Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- infuse / ɪnˈfyuz / (v) – to add or introduce something to a liquid in order to add flavor
Example:Lemon-infused water is very refreshing.
- tagline / ˈtæg laɪn / (n) – a word or phrase used to advertise something
Example:Most people think the company’s tagline is funny.
- discontinue / ˌdɪs kənˈtɪn yu / (v) – to stop doing or making something
Example:The company discontinued the drug because of its dangerous side effects.
- appalling / əˈpɔ lɪŋ / (adj) – very bad
Example:The dirt in the restaurant’s kitchen is appalling.
- fix / fɪks / (n) – an amount or supply of something that one desires strongly
Example:She gets her daily fix of green tea from a local tea shop.
Article
Read the text below.
Coca-Cola has launched a coffee-infused drink in the United States.
The new product called Coca-Cola with Coffee uses the advertising tagline “Sips like a Coke, finishes like a coffee.” The beverage is made with Brazilian coffee and comes in three flavors—Dark Blend, Vanilla, and Caramel. Coca-Cola also offers a zero-sugar, zero-calorie version of the drink in Dark Blend and Vanilla flavors. A can of Coca-Cola with Coffee has 69 milligrams of caffeine, twice the amount of caffeine in a regular Coke. The price for each can is about $2.32.
Coca-Cola with Coffee was initially launched in Japan in 2018. The product then became available in other markets worldwide, including Australia, Italy, and Vietnam.
Coca-Cola with Coffee is not the company’s first attempt to launch a soda with coffee in the United States. In 2006, the company introduced Coca-Cola Blak, but it was discontinued after two years. According to reviews, the drink’s aftertaste was appalling.
Brandan Strickland, a brand executive at Coca-Cola, said the company spent about two years testing Coca-Cola with Coffee before its launch in January. He said Coca-Cola took the time to make sure that it had the right packaging and that the drink would appeal to consumers who want a caffeine fix in the afternoon but cannot decide between a cup of coffee and a regular Coke.
More than 80% who tried Coca-Cola with Coffee during the initial consumer testing said that they would buy the product. Strickland believes that there will be high demand for Coca-Cola with Coffee because many people need a boost while juggling multiple responsibilities like working from home and doing chores.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
• Do you agree that many people need a caffeine fix now that they are juggling multiple responsibilities like working from home and doing chores? Why or why not?
• Would you drink Coca-Cola with Coffee? Why or why not?
Discussion B
• Do you think products popular in one country will always be popular in other countries? Why or why not?
• Is there a product popular in your country that you think should be introduced to other countries (e.g. konnyaku jelly)? Discuss.
