
When it comes to essential beverages, coffee ranks right up there with water in the American consciousness. But America’s coffee habits have shifted, with more hot coffee being made at home and specialty coffee drinks and cold coffee beverages ticking up in foodservice. Maybe it’s no surprise then that cold brew coffee has been exploding across both retail and foodservice channels.
Fast Facts about Cold Brew
- Up 12.5% in menu penetration in 2021 (+166% since 2017!) 1
- 37% of consumers love it or like it 1
- 88% know it 1
- 52% have tried it 1
- 62% of remote workers say it’s worth paying more for cold brew vs. iced coffee 2
- 22% of millennials reported weekly cold brew consumption (nearly 2x the average!) 3

There are lots of signs that even more growth lies ahead for this “young” trend. First, consumers of millennial age and younger have the highest preference for cold brew*, so more fans are likely to join the ranks even as the current ones age up. (*Source: National Coffee Association) Plus, there’s lots of room to grow – cold brew is only on 10.2% of foodservice menus today. 1
56% of all consumers and 67% of remote workers agree that foodservice quality drinks can’t be replicated at home 3
“The future of coffee and tea is cold.”
Add it up, and it’s no surprise that analysts predict the global cold brew market will grow by 25% compound annual growth rate through 2025. 4
We recommend Segafredo Zanetti® Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew, due to its light roast and unique coffee components. For more on cold brew solutions for foodservice, visit our site here.
Specialty Drink of the Month:
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

‘Tis the season! Yes, it starts earlier every year as pumpkin-flavored food and drink hits menus across the nation. But there’s a reason – consumers “fall” for these seasonal specials every year. This Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is a new twist on the popular seasonal flavor, and perfect for now when the weather is still warm in many parts of the country. The same hints of pumpkin pie and caramel sweetness, but in a cool and refreshing format, and very easy for operations.
In the next issue, we’ll share more on fall-season coffee LTOs – beyond pumpkin. 🎃
Operations Notes:
Recommended Blend: Our Brilliante® blend for an ultra-smooth cold brew experience. Brew it yourself with our Handcrafted Cold Brew kit or get it Ready-to-Drink with our new 2-gallon bag-in-box cold brew package designed for foodservice.
For a quick primer on how to incorporate cold brew into your operation, click here.
For more cold brew drink ideas and recipes, click here.
Sources:
1Datassential, 2021
2Specialty Coffee Association, 2021
3Mintel, 2021
4Grand View Research, 2019