Fast cold brew coffee makers are modern, high-tech, and user-friendly pieces of equipment designed to make cold brew coffee more efficient and to positively impact business performance in all aspects of coffee shops, cafes, and coffee brand operations.
Using the traditional method, brewing cold brew coffee is an arduous and involved process, most significantly in terms of time required – it takes between 18 and 24 hours to brew cold brew this way.
Modern, fast cold brew coffee makers, like the Baby Hardtank or Hardtank 20, can brew high-quality cold brew in under an hour, thanks to new technologies and methodologies.
For any hospitality or food service business, time equals money: keeping up with fluctuating foot traffic and product demands, maintaining a smooth and efficient workflow, and managing labour-related overheads are costly endeavours.
To learn more about how fast cold brew coffee makers can improve businesses, we spoke to Luke Waite, owner and principal consultant at The Lev Co and Pomelo Coffee Consulting.
How much ‘faster’ are fast cold brew coffee makers compared to traditional methods?
From a product quality perspective, modern, fast cold brew coffee machines represent a notable leap in cold brew coffee quality.
The speed at which a Hardtank fast cold brew coffee maker can brew excellent cold brew is a product of new technology – technology that speeds up the overall brewing process and also yields a better quality beverage.
“In any business, there is always a tension between time, quality, and your buyers – B2B or B2C,” says Luke.
“When you’re considering what is important in relation to cold brew preparation, there are some key business principles that should inform your approach:
- Can this piece of equipment produce the kind of quality product we want?
- How long does it take for this piece of equipment to produce said product?
- Does this piece of equipment have the necessary functionality, such as automation, set recipes, various product capabilities, etc.?
“If your finished product is high quality but took forever to brew, you and your buyers will likely be frustrated. If the way you prepare the cold brew is speedy but the quality isn’t high, your buyers will be frustrated, and worse, you might lose some buyers.
“It’s important to balance these three considerations as you prioritise what is most important,” he says.
As mentioned, traditional cold brew brewing involves steeping (or immersing) coffee grounds in cool water for an extended period, usually 18 hours at a minimum. Once the immersion is complete, the brewer then filters the liquid several times before decanting a finished cold-brew concentrate for further preparation.
Traditionally brewed cold brew typically yields a high total dissolved solids (TDS) ratio and is thus referred to as a concentrate. It must be diluted with water before serving to mitigate bitterness. The equipment can then be cleaned and sanitised before the next batch is prepared.
Brewing this way limits the business to time, and realistically, it is only possible to brew one batch every day. It risks running out of cold brew supply during busy retail periods and missing out on revenue. Plus, there must be staff members dedicated to cold brew production who are responsible for steeping, filtering, cleaning, and portioning.
In comparison, Hardtank fast cold brew coffee makers can prepare a batch in under one hour, yielding more cold brew than the traditional method despite using the same amount of coffee.
Hardtank’s patented recirculation technology constantly agitates the water surrounding the coffee grounds, increasing the rate at which the water interacts with the coffee and, hence, increasing the yield.
Once a batch is complete, the TDS ratio is optimal for immediate consumption – no dilution required – and the automated cleaning cycle can run while you prepare your next batch.
In summary, preparing a batch of cold brew with a Hardtank fast cold brew coffee maker can be completed in less than an hour, with five minutes of employee time required, versus 18+ hours with the traditional method, which requires at least 30 minutes of labour.
How does speed simultaneously improve cold brew quality?
As mentioned, fast cold brew coffee makers brew more quickly due to new technology – in Hardtank’s case, a patented recirculation approach.
This recirculation method constantly pushes water through the stainless steel filter basket holding the coffee grounds – or tea leaves, cascara, or spirits – increasing the rate at which water interacts with the coffee and overall contact.
This approach does not just improve brewing times but also improves quality.
A recent study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in 2018 found that alternative processes, including recirculation, agitation, ultrasonication, and stirring, significantly increased the total soluble solids, improving the overall result.
Moreover, frequent recirculation was observed to enhance phytochemical activity, which is responsible for the expression of natural coffee compounds.
Traditional cold brewing is static. Coffee grounds are placed in a large container with cool water and left to steep, much like coffee brewed in a French press.
With a fast cold-brew coffee maker using recirculation technology, the yield will be higher, and the TDS will be in a balanced window ready for immediate consumption.
Moreover, automated commercial cold brew makers are more compliant with health and safety practices. Hardtank equipment uses hygienic stainless steel parts instead of paper filters, and every machine has pre-set automated cleaning cycles for deep sanitation protocols. As a result, the risk of microbiological contamination is reduced drastically.
Both the Baby Hardtank and Hardtank 20 automatically drain to kegs via a closed, hygienic system, further reducing spoiling or contamination risk.
Faster cold brew means more efficient operations
When brewing using the traditional method, several staff members must be dedicated to cold brew preparation. As it takes up to 18 hours to brew, labour shifts might swap over, and you might need different staff members for various stages of production (i.e., one for setting up the brewing process, one for serving, and one for cleaning).
Hardtank fast cold brew coffee makers are incredibly user-friendly, staff can be trained to use them quickly, business owners can pre-set recipes for consistent replication, and manual cleaning is not required.
Plus, since Hardtank machines can brew a batch of cold brew so quickly (20-100 portions, depending on which machine you choose), you can easily forecast for and meet fluctuating demand, capitalise on busy-day parts, and generate more revenue.
For a small cafe or boutique operation, the Baby Hardtank’s small 30 cm x 30 cm footprint easily fits on even the smallest countertops. Thanks to its eye-catching design, it adds an element of appeal and customer experience, all while brewing up to 130 250 ml cold brew portions per day.
For larger operators, the Hardtank 20 can prepare up to 650 250 ml cold brew portions per day. It can help businesses centralise operations and improve consistency across multiple sites or develop a line of RTD cold brew products.
Speed up your cold brew production with Hardtank
Hardtank fast cold brew coffee makers are the perfect solution for businesses looking to improve cold brew quality while streamlining operations and increasing revenue.
With Baby Hardtank or Hardtank 20, your cold brew yield will greatly increase, you can better meet and manage fluctuating consumer demand, and you can free up staff to spend more time on customer interaction or other business-critical tasks.
With either machine, you will see a rapid return on investment as you prepare a more cost-effective and consistent cold brew and be perfectly equipped to scale your production as you grow.
To choose the right Hardtank fast cold brew coffee maker for you, visit our website or get in touch with us directly.
You can also still catch the recording of our recent Cold Brew Masterclass!
Fast cold brew coffee makers
