In 2024, coffee companies are no longer simple cafés with a handful of hot beverages on the menu. Caffeine purveyors of today need sophisticated product portfolios, mature approaches to marketing and brand, and a robust sustainability program.
Commercial nitro cold brew machines are one such way for coffee businesses to stay ahead of key trends. They aren’t just affordable and more efficient than traditional brewing methods; they provide a platform for innovation beyond regular cold brew, pushing the overall coffee industry forward while simultaneously capturing the imagination of increasingly discerning customers.
We spoke to Randy Anderson, vice president of product strategy at Cold Percolation, Inc., and cold brew consultant for over a decade to learn more about how modern equipment can transform coffee companies.

What is nitro cold brew, and what are the unique requirements for brewing it?
Nitro cold brew – also known as nitro coffee – is a coffee beverage that has been infused with nitrogen, either during serving, via a draught system akin to those used for serving porter or stout, or during the canning process during the manufacturing of RTD product.
Regular cold brew coffee is the starting point for any nitro cold brew product. Traditionally, cold brewing is a lengthy process: coffee grounds are steeped in cold water for at least twelve hours (but often up to 24 or more) before being filtered and bottled or stored as a concentrate.
The term cold brew concentrate refers to the high strength of the liquid retained after a cold brewing process, which needs to be diluted with extra water before being served. The total dissolved solids (TDS) ratio is typically high after cold brewing because of the initially high ratio of coffee grounds to water. However, modern equipment can brew to a TDS level appropriate for immediate consumption.
“Technologies that create coffee extracts on demand outside of traditional espresso that uses heat and pressure are here,” says Randy.
“I don’t mean they’re in a lab somewhere and going through testing. I mean that they are for sale, and it is now just a matter of time before retailers begin to adopt these technologies as part of their day-to-day business.”
“The idea that a coffee retailer is required to use traditional equipment to run their coffee business is just not true.”
Modern commercial nitro cold brew machines brew to a more accurate TDS level while also speeding up the entire brewing process to as little as 45 minutes. By using patented techniques like recirculation and agitation, these machines move water around in the brewing chamber, increasing the frequency at which water interacts with the coffee grounds compared to a static environment.
As traditional brewing lacks any movement once the steeping process has begun, time is the only variable affecting the extraction. Modern machines have transformed the way cold brew is prepared.
Once the extraction process is complete, the ‘nitro’ element begins. For nitro coffee being served via a nitrogen draught system, the cold brew only becomes nitro cold brew upon dispensing and serving. As the cold brew is forced from a storage keg through the serving tap, nitrogen is pushed along with it through a tap with tiny holes that create the signature, microscopic, bubbly texture.
Machines like the Hardtank 1T and 2T are commercial nitro cold brew machines that come fitted with built-in nitrogen taps for immediate dispensing. Nitro cold brew is brewed, stored, and served from one unit, making the entire process safe, convenient, and consistent.
Without a commercial nitro cold brew machine, a business must instead store their cold brew in a keg and fit then fit a separate nitro draught system to their workstation for serving. Some cafés and coffee shops take this approach, sourcing pre-packed cold brew kegs from private label cold brew coffee partners.
For RTD needs, the nitro cold brew process is different. Instead of a draught system, regular cold brew is canned or bottled by the manufacturer and dosed with liquid nitrogen immediately before the packaging is sealed. This replicates the cascade effect within the RTD unit so that the drinker may enjoy the same mouthfeel on the go.
How do commercial nitro cold brew machines build new revenue streams?
By investing in a commercial nitro cold brew machine, coffee businesses open up a raft of new retail opportunities, both in-store and in retail. From a café or coffee shop perspective, nitro cold brew represents a nexus of menu innovation and variety, which is key to appealing to modern consumers.
“The meteoric growth of cold coffee has been overshadowed by methods that are inefficient, slow and lacking in the same complexity and craftability as traditional hot extraction,” says Randy.
“To produce a cold coffee beverage that can match its higher temperature counterpart in terms of depth, yield, and even concentration level presents opportunities that most professionals in retail simply don’t get.
“There are some obvious advantages, and we can start with the fact that the largest coffee retailer in the world reported that throughout the year, 75% of menu items sold were drinks served cold.
“A large portion of these drinks includes coffee as an ingredient. On its own, this should be reason enough to welcome or, at the very least, take a serious look at the equipment that produces “cold espresso” (or a facsimile of it as a highly concentrated cold coffee extract that tastes good).”
Let’s address the elephant in the room – cost. A Hardtank commercial nitro cold brew machine, like the 1T or 2T, for example, is surprisingly cost-effective. A business that invests in a Hardtank 20 fitted with one or two nitrogen taps can expect a return on investment in just 39 days when serving 90 nitro cold brews per day.
Brewing with modern equipment vastly increases the efficiency of cold brew production. Coffee brands require less coffee per batch thanks to the agitation and recirculation process. That means coffee cost per serving is reduced while yield increases. Moreover, Hardtank equipment brews to an exact TDS level for immediate service, which means fewer sales opportunities are missed, and more customers are served.
Thanks to its signature creamy texture, nitro coffee is perceived to be more indulgent without requisite additives like sweeteners or sugar, which means greater compliance with modern health and wellness trends. Pairing with non-dairy milk alternatives is easy, so beverages like nitro oat lattes and white nitro coffee can be easily added to café menus without complicating workflow or sacrificing operational efficiency.
Plus, nitro draught systems are user-friendly, so not only has cost been saved on the overall cold brewing process – far less labour required – but behind-counter staff are also freed up to focus on other business-critical tasks.
With the capacity to brew up to 1,250 200 ml cold brew portions per day, nitro cold brew machines also help coffee businesses build out their wholesale accounts. The Hardtank 20 stores freshly brewed cold brew in kegs via direct lines, which can then be removed and sealed before the next batch is brewed.
Instead of producing purely for their own locations, coffee companies can begin to supply other cafés or coffee shops with cold brew kegs that can be easily fitted to nitro draught systems for serving elsewhere. Many businesses are already taking advantage of such capabilities.

Choose the Hardtank 1T/2T for your nitro cold brew machine needs
Hardtank’s commercial nitro cold brew machine, the Hardtank 20, can be easily fitted with one or two nitrogen draught taps for easy nitro coffee dispensing for businesses of any size.
Whether you are looking to add diversity and variation to your own café or coffee shop menu, create a supply hub for your wider commercial footprint, or step into wholesale supply for third-party businesses, Hardtank commercial nitro cold brew machines are a cost-effective way to upgrade your operations.
To learn more about our technology or source your own commercial nitro cold brew machine, visit our website or get in touch with us directly.
If you missed our recent cold brew masterclass, you can still find a recording here.
Commercial nitro cold brew machine