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7 Brew Coffee is the latest restaurant chain to add cold brew to the menu7 Brew Coffee is the latest restaurant chain to add cold brew to the menu

The addition of cold brew comes as the category experiences double-digit growth.

Alicia Kelso, Executive Editor

September 12, 2023

2 Min Read
7 Brew Cold Brew 1x1.91
7 Brew has added cold brew to its menu as the category experiences explosive growth.Photo courtesy of 7 Brew

7 Brew Coffee, which surpassed the 100th location milestone earlier this summer, is adding cold brew to its menu across its 19-state footprint. The new coffee is sourced from 100% Peruvian coffee beans that undergo a light roast.

It joins the company’s existing beverage menu alongside its “seven originals,” infused 7 Energy drinks, 7 Fizz, shakes, smoothies and teas, and comes as demand for cold brew reaches a fever pitch.

“7 Brew stands out simply because The Brew Crew is the best team on the street. These authentic brewistas, through speed and customization, make every experience a positive one,” CEO John Davidson said in a statement. “Our guests love that they can enjoy anything from a small hot coffee to an energy drink, and we’re now providing them with even more choices with the introduction of our custom, premium Cold Brew. We think Cold Brew will be a big hit at every location and every season.”

According to Grand View Research, the cold brew coffee market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate above 25% through 2025. Marketwatch reports that the cold brew market was worth $4 million in 2019 and is expected to reach $30 million by the end of 2026. 7 Brew cites Technavio research showing that the cold brew coffee market is expected to accelerate at a compound annual growth rate of over 26% through 2025. As such, several other chains have recently added cold brew as well, including IHOP and Wendy’s. McDonald’s and Taco Bell are also both testing cold brew options.

Related:IHOP adds a cold brew to its seasonal pumpkin spice menu

The demand is yielding plenty of sales.  Tim Hortons launched cold brew last year and just reported those sales have grown by nearly 17% year-over-year and now generate over 40% of the company’s mix, for instance. Dutch Bros. reported that approximately 90% of its beverages are served cold.

During Starbucks’ Q2 earnings call last month, executives shared that cold drinks now make up 75% of domestic beverage sales, with cold foam drinks growing at the fastest clip. Just five years ago, cold drinks made up less than 50% of sales. Modifiers, including cold foam, now contribute over $1 billion in revenue annually for the company.

Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]

About the Author

Alicia Kelso

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Alicia Kelso is the executive editor of Nation's Restaurant News. She began covering the restaurant industry in 2010 for QSRweb.com, FastCasual.com and PizzaMarketplace.com. When her son was born, she left the industry to pursue a role in higher education, but swiftly returned after realizing how much she missed the space. In filling that void, Alicia added a contributor role at Restaurant Dive and a senior contributor role at Forbes.
Her work has appeared in publications around the world, including Forbes Asia, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, Crain's Chicago, Good Morning America and Franchise Asia Magazine.
Alicia holds a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University, where she competed on the women's swim team. In addition to cheering for the BGSU Falcons, Alicia is a rabid Michigan fan and will talk about college football with anyone willing to engage. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her wife and son.

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