If you want to reduce the anxiety, irritation, and frustration those hot summer days cause you need to make some cold brew iced coffee. However, the problem is in finding the best coffee brand for cold brew because there are so many of them.
And if you go out and do experiments with each, your money and the whole summer will be wasted in just testing them all.
Therefore, to help you get the finest ones, we will provide you with a list of best cold brew coffee brands and the best flavors they have. Moreover, we’ll also discuss how to make iced coffee at your home and what the best roast for cold brew should be along with many other things. So make sure stick to this guide until the very end and make your summers cold and energetic:
Table of Contents
What About cold brew coffee?
You can easily make your own iced coffee at home using a few different methods, but the one most liked by many is the cold brew method. Not only is it pretty straight forward if you follow the instructions correctly, but you can also make one hell of a cold coffee right from your kitchen.
The process is pretty simple, and you just need to add ground coffee in cold water, let it steep in the fridge for the night and then strain it to get a concentrated cold brew iced coffee. Now, if you want to dilute it, you can add more water to it.
The best part is that it is less acidic or bitter, tastes great, and can be stored for 1-2 weeks. So you can just make a big batch and enjoy the chilled coffee for half a month.
How to cold brew coffee?
This cold brew coffee recipe is for a mason jar having a wide mouth of 1-quart. The end result will be two and a half cups of concentrated cold coffee, so you can add up to two and a half cups of water to dilute it.
Ingredients:
- 85 grams of coffee beans (coarsely ground)
- 3 cups of water (filtered water is preferred)
Steps to Follow:
- To make the best coffee brands for cold brew, you need to add water and coffee in the Mason jar and stir to mix them properly. Let it rest for a few minutes and then stir the mixture again to provide grounds with more water exposure.
- Now cover the jar with a lid and let it sit for 12 to 18 hours in the fridge.
- When it’s time to strain it, get a thin paper filter and put it over the fine mesh sieve. Now pour the mixture through this sieve into a cup or pitcher. Let it stay in this position for a while to allow the remaining coffee to trickle down.
- Now when you want to drink it, put some ice in a glass, fill half of it with water, and a half with the concentrate of cold coffee you have brewed to dilute it, stir to mix and enjoy.
Cold-brew coffee grounds to water ratio grams:
Even if you have achieved the best roast for cold brew, if the ratio of water to coffee beans is not right, you might end up getting the taste you didn’t want. So for one cup of water, we suggest you add one ounce of coarsely ground coffee, which is around a quarter cup of whole coffee beans.
If you follow the metric system, then it will be 28 grams of coarsely ground coffee for one cup of water. After you are done brewing, you will have concentrated coffee, which you will dilute with some more water depending on your taste preference.
How to select the best cold brew coffee grounds?
Even if you get the best coffee brand for cold brew, if it is dark roasted, it can destroy some of the notes of beans because of the long steeping time of cold brew. So the reason why best roast for cold brew is light roast is that more acidic light roast retains the fruity, citrusy, and herbal notes of the beans.
Furthermore, the quantity of cold brew coffee beans is important to keep in mind when brewing because you will have to make a concentrated liquid, which you will have to dilute by adding more water.
So for that, you will need a higher quantity of cold brew coffee beans. Therefore, if your pocket is a bit tight, we suggest you go for more affordable cold brew coffee brands.
- ENGINEERED FOR COLD BREW - Coarse ground coffee optimized for cold brewing...
- BREW YOUR WAY - Brew your cold brew how you would like. Add more water for...
- 100% ORGANIC - USDA Organic, ethically sourced coffee from Guatemala, Peru,...
- BREAKFAST BLEND - Arabica beans roasted light, and medium, for a fruity,...
- CONVENIENT & EASY COFFEE BEVERAGES : Simply pour 1-2 teaspoons of our Javy...
- CHOOSE YOUR FLAVOR –You feel like experimenting with coffee flavors? We...
- BE YOUR OWN BARISTA – There is no need to go out for a delicious and...
- COMMITMENT TO QUALITY – Quality comes first! Javy liquid microdose...
- COLD BREW COFFEE: This variety two-pack features super-smooth and delicious...
- STARBUCKS SIGNATURE BLACK: Our medium-roast Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee...
- STARBUCKS MADAGASCAR VANILLA: This naturally flavored medium-roast cold...
- IT'S EASY: We've cold-steeped our custom blend of coffee into this rich...
- Includes 8 (9.6oz) cans of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, Dark Cocoa Sweet...
- Our cold brew is infused with nitrogen the moment you open it, creating a...
- Gently tilt the can once, pop open, and pour into a cold glass for maximum...
- Smooth. Velvety. Delicious. Nitro Cold Brew.
- VARIETY PACK: Contains 3 Cans of our Organic Double Shot Oat Milk Coffee, 3...
- GREEN: Rainforest Alliance Certified
- ROAST: Mix Roast (Medium/Dark)
- COFFEE: 100% Arabica Coffee is the first ingredient
- READY TO DRINK: No need to measure or mix like a concentrate, this coffee...
- COFFEE ON TAP: Conveniently boxed to fit and pour from the fridge, enjoy...
- NO SUGAR: Just filtered water and 100% single origin Arabica coffee beans...
- SHELF-STABLE: Store at room temperature until ready to enjoy. Refrigerate...
- An elevated cold brew experience.
- Get twice the caffeine with 12 grams of protein in every serving.
- Triple filtered and slow brewed.
- Bold, smooth flavor.
- Flavored cold brew coffee grounds. Try all over our flavors!
- We use a 3-to-1 ratio of water to grounds
- Steep your grounds overnight for 12-24 hours for best flavor extraction
- Inspired Coffee Co... the cold brew that inspires you!
- COLD BREW COFFEE: The super-smooth and delicious Starbucks cold brew coffee...
- PERFECTLY DELICIOUS: Our medium-roast Starbucks Signature Black Cold Brew...
- IT'S EASY: We've cold-steeped our custom blend of coffee into this rich...
- CONTAINS: The multi serve concentrate bottle contains 32 fl. ounces and...
- PRE-PORTIONED pitcher packs with ground coffee make it easy to brew fresh...
- MADE WITH 100% premium arabica coffee beans USDA certified organic.
- CUSTOM COFFEE blend developed to be brewed cold. Medium-dark roast.
- FOUR GENERATIONS STRONG: our family's expertise extends more than 140 years...
How to make cold brew coffee concentrate?
The process of making concentrated cold brew coffee is simple, and we have already talked about it above. However, to help you understand the process for just making concentrated coffee, we have outlined some steps below:
- Put 85 grams of coarsely ground coffee in a mason jar and add three cups of filtered water in it. Now stir thoroughly to let the water soak all flavor of the coffee.
- Once done, let it refrigerate for at least 12 hours.
- Now just place a paper filter in a steel mesh sieve, put it on top of a pitcher, and pour the mixture over it. You will get your concentrated cold brew coffee.
Where to buy the best coffee beans for cold brew?
If you want to experience the taste of best coffee brand for cold brew but don’t know where to get the cream of the crop, then we have suggested some of the best cold brew coffee brands below:
Stone street cold brew coffee
If you want the best coffee for cold brew in terms of low acidity and well-balanced yet bold flavor, Stone Street is your go-to brand. However, only get it if you prefer dark roasted coffee.
Tiny Footprint Coffee -Organic Cold Brew Cold Press
The best roast for cold brew is a mixture of light and dark for many, and Tiny Footprint offers just that. You will definitely enjoy its sweet and fruity tones.
Cafe Du Monde Coffee Chicory
One of the best cold brew coffee brands serving commercial iced coffee at their own cafes as well in New Orleans. Their beans have a bold taste and soothing aroma that will touch your soul.
Hazelnut Cold Brew Iced Coffee – Cold Buzz Coffee Bean
Drinking chill hazelnut flavor iced coffee by Cold Buzz in those scorching summers will help your body cool down. They offer five pre-portioned bags in one pack, and each bag can make up to two cups.
Peet’s Coffee Big Bang Medium Roast Whole Bean Coffee
They sell the best coffee for cold brew when it comes to getting freshly roasted beans with a medium roast that preserves the aroma and flavor of the coffee.
Starbucks Cold Brew Coffee, Black Unsweetened
Get already-brewed cold coffee directly from Starbucks. The smooth black unsweetened flavor will be a perfect treat for your tastebuds. It comes with six glass bottles of 11oz each.
Can you use regular ground coffee for cold brew?
Sometimes you just don’t find it in you to go to the market and get the best coffee for cold brew, so you wonder if you can use the regular one (finely ground) available at your home. Well, the good thing is; yes, you can! However, it will be difficult to over-extract the fine grounds into the water while brewing.
You can solve this issue by tasting the mixture every three to four hours until you find it according to your preference. Now when you achieve the desired taste, the next problem will be filtering the small particles of finely ground coffee.
So for that, we suggest you try both the paper filter and fine mesh filter and see which one works for you.
Can you use flavored coffee for cold brew?
Yes, you can! Almost any flavor that you can use with the hot coffee, you can use with the cold brew coffee as well. From creamers to syrups, you can use any of them as long as they don’t kill the taste of your cold coffee.
If you want your coffees to have the natural flavor of something, let’s say spice and vanilla, then you can also store the whole beans in a spice jar with some cinnamon sticks, cardamoms, and 1-2 beans of vanilla. So when you finally brew it, you will have the flavor and aroma of these ingredients.
What is the best cold brew coffee maker?
If you want to make the best coffee for cold brew, you need the best cold brew coffee maker to make things easier for you. So to help you find the most value for your investment in one, we have shortlisted some of the finest ones below:
- Note: 1)Too coarse a grind, too little coffee, or insufficiently tamping...
- COLD BREW COFFEE AT HOME – Save money and time by making incredibly rich...
- DO IT YOURSELF CRAFT COLD BREW - Our unique cold brew extraction process...
- STREAMLINED DESIGN – Simply add coffee grounds to the brew filter, pour...
- ➤ Yields Tastier, Less Acidic Coffee – In just 12 to 24 hours, you get...
- ➤ Larger Capacity – At 1300mL, our coffee pitcher is 30% bigger than...
- ➤ With Multi-use Mesh Cold Brew Filter – Its non-rusting, metal-free...
- ➤ No Messy Spills – The cold brew pitcher has a detachable non-slip...
- COLD BREW COFFEE AT HOME – Save money and time by making incredibly rich...
- DO IT YOURSELF CRAFT COLD BREW - Our unique cold brew extraction process...
- STREAMLINED DESIGN – Simply add coffee grounds to the brew filter, pour...
- HASSLE-FREE COLD BREW- Designed to make cold brewing easy and mess-free....
- SUPERIOR TASTE: With its precise brewing process, you can extract the most...
- EASY TO USE and CLEAN: Simplify brewing and cleanup with our cold brew...
- HIGH QUALITY DESIGN: Our iced tea brewer surpasses US FDA and EU safety...
- VERSATILE BREWING OPTIONS: The possibilities are endless and you'll never...
- [3 Steps Save 2000]: With just 3 steps make cold brew coffee; By using our...
- [Durable Material]: Cold brew pitcher lids are made of food-grade plastic...
- [2 Ways Easy to Clean]: All accessories could be removed and put in the...
- [Super Dense Filter]: Food-grade stainless steel conical filter; 160-micron...
- BE YOUR OWN BARISTA and make fresh, delicious cold brew coffee and tea at...
- Java Pro Cold Brew Coffee Maker can make batches up to 42 ounces! Simply...
- DURABLE CARAFE made of borosilicate glass, which is heat and cold...
- POURING SPOUT integrated into cap design for convenient serving, minus the...
- Taste The Difference - Making a chilled glass of barista-quality...
- Smart Design - Each part of the cold brew maker has been designed to...
- Airtight – Once you prepare your brew, seal in the flavors with the...
- Endless Possibilities – Use your favorite coffee grounds or tea and base...
- TOP QUALITY MATERIAL: Kaffe's cold brew coffee maker is designed to enhance...
- FINE MESH CORE: Kaffe's removable easy to clean mesh core sets it apart...
- EASY USAGE AND CLEANING: Using Kaffe's cold brew maker is a no brainer....
- BPA FREE: Kaffe has your safety in mind, our cold brew coffee maker does...
- EASY-TO-USE COLD BREW MAKER: Simply add coffee, steep overnight, and enjoy...
- STAINLESS STEEL FILTER: The stainless steel coffee filter is constructed of...
- EASY POUR DISPENSER, LEAK-PROOF LID: With the flip cap lid, brewing,...
- DURABLE MASON JAR: Our 64 oz mason jar pitcher with lid is made of heavy...
- [Easy to Clean]: 64oz cold brew coffee maker is of premium food grade...
- [No leaks]: We have added a food-grade silicone ring to provide a better...
- [Easy to Use]: The pitcher lid design makes better use of the cold brew...
- [316L Stainless Steel Filter]: 160-micron dutch weave cone-shaped metal...
What beans does Starbucks use for cold brew?
You might have tried several commercial cold brew coffee brands, and you have fallen in love with Starbucks, and now you want to make one like that at your home but done know which cold brew coffee beans to use, right?
Well, you should know that Starbucks doesn’t disclose its recipe or the beans it uses for obvious reasons. However, they do tell that they use Arabica beans that come from Latin America and Africa.
So if you want to replicate the taste of Starbucks, you might want to get a blend of Colombian or Guatemalan cold brew coffee beans with Ethiopian or Kenyan beans to get the Arabica-African flavor that made Starbucks famous.
Final thoughts:
Getting the best coffee brands for cold brew is not the only thing you need to worry about; it should have the best roast for cold brew as well, which we suggest should be light to medium.
Furthermore, the recipe we have mentioned above should be followed carefully, and for the best results, we suggest you use coarsely ground coffee beans. If you keep these things in mind, your summers will be well spent with a pitcher of cold brew iced coffee in your hand.
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