The 20 Best Coffees for Cold Brew in 2023

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Some people love their coffee hot, but cold brew has its own fans. Why? It’s smooth, tastes amazing, has less acid, and is super easy to make. Plus, cold brew coffee is a dream for anyone who loves caffeine. And now, with nitro cold brew, it’s become even more popular. It’s a coffee trend that’s here to stay!

Why keep buying cold brew when you can easily make it at home? It’s super simple and more affordable than most coffee-making methods. We’ve got all the details you need coming up, from the top coffee picks for cold brew to the steps for crafting a tasty beverage. Dive in, and soon you’ll be enjoying your very own homemade cold brew!

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Quick Answer: Best Coffees for Cold Brew

What is Cold Brew?

Cold brew coffee is made without heat, just cool or room temperature water. Unlike other methods that use hot water to quickly pull flavors from the beans, cold brewing takes its time. This slow process changes the game, giving the coffee a unique and delicious taste.

When you brew coffee cold, you don’t pull out the sharp, floral tastes as much. That’s why cold brew is smoother and gentler than hot coffee. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a low acid coffee that’s kinder to your stomach.

Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee

Cold brew and iced coffee aren’t the same, and it’s all about how they’re made and how they taste. Click here to learn more about different coffee drinks. Iced coffee starts with hot brewed coffee, which is then cooled down with ice. Because the ice waters it down a bit, it’s brewed stronger than your usual hot cup to keep its rich flavor.

What Equipment Do I Need to Make Cold Brew?

Making cold brew coffee is easy! You can use a regular pitcher or a mason jar. It’s best if your container has a lid to keep your coffee fresh by keeping too much air out. But, all you really need is any container that can hold water.

For an even simpler cold brew experience, consider getting a cold brew coffee pitcher. Its biggest perk? It comes with a filter to keep the coffee grounds separate from the water, saving you the hassle of filtering them out later. Plus, these pitchers are some of the most affordable coffee makers available. So, if you love cold brew, I highly recommend picking one up.

What Makes Coffee Beans Good for Cold Brew?

Choosing the best coffee beans for cold brew? Remember, a few key tips matter.

Grind size

Types of coffee grinds, laid out from coarse extra coarse grind to extra fine grind

The size of your coffee grind matters a lot! If it’s too fine, your coffee will be bitter because of over-extraction. If it’s too coarse, your coffee will taste sour due to under-extraction.

For a perfect cold brew, go for a coarse or extra-coarse grind. Think of coarse grind as chunky like coarse salt, and extra-coarse as bigger, like crushed peppercorns. These are way bigger than the fine grounds needed for drip coffee.

To enjoy the freshest coffee, consider grinding your own beans. If you’re buying pre-ground coffee, know that it’s usually medium (perfect for drip coffee) or fine (great for espresso). For something different like cold brew, search for bags labeled as coarse ground or specifically made for cold brew.

What About the Roast?

Three coffee bean roasts, one way of adding variety to different coffee drinks

Explore cold brew with any roast! Light or dark, each brings its own unique perks to your cup.

Light roasts bring a unique twist to cold brew, offering a sweet and slightly acidic taste that’s usually muted in this chilled drink. By choosing a light roast, cold brew lovers can enjoy a perfect balance – the beans add a hint of acidity without overwhelming the brew’s smooth character. Ideal for those who crave a gentle zing in their cup!

Dark roasts pack a punch with deep, rich flavors like chocolate, nuts, and earth. When you cold brew them, these bold tastes shine through, making a deliciously flavorful cold brew coffee. Plus, you won’t get any extra bitterness.

Single-origin and blends

Single-origin beans stand out with unique tastes, perfect for cold brew lovers. For those eager to explore global coffees without the bite of acidity, cold-brewing single-origin coffees offers a smooth, delightful journey.

Blends mix different coffee beans to smooth out flavors like sourness and bitterness. But, when making cold brew, these sharp tastes naturally soften, making blends less crucial. However, blends are often more budget-friendly, so they’re a good pick for cold brew if you’re watching your wallet.

Some coffee blends are crafted just for cold brew. These blends might not have the unique tastes you get from single-origin coffees, but they’re perfect for cold brew. They taste much better in cold brew than blends made for drip coffee or espresso.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew in a mason jar during the brewing process

No matter what container you have, be it a jar or a fancy cold-brew pitcher, this guide is your friend. It will help you nail the perfect cold brew ratios and ground prep. Dive in and start brewing!

What you’ll need

1.5 cups coffee beans or coarse-ground coffee.
4 cups filtered water. You can use any water, but filtered water will provide the best coffee flavor without impurities and hard water impacting the taste.
More filtered water to dilute
A coffee grinder. Only if you are using whole bean coffee.
A sealed container. Ideally, use a container that can seal (like a mason jar) or at least has a cover, but any container that can hold water will do.
A coffee filter or cheesecloth.

Discover the perfect cold brew with a 1:8 coffee-to-water ratio. Want it stronger or milder? Simply tweak the ratio to taste!

Step-by-step instructions

Grind your coffee beans. Use a coarse or extra-coarse setting on your coffee grinder. You want the grinds to be about the size of ground peppercorn. Use a burr grinder if you can, as they are better coffee grinders. If you only have a blade grinder, use short pulses (1 second each) until the texture looks correct. You can skip this step if you are using pre-ground beans.
Combine the water and grounds. Add the coffee grounds to your brewing container and pour the water into the grounds.
Stir the coffee. Take a long spoon and completely mix the water and grounds. Be sure to get any grounds that clump at the bottom of the container as you’ll want the water to thoroughly soak them all.
Let the coffee brew. Cover or seal the container and leave it in your refrigerator for at least 24 hours. You can optionally brew it at room temperature instead, but it’s best in the fridge.

Straining coffee grounds, a step in making cold brew

Strain away the grounds. Place the filter or cheesecloth at the top of a second container that you can pour the coffee into. It’s best to clip the filter, hold it in place with a rubber band, or put it in a strainer basket to avoid it spilling or falling into the liquid. Pour the coffee slowly through the filter.
Dilute your coffee. Cold brew starts as a coffee concentrate so dilute it to your preferred strength using filtered water. Try a 50/50 concentrate-to-water ratio at first, but you can dilute it further if you like.
Enjoy!

Best Cold Brew Coffee Beans

Best coffee for cold brew: Stone Street Coffee Cold Brew Reserve Colombian Supremo

Dive into the world of single-origin 100% Arabica Colombian coffee beans. Chosen for their richness and dark-roasted to enhance their boldness, these beans are perfect for cold brew lovers. Enjoy their smooth, balanced taste with hints of fruit, caramel, and chocolate.

Stone Street gets their coffee beans from top-notch farms in Colombia, ensuring they’re ethically sourced. They roast these beans in small batches to keep the flavor fresh and consistent. Plus, if you like your coffee pre-ground, they offer that too!

Best cold brew coffee blend: Volcanica Cold brew coffee

Volcanica shines with its top-notch single-origin coffees, yet they also create magical blends. This blend combines intense Sumatran coffee beans with smooth, low-acid ones for a medium roast. It’s a delightful mix of sweet, chocolate, and nutty tastes.

Volcanica also sells their cold brew blend as coarse-ground coffee.

Best Decaf cold brew beans: Kicking Horse Coffee Swiss water decaf coffee

Creating a delicious decaf cold brew can be challenging. Why? Many methods strip away the bean’s rich flavors. But, there’s hope! The Swiss water process comes to the rescue. It’s not only kind to the planet but also great at keeping the coffee’s true taste intact.

Kicking Horse uses special beans that are organic and Fair Trade-approved. They remove caffeine using a gentle method called the Swiss water process. Then, they roast the beans until they’re dark and perfect. This coffee smells like chocolate and nuts, tastes like roasted hazelnuts, has a smooth feel, and finishes strong. It’s rare because it’s decaf yet bold enough for a cold brew.

Best cold brew light roast: Real Good Coffee Company Breakfast Blend

This coffee brand’s name might make you think of Ron Swanson’s business in “Parks and Rec.” However, its sophisticated flavor is probably more upscale than what Ron would prefer.

Real Good Coffee’s light roast is perfect for cold brew lovers. Made from 100% Arabica beans, it offers a zesty citrus flavor mixed with the smooth, comforting tastes of milk chocolate and cream. It’s a standout choice for a refreshing drink.

Best ground coffee for cold brew: Cold Buzz Coffee Hazelnut Cold Brew bags

Cold Buzz is revolutionizing cold brew coffee by simplifying the process. Imagine using tea bags, but for coffee! These are single-use coffee packs that eliminate the hassle of measuring and filtering loose grounds. Just drop one of these bags into water, and voila, you’re making cold brew easier than ever before. No mess, no fuss.

They craft their coffee from 100% Arabica beans, handpicked from around the globe. For those who adore flavored coffees, their dark-roasted hazelnut blend is a perfect starting point. Yet, they offer a wide range of other flavors and non-flavored choices too. Personally, I love the fresh taste of whole beans, but for ease and quickness, Cold Buzz is tough to top.

Best coffee brand for cold brew: Cold Brew Lab organic Colombian Supremo

Cold Brew Lab is all about cold brew coffee, and it shows. They’re experts, crafting a variety of tasty blends that stand out. Whether you prefer your coffee as whole beans or coarsely ground, they’ve got you covered. Plus, they offer exciting flavors like mocha, coconut, hazelnut, pumpkin spice, and Tahitian vanilla. Dive into their world and find your favorite!

They offer USDA-Certified organic beans, exclusively using top-quality, 100% Arabica Colombian Supremo. Their unique blend mixes medium and dark-roasted beans, creating a smooth, balanced, and bold coffee experience.

Coffee Bros. Cold Brew Blend

Coffee Bros. is a fresh face in the premium coffee world, starting in 2019. Their special cold brew combines delicious Brazilian and Ethiopian coffee beans.

This medium roast coffee is freshly shipped in small batches. It’s crafted to taste sweet and smooth, bursting with flavors of nuts, cocoa, berries, and brown sugar. Perfect for beginners!

Tiny Footprint Coffee Organic Cold Brew

Tiny Footprint crafts delicious coffee while caring for our planet. They’re on a mission to do more good than harm by planting trees to absorb more carbon than what their coffee making releases.

They craft their coffee with Arabica beans from across the globe, all grown sustainably in the shade and organically. Most are also Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certified, coming from small-scale farms.

Tiny Footprint’s cold brew is deliciously sweet and rich. It combines bright fruity and floral flavors with a full body. This blend mixes light and dark roasts, featuring Ethiopian coffee beans for a unique taste.

Cafe Du Monde coffee and chicory

Cafe Du Monde’s coffee shines as a popular choice for making American-style Vietnamese iced coffee, often used instead of traditional Vietnamese coffee brands. What sets it apart? Its smooth taste with hardly any bitterness, making it perfect for a refreshing cold brew.

If you’re into strong-tasting cold brew, Cafe Du Monde might not hit the spot. Why? They mix in chicory, which changes the coffee’s taste, making it less intense and a bit less caffeinated. However, if you prefer your cold brew smooth and full of flavor, but not too harsh, then Cafe Du Monde’s coffee grounds could be your perfect match.

Metropolis Coffee Company Cold Brew Blend

Metropolis crafts each coffee batch fresh upon order, guaranteeing peak freshness. Their cold brew boasts a rich, dark roast with delicious hints of sweet chocolate and a smooth, roasty finish.

Death Wish Coffee

Death Wish Coffee boasts a mighty punch, claiming the title as one of the world’s strongest coffees. What sets it apart? It’s not just the caffeine kick; it’s the rich, bold flavor that’s surprisingly smooth, never bitter. This makes it an ideal choice for espresso lovers and cold brew fans alike.

Their coffee packs a punch with its dark roast, blending hints of cherry and chocolate. It’s all about quality and ethics, being USDA-certified organic and Fair Trade. They skillfully mix Robusta and Arabica beans, roasting them in small batches to ensure each cup is fresh, bold, and smooth, with a strong caffeine kick.

Koffee Kult Coffee Beans

Koffee Kult’s dark roast brings an explosion of aroma and taste to your cup. Imagine the rich scents of cocoa and cinnamon, blending in a smooth, full-bodied coffee that lingers delightfully. Sourced from the finest beans in Brazil, Colombia, and Sumatra, this bold blend promises a far-from-bland cold brew experience. Perfect for anyone craving depth and character in their coffee.

Olde Brooklyn Coffee French Roast

Love a rich, dark coffee? Then you must try a French roast, even darker and more flavorful than the usual dark roasts. Olde Brooklyn’s French roast, made from 100% Arabica beans, offers a sweet, smoky scent that’s irresistible. Perfect for cold brew lovers!

Verena Street Shot Tower Espresso

Dive into the Shot Tower blend, perfect for espresso lovers and cold brew fans alike. Crafted in small batches for peak freshness and consistency, this creamy, sweet coffee boasts a rich body that’s sure to delight your taste buds.

Kicking Horse Coffee Smart Ass

Kicking Horse blends pure Arabica beans from Africa, Central, and South America. Their coffee is organic, Fair Trade approved, and grown in the shade.

This blend is medium-roasted to highlight flavors of red currant, sugar cane, and milk chocolate. Its aroma is delightfully sweet, mingling notes of syrup, vanilla bean, and stone fruit.

Java Planet Organic Guatemalan Single-Origin Coffee

Java Planet stands out for its dedication to sustainability. Their beans are not just USDA organic and Fair Trade certified, but they’re also the only brand on our list to earn the Bird Friendly certification.

Their Guatemalan coffee beans come from one place only and are ethically sourced, guaranteeing you’re getting 100% Arabica. They’re carefully medium-roasted in small amounts to ensure the best flavor and freshness. You’ll taste delicious hints of caramel, fruit, and chocolate with a smooth, creamy texture, perfect for a refreshing cold brew.

Hugo Coffee Ground Dog Daze cold brew coffee

Dog Daze coffee is a bold blend that’s perfect for cold brew. Its strong, rich flavor has hints of chocolate, nuts, and spice, making it delightfully tasty.

Hugo Coffee is amazing because every coffee bag you buy helps save dogs. They’re a special roaster that loves animals as much as you do. Perfect for coffee fans who adore pets!

Intelligentsia Frequency Blend coffee

Intelligentsia sparked my love for premium coffee, inspiring this blog’s creation.

I usually suggest trying the Black Cat espresso, but if you’re into cold brew, go for the Frequency Blend. Its chocolate and molasses tastes are perfect on their own, and adding a splash of milk makes it even better.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Hair Bender

Hair Bender combines beans from Indonesia, East Africa, and the Americas, creating a rich taste of citrus, milk chocolate, and caramel. It’s a complex, flavorful journey in every sip.

Stumptown isn’t just about great coffee; they’re also a certified B Corporation. This means they’re committed to helping the environment and supporting their community, all while ensuring their coffee remains top-notch.

Bizzy Organic Cold Brew Coffee

Bizzy is all about cold brew coffee, crafting a smooth and sweet drink from USDA organic beans. These beans come from Nicaragua, Peru, and Guatemala, and are ethically sourced. They’re already coarsely ground, so no grinder is needed. Enjoy their medium roast with delicious hints of caramel and hazelnut.

Bizzy offers cold brew concentrates for an easy, no-brew coffee option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you heat up cold-brew coffee?

You can, but if you want hot coffee from cold brew, there’s a better way. Take the cold brew concentrate and add hot water instead of cold.

If you let the concentrate come to room temperature and add near-boiling water to dilute it, you’ll end up with coffee at a drinkably hot temperature. Since you aren’t applying heat directly to the coffee, you’ll also preserve the flavor of the brew better this way.

What’s the difference between cold brew and nitro cold brew?

Nitro cold brew is made by infusing nitrogen into cold brew. The nitro adds a bubbly texture and a thick layer of foam, making the drink seem like a cross between coffee and a Guinness beer.

Because of the bubbles, nitro coffee has a sweeter flavor and a more velvety texture than regular cold brew. Just like regular cold brew, you can make nitro cold brew at home.

The Cold Tasty Verdict

No need to wait for a heat wave to savor a cold brew – it’s always delicious! Explore these amazing cold brew bean options and delight in making this refreshing drink at home, any time of the year.

Cold brew coffee isn’t just a trend; it’s a simple and budget-friendly way to enhance your coffee experience. While I do suggest investing in an automatic pour-over coffee maker or a high-quality espresso machine down the line, starting with cold brew is a great choice. You can easily make it part of your daily coffee routine without spending much or needing new gadgets. It’s an unbeatable deal for coffee lovers!