Dairy milk and cream
Low-acid (pH about 6.5 to 6.8). Pasteurisation alone isn’t enough; it would need UHT with aseptic filling, or full retort sterilisation.
Use instead Oat milk
Developing your own ready-to-drink beverage doesn’t have to be complicated. Our custom formula process allows you to launch unique drinks that no other business offers.
Our expert R&D team will work alongside you to develop recipes from scratch. Then, we’ll undertake extensive lab testing to ensure their quality, freshness, and shelf life. Our process takes just 2-3 months and includes everything from recipe design and lab testing to can packaging and labelling.
With low MOQs (6,000 cans), you can test the market without unnecessary risk while relying on our state-of-the-art vegan production facility. This makes your drink not only unique but also safe, stable, and ready to scale.
Develop a one-of-a-kind recipe that reflects your brand identity and sets you apart from competitors.
From idea to shelf-ready drink with ease.
MOQ from 6,000 cans instead of the industry standard 30,000+.
Transparent pricing and cost savings on your formulation fee.
100% vegan facility, natural products, and recyclable cans.
From pilot batch to large-scale production, you don’t need to invest in additional facilities to increase your scale.
The formulation process starts with a one-time fee of €3,000. This covers the full development and sampling process. When production starts, €500 is credited back on the first five pallets (approx. €0.17 per can).
You’ll work with our food technologist to create six to eight recipe variants. Each variant is delivered in sample packs containing six cans.
Please note – we can only process plant milks, and cannot work with animal milk.
You get up to three sample rounds, each followed by online feedback meetings. Every round takes two to three weeks.
We’ll undertake pasteurisation and stabilisation, and then calculate your drink’s shelf life. It is usually up to 12 months, depending on the recipe.
Based on the ingredients used and logistics (e.g. packing and delivery), we’ll calculate your final per-can cost.
After approval, we produce your first MOQ of two pallets (≈6,000 cans) and support your market entry.
Hardtank builds custom coffee, tea and matcha RTDs on a plant-based milk or a straight brew, with 70+ pre-validated ingredients: sweeteners, syrups, flavourings, juices, vitamins, minerals and functional extras. Every can is preserved by pasteurisation, so we can’t process dairy milk, protein, eggs, live probiotics, purées, CBD or alcohol. Not sure about an ingredient? We’ll review it within 5 business days.
Always available
Each of these has a documented production history at our facility, so we can confirm it straight away, with no extra testing.
Showing all 72 ingredients
Pick a base, or bring your own coffee.
We work with plant-based milk only.
From full-sugar to sugar-reduced recipes.
Declared on the label as “flavouring” or “natural flavouring”.
Natural flavour and colour. Concentrates deliver a stronger taste at a lower dosage.
Label claims depend on the dosage per litre. We calculate it with you during development.
Balance pH and tartness, and support microbiological stability.
Technical sources of potassium, magnesium and calcium that also buffer pH.
Inhibit yeasts and moulds to protect shelf life.
Keep texture even and prevent separation.
No match on our approved list. That doesn’t mean we can’t use it. Tell us what you have in mind and our technology team will check.
Ask about this ingredientLabel claim possible means the ingredient can support an EU nutrition or health claim once the required dosage is reached.
Our process is pasteurisation only: 80°C for 7 minutes for black coffees and 85°C for 10 minutes for oat milk coffees. That is ideal for low-pH drinks, but not for ingredients that raise the pH in a sealed can.
Hardtank preserves RTD cans by pasteurisation. We don’t run retort (can) sterilisation or aseptic filling, so low-acid ingredients can’t be made shelf-stable and safe.
Low-acid (pH about 6.5 to 6.8). Pasteurisation alone isn’t enough; it would need UHT with aseptic filling, or full retort sterilisation.
Use instead Oat milk
A low-acid plant base with the same risk as dairy. Coconut syrup and coconut flavouring are different products and are fine to use.
Use instead Coconut syrup in an oat milk base
Banana, pumpkin, sweet potato and dates have a pH that is too high, plus a thick, unclarified texture.
Use instead Clarified fruit juices or a flavour syrup
Low-acid, with a Salmonella risk. Eggnog-style drinks need a different process.
No direct alternative for this ingredient.
Whey, casein, plant protein and collagen raise the pH and buffering capacity of the drink.
No direct alternative for this ingredient.
They don’t survive pasteurisation, and adding them afterwards would need aseptic filling.
No direct alternative for this ingredient.
Some ingredients are fine on their own but not in combination.
Together they push the pH above the safe threshold for a pasteurised, sealed can. Mineralisation in another form is possible, and we agree this with you case by case.
Use instead Oat milk at standard mineral levels
Cannabidiol and its derivatives have an unresolved or unauthorised Novel Food status in the EU for most forms.
No direct alternative for this ingredient.
We aren’t licensed to produce or fill alcoholic drinks, so RTD espresso martinis are out.
No direct alternative for this ingredient.
Not part of our validated production range.
No direct alternative for this ingredient.
It isn’t automatically ruled out. Describe it in the “other ingredients” field and we’ll tell you within 5 business days whether we can use it.
Lists last updated .
The process begins with a €3,000 payment per recipe (SKU). This covers consultations, samples, and full R&D support.
Together, we decide on who supplies which ingredients. For example, if you want to use your own coffee, you send it to us while we source the remaining components.
After two or three rounds of samples and adjustments, you choose and confirm the final formula for production.
Provide your own label design (using our template) or use our design service. The approved label is mandatory before production can start.
Place a minimum order of two pallets (~6,000 cans) and pay the 50% deposit of the total order value.
Once production is complete, the remaining 50% balance is due. We then notify you to arrange collection (EXW) or shipping (DAP).
Have a question, or are you ready to launch your own custom formula RTD? Select a contact below to connect directly with the right sales representative for your needs.
Business Development Manager
Kinga is our RTD business development expert. She’s here to guide you through every step of creating your own RTD brand — from initial concept and product selection through to launch.
Languages: English, Polski
Our approved ingredients list includes coffee, teas, dried fruit, cascara, oat/almond milk, B-group vitamins (B6, B12 etc.), Vitamin C, potassium, zinc, magnesium, soluble fibre, L-theanine, MCT, citrulline, mushrooms, additional caffeine, and green tea extract.
Please note that we cannot use creatine or added protein.
Custom Formula is a bespoke development service where we co-create a unique recipe with you. From sourcing your preferred coffee beans or ingredients to multiple sampling rounds and final production, your beverage is entirely tailored to your brand.
The MOQ is two pallets per SKU (approximately 6,000 cans).
The typical process takes two to three months and includes:
The standard production lead time is four to six weeks after final recipe confirmation.
You do! Once the recipe is finalised, you retain all formulation rights.
Yes, you can run multiple developments in parallel. Each recipe is subject to a separate formulation fee.
€3,000 per recipe. However, we refund €500 per pallet from your first five orders until the fee is fully reimbursed.
We have experience with adaptogens, vitamins, cascara, natural flavours, and alternative bases (e.g. oat milk). See above for a full list.
Typically 12 months for black coffee/tea and eight months for oat-based drinks. The final shelf life will be confirmed through microbiological and stability testing during development.
No. Hardtank only works with plant-based milk, currently oat milk. Dairy milk and cream are low-acid, and our process is pasteurisation only, so they would need UHT with aseptic filling or retort sterilisation. Oat milk is the validated alternative.
Our approved list includes magnesium, zinc, potassium and vitamins B6, B12 and C, with calcium and vitamins A, D3 and E also available. In oat milk recipes, high doses of electrolytes and vitamins can push the pH above the safe limit for a pasteurised can, so we agree the levels with you case by case.
No. Protein and collagen raise the pH of the drink, and live probiotic cultures don’t survive pasteurisation. Creatine, CBD and alcohol are also outside what we can produce.
An ingredient that isn’t listed isn’t automatically accepted or rejected. Describe it in the “other ingredients” field of the form and our technology team will review it and reply within 5 business days.
For some ingredients, yes. When the dosage reaches the required threshold per litre, ingredients such as magnesium, zinc, potassium, B vitamins, vitamin C, caffeine and soluble fibre can support an EU label claim. We calculate the dosage with you during development; confirm final claim wording for your market.
Yes. Your coffee can be used in one of our validated recipes, and we can adjust syrup dosage, proportions and sweetness level. You send us the coffee and we source the remaining ingredients.
We work exclusively with slim cans (200 mL and 250 mL). We’ve chosen this format because it is easily recyclable, suitable for a range of customisation methods, and incredibly protective of pasteurised drinks. For customisation, we use wrap-around labels for full-scale design to help your product stand out.
Simply select the topic you want to discuss, and we'll make sure your inquiry reaches the right expert.
You'll get a response from our team within 48 hours (excluding weekends), always from a @hardbeans.com email address. Your inquiry will be handled by a specialist who understands your needs and can guide you every step of the way.
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