Pour, stir, sip and repeat—all week… If you count on a caffeine kick but are stuck in that same-old-cup rut, we’ve got just the jolt you’re craving! Say hello to your new favorite sip: Archer Farms Cold Brew Coffees. These bold, chilled treats are ready to drink in original black brew or with hints of cinnamon and vanilla—and they’re only at Target.

Just another iced coffee, right? Think again. The cold brew coffee trend is hot and getting hotter—over the past year, it’s grown by about 120 percent nationwide, and by 2020, it’s expected to be a $1.2 billion industry. Unlike its iced coffee counterpart (hot-brewed coffee poured over ice), cold brew coffee takes time. Ground coffee is soaked in cold or room-temperature water for about 12 hours. The result: A smooth, lush (and less acidic) taste with more concentrated caffeine (yes, please!). The trend first started percolating in indie coffee shops, but it’s growing so fast that guests are looking for that same incredible quality at a better value—without the coffee shop stop!

So late last year, we were the first mass retailer to start stocking our shelves with well-known cold brews like Califia, Stumptown and Chameleon, as well as regional favorites like Secret Squirrel on the West Coast and Wandering Bear in the Northeast. And then early this year, we thought: Guests already gravitate toward the exceptional quality and taste of our Archer Farms coffees. Why not give them a ready-to-drink Archer Farms cold brew option to love—and that they can grab anytime at Target?)

What went in to creating these delicious Archer Farmers cold brews? We sat down with Target Test Kitchen food scientist and coffee connoisseur Emily Olson for the scoop. (Spending your days dreaming up new coffee creations—talk about a cool job!).

The cold brew trend is really taking off! How did you move fast to bring the idea of owned-brand cold brews to life?
We knew we’d have to move quickly to be on-trend—and get these drinks into guests’ hands fast. So we gathered 15 experts from across the company—from food scientists and trend and consumer insights experts to packaging specialists and buyers. We spent two weeks immersing ourselves in all things cold-brew, researching technology, benchmarking other products and packaging on the market and testing ideas and flavors with guests. And in record time, we’re proud to have created an exceptional product at a killer value to give guests just what they want.

Quality is so important. How did you make sure these cold brews would be top-notch?
It’s in the details! Our cold brew coffee is made from hand-selected premium coffee beans (100% Arabica from Brazil and Peru) and is cold-brewed for hours before bottling to ensure a delicious and bold beverage. The team has worked to bring only the best ingredients to the coffee table, sourcing from small farms through responsible practices. The beans are hand-sorted before being lightly roasted in small batches, then are cold brewed to provide a smooth, rich coffee experience.

Spill the beans—What can coffee lovers expect from these new flavor profiles?
Original has a smooth, rich, deep, never bitter, flavor profile with subtle chocolate notes. It has a depth and complexity with rich, velvety texture that makes it a treat. Vanilla pairs the same velvety, deep cold brew coffee as Original with a creamy vanilla that balances warmth and sweet. Cinnamon is truly amazing and the favorite of the Test Kitchen scientists—the cinnamon highlights all of the best parts of brown spice cinnamon: warm, inviting and truly delicious.

If you’re ready to kick your routine up another notch, grab an Archer Farms Cold Brew or two at Target or Target.com and mix up one of these indulgent treats, created by Emily and the Target Test Kitchen team…

Coffee Ice Cream Float
What You’ll Need:

• 1 (12-oz.) bottle of your favorite Archer Farms Cold Brew
• 1-2 scoops vanilla, chocolate or caramel-swirled ice cream
• Chocolate syrup, caramel sauce and whip cream

What You’ll Do:

1. Add ice cream to a tall glass.
2. Pour your favorite Archer Farms cold brew over.
3. Garnish with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or caramel and whipped cream.

Vietnamese-style Iced Coffee
What You’ll Need:

• 1 (12-oz.) bottle of Archer Farms Black Coffee Cold Brew
• 2 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
• 1 Tbsp. milk
• Ice

What You’ll Do:

1. Stir together milks in small bowl until blended.
2. Fill large glass with ice.
3. Add cold brew almost to the top.
4. Drizzle in milk mixture. Stir gently and serve. 

Want to hear more about life inside the bullseye? Meet more of our team members on the Pulse blog or check out food product development & quality assurance careers.

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