Cold Brew Coffee Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecast (2025 - 2030)

Global Cold Brew Coffee Market Trends and Insights

Rising consumer preference for distinctive coffee beverages

The cold brew coffee market is experiencing transformation due to changing consumer preferences, particularly among younger generations who favor experiential consumption over traditional coffee drinking habits. Among consumers aged 18 to 24, 47% reported drinking coffee in the past day, indicating a significant shift from traditional consumption patterns^{[1]Source: National Coffee Association, "Daily coffee consumption at 20-year high, up nearly 40%," ncausa.org}. This demographic shift creates a lasting impact as these consumers age, establishing cold brew coffee as a permanent market segment rather than a temporary trend. Cold brew's versatility enables brands to create distinct flavor profiles and add functional ingredients, building customer loyalty beyond price considerations. The growth in ready-to-drink coffee consumption demonstrates that convenience-focused consumption patterns are becoming established across various consumer groups.

Preference for premium and specialty coffee

The trend toward premium cold brew coffee aligns with consumers' willingness to pay higher prices for quality and authentic products. According to the Spring 2024 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report, 57% of American adults consumed specialty coffee in the past week, indicating specialty coffee consumption has surpassed traditional coffee^{[2]Source: National Coffee Association, "Daily coffee consumption at 20-year high, up nearly 40%," ncausa.org}. The premium positioning of cold brew coffee provides manufacturers with higher profit margins while limiting competition from low-cost producers. The extended brewing process and production requirements of cold brew support premium pricing strategies and meet consumer demand for craft beverages. This trend is especially strong in urban areas, where higher disposable incomes enable premium beverage purchases, allowing companies to focus their market development efforts in specific geographic regions.

Innovation in flavors and functional ingredients

Cold brew coffee functions as an effective delivery system for functional ingredients, including supplements, adaptogens, and proteins. The process involves infusing these ingredients during the cold brewing process, which maintains their bioactive properties while ensuring optimal taste. The acquisition of High Brew Coffee by Beliv demonstrates the market's recognition of functional beverages, particularly those focusing on protein enrichment and cognitive health ingredients. This strategic move reflects the growing demand for beverages that combine coffee's natural benefits with enhanced nutritional properties. Research shows that cold brew coffee contains polysaccharides that can modulate immune responses by enhancing cell proliferation and cytokine production. These compounds work by stimulating immune cell activity and supporting the body's natural defense mechanisms. The industry continues to develop new extraction methods and nitrogen infusion technologies to create distinct sensory experiences while maintaining functional properties. These technologies involve precise temperature control, specialized filtration systems, and innovative ingredient incorporation methods to ensure maximum efficacy and stability of the functional components.

Popularity of ready-to-drink (RTD) formats

The ready-to-drink (RTD) segment growth reflects changes in consumption patterns and retail distribution strategies. The format enables cold brew expansion into convenience retail channels that traditionally focused on soft drinks and energy beverages. Significant investments, such as Westrock Coffee's USD 315 million facility for RTD production, demonstrate the industry's confidence in the format's long-term viability. RTD products address consumer needs by eliminating preparation time and equipment requirements while ensuring consistency, portion control, and portability. Distribution agreements with major retailers, such as Pop & Bottle's cold brew launch at Target, indicate broader retail acceptance and dedicated shelf space.

Preference for instant and traditional coffee

Traditional hot coffee and instant coffee preferences create significant market barriers, particularly in price-sensitive regions with established coffee consumption habits. Cultural practices and daily routines contribute to this resistance. Economic factors, including inflation, encourage at-home coffee consumption and value-based purchasing as consumers manage their expenses while maintaining coffee consumption. The instant coffee segment remains strong due to its convenience, affordability, and familiar format. To change established consumption patterns, especially in markets where cold brew differs from traditional coffee habits, companies must implement market development strategies and consumer education. These initiatives need to address taste preferences, preparation methods, and value propositions to reduce consumer hesitation.

High production and storage costs

Cold brew coffee production involves higher costs than traditional coffee brewing due to longer brewing times and specialized equipment needs. The product requires refrigerated storage and distribution, while its shorter shelf life adds to operational expenses compared to shelf-stable coffee products. The impact of climate change on coffee-growing regions poses additional cost challenges, with the IPCC forecasting significant decreases in coffee production by 2050. These cost factors particularly affect small-scale producers and price-sensitive markets, giving larger manufacturers with scale advantages a competitive edge.

Segment Analysis

By Form: Liquid Dominance Drives Market Foundation

Liquid formats hold a 75.23% market share in 2024, representing the primary consumption pattern for cold brew coffee across consumer segments. This dominance stems from consumer familiarity with traditional beverage formats and enables immediate consumption without preparation. The pods segment is growing at an 18.33% CAGR through 2030, supported by premium positioning and convenience preferences. Ground and whole bean segments cater to niche markets, serving consumers interested in artisanal preparation and bulk purchasing options.

Technological advancements are transforming cold brew coffee production methods. Ultrasonic brewing systems have reduced preparation time from 24 hours to under 3 minutes while maintaining flavor and aroma profiles, enabling potential on-demand service in retail and foodservice locations. Coffee pods continue to gain market share due to their convenience and portion control benefits, especially among younger consumers who value customization and consistent quality. Recent patent developments in nitrogen infusion for instant cold brew coffee indicate ongoing industry focus on format innovation and product stability.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Flavor: Unflavored Foundation Enables Premium Innovation

Unflavored cold brew dominates with a 56.71% market share in 2024, appealing to traditional coffee consumers and establishing brand authenticity. The flavored cold brew segment is growing at a 19.07% CAGR through 2030, driven by consumer demand for diverse taste options and functional ingredients. This growth is particularly driven by younger demographics who experiment with various flavor profiles, from classic vanilla and caramel to exotic fruit and spice infusions. The market growth indicates increasing consumer awareness of cold brew coffee's distinct taste characteristics, which enables companies to develop premium products with diverse flavor combinations.

Innovation in functional ingredients is driving flavored segment expansion, with brands incorporating protein, adaptogens, and cognitive health compounds to differentiate their offerings. Pop & Bottle's recent launch of multi-serve cold brew in vanilla flavor alongside traditional light and medium roasts demonstrates strategic portfolio diversification to capture both authentic and innovation-seeking consumer segments. The flavor innovation pipeline extends beyond traditional additives to include seasonal offerings and limited-edition releases that create purchase urgency and brand engagement.

By Packaging Type: Bottles Lead While Cans Accelerate

Bottle packaging holds a 55.34% market share in 2024, as consumers associate bottles with premium beverages and value their resealability, which supports cold brew's higher price positioning. The can format demonstrates the strongest growth trajectory at 18.81% CAGR through 2030, driven by portability advantages, recyclability credentials, and cost efficiency in mass production. Bag packaging serves bulk and foodservice segments, while other formats include emerging sustainable packaging solutions and specialized dispensing systems.

Packaging innovation focuses on shelf stability and sustainability, with nitrogen infusion technology enabling extended shelf life while maintaining flavor integrity. The FDA's updated Food Code regulations emphasize proper handling and storage requirements for cold brew products, creating compliance costs but also establishing quality standards that benefit established manufacturers. Can format growth aligns with younger consumer preferences for portable, single-serve options and environmental consciousness, while bottle formats maintain premium positioning through rPET and sustainable plastic alternatives.

By Nature: Conventional Base Supports Organic Premium Growth

Conventional cold brew holds a 72.12% market share in 2024, primarily due to its widespread retail presence across supermarkets, convenience stores, and coffee shops, along with its competitive price points compared to specialty coffee beverages. The organic segment is growing at a 19.22% CAGR through 2030, as consumers increasingly prioritize products made with pesticide-free coffee beans and environmentally sustainable packaging. The market's expansion demonstrates successful penetration across both value-conscious consumers seeking affordable ready-to-drink options and premium buyers willing to pay more for organic and sustainably sourced products.

Sustainability commitments from major brands are driving organic segment expansion, with companies emphasizing ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility as key differentiators. The United Kingdom market demonstrates strong demand for certified coffees, including Fairtrade and organic options, indicating consumer willingness to pay premiums for sustainability credentials. Organic certification requirements create barriers to entry while enabling premium pricing strategies that support higher margin business models for qualified producers.

By Distribution Channel: Off-Trade Dominance Faces On-Trade Acceleration

Off-trade channels hold a 58.34% market share in 2024, as cold brew coffee gains prominence in retail grocery stores, convenience outlets, and online platforms, supporting consumer stockpiling and home consumption. The on-trade channel is growing at a CAGR of 19.36% through 2030, supported by the recovery of the foodservice industry and increasing demand for cold brew coffee in cafes and restaurants. This growth pattern reflects the market's expansion into diverse consumption settings.

The National Coffee Association's development of cold brew safety toolkits for retailers demonstrates industry recognition of off-trade channel importance and regulatory compliance requirements. The growth of online retail in off-trade channels has increased significantly, as e-commerce platforms enable companies to implement direct-to-consumer sales and subscription models, which increase customer lifetime value. The growth in on-trade sales is driven by cafes adding cold brew coffee to their menus and the rise of dedicated cold brew coffee shops that offer unique consumer experiences.

Geography Analysis

North America holds a 40.03% share of the global cold brew coffee market in 2024, establishing the region as a primary market. The region's advanced consumer awareness and established retail distribution networks support market growth. While growth rates are expected to moderate through 2030 due to increasing market maturity, premium product offerings and new format developments continue to expand market value. However, import tariffs between 10% and 46% on coffee create supply chain pressures but also encourage domestic production and vertical integration within the industry.

The Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.98% through 2030, representing a significant market opportunity. This growth is driven by rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and increasing coffee consumption among younger consumers. The expansion of coffee retail outlets in China demonstrates the region's consumption potential. Luckin Coffee Inc. increased its store count in China by 37.5% year-over-year, reaching 22,340 locations in 2024. Major companies are recognizing regional opportunities, as evidenced by Nestlé's plans to introduce Starbucks ready-to-drink products in India. The region's growth potential is supported by low market penetration rates and consumer preferences for cold beverages, which align with cold brew offerings.

Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa exhibit distinct market characteristics in the coffee industry. The United Kingdom's ready-to-drink coffee market growth reflects broader European acceptance of cold brew products^{[3]Source: Center for the Promotion of Imports, "The United Kingdom’s market potential for coffee," cbi.eu}. The region's emphasis on sustainability has increased demand for organic and certified coffee products. In Eastern Europe, while instant coffee remains prevalent, specialty coffee consumption is increasing gradually, suggesting future market expansion potential as economic conditions strengthen. South American markets leverage their proximity to coffee-producing regions, while the Middle East and Africa present growth opportunities through market-specific approaches that address local regulations and consumer preferences.