9 Bags Of Coffee That Make Better Cold Brew Than Starbucks
9 Bags Of Coffee That Make Better Cold Brew Than Starbucks
Cold brew is your best bet for a smooth, delicious cup of cold coffee. Unlike a standard iced coffee, cold brew infuses the beans in cold water for prolonged periods of time. The finished product is perfectly chilled and strong, instead of just diluted hot coffee poured over ice cubes.
Odds are you can probably find pre-made cold brew at any café, but relying on baristas for your cup can become an expensive habit. Even at chains like Starbucks or Dunkin' a medium-sized cold brew can run you upwards of $4. Thankfully, making cold brew at home is a low-effort and low-cost solution.
If you follow our recipe, a single 12-oz bag of coffee beans can yield over a gallon of cold brew concentrate, making the cost per cup a fraction of what you'd get at a coffee shop. Another perk is you can choose your own cold brew adventure by choosing your bag of coffee. In general, the best beans to use for cold brew are medium to dark roast and coarsely ground for optimal extraction. The nature of the cold-brewing method minimizes acidic notes and amplifies the flavors of chocolate and dark fruit that we love in coffee. However, the versatility of cold brew means you can make a cup with nearly any variety, but if you want some pointers, here are some of our favorite beans.
1) Partners Coffee Brooklyn Roast
partnerscoffee.com
$16.00
This blend is our Associate SEO Editor Allie Arnold's go-to pick for making cold brew. The chocolate and toffee notes in this coffee take centerstage when prepared cold.
It has a delightful richness that pairs well with milk and sugar. Or, if you take your coffee black, the Brooklyn roast has enough integrity to stand on its own. You can order from Partners directly, and they'll even pre-grind it to the perfect consistency.
2) Variety Coffee High Hopes Blend
Coffee
varietycoffeeroasters.com
$15.00
Variety Coffee sources their beans for their cold brew blend from Ethiopia, where arabica coffee originates. The combination of high-quality coffee lends a luscious, full-bodied flavor that's ideal for cold brewing.
If you love this coffee as much as we do, you can take advantage of Variety Coffee's subscription services. Whether you choose to receive a delivery once, twice, or four times a month, you can rest assured that you'll never wake up without coffee again.
3) Stone Street Cold Brew Reserve Blend
stonestreetcoffee.com
$15.00
Stone Street's cold brew blend is a favorite among many Delish editors, including our very own Makinze Gore. The roastery selects "supremo" beans from Colombia, which means the coffee you receive is among the most renowned for their size and quality.
You can order one-, two-, or five-pound bags directly from their website. Not only can you select between whole beans and cold-brew approved coarse grind, you can even sign up for a subscription.
4) Counter Culture Hologram Blend
Counter Culture Coffee
counterculturecoffee.com
$90.00
If you prefer your coffee to be on the lighter side, Counter Culture's Hologram is a great option. This blend features those deep notes of chocolate that any good cold brew should have. However, it's incredibly nuanced and balances the richer notes with delicate fruity flavors.
You can buy bags of Hologram in 12-ounce, 24-ounce, and five-pound bags. Their subscription service is also unmatched—you'll save 10 percent on each 12-ounce bag.
5) Irving Farm Cold Brew Blend
irvingfarm.com
$17.00
Irving Farm's cold brew-specific blend features all of the flavor notes you'd expect: chocolate, caramel, molasses. What makes it special, however, is the slight fruity flavor that shines after a long, cold extraction.
You'll need your own coffee grinder, since these are only sold as whole beans. However, its richly complex taste is absolutely worth the extra step.
6) La Colombe Nizza Blend
lacolombe.com
$14.00
This medium roast is the standard blend used to pull espresso shots at all of La Colombe's coffee shops, but we're making the case for it as a cold brew bean. The honey-like sweetness and deep nuttiness are uniquely refreshing when prepared cold.
This coffee checks all the boxes: you can choose between multiple sizes, select a customized cold-brew grind, and buy a subscription. This blend is a no brainer.
7) Nguyen Coffee Supply Moxy Blend
nguyencoffeesupply.com
$18.00
Nguyen Coffee Supply makes some of the most exciting coffee on the market, and their Moxy blend is a standout. While the majority of their beans are optimized for brewing with a phin (a traditional Vietnamese filter), Moxy also shines when brewed cold.
This medium roast has all of the fruity, delicate notes without any of the acidity. You can order this coffee in multiple sizes and sign up for a subscription. However, there's one thing to note: their grind size is fine, as it should be when brewing with a phin.
8) Café Integral Cold Brew
cafeintegral.com
$16.00
Café Integral sources every bean they use from different regions of Nicaragua. They are on the ground during the harvest of beans throughout the country, and most of their offerings are limited to certain seasons. Their cold brew blend, however, is available year-round.
This bright and nuanced blend has a seriously well-rounded flavor. Editorial Assistant Gabby Romero especially loves sipping on this cold brew in the warm weather. You can purchase either 12-oz or two pound bags of these whole beans.
9) Partners Coffee Rockaway Cold Brew Pouches
partnerscoffee.com
$15.50
If you like the idea of making cold brew at home but don't want to splurge on fancy kits or grinders, Partners Coffee cold brew pouches are for you! Each bag comes with four pouches of pre-ground coffee meant specifically for steeping a batch of cold brew.
Think of this as a giant tea bag, but for coffee. Simply add 24 ounces of water and allow the rich, chocolatey notes to infuse for 20-24 hours.
For when you want to prep your morning cup the night before.