Coffee is a beverage usually depicted in a steaming cup that promises to bring comfort and contentment on a cold or gloomy day. The fact though is that coffee comes in many alternate and interesting shapes and formulas.
One of the most favored presentations within the caffeine community is in the form of a calming cup of cold brew.
After all, a cup of cold brew coffee can make a blistering hot day bearable. And while there’s no denying that tastes and preferences can differ, there are some brands that compete for the title of the best coffee for cold brew.
Best Coffee for Cold Brew – Our Top 9 Picks
Don’t let the names on the list impress or intimidate you. We’re here to walk with you through the hotshots vying for your attention as the best coffee for cold brew. Let’s iron out some details of the competition below and help you make a decision.
1. Bizzy Cold Brew
- ENGINEERED FOR COLD BREW - Coarse ground coffee optimized...
- BREW YOUR WAY - Brew your cold brew how you would like. Add...
- 100% ORGANIC - USDA Organic, ethically sourced Arabica...
- LIGHT, MEDIUM & DARK - Explore the different roasts and...
Origin: Peru, Nicaragua, and Guatemala Roast: Mix of Light, Medium and Dark
Filling in the first space on our list we have bags of cold brew coffee put forth by Bizzy. This cold brew is made by gathering beans from Peru, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. The result is a range of roasts offering comfortably balanced flavors. While the light roast puts forth a mouth-watering melody of caramel and hazelnut flavors. The medium brews into a bright beverage carrying tinges of citrus fruit and flowers. Lastly, the dark roast of Bizzy cold brew presents a rich tinge of cocoa melding into notes of molasses for the bold coffee drinkers out there.
The people at Bizzy place ethics at the front and center of the whole practice. Everything from the growing and sourcing, to the storage and transport of the beans, is conducted through transparent practices. The people involved at all stages are treated and paid fairly.
What’s Great
- While there’s no denying grinding the coffee beans at home before you brew yourself a cup adds flavor texture and enjoyment. Grinding coffee at home can be a stressful process. Locking in the correct gear for the act, and grind size for the beverage are the two main obstacles most coffee drinkers face. Luckily for you, the Bizzy cold brew coffee is offered up in a grind size that perfectly pulls out the right amount of flavor from the coffee beans to complement your cold brew.
- The company is aware of and works to control its impact on the environment through growing and sourcing processes. All their packaging is recyclable, and all the grounds from their factories are used in compost.
- If you’d rather skip the whole brewing process, Bizzy even offers pre-made bottles of cold brew for the coffee drinkers on the go.
What’s Not So Great
- The Bizzy cold brew coffee does stand on the costlier side of the price scale compared to other coffees on our list.
Why Buy
- Ethical and organic coffee.
- Ground specifically for a cold brew.
- Available in light medium and dark roast.
2. Doma Carmela’s
The rich medium roast offered up today brings in an intoxicating body that melds touches of dark chocolate with caramel and brown sugar.
Origin: South and Central America Roast: Medium Roast
Nestling into our list next is Carmela’s concoction by none other than the award-winning Doma coffee roasting company. The blend is composed of beans from the fields of South and Central America. The result is a blend that is balanced and beautiful.
Apart from creating and offering some incredible coffee, the people at Doma are committed to bettering their community. They have several projects throughout the year that aim to raise funds and awareness towards various issues.
What’s Great
- There’s no right or wrong way to enjoy the blend. You can choose to down it in a shot of morning espresso or a steaming cup of drip coffee. With or without cream or sugar, the option is open. There’s no denying however, there’s a special kind of joy to sipping the sweet mix of flavors through a cold brew that helps calm down a hot summer day.
- With its sights set on being environmentally sustainable, the company has ensured that Doma coffee roaster bags are recyclable. Additionally, the coffee waste created by them is repurposed or recycled.
What’s Not so Great
- Be sure to check the best by date on the bag of beans once they arrive home. There have been a few reports of old or expired roasts being shipped out. If you find yourself in such a situation, take the necessary steps to get it rectified.
Why Buy
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
- Organic coffee.
3. Onyx Cold Brew
The sweet and scintillating blend is a mix of the flavors of stone fruit, cocoa, and brown sugar, tied together with a dash of dates.
Origin: Colombia Roast: Medium
Trotting in to fill the third spot is the cold brew creation by the award-winning Onyx coffee lab roasters. The blend is a combination of coffee growing in the Antioquia region of Northwest Colombia at altitudes of 1600 to 1650 feet.
The sweet creamy brew is low in acidity and can be consumed whether with or without cream and sugar.
What’s Great
- The blend has been curated to play a role in constructing the perfect cup of cold brew coffee. It has been born for cold extraction only.
- The people at Onyx ensure that every step from growing and picking the coffee to dry and packaging the beans is conducted while keeping the impact on the environment in check. They have introduced solar panels in their headquarters making the roastery completely solar-powered and carbon-free.
What’s Not so Great
- There have been a few who found this brew a little too sweet for their tastes. If you fall in that column, maybe try diluting it a little with cream or water.
Why Buy
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
- Sustainable Eco-Friendly packaging and environment-friendly production.
4. Caffe Vita Queen City
The intricate blend displays the nuttiness of walnuts along with hints of molasses and a pinch of cinnamon to carry it through.
Origin: Africa, South America, and Indonesia Roast: Medium Dark
Filling in for next is the Queen City coffee put forth by Cafe Vita. This company has been committed to the coffee community for a quarter of a century now. A bag of Queen City coffee is filled with Bourbon and Typica beans from Africa, South America, Indonesia, which have been growing between a height of twelve to thirteen hundred feet above sea level.
The bag holds a combination of both dark and medium roasted beans in this blend.
What’s Great
- Not only has the Cafe Vita family thoroughly sourced and vetted the beans that form their coffee, but they are also at the helm of the Farm Direct movement. This means you can be ensured they’ve worked with farmers dedicated to sustainable practices.
- The blend presents a complex combination of beans flavors and textures. You can enjoy the beverage as an espresso shot, or calm it down with some cream and sugar. The unique medley of flavors with its buttery finish makes it particularly ideal for a comforting cold brew.
What’s Not so Great
- Since the bag offers a mix of roasts, there are those that have claimed to be unsatisfied with either too many light or dark roasted beans in their bunch. It is a blend though, so be prepared for a mix of oily and dry beans.
Why Buy
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
- Coffee gathered through sustainable farming practices.
5. Kickapoo Burundi Nemba Natural
Presenting a unique in unforgettable taste that packs a punch with its blast of blackberry and currant.
Origin: East Africa Roast: Light-Medium
Halfway through our list, we have Wonderstate walk-through with their Burundi Nemba Natural blend.
A hit of lime carries through the flavors to balance out the beverage.
The single-origin medium-light beans used in the coffee are born in the Kayanza region of East Africa. When it comes to acquiring the coffee, the people at Wonderstate introduced a novel practice called sourcing for the collective good. Under it, the farmers growing the coffee earn 80% higher than the Fair Trade minimum prices and 50% more than Fair Trade Organic prices.
What’s Great
- In a move to watch and control their mark on the environment, all the rotaries at Wonderstate coffee are completely run by solar power.
- 5% of the annual profits of the coffee company is fed into community-based initiatives that work to create an equal and sustainable future.
What’s Not so Great
- A few find the classic scent of coffee lacking while brewing this batch of beans. If the mildness of the aroma doesn’t concern or bother you. Sit back and sip at this balanced beverage.
Why Buy
- Organic & environmentally friendly coffee.
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
- Coffee farmers treated well and paid higher than standard.
6. Verve Nicaragua Buenos Aires
Once brewed, a batch of the light roast Nicaragua Buenos Aires coffee exudes touches of mulberry and a sweet touch of maple that plays on the tongue long after you empty your cup.
Origin: Nicaragua Roast: Medium Roast
Stepping forth to fill the sixth slot, we have Verve coffee roasters presenting their Nicaragua Buenos Aires coffee bag. The beans in this medium roast hail from the Jinotega region of Nicaragua. They grow between a height of 1,200 to 1,500 feet.
The coffee’s complex flavor grows slowly and manages to leave a lingering sweetness on the palate.
What’s Great
- The sweet type, texture, and taste of the almost dessert-like blend make it the ideal brew to cool down a sticky summer day.
- The people at Verve are part of the Farm-level Initiative. They work to ensure support for the people involved in every stage of the process from coffee seed to cup. They hope to bring a positive change in the coffee-growing regions and the global coffee community as a whole.
What’s Not so Great
- The layered flavors might result in a brew that is a touch too sweet for some coffee drinkers. Though there are ways around it, if you prefer your coffee to be darker or with a hint of citrus or fruit you might have to look elsewhere.
Why Buy
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
- Subscribe, or gift a subscription to the Verve roasters blend.
- Verve coffee roasters hold direct trade relationships with coffee farmers.
7. Cuvee Coffee West Pole
The coffee’s bold and complex flavors are ideal for a slow and careful unravel common in a cold brew.
Origin: Colombia Roast: Medium Dark
We have Cuvee coffee sitting comfortably in our next slot offering up their West Pole dark roast coffee for your cold brew. The rich-flavored beans grow at an altitude of 1900 feet in the Huila region of southern Colombia.
If you’re not in the mood or simply don’t have the time though, you can also enjoy the blend in an espresso shot.
What’s Great
- Don’t get intimidated by the dark roast. Unlike other blends in the category of the West Pole manages to balance out flavors beautifully without leaving an ashen taste on the tongue.
- Once brewed, this carefully crafted coffee will have you encounter a mix of boldly flavored spices and cocoa with a touch of molasses carried through the cup.
What’s Not so Great
- Be sure to check the best buy date on the bag of beans when they arrive at your door. There have been a few instances where old expiring coffee is delivered. If you find yourself with a bag of old beans be sure to take the necessary steps to rectify the situation.
Why Buy
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
- Coffee procured through sustainable and direct trade practices.
8. Caffe Vita Bistro Blend
You cannot ignore the touch of almond that is carried throughout the drink providing a bang of nuttiness.
Origin: South Pacific, South America, and East Africa Roast: Medium
Entering in next to fill our eighth slot is Caffe Vita once again. This time their contender for the claim of best cold brew coffee is in the face of their famous Bistro Blend. The Caffe Vita roasters have been in the business for more than twenty-five years now, so you shouldn’t be surprised to expect a balanced blend.
The Bistro Blend coffee holds sweet-flavored specs of baking chocolate and caramel flavors that are tied together perfectly. The blend is a combination of coffee growing at heights of 1000-2200 meters above sea level in the South Pacific, South America, and East Africa regions.
What’s Great
- As mentioned above, the Caffe Vita family is known to have led the charge in the Farm Direct movement. So rest easy and happy knowing the coffee in the blend has been procured through sustainable practices.
- The people at Caffe Vita use vintage Probat and Gothot roasters for their coffee. This offers them complete control over the roasting process allowing them to make alterations at any stage if required. You can be sure you’re getting consistent quality in your bag of coffee beans.
What’s Not so Great
- While this blend is subtle and satisfying, and ideal for a cold brew. If you’re someone who prefers bolder stronger blends, you might have to look elsewhere for your caffeine fix.
Why Buy
- Coffee gathered through sustainable farming practices.
- Consistently quality coffee.
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
9. PT’s Ad Astra Signature Blend
The heavy-bodied brew melds flavors of bittersweet chocolate with cola and finishes off with a whisper of caramelized sugar.
Origin: Central America and Indonesia Roast: Extra-Dark
Nearing the end of our list now with our ninth participant for the crown of the best coffee for cold brew. PT’s coffee roasters have been active participants in the coffee community for close to three decades now.
The 2009 National Macro Roaster of the Year award winner brings forth their Ad Astra as a contribution to our list. The blend is a collection of extra dark beans that grow in Central America and Indonesia.
What’s Great
- While the blend does hold flavors that flourish in the form of a cold brew. If you want to spice things up try brewing some over a glass of Irish Whiskey.Only if you’re legally allowed to of course.
- Almost 80% of the coffee at PT’s coffee roasters is sourced through their Direct Trade program. While working to increase that number to all their offerings, the roasters are committed to being more socially responsible and environmentally conscious.
What’s Not so Great
- The extra dark beans do make for a rather strong brew. If it is a touch too much for you, feel free to pour in some milk or cream to cut through the boldness. If you’d rather not, you might want to opt for a milder option.
Why Buy
- Available in whole and ground bean options.
- Award-winning coffee roaster.
Buying Guide
Coffee comes in various styles, flavors and under a number of brands as the list above stands as evidence. So if you find yourself a little lost overlocking in your next bag of cold brew coffee. Maybe a glance through the guide below will help ease the decision.
Seals of Certification
A bag of coffee usually advertises the particulars of its roast and flavor profile, along with which you will spot things like calorie content and other nutritional facts you might be used to seeing on food packages in the market. However, you might not be used to a few labels or tags on coffee bags like Fair Trade, Fixed Trade, GMO-free, Bird-friendly, organic, etc. These are not just jargon from the coffee community that you can ignore. They are in fact certificates of quality, standard, and ethics checks.
A certificate of Fair Trade and Direct Trade for instance assure you the farmers growing the coffee haven’t been monetarily exploited. A bird-friendly certificate provides proof that the blend at been created while taking into account concerns towards environmental impact. It might be considered smart to look into and look out for certificates that prove the coffee is created of quality and thorough care.
Size Matters
When it comes to a cold brew, you’re going to want to pay attention to the size situation of the coffee grinds. The basic rule of thumb when dealing with this method is to aim for a coarse grind of coffee.
If you decide to buy a pre-ground bag of beans, opt for a cold brew, or coarse grind size. If on the other hand, you have a coffee grinding instrument at home be careful not to grind the beans too fine.
While buying a bag of whole beans will present a fresher cup, a fine grind can cause the coffee to over-extract. The result will not be a very favorable one.
Single Origin Vs Blend
The list above is littered with several offerings. While some bag hole beans born in a single farm or region others gather a medley of beans and flavor from some countries or continents. While you should choose whatever caters to your tastes, there’s no denying that coffee connoisseurs claim that single-origin beans are better suited for cold brews. Since the grinds are in contact with water for a longer time, the brew manages to intricately extract flavor from the coffee grinds.
Simply put the cold brew process will allow you to better appreciate the nuances of flavor in single-origin coffee when compared to other brewing techniques. However, it is not a rule set in stone. You do you.
Wrapping it all
There are few things more calming at the end of the day than sipping a cold brew to wind down a fatiguing day or flavor a dull morning. Light, medium, or dark roast choices can differ from person and place to time and taste.
FAQs
What is the shelf life of cold brew coffee?
While the taste and texture of a hot cup of coffee will start to turn the longer it is set aside, the same cannot be said about a cold brew. A cold brew concentrate can stand in your fridge for close to two weeks without going off.
Does a cold brew require more coffee grinds?
The simple answer is yes. You might need to add close to double the number of coffee grinds in a cold brew than you would in a hot brewed coffee.
Is cold brew coffee stronger than iced coffee?
Yes. Iced coffee is simply what we call when coffee that was brewed hot is poured over ice cubes. As a result of the added ice, the coffee loses its potency a little. This would not happen in a cold brew coffee of the same quantity since ice is not an element in its preparation.
Should I add milk or cream to a cold brew?
The answer completely depends on personal tastes. Depending on your preferences, you can choose to add water, milk, sugar, cream, or something else entirely to flavor your cold brew coffee.