In this article, you’ll learn:
- How coffee shops can benefit from nitro cold brew equipment
- Why factors like speed and efficiency are so important for boosting profit margins
- Which specific features to look for in nitro cold brew equipment
For coffee shops, bars, and other foodservice businesses, cold brew coffee comes with one major bottleneck: speed. It can take up to 24 hours to manually prepare a batch of cold brew, meaning if you run out on a busy day, you can’t capitalise on the demand.
This is why nitro cold brew equipment can be particularly useful. Using systems like the Baby Hardtank alongside a nitro dispenser allows you to prepare cold brew efficiently and serve it with ease. This combination streamlines service, increases consistency, and helps you serve more customers in a day.
To learn more about the benefits of nitro cold brew equipment for speeding up service, I spoke to Stephen Wright. He is the owner of Sleep Talker Coffee, a coffee shop based in New South Wales, Australia. Read on for his insight.
What are the benefits of nitro cold brew equipment?
The main benefit of nitro cold brew coffee equipment is speed. As opposed to the traditional steeping time of 12 to 24 hours, Hardtank systems prepare a batch of cold brew in less than an hour.
For coffee shops like Sleep Talker Coffee, they can avoid the issue of running out of cold brew midway through the day. “I believe the benefits of a machine that can prepare cold brew quickly are that you can keep a consistent and constant supply of cold brew,” Stephen tells me. “Our customers don’t go without.”
This is important because cold brew and other cold coffee drinks are growing rapidly in popularity. The market is currently growing by more than 22% each year and is especially dominated by younger generations. By preparing and dispensing cold brew quickly and efficiently, you can meet this demand as it increases without needing additional equipment.
Hardtank systems are particularly suited to these requirements because of their patented accelerated cold extraction process. They recirculate water throughout the filter basket, which increases the extraction rate to significantly reduce preparation time. It also has programmable brewing profiles to replicate the same extraction process every time, ensuring your cold brew is consistent in flavour and mouthfeel.
Speed also translates to less downtime and fewer storage concerns. Normally, you’d need to refrigerate cold brew after steeping – but even then, it can be more susceptible to microbial growth if hygiene controls and storage conditions aren’t carefully managed. With specialised equipment, you can make smaller batches of cold brew in much less time, meaning you reduce the need to store large volumes of pre-brewed cold brew throughout the day.
Is nitro cold brew equipment worth the investment for coffee shops?
Nitro cold brew equipment is worth investing in for coffee shops because of the flexibility and efficiency it gives you. You can not only prepare cold brew more consistently than before, but you can also serve a number of other high-margin drinks.
For many coffee shops, the investment is worth it for nitro cold brew alone. Infusing nitrogen gas into cold brew gives the drink a creamy, foamy mouthfeel similar to stout beer. The elevated sensory profile supports a premium price point, and customers are often willing to pay significantly more for nitro cold brew over still cold brew.
From a commercial perspective, nitro cold brew equipment offers spectacle as well as speed. The unique cascading effect of nitro cold brew can easily catch customer attention, sparking curiosity and encouraging orders. With a nitro tap, you can guarantee that each drink has that distinctive appearance.
“I absolutely believe that a commercial system that can produce nitro cold brew quickly and efficiently is a major draw for cold brew lovers,” he says. “They receive the freshest cold brew straight from the system, thus ensuring the best quality.”
Dispensers like the Hardtap integrate directly into Hardtank systems, creating a full solution from brewing to dispensing. This means your coffee shop can prepare and dispense fresh nitro cold brew in under an hour, without external nitrogen kegs or complex draft line setups.
The key features to look for in nitro cold brew equipment
Choosing the right nitro cold brew equipment means understanding how it will fit into your workflow, meet hygiene standards, and elevate the consumer experience. Your system needs to be easy to maintain and simple for staff of all experience levels to use.
Speed is essential, but factors like cleanliness are just as important for nitro cold brew equipment. Since cold brew is naturally susceptible to microbial activity, your equipment needs to be easy to clean and maintain. Equipment like the Baby Hardtank features built-in automatic cleaning profiles and stainless steel construction, making it incredibly easy to maintain hygiene.
Equally important is the ability to dispense nitro cold brew seamlessly. With Hardtap, the nitro is infused on demand, meaning there’s no need for separate nitrogen tanks, kegerators, or time-consuming preparation. It pours smooth, cascading cold brew directly from the tap, offering both visual appeal and speed of service.
Consistency, too, is vital. Especially for coffee shop chains with multiple locations, the ability to save brew profiles and dispensing volumes ensures every drink is the same as the last. Hardtank’s programmable profiles, alongside the Hardtap’s digital dosing technology, make it easy to standardise your nitro cold brew service.
Stephen highlights why these features matter on the ground. “Having an all-in-one unit saves time and space with the ability to maintain an efficient workflow,” he says. “It gets our cold brew in the customers’ hands faster and minimises the risk of cross-contamination or spoilage.”
Evidently, nitro cold brew equipment is a more vital investment than ever before. It can speed up your drinks service, increase your profit margins, and maintain consistency with each serving. Provided you choose equipment that is efficient and easy to maintain, you can open up boundless possibilities for your drinks service.
Nitro cold brew equipment: Key takeaways
- Nitro cold brew equipment speeds up preparation time, allowing you to brew and serve nitro cold brew in under an hour.
- It helps you prepare smaller, more frequent batches of nitro cold brew to reduce waste and minimise storage risks.
- Integrated systems that combine brewing and dispensing can streamline your workflows and minimise staff training requirements.
Ready to learn more about our nitro cold brew equipment? Learn more about our equipment here or contact the Hardtank team for a free consultation.
Nitro cold brew equipment FAQ
How does nitro cold brew equipment speed up service?
Systems like the Baby Hardtank can prepare a batch of cold brew in under an hour and can dispense it from the same connected line using the Hardtap. The result is much faster cold brew service.
Is nitro cold brew more profitable than regular cold brew?
Yes, nitro cold brew is generally considered a more premium product than still cold brew, and as such coffee shops can charge more for it.
Can nitro cold brew equipment serve drinks other than cold brew?
Yes, the Hardtap can also serve drinks like iced tea, cascara, lemonade, and mocktails.
Want to learn more about our nitro cold brew equipment?
- Calculate your savings: With our ROI calculator.
- Explore our equipment: From the Baby Hardtank to the Hardtap.
- Speak to an equipment specialist: Contact the Hardtank team.
