Over the last decade, cold brew coffee has been one of the fastest-growing segments in the international coffee sector, exhibiting multiple years of double-digit growth.
Now a genuinely mainstream coffee beverage, consumer demand for cold brew beverages looks set to grow even further, especially as a more convenience-led younger generation comes to command a more significant portion of spending power.
Broader food and beverage trends only lend to cold brew’s momentum. The health and wellness movement sees shoppers seeking lower-calorie and more natural things to fuel themselves. Cold brew’s low acidity and mellow flavour profile appeal directly to ‘clean eating’.
Continued interest in specialty coffee, plant-based milk alternatives, and sustainable and environmentally friendly eating habits also align nicely with cold brew’s appeal.
As the category begins to mature, we take a deeper look at the future prospects with insight from Dr. Nadir Zairi, founder and CEO of Hubb. Nitro Coffee.
The current state of the global cold brew market
In early 2025, the global cold brew coffee market is valued at $1.69 billion, up from $1.38 billion just last year, according to a report by the Business Research Company.
These figures alone make for an incredibly positive reading; in 2015, cold brew coffee generated just $110m in global revenue. In less than a decade, the segment has added over $1.5 billion in value.
“We are seeing a big shift towards the consumption of cold coffee,” says Nadir.
“This is particularly fueled by the preferences of the Gen-Z and Millenial generations. From my perspective, cold brew will eventually lead this space due to its naturally sweeter and less bitter flavour profile, well suited to modern palates, and associated health benefits.”
North America represents the lion’s share of cold brew sales globally, accounting for about 60% of purchasing. As the birthplace of commercial-level cold brew, this is to be expected. Nevertheless, further afield, the Asia-Pacific region is fast catching up, building on a strong tradition of convenient coffee. European coffee roasters are also readily investing in cold brew product development.
There has been plenty of market activity supporting the statistics. Multinational commercial businesses and high-end specialty coffee roasters alike have been launching lines of cold brew coffee in RTD format in an effort to stratify their offerings and reach newer audiences.
A piece by Buen Cafe back in 2021 noted 280 individual RTD cold brew coffee product launches in the preceding 12 months alone. Intelligentsia has an RTD cold coffee. Califia Farms has a plant-based canned cold brew line. Starbucks sells cold brew concentrate for at-home consumption. Even The Barn sells cold brew in the summer.
Inadvertently, the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst for the subsequent boom in convenient coffee options. Sales of bulk cold brew and iced RTD lattes rose by 129% in 2020 as consumers looked for coffee drinks they could consume at home or on the go. Instead of returning to normal, demand has only grown since.
The ten-year outlook for cold brew coffee
Cold brew coffee can be consumed in numerous ways. Customers can visit a coffee shop and order a cup to drink on-site or purchase an RTD to take away with them. Supermarkets and convenience stores are also great options, as commercial and specialty roasters increase their presence in the FMCG retail space via ambient cans. Some businesses offer multi-serve bag-in-box cold brew or cold brew pouches that people can store in their refrigerators or supply an office or social event with.
As a result of industry innovation in brewing techniques, packaging, and product development, cold brew is more readily available than ever. Thus, the category is expected to continue its growth.
TBRC forecasts a 19.4% CAGR in the cold brew category to 2029, reaching $3.43 billion. Other research firms expect a CAGR of over 20%, forecasting that the global cold brew category will be worth more than $20 billion by 2035.
While total values may vary, the market research community agrees on one key point: Cold brew will continue to exhibit double-digit growth year-on-year. Their confidence stems from the trends underpinning the category.
Firstly, the demand for convenient coffee – hot, cold, cold brewed, nitro, flash chilled, etc. – is booming. Young people especially seek out refreshments that can be consumed on the move, blending seamlessly into their busier, more active lifestyles.
“We expect to see significant growth in the RTD coffee space, particularly from independent producers,” Nadir adds.
“We are seeing a real growth in the appreciation and understanding of coffee – in the UK, it’s moving far beyond being a functional beverage to one that is appreciated and enjoyed.
“In line with this, high-quality RTD coffee options will continue to grow as the appreciation for taste, quality, provenance and innovation continue to gain importance.”
On top of this, specialty coffee is also growing year-on-year. An SCA report from 2024 found that 45% of respondents had consumed specialty coffee within the last day, up 80% since 2011, and ready-to-drink was the third most popular format for their consumption.
Health and wellness trends have ushered in a movement away from carbonated, sugary beverages towards those types perceived as healthier, less calorific, and more functional. Cold brew’s low acidity and milder, naturally sweeter profile fit perfectly with new expectations.
Cold brew’s RTD-readiness is also a key boon. Businesses offering private label RTD cold brew – like Hardtank – make sourcing, designing, and launching canned cold brew products simple and cost-effective, helping more businesses get to market more quickly and adding to the variation and diversity on supermarket shelves that consumers demand.
As customers deliberately seek out beverages like cold brew and more companies enter the category, the general cold brew tide will continue to rise. Sleek, customisable aluminium cans with eye-catching, social media-friendly aesthetics and designs will perform well with the growing younger customer segments. Convenience, always a factor, will only become more essential as busy, active lifestyles are further celebrated and embraced.
Things to watch for the decade of cold brew coffee
As we enter a bullish phase of cold brew development, we’ve outlined a few key trends to look out for over the coming years.
- New product development and innovation
Much of cold brew’s appeal stems from its flexibility and customizability for different beverage types. Expect to see a push for creativity in new product development, with businesses leveraging new techniques, flavours, and ingredients. Nitro coffee, RTD cold brew cocktails and mocktails, flavour infusions, and functional ingredients will play significant roles.
- Convenience
Coffee shops will sell cold brew for on-site or takeaway consumption in larger and larger numbers but expect to see a more considerable emphasis on convenient, RTD cold brew products. Modern shoppers demand beverages that match their busy lifestyles, and savvy coffee companies will look to cater to these needs.
- Mass market adoption
Ten years ago, cold brew was a product of artisanal and specialty coffee shops and cafés. As more businesses come to understand it better and produce it more efficiently and to a higher quality, they expect to see cold brew’s presence in the mass FMCG market grow. This means dedicated RTD businesses, supermarket own-brand portfolios, commercial beverage manufacturers, and hospitality companies creating their own lines of convenient cold brew.
- Broader shift to cold beverages
Cold coffee is more convenient than hot coffee. It can be manufactured safely, with a longer ambient shelf-life and packaged in intuitive, appealing formats. Moreover, it can be quickly grabbed from a counter, supermarket aisle, or convenience store fridge and consumed immediately. Cold coffee adds a more refreshing element to the beverage experience, fits more consumer need states, and is easier to manufacture at scale.
At Hardtank, we offer fully customisable, BRCGS-certified, private label RTD cold brew coffee packaged in sleek, aluminium slimline cans and labelled according to your designs and aesthetic. We offer low MOQs, low upfront costs, and fast turnaround times to get you to market faster and stay on top of new trends.
We offer a range of more than 10 RTD cold brew beverages, from nitrogen-infused nitro coffee to cold brew tea and functional coffee.
To get started on your new product line, visit our website or get in touch with us directly.
Register for our upcoming RTD coffee masterclass here!
Cold brew coffee
