What is an RTD cold brew concentrate?

Cold brew is an extraction method that uses only cold or room-temperature water, with no heat at all. The extraction duration — typically 12 to 24 hours — naturally develops a smooth, low-acid, naturally sweet profile very different from hot coffee that has been cooled down. The RTD format packages this cold brew in bottles, cans, or cartons, often both in pure form and as a concentrate (to dilute with water, milk, or plant-based drinks). The rise of RTD cold brew is driven by several converging trends: the growth of non-alcoholic and functional beverages, increasing interest in traceable single-origin coffees, and demand for convenient formats from busy urban consumers. In the specialty segment, premium RTD cold brew brands highlight traceability (origin, process, farm), precise caffeine content, and zero added sugar formats. Concentrates are particularly popular in non-alcoholic mixology — mixed with shrubs, juices, or tonic water — and have made their way onto the menus of trendy restaurants and hotels. On the production side, quality cold brew demands high-quality starting coffee (specialty arabica preferred), filtered water, a precise ratio (typically 1:5 to 1:8 coffee to water), and a rigorous cold chain since the finished product is perishable. Cold high-pressure pasteurization (HPP) is used by some producers to extend shelf life without altering the aromatic profile. The RTD cold brew market represents a rapidly growing segment, with players ranging from major brands to artisan coffee microbreweries.