Cumulus Coffee Lands $20.3 Million for Cold Brew Machine

NEW YORK — The Cumulus Coffee Company announced it will soon be introducing the first-ever solution for quickly making premium cold brew coffee at home. The company also has raised $20.3 million in seed funding led by Valor Siren Ventures and Valor Equity Partners, with participation from investors including Maveron, Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, Linden Ventures, Carter Reum, and Ryan Tedder.

The Cumulus machine is available for pre-order and costs $599.

“Coffee has experienced a significant shift over the past few years as consumers have overwhelmingly switched to cold versus hot coffee,” said Howard Schultz, Chairman Emeritus of Starbucks. “Cumulus’ opportunity to bring premium cold coffee beverages to the home is simply enormous and will raise the bar for cold brew coffee everywhere.”

“Our team of experts across coffee, technology, and design has worked tirelessly to bring the sacred ritual of enjoying delicious, hand-crafted cold coffee into the home in a way that’s never been done before,” said Mesh Gelman, founder and CEO of The Cumulus Coffee Company, who previously held leadership roles at Starbucks for over six years. “The cold coffee market is enormous, with 75% of American café drinkers now preferring cold over hot beverages. I am so proud of what we have accomplished and can’t wait to share Cumulus’ coffee and its revolutionary machine with the world.”

Cumulus’ compact machine uses newly invented technology and recyclable aluminum capsules to deliver a 10-ounce cold brew, nitro cold brew, and a first-of-its-kind cold-pressed espresso in under 45 seconds at the push of a button. This proprietary brewing process means crisp, cold beverages are prepared without any ice, and the nitro cold brew is made without the need for a bulky nitrogen gas tank. The coffee is also never exposed to heat, which allows it to retain its smooth and subtle taste. Cumulus sources and roasts its own coffee and will introduce a variety of carefully curated flavor profiles.

“The nitro cold brew coffee market is one of the fastest growing segments in the coffee space. We believe that the Cumulus team, through many years of research, has created an exciting new product for nitro cold brew coffee drinkers,” said Jon Shulkin, Co-President of Valor Equity Partners and Fund Manager for Valor Siren Ventures. “We are grateful to partner with Mesh and the Cumulus team as they achieve their vision of creating an at-home high-quality nitro cold brew coffee experience that is as easy as making hot coffee.”