PepsiCo Inc., the maker of Pepsi and a broad range of popular food and beverge products, tries for third time to successfully launch a coffee-cola beverage in the United States with the introduction of "Pepsi Café" in April 2020.

To be marketed in 12 ounce cans, Pepsi Café will come in two flavors: original and vanilla. The coffee-infused cola has nearly twice as much caffeine as regular Pepsi. Pepsi Café will feature a blend of roasted Arabica coffee and Pepsi-Cola. The new beverage, however, will only be available for a limited time in the U.S.

"We want to be first to market, and launch this really in the right way," said Todd Kaplan, vice-president of marketing for PepsiCo.

"We know that the consumers today are looking for products that meet the needs of ene,rgy, indulgence and refreshment during that afternoon pick-me-up occasion."

Kaplan said Pepsi has known the potential of blending cola and coffee for years. He said PepsiCo has struck the perfect balance with Pepsi Café and can't wait to introduce Pepsi Café to the U.S. in 2020. He's confident cola fans, iced coffee drinkers and anyone in need of an extra caffeine boost will love the unexpected flavor medley of roasted coffee infused into the Pepsi flavor.

Pepsi had twice before tried to introduce a coffee-cola beverage but to no success. Pepsi Kona was introduced in 1996. It was test-marketed as another morning drink in May 1996 to 1997 only in the city of Philadelphia. It failed the test marketing stage, and in 1997 was discontinued due to low sales.

Pepsi tried again in 2004, this time with another variant called the Pepsiccino only sold outside the U.S. As the brand name implied, Pepsiccino wa as creamier version meant to taste more like cappuccino. It also failed.

PepsiCo said Pepsi Kona and Pepsiccino inspired the taste of Pepsi Café, which took more than a year and a half to develop.

PepsiCo rival, The Coca-Cola Company, first marketed its own cola-coffee combination in 2006. This beverage called Coca-Cola Blak ultimately failed and was discontinued in 2008. In 2017, Coke introduced Coca-Cola Plus Coffee in Australia for test marketing.