Packaged coffee and tea manufacturing is a ratio problem: extraction yield, extraction time, and thermal damage. Hot-brew extraction pulls 18–22% TDS at the cost of oxidation and bitterness. Cold-brew extraction runs 12–24 hours at 38–42°F and yields a low-acid, low-bitterness concentrate that holds flavor for 14 days under refrigeration. Cold-brew extraction tanks are jacketed for refrigeration, agitated at low speed to keep grounds in suspension, and drained through a fine-mesh false bottom or an inline filter press. Yields of 2:1 water-to-grounds are typical; some roasters push 4:1 or higher for shelf-stable concentrate product lines.
On the tea side, concentrate batch kettles are steam-jacketed and hold hot water at 175–200°F for controlled infusion. Post-infusion, the concentrate transfers to a flash-pasteurization loop — a plate-heat-exchanger-based HTST system that heats the product to 161°F for 15 seconds, then crash-cools it to 38°F before packaging. This kills spoilage organisms without the thermal degradation of retort-style hold pasteurization. Blending skids combine concentrate with sweeteners, flavorings, and functional ingredients (adaptogens, caffeine, MCT, protein). Deaeration systems strip dissolved oxygen via nitrogen sparging or vacuum deaeration, extending shelf-life and preventing color fade.
The nitro coffee category demands pressure-rated, nitrogen-charged dispense tanks. Coffee is pre-charged with nitrogen at 30–40 psi, producing the cascading pour and creamy mouthfeel consumers expect. These vessels are coded to handle beverage dispense pressure and fitted with diffusion stones, pressure-relief valves, and draft-line connections. Kombucha fermentation tanks — a parallel sub-category — are open-top or pressure-rated vessels sized for 7–14 day SCOBY fermentation at 78°F, with glycol jacketing for secondary-fermentation flavor development.
What We Fabricate
Cold-Brew Extraction Tanks
Jacketed, agitated vessels sized 50-gal through 2,000-gal for 12–24-hour cold-water extraction at refrigerated temperatures.
Nitro Coffee Dispense Tanks
Pressure-rated, nitrogen-charged dispense tanks with diffusion stone and draft-line fitting for nitro-cold-brew programs.
Tea Concentrate Batch Kettles
Steam-jacketed kettles with temperature controller for hot-water infusion of tea, herbs, and botanicals.
Flash Pasteurization Skids
HTST plate-heat-exchanger loops for 161°F / 15-second pasteurization of RTD coffee and tea.
RTD Blending Skids
Multi-ingredient batch blenders for ready-to-drink beverage formulation — concentrate + water + sweetener + flavor.
Kombucha Fermentation Tanks
Open-top or pressure-rated SCOBY fermentation vessels with glycol jackets for 78°F primary ferment and cold-hold secondary.
Deaeration Vessels
Nitrogen-sparging or vacuum-deaeration columns for dissolved-oxygen removal from RTD product.
Carbonation Tanks
In-line or batch carbonation for sparkling tea and ready-to-drink nitro product.
Holding & Surge Tanks
Pre-pack buffer vessels to balance production rate between batch and filling.
Infuser Kettles
Steam-jacketed infusion vessels for specialty tea, botanical, and functional-ingredient extraction.
Coffee Fermentation Tanks
Temperature-controlled fermenters for wild-yeast and controlled-culture coffee fermentation programs (growing specialty segment).
Keg-Fill & Bright-Tank Systems
Pressure-rated bright tanks feeding keg-fill lines for on-premise draft coffee and tea programs.
How a Custom Project Works
Requirements capture. Volume, materials of construction, service chemistry, operating temperature and pressure, installation footprint, utility connections, code and finish requirements. We work from a specification sheet you provide or we draft one against your process flow.
Engineering and drawings. Our partner engineering team produces a general-arrangement drawing, bill of materials, weld-map, and code calculation package if applicable. You review and sign off before any steel is cut.
Material procurement. Plate, pipe, fittings, and elastomers are ordered against the approved BOM. Material Test Reports (MTRs) are captured for every heat of stainless or carbon steel used on code work.
Fabrication. Shell courses rolled and seam-welded, heads formed and welded, ports installed per drawing. Sanitary work is TIG-welded with argon purge and ground flush to 32 Ra or better on product-contact surfaces.
Inspection and testing. Radiographic or ultrasonic weld inspection where code requires, hydrostatic pressure test at 1.3x design pressure for code vessels, surface-roughness profilometry on sanitary vessels, passivation to ASTM A967.
Documentation and shipment. MTRs, weld maps, NDE reports, hydro certificates, code stamps, and ASME Form U-1 (if applicable) are bound into a documentation package that travels with the vessel. Shipment via flatbed or step-deck with blocking, bracing, and tarp as specified.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the ideal extraction ratio for cold-brew concentrate?
Producers typically run 2:1 water-to-grounds for ready-to-drink cold-brew and 4:1 or higher for shelf-stable concentrate intended for dilution. Jacketed vessel temperature stays at 38–42°F through the 12–24 hour extraction cycle.
Do we need flash pasteurization for cold-brew?
If your product is HPP-processed or sold under refrigeration with a short best-by window, no. For shelf-stable retort-free RTD product, yes — HTST flash pasteurization at 161°F for 15 seconds is the standard for protecting flavor while hitting a 5-log pathogen reduction.
Can you build a nitro coffee dispense tank that connects to existing draft lines?
Yes. Pressure-rated dispense tanks are fitted with sanitary tri-clamp, John Guest, or Sankey fittings to match your draft line hardware. Diffusion stone selection is tuned to your nitrogen-pressure target (typically 30–40 psi).
What size should a new cold-brew operation start at?
Pilot production runs on 50–200 gallon jacketed tanks. Mid-size regional brands typically run 500–1,000 gallon extraction vessels. National-scale cold-brew bottling lines operate 2,000+ gallon extraction tanks or multi-vessel parallel trains.
Give us your process specs — volume, service chemistry, installation footprint, utility connections, finish requirements. We come back with a full engineering package, firm lead time, and fixed price. No obligation, no sales pressure.
