In this article, you’ll learn:
- What commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers do
- How private label solutions can reduce your costs and time to market
- How you can scale production and account for long-term growth with a private label partner
The increasing demand for cold brew coffee has turned it into a staple in coffee culture and the wider food and beverage industry. Market reports estimate that the cold brew industry will be valued at USD $24.37 billion by 2034, representing a significant value proposition for businesses.
For businesses looking to capitalise on this trend, ready-to-drink (RTD) formats are often the best choice. They allow you to meet consumer demands for convenience and quality at once – but launching an RTD in-house can be time-consuming and expensive. That’s why a lot of coffee businesses partner with commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers to handle production on their behalf.
To learn more about this approach, I spoke to Viktor Shramenko. He is the CEO and founder of Fresh Black, a company that combines specialty coffee roasting with commercial cold brew and RTD production, based in Kyiv, Ukraine.
What are the benefits of working with commercial cold brew manufacturers for RTDs?
The main benefit of working with commercial cold brew manufacturers to produce RTDs is the time you can save. Rather than spending months formulating your products, building manufacturing lines, and testing for compliance, you can launch pre-approved recipes and formats.
“Commercial manufacturers offer industrial-scale operations that small coffee businesses often can’t achieve in-house,” Viktor explains. “It delivers stable flavour, extended shelf life, and cost reductions through automation and the bulk purchasing of cans, packaging, and ingredients.”
Because cold brew is microbiologically sensitive, food safety compliance is another aspect where commercial cold brew manufacturers can assist. “It ensures full compliance with standards like HACCP, precise labelling, and legal requirements, managed by dedicated specialists,” he adds.
All of this is achieved without compromising quality and freshness, which matter to consumers. Since you can give commercial cold brew manufacturers your coffee and formulation instructions, the resulting RTDs will replicate your intended flavour profile. “This provides professional, scalable production that preserves artisanal quality,” Viktor adds.
As a result of streamlining your production timelines, you can remain competitive and channel your energy and saved resources, such as money and time, into growth.
At Hardtank, our private label coffee RTDs use Brazil Samambaia Yellow Bourbon coffee sourced from Hard Beans. However, we can also use your own coffee, whether single-origin or blend, to craft custom recipes from scratch.
How do commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers save businesses time and money?
Outsourcing tasks like formulation, compliance, and distribution to commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers allows businesses to prioritise tasks like branding and marketing. You can also save on the significant setup costs required to launch an RTD manufacturing facility.
Viktor explains that outsourcing these tasks to a commercial cold brew coffee manufacturer not only reduces costs but also saves valuable time. “Partnerships streamline the timeline from recipe creation to market entry, meaning our full-time technicians can monitor trends and attend industry events,” he says.
While the timeline between conceptualisation and launch is shorter, you can also scale up without requiring new facilities or investment. This means your business can be agile, expanding production based on market trends and consumer demand after you’ve launched.
The larger you scale your RTD production, the more money you can save in the long run. “Large-scale lines reduce expenses on raw materials, energy, packaging, and labour,” he explains. “We optimise our supply chains to reduce delays and costs, and for bigger volumes, the savings matter.”
One factor to consider, however, is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) from commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers. This determines the smallest quantity of RTDs you can buy in a single order – but high MOQs can make RTDs inaccessible to smaller businesses.
“Be mindful of the potential extra costs that often arise with small orders, such as MOQs that force you to buy more than needed,” he explains. Therefore, it’s worth looking for commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers who offer low MOQs.
At Hardtank, our low MOQs allow you to restock or introduce new RTD products without committing significant investment. You can start with as little as one pallet (roughly 3,000 cans per SKU) for ready-to-market recipes, or two pallets (about 6,000 cans) for custom formulas.
How should roasters launch their own commercial cold brew coffee RTDs?
For roasters and coffee businesses looking to release their own commercial cold brew coffee RTDs, private label manufacturers can streamline the process significantly.
Firstly, though, it’s helpful to understand your market and address the gap your cold brew can fill. “Begin with market research,” Viktor advises. “Understand your customers: what they drink, why, and in what contexts.”
This means finding out what they consume most between nitro cold brew and still cold brew, and why, given that their reasons can range from the flavour to health considerations. Then, you can use this feedback to influence your formulations. “Adjust your flavours and features to match,” he adds.
Market testing is especially helpful for your RTDs because you can speak directly to consumers and retail partners to make decisions. “We tested our recipes at industry events with baristas to fit specialty coffee shop taste profiles,” Viktor explains.
Viktor advises businesses to seek advice before making decisions. “Avoid common mistakes like overproduction or quality issues by consulting experts upfront and budgeting resources carefully,” he says. The composition of your team and manufacturer is just as important, too. “Prioritise training, skilled hires, and strict quality protocols, as food safety is essential.”
Sustainability is also becoming a priority to governments and consumers, many of whom base their purchasing decisions on it. It’s important to factor that into your RTD production processes as well.
Viktor points out that in Europe, sustainability is a core requirement. “Ethical sourcing and recyclable materials build trust and loyalty for premium products – it’s now standard for long-term success,” he explains.
Evidently, outsourcing your RTD production to a commercial cold brew coffee manufacturer can relieve you of many operational pressures, while also reducing your time to market and costs. Therefore, you can instead focus on growing other areas of your business.
At Hardtank, our private label services are designed to make launching cold brew coffee RTDs a lot simpler. Choose from our market-proven shop-to-go recipes or a fully custom formula, and our team will handle formulation, compliance, and production. Our shorter lead times mean you can launch faster, scale with confidence, and deliver consistent quality every time.
Commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers: Key takeaways
- Outsourcing RTD production to commercial cold brew coffee manufacturers can significantly accelerate your time to market.
- You also save money, since you don’t need to invest in production lines, canning facilities, and food safety infrastructure.
- You can also scale your production more efficiently to tap into the rising popularity of cold brew coffee.
Ready to launch your own private label cold brew RTDs? Learn more about our process here or contact the Hardtank team for a consultation.
Commercial cold brew coffee FAQ
Is outsourcing RTD production cheaper than producing in-house?
In most cases, it is cheaper because you don’t need to invest in your own equipment, facilities, assurance systems, or regulatory compliance.
What are the typical MOQs for cold brew RTDs?
MOQs vary by manufacturer, but typically start at one or two pallets per SKU.
Is outsourcing RTD production suitable for smaller roasters?
Yes, especially from manufacturers that offer low MOQs. It allows you to test the RTD market without significant upfront investment.
Want to learn more about our commercial cold brew coffee?
- Explore our range: Browse our private label recipes here.
- Discover the process: Learn more about how we produce our RTDs.
- Speak to an expert: Book a consultation with the team today.
