Cold brewing has existed for centuries, dating all the way back to the 1600s, in Japan. The method itself is widely believed to have been invented by the Japanese themselves - Some have speculated that this method was originally introduced by Dutch traders, although there are few records of cold brewing existing outside of Japan prior to this time period. When the Dutch traders returned from Japan, however, they brought the cold-brewing process with them. The easily-preserved nature of the Cold Brew concentrate had a multitude of uses, notably keeping the traders themselves awake during their long travels, as well as staying fresh and flavourful long enough to sell in other countries.

Through trade and travel, cold-brewing made its way around the world. It has been utilised in many ways across the globe - The Americans used Cold Brew as war rations in the 19th century, as well as beginning to add chicory to cut the coffee and improve the preservation of it over long periods of time. Cold Brew has been present throughout history as a highly efficient way to take coffee on long journeys without sacrificing the taste or quality of a fresh brew.The style didn’t quite pick up commercial steam in the West until recently, in the early 2010s. With the development of technologies to improve upon the traditional methods, large coffee franchises such as Starbucks began to offer Cold Brew coffee on their menus after seeing the success of brands such as Cuvée® in the US.