out of the market – many manufacturers demand significant upfront financial commitments and order quantities (up to 100,000 units per SKU in some cases). 

At Hardtank, brands can start producing their own private label oat latte cans from just 3,000 units per order. Similarly, 4–to 6-week lead times mean you can get to market faster and respond to changing consumer preferences quickly.

Why you should choose Hardtank as your private label oat latte partner

At Hardtank, we have built our private label services around quality, collaboration and convenience, helping innovative businesses achieve their goals in the RTD segment. 

Our low MOQs and product costs, fast lead times and helpful payment terms mean you can get to market faster and keep your brand growing. Plus, we have the capacity to scale production as your needs grow – meaning you have a partner for the present and future.

To learn more about Hardtank private label oat latte cans, visit our website or contact us directly. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest trends. 

Hardtank oat latte cans