I have checked and confirmed that the Starbucks NDA that I signed in 2015 prohibits me to share details about the history of Starbucks nitro cold brew and the small part I played in it. I was only a couple of years into being a cold brew consultant after leaving day to day operations at another innovator coffee extraction I co-founded. I wish that it would be possible for me to share more of what happened in April of 2015 and the incredible efforts of our team. It seems like yesterday when Starbucks execs surrounded our exhibit and tried not to look too excited and though they remained fairly stoic, it was clear that we had caused a pretty big stir with this idea of nitro cold brew on-demand!
It has been nearly 10 years and so much has changed. Many people just don't know the stories behind brands that are associated with Starbucks that did not originally come from Starbucks but rather, were acquired or quietly procured. Of course things like this are simply in the course of many large companies buying decisions and they wish to enjoy the rewards of owning names like Clover, Frappuccino, etc. that come from other visionaries and inventors.
It really is okay and I for one am happy at the results. I will never forget how my good friend (who shall remain anonymous) carried on and secured this project as it took different forms. The company I worked with and those who were part of the team are a distant memory but my friend (with whom I worked hard just getting this technology in front of them) is still getting it done and I will always be thankful for his leadership and our friendship and those days when few people even understood the potential of nitro. Howard knew. Just one year later, he stated:
"There’s no consumer brand in the coffee space other than Starbucks that’s best positioned to take advantage of this opportunity. And as a result of that, cold brew and nitro will define the category and I think create incrementally for the brand and once again provide innovation. What we’re doing is right in the sweet spot of our core business innovating around our core coffee, and I think it’s going to be a multi-billion dollar opportunity for our company.” -Yahoo Finance, May 2016
Thank you Starbucks for jumping into cold coffee and pushing nitro into the mainstream. ColdPerk's extraction tech is a bit different than the status quo – we think it is a revolution.
At ColdPerk, we may be doing things different but we are glad that companies like Starbucks are all about being on the leading edge of coffee extraction. So much more to say about this but again, I am happy to wait a few more months... trust me, the wait will be worth it!!!
Our commitment to advanced extraction methods in producing amazing cold coffee extract is where I and the ColdPerk team live and it is the very core of our business model.
Looking forward to seeing everyone in Houston this coming April... it's going to be a LOT of fun!
Back in 2018, Starbucks teamed up with Bill Nye to introduce Nitro Cold Brew in a way that turned heads. By breaking down the science behind its creamy foam and smooth texture, they showed how innovation and storytelling can go hand in hand.
As Nitro #ColdBrew continues to gain popularity, more brands are following suit, using creativity to bring this velvety drink to the spotlight. Learn how Starbucks started it all and how it is made via the Tasting Table here: https://lnkd.in/ewvUWkyJ
Photo Credits: Matthias Cooper
Executive Administrative Assistant at Pfizer
8moLove this product!! Looks great!