Ready-to-Drink Coffee in the United States
Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee refers to pre-prepared coffee beverages that are sold in bottles, cans, or cartons and are ready for immediate consumption without brewing. These products range from simple chilled black coffee to flavored lattes, espresso drinks, cold brews, and fortified functional beverages.
RTD coffee has become part of the broader beverage selection for people looking for convenience, flavor variety, and caffeine on the go.
RTD coffee includes beverages that are:
Pre-brewed and packaged so the consumer doesn’t need to prepare coffee before drinking.
Sold chilled or shelf-stable, depending on formulation and processing.
Available in multiple styles, such as sweetened, unsweetened, flavored, dairy-based, plant-based, and lightly carbonated.
The term RTD distinguishes these products from ground coffee, instant coffee, or coffee beans that require preparation before drinking.