First Draft
Daily we get questions about our cold brew coffee and the entire process of getting it set up in the office. Honestly, while every office will differ in product, frequency and service, the general terminology remains the same.
It’s not uncommon for us to get a call and the office contact will say, “I don’t know anything about this, I was just asked to get some information.”
My response is typically, “That’s ok, we know all about it, lets talk.”
Let’s start by defining some some terminology so we can learn why some coffee, First Tracks included, stands out among some of the others offered.
The Product:
Cold Brew: Cold brewed coffee is brewed through a process where the grounds are steeped in water at or below room temperature for a period of 18-24 hours. The result is a less acidic and as a result, less bitter drink. It is generally a lot smoother and a lot of people who need a creamer or sweetener in their coffee can and do drink it without those add-ons.
Ice Coffee: Iced coffee is typically coffee that is brewed hot and then cooled down and kept refegrated. Since it is brewed at a higher temperature this process is more bitter than cold brewed coffee. Many coffee shops will served iced coffee in addition to or in place of cold brew, not to intentionally deceive but simply because it is more convenient and quicker to make.
Nitro Cold Brew: Nitro cold brew has been infused with nitrogen gas, the same gas that makes up 71% of the air we breathe. The gas is inert, meaning it doesn’t do anything to the coffee’s makeup. What it does do, however, is create a rich creamy head on the coffee similar to a Guiness. Why people enjoy “nitro” cold brew is because of the presentation and texture of the coffee. It gives it a smooth experience without creamer. This is the product that people are looking for 99% of the time when we are contacted about our services.
Equipment
Kegerator: The kegerator is basically a minifridge that has been equipped with a tap that can
hold kegs of coffee. This can be built into a counter top or freestanding. The price range of a kegerator can range from $500 to $2000 or more depending on the features and quality of the appliance. And like any appliance, you get what you pay for. Higher end units will keep temperature more consistently and evenly. Cheaper units will have less sturdy construction. In many cases, a cold brew provider like First Tracks Cold Brew will offer kegerator rental as a service and in many cases will include rental for free with a minimum order of x number of kegs per month or some other qualifier.
Keg: Coffee for services like First Tracks offers comes in kegs, these can be either sanke, which are similar to beer kegs or they can be cornelius kegs or corny kegs. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Sanke kegs are an industry standard for beer and many other draft beverages they require special equipment to clean but are pretty simple. Corny kegs are easy to clean but have a lot of o-rings that can leak. Both work, it just depends on what equipment your provider uses. The type of keg has to be compatible with the fittings on the kegerator and most providers can change that out for you if you have your own equipment and need it done. It’s simple to do but not convenient to swap back and forth with every order.
Nitrogen Tank: The nitrogen tank holds the nitrogen to make the coffee nitro cold brew. It is going to be in a heavy steel or aluminum tank and may need to be ordered from a local gas distributor if your cold brew provider doesn’t provide that service. In most cases they will but be aware that it is a necessary possible additional charge if not wrapped up in the total service.
Regulator: The regulator will take the nitrogen from the nitrogen tank to the keg. There are different regulators for nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide (for beer) so if you’re switching a kegerator over from beer to coffee, you’ll need a nitrogen reg.
Stout Faucet: A stout faucet is where the coffee comes out. It is different than a regular beer faucet in that it is longer, skinnier and has an agitator inside to “stir” up the coffee and give it its creamy texture. Again, this is something that will need to be swapped out if you’re going from beer to coffee.
The Service
There are several ways cold brew can make its way into your office.
Subscription: This, we’ve found to be the easiest for everyone involved. You decide how frequently you want coffee delivered, weekly, bi-weekly, whatever and a subscription is set up. We take the number of deliveries in a year, kegerator rental (if needed), estimate nitrogen and split it over the 12 months. Every month same price, regardless of 4 deliveries in the month or 5, nitrogen or not.
On Demand: Here you order as needed and the vendor gets it to you at then next possible date. This could be the next day. It could be a week. All vendors/brewers/providers are different. The nice thing about this is the customer can wait until their ou off coffee and have more delivered. The worst case in a subscription scenario, the keg is, say, half empty and still gets swapped. It all depends on how staff handles lack of coffee.
The Last Drops
While it seems like a lot of factors, it’s fairly simple. You need coffee and a way to get it in your glass. Knowing the outline of what is involved goes a long way in setting up cold brew coffee service. If you’re in the Denver area or front range, give us a call at 720-563-7875 or drop us a note at [email protected] . We can help you get things set up for your staff and answer any questions you may have about all things cold brew.
