Boss Coffee
Japanese coffee drink brand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boss (ボス, Bosu), marketed outside of Japan as Suntory Boss Coffee, is a brand name of canned and plastic bottled coffee and coffee-flavored beverages sold by Suntory in Japan. From 1992 to 2019 the brand was exclusive to Japan, gaining a cult following. Since 2019, it was introduced to various international markets, most notably in the Australian market, where it has since grown to become the market leader.[1][2]
Logo used in Japan | |
 | |
| Type | Iced coffee |
|---|---|
| Distributor | Suntory (Japan) Suntory Oceania (International) |
| Origin | Japan |
| Website | www |
In Australia and New Zealand, the brand is distributed by Suntory Oceania, the same owner as the V energy drink, which had notable established distribution infrastructure in the region prior to the introduction of Boss Coffee.[3]
Boss Coffee primarily competes in the Australian market with Oak, Ice Break, Farmers Union Iced Coffee and Dare Iced Coffee. Initially, all of Suntory Boss' competitors were sold in plastic bottle or milk carton packaging, which was the mainstream in Australia prior to the arrival of Japanese canned coffee, until April 2025 when Dare released Dare Charged, a stronger version of its original iced coffee in a 240ml can as a direct domestic competitor to Suntory Boss' dominance in the Australian market.[4]
History
Boss was first released in 1992 and is one of many brands of Japanese canned coffee. Since 2006, American actor Tommy Lee Jones has appeared in a series of TV commercials and billboards for the brand,[5][6] becoming one of the most recognised faces in Japan.[7]
The Suntory Boss brand was launched in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. in 2019, with two products.[8][9][10] In the U.S., Australian and New Zealand product lines, the logo does not include a pipe.[10] Outside of the Japanese domestic markets, specifically in Australia, the brand markets itself in a way that emphasizes its Japanese origin, likely due to the prevalence of the Cool Japan subculture in Australia, with commercials that typically display working class Japanese environments with the drink motivating the worker to achieve better with the slogan "How Japan Can".[11]
Gallery
A stacking of Australian cans of Double Espresso variety Boss Coffee
Variation of Boss Coffee distributed exclusively for 7-Eleven
Caramel flavour of Boss Coffee
Cafe Latte flavour sold under the "Craft Boss" subbrand
Black Coffee flavour sold under the "Craft Boss" subbrand
A can of Black Coffee style Boss Coffee
Mocha flavoured Boss Coffee paired with Shin Ramyun
"Pride of Boss" variety paired with a Japari-man from FamilyMart
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