As cold brew coffee popularity continues to grow, competition is rife, and consumer expectations are higher than ever.

Selecting the right commercial cold brew system has become pivotal to meeting the quality standards customers demand, and the manufacturers have risen to the occasion – there are countless options available. 

Making an informed decision may seem daunting, so we spoke with Dr Maya Zuniga, Vice President of Innovation and Technical Services at Treatt, to demystify the pros, cons, and other key factors to consider when purchasing your own commercial cold brew system. 

Your commercial cold brew system should be able to produce high-quality beverages

When selecting a commercial cold brew system, the quality of the cold brew it produces is arguably the most important part of your decision. The system you choose should consistently deliver superior and flavourful cold brew. 

High product quality is a result of the correct combination of extraction methods, filtration, and temperature control.

To start with, extraction quality is crucial, as it determines how much of a coffee’s soluble flavour and aroma compounds will end up in your cup. A high-quality commercial cold brew system should be capable of drawing out even the most delicate flavours of your coffee. 

“For optimal quality, or to get the best from a specific coffee, you should be able to minimise exposure to oxygen and heat to maintain the inherent flavour nuances of the particular coffee bean and roast level,” says Maya. 

A quality filtration mechanism will also significantly improve the beverage clarity and mouthfeel. But alongside this, maintaining good temperature control is vital to balancing the delicate flavours that give cold brew coffee its famous smoothness while preventing it from becoming too bitter. A well-engineered commercial cold brew system will offer precise temperature control, allowing you to maintain consistent quality across batches.

Finally, some commercial cold brew systems are also more versatile than others — with the ability to prepare other beverages alongside cold coffee, including cascara, tea, and infused spirits. This allows you to expand your menu without taking up more space on the counter.

How easy is it to use your commercial cold brew system?

A system that is straightforward to operate and maintain will be an efficient solution that delivers more consistent results. 

Training staff is a key challenge for coffee businesses, and the more user-friendly a commercial cold brew stem is, the more seamlessly it will fit into your operations. Intuitive interfaces with clearly marked controls and simple navigation will reduce the learning curve and enable staff to operate the system efficiently. 

“The simpler the operating process, the easier it is to train your staff and maintain a consistent product quality,” Maya says. 

Further, most commercial cold brew systems require regular cleaning and maintenance, so it is vital to look for systems with streamlined or automated cleaning cycles – and readily accessible components. 

“Whether looking at commercial production or in-store preparation, one of the most important features for commercial cold brew systems is the ease of proper cleaning.

Because you’re brewing cold, heat is not part of the steeping/brewing step, and thus, you need to ensure you are processing in as clean and close-to-sterile conditions as possible,” Maya notes. “You need to be able to easily clean the equipment to ensure you are minimising flavour transfer as well as creating a low-risk environment for microbial contamination.”

There are plenty of commercial cold brew systems available today that a single person can handle. Ideally, one staff member should be able to operate, clean, and prepare new batches quickly.

This will reduce labour costs and ensure that the system is always ready for use without interruptions. Altogether, this means your staff can focus on doing what they do best: actually serving customers.

System speed & productivity behind the bar

Alongside ease of operation, it’s also important to consider how quickly you can prepare batches of cold coffee. Traditional methods can take as long as 24 hours, which means that if you run dry during a sudden spell of warm weather or an uptick in foot traffic, that’s your stock depleted — no more cold brew until the following day.

With a faster alternative to these traditional methods — such as Hardtank — you can address this issue easily, ensuring a consistent supply of cold brew throughout the day, allowing you to pivot to meet any surges or downturns in demand accordingly. This is because you can prepare batches in as little as 45 minutes.

For hospitality businesses, this means you don’t miss out on potential sales if demand suddenly increases — and that you can minimise waste if foot traffic isn’t as high as you were expecting on a given day.

Consider what your business needs

Ultimately, a commercial cold brew system with adjustable brewing parameters, programmable settings, and versatility in brewing styles allows businesses to produce high-quality cold brew-based drinks for a diverse range of customers.

Programmable settings can help you “dial in” different coffees, getting the best from multiple different origins over the course of several batches. Similarly, you can record your best recipes and reuse them to guarantee consistency — which is more important than ever with today’s specialty coffee consumers.

Finally, experimentation and innovation allow businesses to offer variations on cold brew, heightening interest and increasing foot traffic.

Altogether, a commercial cold brew system that adds multiple new beverages to your menu can become a key differentiator for your business.

At Hardtank’s, we offer a range of devices that enable you to brew consistent, high-quality cold coffee faster than traditional methods – while also giving you the versatility to prepare a range of other beverages. 

• Hardtank 20: Our classic device, capable of brewing up to 250 litres of cold brew in a single day.
• Hardtank 1T: This is identical to our classic model, fitted with a handy dispenser tap for ease of service. 
• Hardtank 2T: Just like the Hardtank 1T but with two taps to streamline workflow further.
• Baby Hardtank: A countertop compact Hardtank model, guaranteeing the same excellent quality and speed at a fraction of the size. 

Learn more about the technology behind our equipment here. Alternatively, sign up for our newsletter for updates from our team. 

Hardtank cold brew coffee maker