In this article, you’ll learn:
- How a cold brew coffee tap system speeds up service
- Why efficient cold brew service is so important for coffee shops
- How specialised dispensing systems can improve your profitability
For coffee shops, a cold brew coffee tap system is more important than ever. In recent years, cold brew has become a year-round menu item, no longer reserved for specialty coffee shops during the summer. As it becomes more popular with consumers, businesses need more efficient ways to prepare and dispense cold brew. This is where a cold brew coffee tap system can be vital.
You need systems that are not only easy to use but also reliably dispense cold brew to keep your customers satisfied. For this reason, a cold brew tap system links production and dispensing into a single workflow, improving both operational efficiency and beverage consistency.
To learn more, I spoke to Josiah Jones. He is the Cold Brew Production Manager at Sunergos Coffee, a roastery based in Kentucky, USA. Read on for his insights.
How efficient are cold brew taps and machines compared to manual brewing and pouring?
Manual cold brew preparation and service is slow and inconsistent, while a cold brew coffee tap system is much more efficient. Especially when connected to brewers like the Hardtank 20, they can speed up your service time and keep customers happy.
“Cold brew, by nature, is inefficient when compared to other methods of making coffee,” Josiah tells me. “Extraction is lower, it takes longer to brew, and it’s often served at higher finished total dissolved solids (TDS).”
Unlike espresso or batch brew, cold brew production often takes up more storage space and requires up to 24 hours of steeping before service. Traditionally, cold brew is stored in large containers under refrigeration to slow microbial growth. This requires dedicated cold storage space, adds energy costs, and limits flexibility when demand spikes unexpectedly. If a café runs out of cold brew on a busy day, manual methods often make it impossible to replenish stock in time. The potential revenue you can lose because of this can be significant for coffee shops.
Because of these inherent bottlenecks, manual cold brew preparation and service will always be inefficient. “Making cold brew efficient and competitive with manual brewing and pouring really comes down to three things – increasing extraction, shortening steep time, and maintaining a consistent output strength,” he says.
“Even still, cold brew is going to be ‘less efficient’ than a traditional coffee brewer. Even with an optimised setting, your time and cost by volume will be lower than a traditional hot brew setup.” In this context, efficiency refers not to speed versus hot brewing, but to how effectively cold brew can be produced and served compared to traditional cold brew methods.
Specialised cold brew equipment can address these concerns. Brewing systems such as the Baby Hardtank address extraction and steep time by constantly recirculating coffee grounds in the filter basket. Its patented controlled agitation means a batch of cold brew is ready in an hour, compared to the 24-hour cycle normally required for cold brew.
On the service side, Hardtap focuses on the third factor Josiah identifies: consistent output. The tap connects directly to your brewing system and dispenses either still or nitro cold brew through a chilled line. This removes the variables that often emerge in manual serving, such as overpouring and spillage.
Therefore, a cold brew coffee tap system, where you use a brewer to make cold brew and tap to dispense it, can be much more efficient.
Why does efficient service matter?
“I think this is where we see the real benefit of cold brew efficiency, specifically with systems that are specialised for making cold brew,” Josiah tells me. “The sacrifices we make to efficiency on the production side are a price worth paying for the increased quality and consistency on the service side.”
Having a cold brew tap system for efficient service ensures you always have a consistent supply of cold brew to meet daily rushes. Secondly, it helps you build up a reputation with customers for repeatable quality across servings.
To address these requirements, systems like the Hardtank 20 have programmable brew profiles that prepare cold brew the same way each time. This ensures repeatable quality across batches, which is essential for keeping customers happy.
“Cold brew has the potential to be incredibly consistent when produced with care, both in flavour and in strength,” Josiah says. “Brewed coffee and espresso shots are finicky. They require regular dialling in, and their quality is directly tied to the discernment of the person making that coffee or pulling that shot.”
In contrast, cold brew prepared automatically and served through a cold brew coffee tap system is much easier to control. “Cold brew production and dispensing can solve those issues,” Josiah explains. “You get the same hit every time, day in and day out. Pull the tap – get the same cold brew you got yesterday and the day before.”
The Hardtap is designed to address these requirements. It connects to your existing cold brew equipment, meaning the drink remains cool and protected from excess oxygen that dulls its sweet flavour notes. It also has automatic portion control to ensure each serving is the same size as the last. This means customers know exactly what to expect, and it reduces ingredient waste and lost revenue from spillages. For a drink like cold brew, where steeping times and storage temperature can significantly impact its cup profile, that consistency is vital.
Which bottlenecks and pain points can a cold brew coffee tap system address?
The most obvious constraint you can bypass with a cold brew coffee tap system is time. You can speed up the time required to prepare cold brew, but also the labour needed to serve it to customers.
“Time is a major bottleneck,” Josiah says. “Traditional cold brew methods require 16+ hours to turn out a relatively small batch, but innovative ideas and new technology are getting us cold brew at ever-increasing speeds. I’ve seen large-scale batches turned out in a matter of hours, and small-scale batches done in even less time.”
Profitability is also another important factor. “The higher the extraction, the better your yield – and therefore the less money you spend per volume unit,” he says. “Traditionally, cold brew was notoriously low-yielding, but technology is changing this.
“As these methods are proven and better understood, we’ll begin to see them show up in more places and be used in increasingly innovative ways to increase extraction towards a profit margin more comparable to hot coffee.”
Therefore, a cold brew coffee tap system, consisting of a brewer and a dispenser, helps you prepare cold brew more efficiently – and sell it more profitably. For coffee shops vying for market share as competitors saturate the market, having this equipment is a long-term investment in growth and development.
Cold brew coffee tap system: Key takeaways
- Manual cold brew production is time-consuming and inefficient, but specialised brewing and tap systems can increase your production speed and service consistency.
- Automated cold brew tap systems ensure each serving is the same strength and volume as the last.
- This can directly impact your profitability by reducing ingredient waste caused by spillage and over-pouring.
Ready to invest in Hardtank’s cold brew coffee tap system? Learn more about the Hardtap here or contact the Hardtank team for a free consultation.
Cold brew coffee tap system FAQ
Is a cold brew coffee tap system more efficient than manual pouring?
Yes, a cold brew tap reduces service time, ensures consistent sizes, and reduces the revenue lost from spillages.
Does a cold brew coffee tap system improve drink consistency?
Yes, because it ensures each serving is the same volume and strength. This is important for keeping customers satisfied every time they visit your coffee shop.
Can cold brew taps dispense still and nitro cold brew?
Yes, but it depends on the equipment you invest in. For instance, the Hardtap uses atmospheric nitrogen infusion to readily dispense still and nitro cold brew without requiring external kegs.
Want to learn more about our cold brew coffee tap system?
- See the Hardtap in action: Watch our product demonstration.
- Calculate your ROI: With our ROI calculator.
- Speak to an equipment specialist: Contact a member of the Hardtank team.
