Best Coffee for Cold Brew: Our 7 Top Picks

Best Coffee for Cold Brew

• Best Overall: Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee
• Best Alternative: Lifeboost Coffee 
• Best Value for Money: Tiny Footprint Coffee
• Best in Flavor: Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chicory
• Best Decaffeinated Coffee: Lavazza Dek Whole Bean
• Best Organic Coffee: Cold Brew Lab Organic Coarse Ground Coffee
• Best Specialty Coffee: Intelligentsia Frequency Blend

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7 of the Best Coffee Brands for Cold Brew

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Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee

Best in Overall: Fresh and bold roasted flavor with dark chocolate notes

Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee has been formulated to produce a balanced, low acid, slightly sweet cold brew or iced coffee. Its strength can be easily controlled with more coffee or longer brewing times. 

This cold brew coffee blend uses freshly ground gourmet coffee beans from Colombia. You can coarsely grind them right before brewing to ensure freshness. This product works well in a cold brew coffee maker or system, French press, pitcher, or mason jar at home.

Moreover, these beans are classified as superior, meaning Colombia’s largest and highest quality beans. When dark roasted, they take on nutty and chocolate notes, resulting in delicious cold brew coffee.

This premium coffee is packaged in a three-layer natural kraft bag, foil-lined, and has a one-way valve, which helps keep the coffee fresh. The wide top opening makes it easy to scoop. The large bag holds five pounds of coffee.

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Lifeboost Coffee 

Best Alternative: Low acid level and beneficial for people with gastric problems

Lifeboost coffee is excellent for coffee lovers and people who desire a cup of coffee but have gastric issues — people with acid reflux, for instance. These were harvested from the mountains of Nicaragua and were tested with low acidity levels. Lifeboost’s pH level is 6 or higher. That’s why those who thought they could never drink coffee again love this brand.

Moreover, Lifeboost has a well-rounded taste of medium roast coffee. If you enjoy the process of grinding coffee beans, then you can have the whole bean. On the other hand, you can have the pre-ground for more convenience. 

Lifeboost coffee is grown at high altitudes, ideal for maximizing nutrient absorption, richness, and flavor. It is pure, delicious, natural coffee straight from nature. These coffee beans were not exposed to chemicals, pesticides, or other harmful processes.

Lifeboost’s antioxidant-rich organic coffee delivers all the wonderful benefits of coffee without the unwanted side effects, especially with its low acidity level. 

Tiny Footprint Coffee

Best Value for Money: A tasty and eco-friendly beverage that funds reforestation

Tiny Footprint Coffee blend is perfect for cold brew: a blend of dark and light roast coffees spiked with the finest Ethiopian coffees. This is a whole bean coffee made from 100% shade-grown Arabica coffee.

It is the world’s first carbon-negative coffee. The flavor profile is rich, sweet, and silky, with subtle fruit and floral tones combined with a rich cocoa-like body. 

This coffee is roasted in a vintage German-built drum roaster, retrofitted with modern ribbon burners, and delivered in a perfectly roasted state every time.

In addition, a portion of each sale of Footprint Coffee blend is donated to help fund reforestation in the Mindo cloud forest. These trees will remove 54 lbs. of CO2 from the atmosphere and provide a habitat for different species of plants.

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Cafe Du Monde Coffee and Chicory

Best in Flavor: Original Coffee Taste 

Have you been craving dark roast coffee at Cafe Du Monde in the most famous landmark in New Orleans? Then no need to worry because you could already avail yourself of their darkest ground coffee in a can. 

You can already brew and serve on your own the boldest and richest flavor of Cafe du Monde Coffee and Chicory. Easy to make and serve.

The root of an endive plant is used to make chicory. The bitter taste of the dark roasted coffee is softened with the ground and roasted chicory. This provides a chocolate-like flavor to the coffee.

This coffee is also available decaffeinated. Cafe Du Monde utilizes ethyl acetate for coffee decaffeination. Because this is a natural component found in many fruits, coffee is all-natural.

This coffee in a can is worth its price because it’s the best coffee served in New Orleans, packed and delivered for loyal customers.

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Lavazza Dek Whole Bean

Best Decaffeinated Coffee: Well-preserved with carbon dioxide instead of solvents  

Lavazza Dek is a decaffeinated coffee blend that has exceptional fragrances and is smooth and fully rounded. It is obtained by removing the caffeine from the pre-toasted bean. Lavazza Dek coffee is made from decaffeinated green coffee, and carbon dioxide was used to preserve the coffee’s organoleptic characteristics and aroma.

Lavazza is a global, authentic Italian brand. Lavazza selected the highest quality coffee beans and artfully blended them to produce an authentic Italian coffee experience. Moreover, Lavazza always puts people at the center of its world, from coffee producers to employees and consumers.

Lavazza Dek decaffeinated is a mix of Brazilian and Vietnamese arabica, with Robusta varieties that create a fully-rounded dark espresso roast. This is exceptional from its aromatic fragrance and smoothy cream texture with every sip.

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Cold Brew Lab Organic Coarse Ground Coffee

Best Organic Coffee: A blend of medium and dark coffee beans

Using Cold Brew Organic coffee grounds for making cold brew coffee is the perfect way to enjoy your favorite beverage. Cold Brew Lab is an artisan coffee roaster from New York City – they roast and package their coffee bags right before shipping to get to you fresh. 

Cold Brew Organic has a strong and rich taste with low acidity and a full-bodied flavor. Their coffee is 100% organic Arabica Colombian coffee, grown without pesticides and certified organic by the USDA.

This coffee creates a unique roast level perfect for cold brew coffee with a blend of medium and dark coffee beans. It makes a cup that is flavorful and smooth at the same time.

You can choose from the whole bean if you want to grind it at home, or you can opt for the extra coarse grind if you want it to be more practical.

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Intelligentsia Frequency Blend

Best Specialty Coffee: Well-processed without sacrificing flavor

Intelligentsia grew into a specialty coffee pioneer driven by curiosity, empowerment, and the never-ending quest for the world’s finest coffee with its humble roots in Chicago. 

Intelligentsia Frequency Coffee offers a versatile and balanced blend of coffee with a smooth body. It has hints of golden raisins and raw sugar as well as molasses flavor.

These caffeine-free coffees have also been decaffeinated. To maintain the unique flavor profile of each batch, these caffeine-free coffees are processed by using a chemical-free, mountain water process. So you can enjoy a great cup of coffee without sacrificing flavor.

Also, new arrivals are incorporated into the blends throughout the year to ensure freshness and optimize quality. As the profiles remain consistent, freshness is guaranteed.

In addition, it’s a direct trade company, which eliminates unnecessary importers and exporters. This allows them to truly partner with the growers, allowing them to bring the sweetest coffees to you.

What is Cold Brew?

Cold brew coffee is a way to make delicious iced coffee without bitterness and without adding ice cubes. It’s made by steeping coarsely ground beans in cold water for 12-24 hours. Then it is followed by filtering the mixture with cheesecloth or paper filters. The result is an easy-to-make beverage that has been said to taste like “coffee nirvana.” 

👉 Wondering if your cold brew is pushing the 400 mg/day guideline? Add your recipe to this daily caffeine tracker and check your status.

Things To Know To Make The Best Cold Brew Coffee

The Brewing Process

To make a cold brew, coffee is the best ground at a medium to coarse setting, closer to the consistency of sea salt. The best way to do this yourself is by grinding your beans in a grinder for around 10 seconds or so, depending on the coarseness you want.

You’ll also need cold water and a container that can be refrigerated. We suggest using filtered water because it’s best free from the chlorine that will degrade the coffee over time.

A cold brew focuses on the mouthfeel and flavors of nuts, chocolate, and dried spices. A cold brew coffee is different from iced coffee. It has fruity/acidic components, but they are not as pronounced as in iced coffee.

The two popular methods for the cold brewing process are the slow drip method and the immersion method.

The slow drip extraction process is a more intricate technique. It involves iced water, which slowly drips onto coffee grounds, filters through them, and then collects in the carafe. It takes about 5-6 hours for this method to complete. This method is best used in colder weather or if you want a sweeter, more refined type of cold brew.

The immersion method is best for those looking for something either bolder or stronger. This is possible since there isn’t any filtration involved. This method calls for steeping coffee grounds (or beans) in room temperature water overnight and then a filter to drain the water into another vessel.

After these steps, the best thing is to store it in the fridge until you’re ready to drink – we suggest drinking it within two weeks of making it.

How to Pick The Best Coffee Beans for Cold Brew 

Generally, any type of coffee will work for cold brew. But some types are better than others. Typically, we find the best results with Brazilian and African coffees. This is because these types of beans have a higher density (more coffee per pound). So this results in more caffeine content per cup and more flavor compounds. These can be extracted over the long steeping period at cold temperatures.

If you prefer your coffee without milk, you’ll want to go for a medium roast or dark roast. Because the smoky and nutty flavors of these types best hold up to milk-based drinks.

If you’re looking to make milky, sweetened cold brew coffee – even though we don’t advocate it – then any variety will work. But we recommend going with something light.

How about regular ground coffee?

We don’t recommend using regular ground coffee for cold brews as it may be prone to over-extraction. This is especially the case if you leave the mixture sitting in your fridge for too long. We suggest buying beans and grinding them yourself in a medium-coarse setting if you want to do this. You can also get a pre-ground coffee from an artisanal shop then store it in an airtight container.

What to Look For When Buying The Best Coffee for Cold Brew 

Flavor Profile

First, consider the flavor profile you prefer. If you drink your coffee black and like light or medium roasts, it is best to choose lighter roasts made from Arabica beans. Lighter roast coffees tend to be more acidic than darker roasted coffees.

When selecting a cold brew coffee to drink, try and find flavors you usually enjoy in hot brewed coffees. Remember that the acidity will change from its normal state when served as iced coffee. To avoid any additional ingredients like spices or flavorings.

Origin Notes: African beans can offer fruity brightness; Brazilian beans provide heavier body and chocolate tones.

You may also want to consider buying a few bags of different cold brew coffee brands. Then try out different combinations yourself until you find one that produces the best tasting cold brew for your palate. 

Sustainability

Brands that put sustainability first are great because they keep in mind the farmers and their practices. Be on the lookout for brands who use pesticide-free farming or co-op farmed coffees to give money back into farmers’ pockets!

Choose organic, shade-grown, or direct-trade beans to support eco-friendly farming and fair wages.

Carbon-negative or reforestation programs add an extra layer of impact.

Use

Choosing your favorite cold brew can be difficult. There are a few varieties to pick from: nitro, concentrate, canned, or New Orleans-style. But you should make sure the beans match what type of storage container is used (jug scale versus single serving).

Nitro Coffee

Nitro coffee has a smaller cold brew coffee bean ratio, best for hot brewed coffees. The best cold brews are made from lighter roasts to minimize the beverage’s acidity. 

Concentrate

Concentrate cold brew coffee beans are best for hot brewed coffees. It’s best to choose medium roasts that marry well with milk and cream or the cold brew coffee creamer.

Canned Cold Brew

Canned best gourmet cold brew coffee is best for those who want the convenience of making a beverage at home without the wait. Depending on the cold brew brand you choose, you can find the cold brew iced coffee in individual servings. Or you can use a concentrate with a shelf life of several months to years.

New Orleans-Style Coffee

The best New Orleans-style cold brew coffee beans are best with fatty milk or cream. And the best cold drip coffee creamer to take the edge off of the slightly sour taste this style creates.

Grind Size & Brewing Method

• Coarse Grind (sea-salt consistency) prevents over-extraction during long steeps.
• Match your beans to your equipment: immersion (mason jar/French press) vs. slow-drip towers.

Conclusion

Reviews indicate that the best coffee for cold brew is Stone Street Coffee. It has low acidity, is sweet, yet maintains the taste of coffee. It is undoubtedly referred to as superior for its high-quality beans from Columbia. Moreover, it is carefully packaged and well sealed.

In addition, you can also order the most popular Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. It’s the darkest ground coffee that’s already available at your home. As worthy as its price, it’s the best coffee served and delivered across town for loyal customers.

Have a great coffee experience!