Solo Coffee unveils ‘UK’s first’ bag-in-box cold brew coffee

UK-based Solo Coffee has launched a new bag-in-box cold brew as it aims to make “great black coffee more accessible” to consumers.

Brewed with cold water for 16 hours, the beverage is said to be smooth and naturally sweet, rather than hot coffee that is cooled down and sweetened.

The brand said that its bag-in-box cold brew – which has capacity for 40 servings at the push of a button – is “a UK first”.

Solo Coffee aims to tap into the strong growth potential of the cold brew market. Mintel research published in May revealed that around 20% of global new coffee launches last year was iced and ready to drink, up from 16% from 2016.

Brand founders Theo Garcia and Alex Foss Sims met while working in a coffee shop in Gloucestershire, and both strove to make the best cup of coffee they could.

After working with speciality coffee, they realised that the public loved great coffee but hated the inconvenience of it. Cold brew coffee was the solution.

Following a trial with bottled cold brew, they have now started packaging the beverage into a bag-in-box with a focus on supplying cafés, offices, universities and gyms, while avoiding supermarkets for the time being. 

With their new idea, they teamed up with designers including Anthony Burrill and Craig Oldham to create a distinctive new brand. The plan going forward is for Solo to invite artists to use the product packaging as a platform for them to showcase their creativity.

The name Solo comes from the Spanish for black coffee – café solo. “We want to give our coffee centre stage and we think that the name Solo hits the spot,” said Garcia. 

“Most cold brew coffee companies in the UK have different versions of their product – they add milk, sugar, nitro and even flavours. But, for us, the whole point of cold brew is to keep it pure and to make great black coffee more accessible.

“Most companies try to be jacks-of-all-trades; we aim to be the master of one. We feel certain that this great-tasting, good-looking, cost-effective and packaging-efficient solution is the perfect way to satisfy demand.” 

Solo Coffee will be stocked in over 300 independent cafes, bars, restaurants in London and south-west England.