In this article, you’ll learn:
- How nitro cold brew coffee equipment can be useful
- Why the investment is worthwhile for coffee shops, bakeries, and other businesses
- The key features to look for in nitro cold brew equipment
For any coffee shop, investing in new equipment is a big decision. Not only does it represent a large financial commitment, but it can also influence your strategy and drinks service for years to come. As consumer tastes change faster than ever, in favour of distinctive, health-focused drinks, you need equipment that is up to the task.
To meet these demands, nitro cold brew coffee equipment is becoming increasingly essential. They are systems that allow you to prepare cold brew and dispense it in a nitro format in one line. It improves your operational efficiency and allows you to expand your drinks service significantly, future-proofing your business as the market changes.
To learn more about the importance of nitro cold brew coffee equipment, I spoke to Isaiah Streblow. He is a baker at Carl’s Bakery, a business based in Minnesota, USA. Read on for his insight.
How can your business benefit from nitro cold brew coffee equipment?
The main benefit of nitro cold brew equipment is that you can prepare and dispense both still and nitro cold brew on demand. Nitro’s microfoam naturally reduces bitterness and enhances sweetness perception without adding sugar, which makes it especially attractive to health-conscious customers. This is increasingly important for coffee shops, bakeries, and other foodservice businesses.
“Having cold brew on tap is always a great boost to our summer drink line-up,” Isaiah tells me. “It’s quickly becoming an expectation for coffee shops to have on hand. By adding it to our drinks menu, we’re able to stay competitive with chain coffee locations while opening up a whole new realm of opportunities for serving brewed drinks.”
This isn’t just a trend taking place in Minnesota, though. Both still and nitro cold brew are becoming increasingly popular across the global coffee industry. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, the sector grew by 22% and is especially popular with young consumers. They prefer cold brew to hot and iced coffee due to its smoother cup profile and low acidity.
For Isaiah and Carl’s Bakery, another benefit is the ability to expand their drinks menu beyond just still cold brew. “Getting a multi-tap kegerator was a key investment for us,” he explains. “It allowed us to launch nitro cold brew as part of a broader line, also including kombucha, switchel, lemonade, and other refreshing cold beverages.”
Modern nitro cold brew equipment has versatility at the forefront, allowing you to prepare a host of other drinks and dispense them accordingly. The Hardtank and Hardtap, for example, can brew and pour drinks ranging from iced tea to cocktails, which helps you appeal to a broad range of consumer tastes.
In this sense, your nitro cold brew equipment isn’t just an investment in coffee service, but your drinks menu broadly. That versatility is what makes it so advantageous for coffee shops, bakeries, and other businesses.
Is the investment worth it for coffee shops?
Investing in nitro cold brew coffee equipment is worth it because you can future-proof your drinks menu and operations against incoming trends. Since you don’t need to purchase add-ons or new systems when seasonal drinks and new trends hit the market, you’re instantly ready to meet the demand.
However, you need to consider how you handle cold brew service before making a decision. This will determine whether you invest in cold brew machines like the Baby Hardtank or just dispensing equipment.
“Brewing our own cold brew allowed us to both save money and experiment with our drinks. We already had a product line in place for buying bulk coffee beans and using them in our coffee bar, so it made sense,” Isaiah says.
Regardless of your cold brew system, he believes that nitro dispensing equipment is an essential investment. “I do think, at the bare minimum, a tap for cold brew is worth it – whether you brew it yourself or not,” he says. “It’s quickly become incredibly common, so if a large part of your business is coffee, it’s a meaningful upgrade.” Because one system handles both brewing and dispensing, businesses also reduce ingredient waste, cut prep time, and simplify training, which supports long-term cost efficiency.
In this regard, systems like the Hardtap are especially useful. It is a dual-tap nitro dispenser with digital dosing control to automatically dispense still or nitro varieties of the same drink. Whether you use it for cold brew or other drinks like iced tea, you can quickly and efficiently serve the drinks that your customers want.
What to look for when choosing your nitro cold brew coffee equipment
When choosing your nitro cold brew coffee equipment, Isaiah recommends considering hygiene, versatility, and ease of use. Keep these in mind as you make your decision to ensure you’ve invested in equipment that will remain useful in the long term.
“Having equipment that is easy to sanitise is so important,” he says. It’s essential not only for complying with local food safety and hygiene regulations, but also because cold brew is very sensitive to microbial contamination. The Hardtap’s nozzles are made from food-grade stainless steel, making them easy to clean, and it has a built-in cleaning programme for the taps. This helps you avoid any hygiene issues to keep your drinks safe for customers.
Another factor to look for is versatility. Nitro cold brew coffee equipment that lets you experiment with flavours and formats helps you quickly adjust to emerging consumer tastes the instant they emerge.
“We love experimenting with different cold brew flavours, adding syrups after dispensing,” he says. “Cold brew is so easy to add flavour to – and the combination of cold brew, nitro foam, flavourings, and milk makes for smooth, delicious, and very marketable drinks.”
Ease of use is another important factor for your nitro cold brew coffee equipment, especially if multiple staff members with varying experience levels use it. Systems with digital dosing technology, which automatically dispense preset volumes, help you avoid these issues. At the same time, you can reduce spillage and ingredient waste.
Therefore, investing in nitro cold brew coffee equipment is a wise decision for coffee shops, bakeries, and other foodservice businesses. It can help to expand your drink service with ease, but also keeps you agile as the landscape changes in the future.
Nitro cold brew coffee equipment: Key takeaways
- Nitro cold brew coffee equipment enhances your still and nitro cold brew service.
- This means you can easily expand your drinks lineup and stay competitive as new trends hit the market.
- Choosing the right system also requires an evaluation of hygiene, ease of use, and dispensing efficiency.
Ready to invest in your own nitro cold brew coffee equipment? Learn more about the Hardtank and Hardtap here or speak with a member of the team.
Nitro cold brew coffee equipment FAQ
Is nitro cold brew coffee equipment really important for coffee shops?
These systems are increasingly important as nitro cold brew and other nitro drinks become more popular. Between 2023 and 2024, the sector grew by 22%, which demonstrates its growing importance with customers.
Should coffee shops brew their own cold brew or buy it ready-made?
Generally, brewing cold brew in-house is a more cost-effective way to serve cold brew. It reduces your ingredient costs and storage requirements, and gives you more control to customise flavours and offer limited-time seasonal drinks.
Does nitro cold brew coffee equipment help reduce operational costs?
Yes, because it minimises ingredient waste and labour time, which means staff can focus on other tasks. Also, automatic dosing control means less spillage and less inconsistency in quality and service between staff members.
Want to learn more about nitro cold brew coffee equipment?
- Explore our equipment: Learn more about the Baby Hardtank and Hardtap.
- Calculate ROI: Estimate your savings with our ROI calculator.
- Talk to our team: Get a free consultation with our cold brew specialists.
