Reimagining Cold Brew Concentrates
Cold brew concentrate demand is surging, fueled by the year-round popularity of iced coffee. Concentrates offer a simple, consistent solution for crafting a wide range of iced coffee favorites. Beyond classic cold brew, they can replace espresso in drinks like lattes, mochas, frappés, and more. Cold brew concentrates are efficient, consistent, and highly practical. But for all their advantages, most cold brew concentrates fall short where it matters most, flavor. The very processes that make them convenient often compromises the rich, smooth taste that defines a true cold brew.
That’s why, at Canopy Point, we set out to solve this problem, creating a cold brew that’s both convenient and truly authentic, meeting the flavor expectations of today’s coffee drinker.
The Benefits of Cold Brew Concentrates
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Speed & Efficiency | No in-store brewing (Traditional back-of-house brewing takes 12 to 24 hours). Concentrates are always ready, helping avoid sellouts during busy periods. |
| Consistency | Ensures flavor uniformity across locations. |
| Shelf Life | Often lasts up to 6 months sealed, 1–2 weeks opened. |
| Labor Savings | No grinding or brewing required. |
| Menu Versatility | Works in iced lattes, mochas, tonics, and more. |
The Problem with Concentrates
As mentioned, cold brew concentrates streamline operations, but they often fall short of consumer taste expectations. They simply can’t match the taste of fresh cold brew because the production methods compromise flavor.
Heat Exposure
One of the key characteristics of cold brew is obvious: it’s not brewed hot. This cold-to-ambient brewing process preserves the coffee’s natural sweetness, reduces acidity, and avoids the bitter compounds typically extracted at higher temperatures. The result is a smoother, more balanced cup that highlights the coffee’s true flavor profile.
When heat is introduced, several things happen chemically: volatile aromatic compounds begin to break down, acidity increases, and bitter compounds are more readily extracted. These changes can dull flavor complexity and lead to a harsher, more astringent taste.
Yet many products sold as cold brew today are essentially “hot extracted fakes”, made using hot extraction methods that undermine the smooth, balanced flavor consumers expect from true cold brew.
Also, genuine cold brewing yields a relatively dilute coffee, so making a concentrated extract requires removing water after brewing. Many manufacturers accomplish this by heating the brew under vacuum to evaporate water, thus concentrating the coffee.
During pasteurization, heat is also often used to make the concentrate safe and shelf stable. This step is highly effective for food safety, but it inevitably means the “cold” brew has been heated after brewing, often at temperatures hot enough to cook food.
Exposing cold brew to heat , whether during brewing, concentrating, or pasteurizing fundamentally alters its chemical makeup and sensory profile. Aromatic complexity is pared down, oxidation advances, and harsher taste notes creep in. The coffee may still be drinkable, even caffeinated and strong, but it likely lacks the balanced sweetness and lively aromatics of a true cold brew that’s never been heated.
Preservatives & Additives
Compounding the problem, many commercial concentrates contain additives, preservatives, or stabilizers. These additions distort the flavor, muting the balanced and authentic taste consumers expect.
The result is a lackluster flavor that falls far short of fresh cold brew, much like the stark difference between fresh-squeezed juice and its bottled counterpart. The gap in purity and taste is very clear.
Our Solution: Cold Brew, Reimagined
No Heat Exposure
As mentioned, most concentrate manufacturing methods rely on heat at some point in the process, which compromises flavor. At Canopy Point Coffee, we’ve developed a proprietary method that avoids heat entirely during brewing, concentration, and even pasteurization.
Purity
Our process is also free from all additives: no preservatives, sweeteners, or stabilizers. It’s crafted with only freshly ground beans and water. Unlike other "pure" options that rely on instant coffee to increase concentration, our method is true cold brew, nothing else. And it’s still shelf stable.
Air Roasting
Our concentration method works with any type of bean, but the experience is truly elevated when paired with Air Roasted coffee. Our team crafts custom roast profiles to bring out the exact flavor characteristics of each bean. Air roasting is not only highly precise and consistent, it also eliminates the harsh bitterness and burnt compounds common in traditional roasting. The result is an even smoother, sweeter cup with refined acidity. Learn more about air roasting here.
At Canopy Point Coffee, we don’t believe efficiency and quality have to be mutually exclusive. We’ve developed a process that delivers both, without cutting corners or compromising flavor. If you’re interested in learning more about our cold brew concentrates , you can explore further here.
