Design and aesthetics for cold coffee packaging
In the competitive landscape of modern high streets, convenience store shelves, and supermarket aisles, a great brand and aesthetic can go a long way for cold coffee packaging. Today’s shoppers are incredibly discerning and expect eye-catching designs, resolute eco-consciousness, and top-quality products.
These principles apply to the packaging of all types of cold coffee products, from liquid cold brew coffee to ground coffee, equipment, and accessories.
However, design and aesthetics are just one part of the perfect solution. Sustainable materials and a portfolio that varies in size and satisfies different need states are similarly essential.
We spoke to Carl Ljungh and Jonas Groth, co-founders of Aarke, to learn more about what coffee businesses need to do when approaching design for cold coffee products.
How is cold coffee growing at home?
Globally, coffee culture has exploded. Specialty coffee, for example, can be found in all corners of the world, regardless of a local coffee-drinking tradition or proximity to growing regions. Globalisation means new trends travel fast, and coffee culture is no different.
Alongside specialty coffee trends, cold coffee and ready-to-drink (RTD) coffees are experiencing similar growth. Since 2021, the percentage of coffee drinkers who prefer iced beverages to traditional hot versions has jumped more than 9%, to 27% overall. Gen Z, in particular, is the most likely generation to seek cold coffee; 60% prefer it.
Out-of-home coffee sales are evidence of the shift to colder drinks – Starbucks now sells three iced coffees to every one hot coffee, for example – but an increasing number of businesses are shifting focus to the at-home market that still makes up the lion’s share of global coffee consumption.
Big international brands like Nestle and Starbucks are betting on cold coffee at home. They are launching products and equipment designed to help customers replicate the quality of iced coffee shops they have come to love.
Aarke manufactures premium kitchen appliances, from sparkling water makers to coffee makers and grinders, that enable coffee enthusiasts to prepare coffee – from hot espresso to cold brew – to a coffee shop standard.
“With the Aarke Coffee System, we set out to create a complete solution for coffee lovers who want a perfect coffee every time,’ says Carl.
“Our coffee maker and grinder work beautifully on their own, but when paired, they offer a seamless experience for high-quality coffee and the aroma of freshly ground beans. Add beans to the grinder and water to the coffee maker, and let the system do the rest.”
“We see that cold coffee is definitely growing in popularity, with trends like iced coffee and cold brew leading the way,” adds Jonas.
“At Aarke, we’ve considered this with our Coffee Grinder, which includes a grind size dial that spans from a fine moka pot setting to a coarser cold brew setting, ensuring flexibility for all coffee enthusiasts.
“We also have the Aarke Purifier, our water filter pitcher, which ensures filtered, clean water that not only tastes better but also removes limescale, enhancing the overall quality of your coffee.”
Aarke is solving a problem that modern coffee drinkers experience when preparing coffee at home: a lack of variation. Many drinkers change their preferences for hot or cold coffee throughout the year or even the day. The Aarke system gives them the flexibility to prepare either type seamlessly and consistently high-quality coffee.
How does Aarke approach design and aesthetics for cold coffee packaging?
While Aarke does not produce cold brew coffee itself, its innovative systems are designed to give consumers the flexibility to brew high-quality coffee—whether hot or cold—at home. As with any coffee-related product, competition and overall market quality are incredibly high, and standing out from the crowd through design, aesthetics, and brand storytelling is key to success.
“Coffee is such a ritualistic experience, and we believe that the products you use should reflect that,” says Carl.
“At Aarke, we are all about making functionality elegant. The complexity and smart features of the Coffee Maker are built inside, so it works seamlessly and effortlessly. Beyond functionality, we focused on creating a design that’s not just elegant but timeless for years to come. Balancing aesthetics and performance is always our goal, ensuring longevity in both form and function.”
Aarke’s focus on balancing design and performance provides a blueprint for businesses in the cold coffee space, particularly when designing packaging that stands out in competitive retail environments. Branding, design, and packaging are what first capture attention. Beautiful packaging and designs are better suited for key marketing environments like social media or e-commerce websites.
However, as Carl says, it’s crucial to balance aesthetics and performance. In cold coffee packaging terms, this means that not only should the design and aesthetics be on point, but the quality and credentials of the packaging and manufacturing materials used need to match the quality of the product itself.
When packaging cold brew, for example, robust, sustainable materials like kraft paper, corrugated cardboard, LDPE and PLA plastic, or recyclable aluminium are ideal for building consumer trust and catching new eyes. They are highly customisable for impactful design work and are protective, safe, and hygienic.
Aarke expects cold coffee to continue to grow, so businesses looking to capitalise on these trends must consider the fundamentals when designing and aestheticising cold coffee packaging.
“We absolutely see that the interest in coffee, in all its forms, is growing globally,” says Jonas.
“Cold brew seems to have established a strong foothold in many markets, especially in the US. It will likely gain more ground in our home market of Sweden, as well as the rest of Europe.”
“We think there is a lack of beautifully designed, long-lasting products in the space of domestic appliances, and there are really no limits other than time and resources for the areas Aarke will develop in future.”
At Cold Brew Pak, we offer a range of highly customisable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly cold coffee packaging solutions for the specialty coffee space. Just as Aarke recognises the value of balancing design with performance, we apply that same importance to cold coffee packaging.
From compostable kraft paper and corrugated cardboard bag-in-box cold brew packaging to flexible LDPE and PLA plastic pouches and custom aluminium cans, every packaging type we produce is safe, sustainable, and customisable to reflect your brand story.
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Cold coffee packaging
