What you’ll learn in this article:
- What the Hardtap dispenser is
- How the Hardtap chills drinks and adds nitro infusion
- The range of drinks you can serve with the Hardtap
- How the Hardtap helps businesses be more efficient and diverse
The Hardtank team is delighted to announce our latest product, the Hardtap dispenser. This dual-tap countertop beverage dispenser is capable of serving a range of cold beverages, from nitro cold brew to iced tea.
It’s more than just a tap, though – the Hardtap dispenser has innovative, industry-leading technology to make drink dispensing easier than ever before. With digital dosing control, efficient chilling, and a user-friendly touchscreen interface, it unlocks new levels of efficiency for high-volume coffee shops and foodservice businesses.
To learn more about the Hardtap fispenser and its benefits, I spoke to Krzysztof Barabosz. He is the co-founder of Hard Beans, a coffee roaster based in Opole, Poland and Head of Coffee at Hardtank. Read on for his insight.
What is the Hardtap dual-tap dispenser and how does it work?
The latest product from Hardtank, the Hardtap is an innovative dual-tap dispenser designed for commercial use. In particular, it is ideal for cafés and specialty coffee shops as well as bars, restaurants, and other foodservice businesses.
Aligning with Hardtank’s other equipment, the Hardtap dispenser specialises in serving cold brew coffee, iced tea, cocktails, and more. The dual-tap system also means you can serve nitro and still versions of the same drink at once, vastly diversifying the drinks you can offer. This spans not just coffee and tea varieties, but drinks like lemonade, seltzer, and beer as well.
“With Hardtap, we’re bringing the same spirit of innovation that defines our brewing equipment to the point of service,” Krzysztof tells me. “We saw a need for greater control, consistency, and ease-of-use in nitro dispensing.”
With its sleek design and modern aesthetic, the Hardtap dispenser sits comfortably alongside other equipment on your countertop. Used in conjunction with other Hardtank cold brew systems, you can quickly produce cold brew, fruit infusions, or iced tea and serve it automatically and at the ideal temperature.
Digital dosing, chilling, and nitro infusion: How the Hardtap dispenser works
One of the key advantages of the Hardtap dispenser is its digital dosing technology. Unlike other cold drink dispensers, it doesn’t rely on manual tap operation to pour drinks. Instead, the Hardtap system features an intuitive touchscreen where the user selects the drink, and it dispenses automatically.
Once the Hardtap dispenser is set up alongside a keg or your existing Hardtank system, you can use the touchscreen interface to begin pouring. This minimises waste by ensuring consistent portion sizes. Equally, by taking care of the practicalities of drink pouring and portion control, it gives users the freedom to tackle other tasks as it works.
“The Hardtap offers a positive, creative user experience,” Krzysztof says. “The intuitive touchscreen simplifies operation, while the precision of digital dosing ensures high-quality results for both nitro and still beverages. This combination provides unparalleled consistency and ease of use.”
To accentuate this ease, the Hardtap dispenser doesn’t require an external nitrogen gas tank or single-use cartridge for its nitro infusion. Instead, it uses atmospheric nitrogen generation technology to extract nitrogen from the air and filter it into the drink. This allows you to offer the distinctive foamy mouthfeel of nitro drinks without cumbersome and expensive gas tanks.
To keep drinks at the optimal serving temperature, the Hardtap dispenser also has an in-line chilling system. This mechanism ensures that drinks are served at a suitable temperature for the best customer experience, generally targeting 2ºC/36ºF.
“The Hardtap’s digital precision and modern interface empower businesses to elevate their beverage programs efficiently and profitably, especially when compared to existing market options,” Krzysztof adds.
How the Hardtap dispenser helps your café or restaurant sell more, waste less
The primary benefit of the Hardtap dispenser is that businesses can quickly and easily adapt to the surging demand for nitro and still cold beverages. The market for nitrogenated coffee is growing at over 5% a year, and was most recently valued at over USD $650 million. Perceived as a more premium drink compared to cold coffee, it also presents an opportunity to charge more per serving and maximise profits.
Regular cold brew is equally fruitful for coffee businesses, having grown by over 140% in the United Kingdom alone in the past decade. By implementing the Hardtap into your existing cold brew system, you can scale the availability of these drinks with ease.
If you already have Hardtank equipment at your coffee shop or restaurant, this in-line add-on means you can expand your menu without needing any different ingredients or processes.
The Hardtap can dispense more than just cold brew and its nitro alternative, however. The versatility of its dual-tap system means you can also offer anything from iced tea to cocktails and functional drinks. It means you can easily tap into growing markets, such as non-alcoholic options like mocktails, and dispense them via the same means. It even expands into other soft drinks like lemonade and sparkling water, and alcoholic drinks such as beer.
Because of its versatility, a Hardtap dispenser can help businesses save money and time in daily operations. For example, its efficient chilling technology helps to reduce excess energy consumption on external refrigeration. Equally, by eliminating the need for traditional nitrogen gas tanks, you can strike a consistent operational cost off your budget.
It also removes many of the operational inconsistencies that come from manual dispensing systems. For example, you don’t need to worry about waste from imprecise pouring, where spillage or elongated dispensing times result in liquid being disposed of.
Similarly, it helps you foster a positive reputation because each drink will be consistent in terms of quality, portion size, and flavour when paired with Hardtank brewing equipment. Customers will know what to expect each time they visit, encouraging loyalty and repeat purchases.
Most of all, the Hardtap helps you futureproof your business. It is made from durable materials to prolong its life cycle, giving you the assurance that you won’t need to replace it. Therefore, it’s as much a long-term investment in quality and consistency as it is a solution to everyday service bottlenecks.
Ready to learn more about the Hardtap? Whether you want to streamline your dispensing or diversify your drinks offering, Hardtank equipment provides full-scale solutions. Book your pre-order unit today.
FAQ
What is the Hardtap?
The Hardtap is a new dual-tap countertop beverage dispenser from Hardtank. Its two taps can serve different drinks simultaneously, both in still or nitro formats. It uses digital dosing control for precise, consistent portion control and chills drinks in its in-line chilling system to the optimal temperature.
Which drinks can the Hardtap dispense?
The Hardtap can serve a vast range of drinks, ranging from still and nitro cold brew to iced tea, premixed cocktails, and fruit infusions.
Do I need an external nitrogen tank?
No! The Hardtank has atmospheric nitrogen infusion technology to take in nitrogen from the air and use it to give drinks a distinctly creamy mouthfeel.
Does the Hardtap work with other Hardtank equipment?
Yes, the Hardtap is fully compatible with other Hardtank equipment, including the Baby Hardtank and Hardtank 20, for seamless drink preparation and dispensing.
Is the Hardtap suitable for outdoor or portable setups?
Yes, the Hardtap can be used in portable or outdoor environments, such as festivals, food trucks, and catering events – as long as it has access to power and a connected beverage source (like a keg or Hardtank system). Its compact countertop design and built-in atmospheric nitrogen generator make it ideal for mobile operations that want to serve high-quality cold beverages on demand.
