Best Coffee for Cold Brew: Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

1. Lifeboost Coffee – Top Pick

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Lifeboost is a great choice because it’s a low acid coffee and has 12 strains of probiotics.

The climate of Nicaragua, where Lifeboost coffee is grown, is ideal for growing this variety, which was introduced from Brazil. It was in Nicaragua that this variety acquired its extraordinary taste.

Coffee trees are planted on volcanic soil and are subject to frequent temperature fluctuations, so they require careful care. Matured beans are harvested by hand, peeled, and thoroughly washed. In some countries, Maragogipe is classified as a premium coffee, because it brings out all the best qualities of traditional Arabica.

Maragogipe beans can not be confused with any other—they are almost 3 times larger than other Arabica beans. Their size makes them perfect for a coarse grind and thus for cold brew. This results in excellent extraction. 

The taste of coffee brewed from Maragogipe beans is surprisingly balanced. It’s a strong, bitter coffee with a distinct acidity. Despite these characteristics, the beverage has a delicate, soft, and refined taste. 

Key Features:

• Always shipped fresh
• Great aroma
• Sweet, smooth taste
• Unique roasting technique used specifically for cold brew

2. Spirit Animal Coffee

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We know that many people choose cold brew coffee because it tastes different from coffee prepared in other ways. It is softer and denser and reveals fruity, floral, and other origin-based notes.

Therefore, we have added Spirit Animal Coffee to our list. The company only uses specialty Arabica. This is the highest quality coffee you can taste.

The beans mature slowly in the shade of trees high in the mountains of Honduras. They absorb many minerals and other nutrients, so coffee brewed with these beans has complex and bright notes. You can taste mango, peach, and sugarcane or jasmine, rose tea, and juicy tropical fruits.

The company has a lucrative offer right now. You can order a set of 3 bags of coffee with a 50% discount. You will be able to enjoy great-tasting cold brew for a long time.

Key Features:

• Specialty Arabica
• Hand-picked so the coffee has no defects
• Complex flavor thanks to slow ripening on mountain plantations
• 50% discount on a set of 3 bags

3. Coffee Bros.

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What makes the cold brew coffee from Coffee Bros. so delicious? Let’s find out.

It starts with the coffee beans. Coffee Bros.’ cold brew blend uses the finest Arabica beans from Brazil and Ethiopia. These countries are considered leaders in producing delicious coffee, and the resulting blend is the best flavor combination for cold brew.

After harvesting, coffee is processed using a traditional drying method. During this process, the coffee beans absorb the aroma of the coffee cherry pulp, and this provides a more intense sweetness.

Coffee Bros. pays great attention to the roasting process. They have specially roasted these beans to emphasize taste and achieve better extraction when making cold brew.

Coffee Bros.’ cold brew blend has an excellent coffee-chocolate flavor, with hints of berry. Coffee connoisseurs will also be able to catch notes of brown sugar. 

Key Features:

• Always shipped fresh
• Great aroma
• Sweet, smooth taste
• Unique roasting technique used specifically for cold brew

4. Stone Street

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The Stone Street coffee company is located in the heart of New York. Although it has only been around for 10 years, the manufacturer has already managed to create some of the best coffee for cold brew stuff on the market. Here’s why.

Firstly, for these ready-made batches of ground beans, several experts developed a special, ultra-reliable packaging. It consists of 3 layers. A special foil is embedded between these layers. In addition, the bag can be closed again, providing maximum protection not only against air but also against other factors, such as light or heat which preserves its taste.

Secondly, the flavor characteristics of the drink are perfectly balanced. The roasting is done by hand with care, and the beans are carefully selected while sorted. As a result, you get premium quality beans at an affordable price. The company has raised its credibility due to the high quality.

Thirdly, the best coffee grounds for cold brew contain only 100% single origin arabica beans from Colombia. As is known, it is the Colombian varieties that are among the most fragrant. Due to the high-quality manufacturing procedure, the taste is kept as perfect as possible.

All these features put this product as the best coffee brand for the best cold brew.

Key Features:

• Three-layer foil, the best packaging on the market
• Balanced and rich taste with low acidity
• Ideal for brewing in the refrigerator
• Only 100% Colombian Arabica

5. Bizzy

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This best coffee for cold brew production process is optimized to make your cold coffee perfect! Here are the facts.

Using a unique grinding process, the company makes coarse beans. What is the main advantage of such grinding? It’s simple. It gives the drink uniformity and smoothness – the taste will have more pronounced characteristics.

So, the basis of this product is only the freshest beans that have passed several stages of selection and filtration. After the finished batch has been collected, it is divided into small groups, then it is processed and roasted in a special way, allowing the taste and aroma to become richer than it could in ordinary cooking.

But that’s not all. The beans are controlled by a special USDA organizational standard. And I also want to add the fact that the manufacturer focuses on the naturalness of the product – the finished coffee is organic certified, which gives it one more additional plus.

I can say with confidence that Bizzy Organic is one of the best coffee for cold brew on the market for coffee beans. Therefore, it is in second place.

Key Features:

• Coarse grind gives you the best smooth taste for a cold drink
• 100% organic beans from Nicaragua and Peru
• The beans contain light, dark and medium roast arabica, for maximum variety

6. Tiny Footprint

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This best coffee for cold brew contains a unique formula, which, in my opinion, is the richest on the entire list.

A sweet, silky aroma with notes of cocoa, nuts, fruits and flowers – all in your cup at home. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Indeed, this product will really be enjoyed by fans of gourmet, and for everyone else, it will be a real fairy tale.

But the great taste is not the only thing that distinguishes this coffee from the rest. During the growing process of the beans, a technique is used whereby additional carbon dioxide is injected into the soil. This not only saves the product from the effects of climate change but also helps maintain the soil’s ecosystem in which the beans grow. By benefitting nature you are gaining a quality product.

It is worth saying that the beans for this product are collected only on small family farms. They make a product of higher quality than the top manufacturers as there is more love and care.

A fully organic best coffee for cold brew, high-quality tools for roasting, as well as the processing of beans in small groups make this product for a cold brew a very worthy choice.

Key Features:

• 100% organic arabica for perfect taste and aroma
• Applying carbon technology to improve soil for beans
• Sweet taste and hints of fruit, flowers, and cocoa
• Special tools for the highest quality coffee

7. Real Good Coffee 

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I included this best coffee for cold brew here because they combine premium quality and a low price. And I’m not exaggerating!

More than 30 years of experience has allowed this cold brew coffee brand to achieve maximum taste in their beans. All the beans are harvested on proven plantations, and the selected raw materials are further analyzed by experts. You will get only the best of the best.

And seriously, the cooking methods have been developed to perfection; a special method whereby the beans constantly rotate during the roasting process. This means the roasting will be even and consistent.

A citrus taste with notes of cream and chocolate is a lovely taste for every day. The aroma and flavor really develop over time. It’s like a good perfume – it takes time to feel it.

This best coffee for cold brew is made without the addition of artificial flavors. In addition, the product is organic which is great!

Key Features:

• Highest quality beans undergoing additional screening
• Rich aroma, complemented by citrus, cream, and chocolate
• It is suitable not only for a cold brew but also for other types of drinks

8. Artisan 

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To get something really interesting from the beans, you need a combination of several factors. Here, the manufacturer successfully achieved this.

Best coffee beans for cold brew for this company are collected from the best plantations in Sumatra, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Guatemala. This combination of countries and soils allows you to achieve a sublime taste. A special procedure for roasting and processing squeezes all the aromatic properties to the limit. This will make you say, “Wow, my cup is perfect!”.

The taste is just a masterpiece. The main flavor is chocolate and nuts. All this is complemented by coconut, sugar, berries and orange. Many will be interested to try it all together, in combination.

This best coffee for cold brew uses a mix of selected beans of different types. However, only 100% Arabica is used here which guarantees you the best quality.

This best coffee beans for cold brew uses a mix of selected beans of different types. However, only 100% Arabica is used here which guarantees you the best quality.

Key Features:

• The hand-selected mix of beans from different countries
• Grinding, which perfectly reveals the flavor of the beans
• A large number of flavors in the finished cup
• Roasting by hand, in small batches, to preserve the coffee qualities

Choosing The Best Of Cold Brew Coffee Beans

Arabica or Robusta Beans?

Let’s start with Arabica. It is responsible for the aroma and taste. These properties are obviously the most important – the finished taste in the cup is mainly made by arabica. However, the cost of these beans will be much higher than that of other varieties.

Why?

Firstly, because Arabica beans are harder to grow – these beans make higher demands. And secondly, just because the taste characteristics that we want are several times stronger and better. You need to understand that for maximum pleasure from a cup of coffee Arabica is the most successful option.

Another variety, Robusta, is responsible for the caffeine and strength of the drink. Arabica contains 2-3 times less caffeine extract than this variety. The drink with pure robusta is strong and bitter, as it does not have a bright taste – there are no arabica!

Moreover, the flavor profile of the drink will be earthy – the taste characteristics here are boring. In its pure form, this type of beans is rarely used – it is mainly used as a supplement.

If you want an energy boost, then focus on the Robusta beans.

80% of Arabica and 20% of Robusta is the classic formula of any coffee. Where Robusta is more prevalent – this is just an attempt by the cold brew coffee brands to save. Pay attention to this.

Single Origins or Blends?

It all depends on your taste preferences. If the coffee is a mixture of different beans, the drink won’t be affected too much but the final flavor will be discovered over many sips with different notes coming through. Where the beans are the same, it will have a brighter, stronger taste. Where a mix of different types of beans is used, you will get a more varied taste. That’s all.

Equipment

Does the grind matter?

Of course!

It is because of the grinding that the most successful brewed coffee is obtained. If the grinding is too small to cook, the taste will be bitter. If you grind very weakly, then you will not be able to feel the aroma of the future coffee. The balance that comes with experience is important here.

A Good Grind Is The Key To Better Coffee

As I said before, the most important thing is to grind your coffee in the right way. The final taste will largely depend on this. Let’s take a look at the main ways of grinding the beans and determine which method is better and more profitable.

Coarse grinding – To brew a drink in a drip coffee maker or in a french press, you need to coarsely grind your best cold brew coffee. The larger beans will remain stuck in the filter drip, without getting into the cup, which is what we need. In addition, the taste will be several times more interesting. Grinding time in an electric coffee grinder: 7-10 seconds.

Coarse-medium grinding – For a quality coffee brewer, coarse-medium grinding is necessary so that the filter holes do not clog. In addition, it should be as uniform as possible. If there is no uniformity, some of the powder will not participate in the preparation – as a result, the drink will not brew well.

This is the best way to grind beans. Grinding time in an electric coffee grinder: 10-13 seconds.

What is a cold brew?

A cold brew is one alternative method of brewing coffee. It should be noted that it is the longest of the existing methods.

The peculiarity of this method is that the coffee is made in cold water. It takes time – from 8 to 24 hours for brewing. A cold brew in its pure form is almost never used, it is the basis for coffee drinks. Drinks prepared by this method has a bright taste, high density, and high caffeine content. You can also note the long shelf life. For example, having prepared a concentrate (cold brew), it can be stored in a refrigerator for up to two weeks.

For the preparation of a cold brew coffee, you can use the best coffee for cold brew from any region. It all depends on what taste you want to get. For berry or citrus flavors, suitable beans will be from Africa, whereas if you want more sweetness or bitterness of dark chocolate, the beans from Central America are ideal. It all depends on you and your desire to experiment.

Now let’s look at the pros and cons of such a drink.

 

Tips For Cold Brew Coffee

Use a hot bloom – If you want to achieve the most pronounced flavor when preparing a drink yourself, I recommend you use the hot bloom technique. Just add a quarter cup of hot clear water to the beans for a minute, and then pour in cold clear water. Due to this procedure, most of the substances, like acidity, will be removed. This will give you the most vivid aroma possible.

Be sure all the grounds are saturated – I recommend that you grind the best coffee for cold brew well before pouring water. For an even saturation, you can use the layering method: add 20% ground beans, pour in 20% water, and so on. As a result, everything will be as evenly mixed as possible.

Don’t tie the filter too tightly – It is important to find a balance here and not tighten the filters too much as the coffee will get a weak taste. In any case, it is important to try and experiment. Only by practice will you manage to achieve your perfect cup.

Grind coarse-medium – The best coffee for cold brew should not be too finely ground – in this case, you will have a large residue in the cup. Pay special attention to this. Remember that rough-medium grinding is an ideal option for every day. I wrote about this earlier.

Strain the product slowly – No need to hurry. If you have the opportunity, I recommend simply leaving the coffee for a longer time, so that all substances are mixed together in the best way. However, it is worth remembering that storing the product for more than 48 hours is undesirable – it will begin to lose its taste and aroma.

Add cream or not – Often beans have a hint of cream. However, it won’t be the same as a portion of butter cream which can really complement the final formula. Here you need to decide for yourself based on recipes or just from your own preferences. Remember that too much cream will kill the taste of coffee in the drink, and so you need to know the suitable measure.

The value of ice in coffee – Ice turns into water over time. If you want to drink your coffee quickly, you can add a couple of ice cubes on top. However, you don’t need to use a lot as usually within half an hour there will be a diluted drink in your cup which I’m sure you don’t want.

Conclusion

Here we come to the final part of our review. I hope that my guide will help you to find the best coffee for cold brew.

However, do not forget that this type of drink is very difficult to master. Therefore, you should practice and do not forget the advice I have given, and everything will work out!

FAQ

Why use coarse ground coffee for cold brew?

Because cold brew coffee brews for a long time, you need to make sure it doesn’t extract too quickly. Small particles will extract quickly, and large particles more slowly. A coarse grind ensures that you don’t over-extract the coffee. Extraction is influenced by quite a few factors, and we noticed that the combination of a coarse grind and the selected time (8 to 24 hours) gives the optimal result.

What is a cold brew coffee?

Cold brew coffee is an alternative method of brewing coffee. It takes the longest of all existing methods. The peculiarity of this method is that the coffee is made using cold water. It takes time – from 8 to 24 hours – to brew. Cold-brew is almost never served in its pure, concentrated form; instead, it’s diluted with water or milk first. Drinks prepared using this method have a bright taste, high density, and high caffeine content.

Do I need special coffee for cold brew?

For cold brew, you need to use coarse-ground coffee. As for the country of origin and roasting, it is best to experiment and find the best taste for you. If you don’t know where to start, then there are ready-made coffee blends that give the best results when making cold brew.