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The cold coffee trend is expected to continue growing, with brands focusing on diversifying their product
offerings and leveraging cold coffee as a platform for customization and innovative drink concepts.
This shift reflects broader changes in consumer habits, with coffee increasingly viewed not only as a
routine beverage but also as an opportunity for personalized experiences.
Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee
Both cold brew and iced coffee offer refreshing ways to enjoy coffee, but they differ in preparation
methods, flavour profiles, caffeine content, and more. Cold Brew coffee is made by steeping coarse
coffee grounds in cold or room-temperature water for 12-24 hours. The slow extraction process yields a
coffee concentrate, which can be diluted with water or milk before serving. Cold Brew has a smoother,
sweeter profile because the slower steeping process results in a coffee with less acid and bitter
compounds. Depending on the recipe used, Cold Brew can have more caffeine content.
On the other hand, Iced Coffee involves brewing hot coffee through a traditional method (such as drip)
and then cooling it with ice. The hot brewing process extracts caffeine efficiently, but since it’s poured
over ice, the final concentration will be diluted as the ice melts. The BUNN Infusion Series Family is
programmed with a cold brew mode to make iced coffee on demand. However, the machine’s Peak
Extraction™ Sprayhead coupled with SmartWAVE® technology work to allow a foodservice operator to
use one coffee machine to also replicate the nuanced flavours of cold brew.
Nitrogen-Infused Coffee
Another type of “cold coffee” is nitrogen-infused coffee, commonly known as “Nitro Coffee”. Nitro
Coffee is cold coffee that is infused with nitrogen gas. Nitrogen is used in stout beer such as Guinness,
and creates small bubbles in coffee to give it a unique creamy, thick texture. Nitro coffee has become
popular over the last decade – while it does require an upfront investment, it can sell at premium prices
and generate excellent profitability.
BUNN Infusion Series Family