Man drinking coffee on-the-go, coffee drink in Tetra Pak carton package

OTHER BEVERAGES

Ready-to-drink coffee

With demand growing among convenience-seeking consumers, ready-to drink (RTD) coffee is fast becoming the hottest cold beverage in town. Get insights, strategies and practical support to capture market growth.

Wake up and smell the RTD coffee!

As you may have noticed, alongside the freshly brewed coffee drinks we know so well, a whole range of conveniently packaged, grab-and-go options has recently emerged. Served cold, these dairy-, water- or plant-based coffees provide the perfect morning kick-start or afternoon energy-boost. If you’re new to the RTD coffee category, we can help you enter the market. If you’re already onboard, let’s innovate together and expand your presence.

Three types of RTD coffee products

Man with tablet, frappuccino coffee drink in Tetra Prisma Aseptic carton package

Grab-and-go in portion packs

The fastest-growing RTD coffee format is pre-packaged, grab-and-go products. These energising beverages, available directly from the chilled cabinet, are a perfect match for young consumers’ fast-paced lives.

Coffed products in Tetra Fino Aseptic and Tetra Classic Aseptic cartons

Coffee concentrate in small packs

Ideal for at-home consumption or food service, a concentrated coffee is simply a reduced espresso shot in small-sized beverage cartons. Opened and mixed with milk or water, it provides a quick, refreshing caffeine kick.

Woman in kitchen, ice coffee in Tetra Brik Aseptic and Tetra Rex gable top carton packages

Multiple servings in large formats

RTD coffee beverages in family packs are perfect for people who like to keep their favourite afternoon pick-me-up close at hand – either at home or in the office. They’re also a great time-saver for busy baristas in cafés and restaurants.

Untapped potential

From 2025 to 2028 the RTD coffee category is projected to experience strong growth globally. The total volume of RTD coffee is expected to increase by 600 million litres from 7.8 billion litres in 2025 to 8.4 billion litres by 2028, with market value increasing from €36.2 billion to €41.4 billion during the same time period.

Greater China leads the way at an impressive 7.1% CAGR, while South and South East Asian markets are growing steadily at 3.4% CAGR. North America remains a powerhouse at 3.2% CAGR, while Oceania, led by Australia, is forecasted to grow at 1.3% CAGR. In Europe, the category is also expanding, with France and Benelux showing solid potential at 2.1%. As younger, lifestyle-focused consumers continue to drive demand, these key markets offer a clear opportunity.

Source: Market Value and Growth Report, Global Data 2025. Category includes iced/RTD coffee drinks.

Global map showing RTD coffee market growth

Young people with smart phone and coffee drink in Tetra Top carton bottle

What and who is behind the rise in RTD coffee?

The booming RTD coffee market is about more than just potential; it’s about people. As consumer habits evolve, it helps to understand who’s driving this revolution. Enter Gen Z and Millennials, many of whom prefer cold coffee and lean towards pre-packaged options as opposed to brewing their own.

customer case

Premium coffee taste. Premium business growth.

Capturing the premium experience of a barista café is about more than great ingredients. Learn how we supported First Press as they optimised product formulations for commercial production of shelf-stable, specialty coffee drinks. Today, they are responding to consumer demands for innovative dairy, protein and plant-based products while simultaneously expanding into new retail and export markets.

Holding cartons, First Press ice coffee in Tetra Prisma Aseptic carton packages

customer case

The first protein-coffee on the Canadian market

Learn how Tetra Pak supported the founders of Canadian start-up, brüst, to create a new category in the Canadian marketplace. Having initially packaged their products in glass bottles, the company soon switched to Tetra Pak cartons to leverage the sustainability and shelf-life advantages of aseptic packaging.

Case story

Malaysian dairy expands into functional, ready-to-drink Café Latte

On the back of its move into ambient milk production, Malaysian dairy Farm Fresh has created a new kind of functional ready-to-drink coffee beverage. Learn how an increase in product shelf-life paved the way for innovation, making it practical to manufacture niche products in smaller volumes.

Comprehensive support for your RTD coffee business

From idea to shelf

Get professional support for every step of your RTD coffee journey from market insights to recipe development, production trials and product launch. Let’s work together to co-create, produce and promote well-targeted, market-ready beverages with exciting new taste profiles and product formulations.

Download infographic From idea to shelf⁠

RTD coffee line, processing equipment and filling machine

Covering the whole value chain

Access everything you need for your RTD coffee production, from the sourcing of quality ingredients to customised processing and packaging solutions. With our comprehensive services, you'll always have the support you need, while our Automation and Digital Solutions ensure the highest efficiency in production.

Explore our solutions⁠

Students in park, RTD coffee in Tetra Pak carton packages

Matching people and packages

While convenience is a major factor, there are other reasons why consumers choose RTD coffee. Motivations, occasions and contexts all vary, and they all play a role when it comes to matching people with products and packages. Leveraging Demand Spaces, our advanced consumer segmentation model, together we can identify and explore new white spaces in the RTD coffee category.

Find out more about consumer segmentation⁠

Woman with coffee drink in Tetra Prisma Aseptic carton package

Four reasons to choose carton packaging

In today’s dynamic RTD coffee market, our carton packaging ensures quality, convenience, and sustainability – key priorities for modern consumers. It also provides an eye-catching solution that helps your RTD coffee range stand out and attract the attention it deserves. Learn more about why carton packaging makes sense for your business, now and in the future.

Read the article⁠

Don’t stop improving

Develop a new product and let someone else pack it. Enjoy faster time-to-market with our co-packer network.

Find out more about co-packing⁠

How packaging attributes influence RTD coffee purchase decisions

Consumers increasingly consider packaging attributes when choosing ready-to-drink coffee products. In our recent survey¹, 47% of respondents said they are more likely to consider a brand when packaged in a solution they perceive as “sustainable".²Discover what consumers say matters most, and how these perceptions may influence your business.

A brochure with two people drinking RTD coffee

A match made in coffee heaven

The primary purpose of packaging is to keep your products safe and protected, but there can be so much more to it! A true expression of your brand and purpose, the right package helps create a market-ready product concept that’s as unique as your signature blend, and it can also be the ideal platform to form meaningful connections with your target audience.

Cappuccino coffee drink in Tetra Prisma Aseptic carton package

Tetra Prisma^® Aseptic Edge 200 ml - 500 ml

A unique package that’s easy to carry around and drink from.

Tetra Classic^® Aseptic Base Plus 20 ml

A resource-efficient package for coffee concentrate, with pull-tab opening.

Read more about Tetra Classic Aseptic⁠

RTD coffee drink in Tetra Brik Aseptic carton packages

Tetra Brik^® Aseptic Edge 200 ml - 1500 ml

A robust package in lots of sizes, with slanted tops for safe stacking.

Tetra Top^® 200 ml - 1000 ml

An attractive, modern package that gives your products a premium profile.

Tetra Rex^® 250 ml - 2000 ml

An iconic package with a familiar shape to facilitate consumer acceptance.

Tetra Fino® Aseptic 100 Ultra

A slim pillow-shaped package for coffee concentrate. Cost-effective and easy to handle.

Line solutions for ready to drink coffee

Whether you’re starting with raw coffee beans, coffee powder or liquid concentrate, we can customise a complete processing solution for your coffee production. From grinders and extractors to aseptic tanks, heat treatment, mixing and blending, all the equipment we supply is orchestrated by a common control system to maximise safety, efficiency and quality at a low operational cost. If you prefer to work with a co-packer, we can introduce you to a suitable partner from our extensive network.

Find out more about line solutions⁠⁠

Advanced production systems for RTD coffee

Get everything you need for your RTD coffee production, from product creation and recipe testing to processing, filling, packaging, logistics, services and beyond.

Learn more about Advanced production systems⁠⁠

Production systems for RTD coffee presentation on tablet

Upgrade existing equipment

Take advantage of our equipment upgrades to gain flexibility and make innovative RTD coffee products on an existing dairy milk or plant-based beverage production line. Diversify your portfolio and utilise excess production capacity with a tailored upgrade solution based on your needs.