Traditional methods for making cold brew coffee date back as far back as the 1600s in Japan. Iced and cold coffee really started becoming prominent in the 1960s, but cold brew as we know it didn’t really emerge until third wave coffee culture took hold in the early 2010s.
Coffee companies have responded to the increased demand for cold coffee drinks by leveraging new technology. Today, cutting-edge fast cold brew coffee makers allow users to prepare high-quality cold brew coffee more quickly, more efficiently, and at scale.
To learn more about why it’s important to prepare cold brew fast, we spoke with Esteban Mejia, founder of Galante, Leila Kairns, co-founder of Healtea, and Maciej Duszak, co-founder of Hardtank.
Why new cold brew technology matters
Traditional cold brew coffee methods generally take between 8 and 24 hours to adequately prepare a batch. This is because of the lack of heat exchange in the brewing process. However, modern, fast cold brew coffee makers can complete a batch in just 40 minutes.
This reduction in brewing time is helpful for cafes and coffee shops: as cold brew has grown in popularity in recent years, high demand puts pressure on retail stock levels and can result in missed opportunities.
“When cold brew requires a 20+ hour preparation time, running out means lost revenue, as you can’t quickly replenish your supply. Additionally, traditional methods are labour-intensive, driving up operational costs and causing consistency issues,” Maciej said in a recent webinar.
Faster brewing times mean businesses can be agile, responding to fluctuating foot traffic throughout the day and capitalising on sales surges while avoiding waste. Moreover, fast cold brew coffee makers open up other revenue avenues for coffee brands, such as preparing ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages safely and at scale.
“The biggest challenges of producing cold brew coffee in large volumes are quality and food safety, aspects on which we must focus to ensure the safety of our customers,” says Esteban.
Modern cold brew makers are not only faster but typically feature a closed, sterile and hygienic system with automated cleaning and hands-free maintenance, helping manufacturers meet stringent safety regulations. Plus, waste is reduced, improving profitability. In the case of our Hardtank equipment, cold brew can be prepared with more accurate ingredients and higher extraction yields.
The science behind next-generation fast cold brew coffee brewers
A significant difference between newer, faster cold brew coffee makers and older alternatives is the replacement of traditional immersion brewing.
“Immersion brewing involves steeping the ingredients in cold water for an extended period, which tends to produce a smoother, more nuanced flavour with less bitterness. Percolation, on the other hand, involves a continuous flow of water through the grounds, which can extract more robust flavours but might also result in a more bitter profile if not carefully controlled,” says Leila.
As technology has improved, fast cold brew coffee makers have been able to improve basic immersion processes, introducing multiple new variables to the brewing process to speed up extraction without sacrificing quality.
“For years, it was believed that this slow brewing process enhanced the brew, but we now know that isn’t the case. Modern cold brew systems allow for faster, more efficient brewing, minimising oxidation and reducing the microbiological risks associated with traditional methods,” continues Maciej.
“By using more variables in the brewing process, you can extract more from the same amount of coffee. This results in a higher yield, lower food costs, and often better quality.”
Faster cold brew speeds up service
Taking advantage of modern cold brew technology doesn’t just improve the coffee, however. It also means you can improve service and sales – onsite operations, stock planning and brand building are all made smoother.
“One of the main challenges with preparing cold brew is maintaining consistency in flavour and quality,” explains Leila.
“Natural ingredients can vary in potency and flavour depending on factors like harvest time and growing conditions. Additionally, achieving the right balance of extraction time and temperature is crucial to avoid over-extraction or under-extraction, which can impact the taste.”
Modern cold brew technology provides peace of mind regarding consistency and quality, mitigating human error and improving your control over product integrity.
Esteban also prefers the control and consistency that an automatic cold brew coffee process brings – he sees it as essential for maintaining high quality at each step in the journey from coffee bean to cup.
“Galante was conceived to create, develop and sell cold brew, with a model different from the common denominator of the market: first the cold brew and its extraction, then a roaster, and finally, coffee farms,” he says.
These newer machines also boast a faster return on investment than many traditional alternatives.
“At first glance, modern cold brew systems may seem more expensive than traditional methods. However, selling just 20 portions of cold brew per day can typically pay off the investment in less than two months,” says Maciej.
“As your sales increase, the benefits become even more attractive. Other advantages include greater flexibility in production, a broader range of cold brew products, easier and safer cleaning and sanitation, elimination of disposable filters, and automation of the brewing process.”
Hardtank fast cold brew coffee makers
At Hardtank, our range of commercial cold brew equipment has been designed to ensure that preparing specialty-grade, high-quality cold brew is as approachable and innovative as possible.
For coffee shops and small businesses, the Baby Hardtank is a compact, fast cold brew coffee maker that still boasts the same state-of-the-art technology. It will help your business grow efficiently and keep your customers happy and engaged.
Meanwhile, for businesses with higher volume requirements, our larger commercial machines – Hardtank 20, Hardtank 1T and Hardtank 2T – allow us to guarantee outstanding quality at scale.
Visit our website or contact us directly to learn more about how our fast cold brew coffee makers can help your business. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest technological and product developments.
Fast cold brew coffee maker
